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Overview
Key West is the southern-most city in the continental United States, located 150 miles south of Miami and 90 miles east of Cuba. Its history can be traced back to Spanish sailors who upon discovering the island also discovered the skeletal remains of native Indians.
This caused them to name the island ‘Cayo Hueso’, meaning “Island of Bones.”
The island once served as a waypoint for travelers between the United States and
Cuba, but that ended once Fidel Castro took power. Today, Key West is a laid back community where relaxation is not only a state of mind, but a way of life. The locals
(or ‘Conchs’ as they are commonly known) are a collective melting pot of Cubans,
drifters, Bahamians, out-of-work smugglers, Haitians, exiles and recent
refugees. Key West also has a large gay and lesbian community, adding to the
city's tremendous diversity.
Conchs thrive on eccentricity as much as diversity. This city has been a sanctuary for artists, authors, poets, ornithologists, presidents and pirates,
all of which managed to find their own little piece of paradise along this four-mile-wide stretch of land.
Despite the different backgrounds, interests and eccentricities of Key West
denizens, they all seem to share that relaxed laissez-faire attitude toward
life.
Over the years, a large number of artists and writers have made this island a part of their lives.
The cultural side of Key West has been influenced by the likes of Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, John James Audubon, James Curry and Henry Flagler.
These and many other artists have depicted Key West in their works.
The more ostentatious side of Key West resides along Duval Street. This tourist Mecca resembles
a miniature Mardi Gras on a nightly basis. Sunsets and drag shows are just the warm up acts to Key West’s lively nightlife.
There are those who say that once you’ve visited Key West, you’ll want to become a permanent resident. The only way to know for sure is to experience the islands allure for yourself and find out why year after year former travelers are returning to this little slice of paradise and calling it home.
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