Key West is about an hour drive from our campground. We got an early start and stopped for a moment at Sombrero Beach, a beautiful park with a nice sandy beach.
Sunrise at Sombrero Beach
The original seven-mile bridge can be seen paralleling the newer bridge. It is not in use and is deteriorating. We stopped at a historical marker point to see it. While we were walking around we looked down and saw three manatee in the water below.
Seven Mile Bridge
The original route through the keys to Key West was a railroad. Then when the railroad failed the track was converted to a road for cars. One section of the old railroad bridge by Bahia Honda State Park was still good, but they didn’t know how to convert it to a two lane road. The bridge wasn’t wide enough. So they got the bright idea to just build the new road on top of the RR bridge structure. This is no longer in use today but can be seen along side the newer road too.
Bridge Near Bahia Honda State Park.
Key Deer are an endangered deer that live only in the Florida Keys. We did spot a few today. They are very small, like the size of a large dog. And so cute!
Key Deer
One of the first sounds we heard when we arrived at Key West was the crowing of roosters. These gypsy chickens, remnants from cockfighting days, freely roam the streets and are protected by law. Signs say do not feed the chickens.
Key West Rooster
The first thing we did was take a ride on Old Town Trolley Tours. This gives us a narrated tour of the city and allows us to hop off and hop back on at any of their 12 stops along the tour all day long.
Old Town Trolley Tours
There was a long line of people waiting their turn to take their pictures at the marker for the Southernmost Point in the Continental United States. By the time we got here we were too hot and too tired to wait in that line so we just took a pic from the sidelines.
Southern Most Point
Mile 0 of US 1
Bernie Feeding Fish
Sponge Man
Houseboats
It warmed up to 81 degrees for the high today. This beach was packed with people enjoying the sun and the water.
Key West, Florida
- Gasoline Expense: none
- Lodging Expense: $85.50
- Old Town Trolley: $52
- Parking: $16
