Dry Tortugas is one of the most remote national parks in the country, and getting there is part of what makes it feel so special. No roads. No bridges. You get there by ferry, seaplane, or private boat and that’s it.✈️💙

We went by seaplane. The 35-minute flight over turquoise flats, shipwreck sites, and open ocean is part of the experience. I spotted sea turtles, sharks, and stingrays from the air.

Once you land on Garden Key, Fort Jefferson is the main event. Photos do not do the scale justice. Construction started in 1846 to protect Gulf shipping routes, and during the Civil War it served as a military prison. The views from the upper levels are some of the best in the park.

We did the half-day tour. That was a mistake. Two and a half hours is not enough time once you factor in the fort, snorkeling the old pylons, beach time, and that quiet window before the ferry arrives with 150+ people. I am going back and booking the full day.

Everything you need to know before you go | link in bio 🌊

#drytortugas #keywest #nationalparks #floridatravel #keywestflorida

The Marquesa Hotel was everything I wanted from an Old Town Key West hotel and quieter than I expected.

It’s tucked into a historic 1884 property on Fleming Street, close enough to walk to Duval Street, Mallory Square, and most of what makes Key West worth visiting, but removed enough that coming back to the property actually felt like a reset. Three separate courtyard pools instead of one big resort pool. An adults-only atmosphere that changes how the whole place feels. And Café Marquesa right downstairs, which ended up being my favorite meal of the entire trip.

It’s not a beachfront resort. There’s no big pool scene, no kids running around, no direct water views. That’s exactly the point and the tradeoff works really well if you want Old Town walkability with a quieter, more boutique feel.

The hotel earned a Michelin 2 Key designation in 2025, which made sense the moment I arrived. Polished without being stiff.

Full review with rooms, pools, what’s included in the amenity fee, and who I’d recommend it for | link in bio 🌴

Key lime pie is basically a required activity in Key West, so I turned it into a full taste test and tried 10 slices in one trip.🍋‍🟩

A few things I learned fast: I like mine tart. I want fresh homemade whipped cream, not meringue. And if the crust is thick and buttery, I am probably going to be thinking about that pie long after I leave Key West.

My overall winner was Café Marquesa silky smooth, almost perfectly balanced between tart and sweet, and it wasn’t even close. Most surprising stop: a rum distillery serving key lime rum pie with an orange-flavored topping and honestly the best meringue of the entire trip. Most overrated, in my opinion: Blue Heaven. I know that’s controversial. The filling was too sweet for me and the meringue overwhelmed everything else. Key lime pie preferences are personal enough that I still think you should try it yourself... you might completely disagree.

Full rankings with every stop and which ones I’d actually order again | link in bio

Some places you visit. Key West you embark on.

It doesn’t have a dress code, a quiet hour, or much patience for taking itself seriously. The streets are loud, the colors are aggressive, the chickens have no respect for personal space, and somehow all of it works together into something that feels completely its own.

This is not the trip for everyone. If you need a resort schedule, a pool with reserved chairs, and a plan for every hour, Key West is going to fight you on that. But if you show up willing to wander, eat well, watch the sunset from Mallory Square with a crowd of strangers who all somehow feel like regulars, and let the island move at its own pace... it will absolutely deliver.

Key West doesn’t try to be anything except exactly what it is. That’s the whole point.

Full guide linked in bio for anyone ready to embark. 🌴

#travelling #keywest #florida #keywestflorida #visitflorida