Great Key West Walking Tours

Key West isn't just a place in the Florida Keys. It's a state of mind. I compare it to a cross between Jimmy Buffet, The Mardi Gras and Hunter S. Thompson. The place is drop-dead beautiful my lord, but its the people that have really turned it into something other than just another exquisite Florida island with hurricanes and dolphins and lovely palm trees. Nope, Key West is no longer what it was in the days that Hemingway lived there. It's still laid back, but in a showy way. The prices have gone through the roof, for sure. The carnival spirit is alive and well 24/7 every day of the year, it seems. Any excuse for a street party and the Key West residents will oblige. So a walking tour would probably be the best way to get a sense of the history of the place and to see some of the wonderful Key West buildings and homes from times past. I came across a few tours and picked a couple that looked good. One is a bit out of the ordinary, but it may be fun.

http://www.hauntedtours.com/
Hunted Tours conducts walking excursions all around the town's older section where you're regaled with tales of horror and mystery. These folks are the only Key West Ghost tour to appear on shows like "America's Most Haunted Places." Their tours depart nightly and wind through the lanes and narrow streets of Old Town. The tour last 90 minutes and only takes a half-mile span, but along the way it's nothing but stories and tales of ghoulish happenings in what is thought of as one of America's most haunted places. Key West is Florida's second oldest city and as such has a history rich with swashbucklers, pirates, smugglers and all sorts of unsavory characters. It is these that they tell about, offering documented facts and first-hand stories of some of the most infamous haunted residences. They ask for people to call or email them for reservations, which are strongly suggested: 305-294-WALK and keysghoul@aol.com. Tickets are $10 for children 13 and under and $15 for adults. Children under 4 walk free. They're also wheelchair friendly. If purchasing online the tickets will not be physically to you. They'll have the time and tour reserved upon arrival.

http://www.florida-keys.fl.us/keywestw.htm
The Key West official site has a very good walking tour route online. Starting at the Old Town's waterfront visitors will pass some of the "largest collections of Victorian and pre-Victorian buildings in the country." Duval St. affords views of the Mallory Square, the Key West Shipwreck Historium and the old Custom House. The Old Town Trolley and Conch Train begins its run here too. The San Carlos Opera House and the Strand Theatre are beautiful examples of the historic older public buildings on Duval. Then walk down Thomas St. , just a block from where Hemingway lives. It takes tourists into the heart of Bahama Village where they can see the Nelson English House. The waterfront, further on, has some wonderful Key West restaurants, the boardwalk and trendy shops. Caroline St. runs along the waterfront and its many fine old historic homes: the Heritage House Museum, which was once owned by a friend of Robert Frost; the Milton Curry House; and the Edward Arapian House.Then there's Flemming St., the home of "Guesthouse Row."

The site above also gives lots of information about tours that people can take, including the Old Town Trolley, which it also runs in St. Augustine. This is a 90-minute ride with a licensed guide to give riders a complete historical over view of everything they're going to see. So if walking is not appealing, the Trolley would definitely be a great choice. Call this number for info on the Trolley Tour: (305) 294-5161