The world is full of endless beautiful destinations. From the sands of Hawaiʻi and Thailand, to the metropolises of Rome and Tokyo, to the peaks of the Alps and Rockies. But somewhere in every world traveler’s long list of destinations is a place they never expected would become their very first adventure.
My first solo travel trip was Key West, Florida.
-Say what? Why Key West?
….well let me explain!
May 2011:
11 years ago from the time of writing this blog, I graduated from the University of Central Florida in Orlando and as a post grad gift to celebrate my new life in this world, I set off on a trip to South Florida. The trip had originally been Cancun and invited about 20 people but for the sake of ease for everyone living in Florida, I kept it simple. (Thank god it turned out this way).
A week after graduation, I hit the road for Miami to enjoy one of my favorite cities and once I got in some party time, I was ready for my first voyage. The problem was, one by one my invitees dropped out of the trip literally up until the last minute. And as bummed as I was, I remember sitting in my car at a gas station right before a turn onto the highway thinking to myself, “just go!” I put the car in drive, put my house music CD in, windows down, and headed southbound on US 1, for Key West.
Why Do I Still Consider this an incredible FIRST SOLO trip?
Why Key West Is Great for Solo Travelers
Key West is one of the best destinations in the United States for solo travelers. Located at the southernmost point of the Florida Keys, the island offers a unique mix of history, ocean culture, and relaxed island life that makes exploring alone both easy and rewarding.
Arriving in Key West - 2011
Of the swath of 1,700 islands that exist in the Florida Keys, a small fraction of that are inhabited allowing you to coast freely in and through them. Key West is the literal end of the road which means you will have to drive in and through many of the keys along the way and MY SWEET LORD.
7 Mile Bride alongside the Old 7 Mile Bridge Used to Film Scenes in True Lies & License to Kill
The Drive Through the Florida Keys
After a decade of travel and 40 countries later, this still remains to be one of my favorite drives. A one lane highway sprawling across island after island and in most sections, over crystal clear blue water. One of the most breathtaking imagery that has never left my memory.
Unique Railroad History
Did you know Key West once had trains? One who’s never lived in Florida may not be familiar with the name , Flagler. But Henry Flagler was a visionary that forever reshaped the means to travel in and out of the Keys. In 1912, Flagler constructed and built a successful rail line from Miami to Key West aboard concrete arches and supports one after another across miles of flat islands and endless blue abyss.
Left: Taken from the Key West Art and Historical Society. Right: Rendition of Train Crossing Concrete Pilars
Former rail archway bridge currently in use for the
current US 1 highway.
The old highway build atop the old railway line.
The old rails are now used as guardrails.
A Hurricane in 1935 wrecked many sections of the rail line ending the glory days of rail travel in the keys. However, with the rise of consumer vehicle usage, a road system was completed utilizing the former already existing rail structures. Although a new highway system was completed in recent decades, the old highway system still stands today. And if you look closely, you can still see the original steel trusses and rail from way back when.
Things to Do in Key West Alone
Key West is without a doubt a very small place and it can seem like there is a short list of things to do. But there are actually many things to do and explore. Duval Street is the main strip of Key West and this block alone has quite a lot to do, from bars, restaurants, and museums like the shipwreck Museum and Ripley’s Believe it Or Not.
But off Duval, you can explore Ernest Hemingway’s Key West estate, the Key West Lighthouse, naval Submarines adjacent to the Naval Base, and many other activities, even I missed. Go on water activities such as jet skiing or parasailing. Or if you’re as simple as I am of a traveler, just kick back along any shoreline and watch the sunset.
Go Beyond Key West: Dry Tortugas National Park
Just because Key West is the last island to drive to doesn’t mean the Keys particularly end there. Venture 70 miles west and you’ll find yourself at the literally end of the archipelago at Dry Tortugas National Park, a federally maintained marine life area with 7 islets.
On its second largest island, is home to Fort Jefferson, built as a fortress during the Civil War and turned prison. Samuel Mudd, a doctor connected to President Lincoln’s assassination, was once imprisoned here. But apart from history, this has got to be the most unique combination of history and paradise combined into one in the contiguous USA. There are also some really great swimming and dive spots here.
Final Thoughts on Visiting Key West
If you have a chance an opportunity to kick back in Key West and enjoy or most of the above mentions, there is a certain kind of fulfillment that you’ll have upon leaving. Maybe it’s the isolation and the one lane road all the way back to mainland Florida that puts you in a trance state.
But at least for me, it allowed me to separate myself from responsibilities and just be present in such an isolated unique place. I mean, that is usually what one would hope for any vacation or trip. But Key West truly is a very unique place to visit. Reminiscing back over a decade ago, I remember feeling refreshed taking that drive back over crystal clear blue waters ready for what was ahead in life. I was truly ready to travel the world. And thus birthed, a life of world travel.
While most visitors to Key West may not leave planning to hike the Andes or cross the Sahara, or an Island hopper in the Pacific Islands, I do wonder,
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO KEY WEST? If so, how did your trip end up like?
Please comment below 🙂
