Free is good, right?
Free is especially good after you’ve already spent a small fortune on airfare and accommodations for your summer vacation. The great thing about vacationing in Key West is that there are plenty of free activities to partake in once you get here. We’ve got natural beauty, a quirky local culture, and points of historical interest for you to explore without spending a dime. Here’s a roundup of the free things to do in Key West.
1. Go To the Beach- This one’s a no brainer. It’s all about fun in the sun on a Key West vacation and the beach is always calling. Head to Higgs or Smathers along the southern edge of the island, spread out your beach blanket, and soak up the sun. You can even pick up a game of beach volleyball while you’re there.
2. Visit the Key West Cemetery- Visiting a cemetery might seem like an odd tourist attraction, but the Key West Cemetery has captivated tourists and locals, alike, for decades. Located smack dab in the middle of Old Town, you might find yourself stumbling onto it by accident on your way home to your guest house one night. Some of the quirkier gravestones to spot include an epitaph that reads, “I told you I was sick.”
3. Walk Duval Street- You may be tempted by the abundance of bars, restaurants, and shops on Duval Street to spend your money, but there’s also some prime people watching to be done on this main commercial street in Old Town. Starting from the southernmost end, your walk will get more raucous the farther you go.
4. Look for Key West Chickens- You may have heard about the famed Key West chickens, but you won’t believe them until you see them, or until their cock-a-doodle-doos wake you up at the break of dawn. Key West is home to a population of roving free range chickens. Keep your eyes peeled for them while you’re here and be sure to snap a few pictures.
5. Tour the Historic Seaport- The Historic Seaport is a piece of old Key West that offers a scenic meander over wooden docks with beautiful views of a marina where fishing boats, yachts, and charter boats sail in and out daily. There’s a number of bars and restaurants that line this waterfront stroll, if you decide to take a break for a mojito or conch fritters at one of the popular Key West Seafood Restaurants, like Half Shell Raw Bar, that’s gonna cost you!
6. Grab a Photo Opp By the Southernmost Buoy- This is easily the most sought after photo while you’re in Key West. Located at the southern end of Whitehead Street, you might have to wait in line before it’s your turn, but the photo is well worth the wait.
7. Visit the White Street Art Galleries- Key West has long been famous as a destination for artists and writers, and that’s still true to this day. Anchored by the Studios of Key West, a community of artists with working studios and galleries onsite, White Street is lined with captivating local galleries open to the public and free to explore.
8. Sunset Sail with Fury Water Adventures- This one’s not entirely free, but if you book an All Day Water Adventure with Fury Water Adventures, they’ll throw in a free sunset sail. It ends up being a great value, and you’ll have the chance to try every water sport under the sun (jet skiing, parasailing, snorkeling, kayaking) at one low package rate. Learn more about the All Day Fury All Day Water Adventure.