Key West's story starts long before Duval Street had a single bar on it. This small island at the end of the Florida Keys has been named by an empire, bought for $2,000, burned down, gone bankrupt, and reinvented itself more than once.

Key West is not a wide-sand-beach destination. Key West beaches are small and hardworking: narrow strips of sand, some pebbles, the odd rock, and water that is warm, shallow and, on a calm day, properly clear.

Every October, Key West trades its usual laid-back pace for ten days of costumes, parades, and citywide celebration. Fantasy Fest 2026 runs October 16 through 25, and it's the island's biggest event of the year, drawing tens of thousands of visitors to Duval Street and beyond. If you're planning to be here for it, here's what to know, and why Marrero's Guest Mansion is the place to base yourself. What Is Fantasy Fest? Fantasy Fest started in 1979, when a handful of local busi

Looking for the best place to watch the sunset in Key West? Look no further than the Sunset Experience at the Key West Lighthouse.

Walk to the homes of Hemingway, Tennessee Williams and Elizabeth Bishop from Fleming Street, with a literary walking tour that starts five minutes from our door.

Meet the Innkeeper: Jayme of Marrero's Guest Mansion in Key West, FL {v}:Where did you grow up? Pecatonica, IL {v}: Coffee, tea or … ? Coffee! (v}: What’s your idea of a perfect weekend day? Sleeping in, Brunch, Beach, watching reruns of Law & Order SVU while snuggling my doggies on the couch. {v}: What’s your favorite local restaurant? Kaya Island Eats, best fish tacos on the Island! {v}: What’s on your nightstand? A book: My Kind of People by Lisa Duffy {v}: What are

Meet the Innkeeper: Laura of Marrero's Guest Mansion in Key West, FL

Where Hollywood Regency style came from, where to see it in Key West today, and the mansion where tobacco leaves line the stairs and a shipwrecked piano stands.

A guide to the kinds of Key West boat trips on offer, what each costs, how long it takes and who it suits, all a short walk from our door.

How Key West's chickens got here, why they roam free and what the law really says about them. Plus where to buy a lucky chicken and our free earplugs.

The Haunted History of Marrero's Guest Mansion

Where to eat within walking distance of Marrero's in Old Town Key West, with walking times, a price guide and a note on the local catch.

Why Key West is called the City of Bones, why the graves sit above ground, how to visit the cemetery, and the epitaphs worth walking to find.

Half a block off Duval Street: what is two minutes from our door, where to drink, shop and watch the sunset, and how quiet it is once you turn the corner home.