What To Do In Key West
Key West: A Literary Tourist Destination
things to do in key west
Even though America’s southernmost islands, the Florida Keys are renowned for natural at-tractions like sea kayaking and dolphin watching, these Caribbean islands at the end of Florida are also home to a varied literary tradition. Sometimes, you just want to relax and enjoy some culture. Despite Key West’s reputation as “a drinking island with a fishing problem,” there is a great deal cultural appeal to enjoy during your Key West vacation.
The Florida Keys, stretching 125 miles in length, features a variety of cultural events and resources, from plays and musi-cals to top-quality films, art galleries and literary venues.
Key West is home to the art galleries, theatres and museums, but it’s probably best known for its ties to literary giants. Tennessee Williams, the noted playwright who created Blanche DuBois and A Streetcar Named Desire, maintained a Key West home for dec-ades. Robert Frost, the American poet, visited the island often.
Perhaps the most famous author associated with Key West is Pulitzer Prize winner Earnest Hemingway. He maintained his winter residence in Key West throughout the 1930s, becom-ing a fixture of island life. He wrote and worked in a writing studio on the second floor of a converted carriage house. The story goes that it was an ideal location, right across from the lighthouse, because it was easy for Hemingway to find again after an evening getting drunk at Sloppy Joe’s bar.
Hemingway’s influence on Key West was so profound that every July the island puts on a festival celebrating the writ-er’s life and times in Key West. In fact, there’s even a Papa Hemingway look-alike contest. There’s also a wintertime event to promote literary excellence called the Key West Literary Semi-nar.
Many of the island’s most noted historical sites are best seen from an Old Town Trolley or the popular Conch Tour Train. However, walking tours, scooters and even electric cars are a fun way to travel between the historical and cultural attractions.
The 480-seat Tennessee Williams Theatre is the largest theater south of Miami. Locat-ed on the campus of Florida Keys Community College, the theatre has in recent years featured the Florida-themed Broadway hit "La Cage Aux Folles," as well as classics like Porgy and Bess and even the recent hit Spamalot.
Key West is also the home of the Tropic Cinema, the only non-profit inde-pendent film multiplex located in South Florida. A project of the Key West Film Society, the Tropic Cinema was launched in 2004. Since then the Tropic has shown a full schedule of art films, documentaries, and films shot in the Florida Keys.
things to do in key west
The Florida Keys offers a variety of cultural at-tractions and events, from performing arts and musical shows to quality films, art galleries and literary venues. Many of the best are found in Key West, making it an ideal holiday destination for visitors and travelers alike who appreciate culture as much as they appreciate the tropical climate in this popular destination.
things to do in key west
Even though America’s southernmost islands, the Florida Keys are renowned for natural at-tractions like sea kayaking and dolphin watching, these Caribbean islands at the end of Florida are also home to a varied literary tradition. Sometimes, you just want to relax and enjoy some culture. Despite Key West’s reputation as “a drinking island with a fishing problem,” there is a great deal cultural appeal to enjoy during your Key West vacation.
The Florida Keys, stretching 125 miles in length, features a variety of cultural events and resources, from plays and musi-cals to top-quality films, art galleries and literary venues.
Key West is home to the art galleries, theatres and museums, but it’s probably best known for its ties to literary giants. Tennessee Williams, the noted playwright who created Blanche DuBois and A Streetcar Named Desire, maintained a Key West home for dec-ades. Robert Frost, the American poet, visited the island often.
Perhaps the most famous author associated with Key West is Pulitzer Prize winner Earnest Hemingway. He maintained his winter residence in Key West throughout the 1930s, becom-ing a fixture of island life. He wrote and worked in a writing studio on the second floor of a converted carriage house. The story goes that it was an ideal location, right across from the lighthouse, because it was easy for Hemingway to find again after an evening getting drunk at Sloppy Joe’s bar.
Hemingway’s influence on Key West was so profound that every July the island puts on a festival celebrating the writ-er’s life and times in Key West. In fact, there’s even a Papa Hemingway look-alike contest. There’s also a wintertime event to promote literary excellence called the Key West Literary Semi-nar.
Many of the island’s most noted historical sites are best seen from an Old Town Trolley or the popular Conch Tour Train. However, walking tours, scooters and even electric cars are a fun way to travel between the historical and cultural attractions.
The 480-seat Tennessee Williams Theatre is the largest theater south of Miami. Locat-ed on the campus of Florida Keys Community College, the theatre has in recent years featured the Florida-themed Broadway hit "La Cage Aux Folles," as well as classics like Porgy and Bess and even the recent hit Spamalot.
Key West is also the home of the Tropic Cinema, the only non-profit inde-pendent film multiplex located in South Florida. A project of the Key West Film Society, the Tropic Cinema was launched in 2004. Since then the Tropic has shown a full schedule of art films, documentaries, and films shot in the Florida Keys.
things to do in key west
The Florida Keys offers a variety of cultural at-tractions and events, from performing arts and musical shows to quality films, art galleries and literary venues. Many of the best are found in Key West, making it an ideal holiday destination for visitors and travelers alike who appreciate culture as much as they appreciate the tropical climate in this popular destination.