Visit from Key West to Dry Tortugas National Park

Almost seventy miles west of Key West, Dry Tortugas National Park is accessible only by boat or seaplane. Known the world over as the home of Fort Jefferson, a 19th century coastal fortress comprised of over 16 million bricks, the park also protects natural wonders above and below its pristine water’s surface. Perfect for bird watching, beach camping, and snorkeling, Dry Tortugas National Park is an ideal remote getaway for fans of history and picturesque blue waters alike.

Gulf of Mexico partially landlocked body of water on the southeastern periphery of the North American continent. It is connected to the Atlantic Ocean by the Straits of Florida, running between the peninsula of Florida and the island of Cuba, and to the Caribbean Sea by the Yucatán Channel, which runs between the Yucatán Peninsula and Cuba. Both of these channels are about 100 miles (160 km) wide. The gulf’s greatest east-west and north-south extents are approximately 1,100 and 800 miles (1,800 and 1,300 km), respectively, and it covers an area of some 600,000 square miles (1,550,000 square km). To the northwest, north, and northeast it is bounded by the southern coast of the United States, while to the west, south, and southeast it is bounded by the east coast of Mexico.

Key West, the southernmost point in the United States, is famous for watersports, lively nightlife, beaches, historic sites and its pastel, conch-style architechture. Duval Street, one of the most energetic strips of shops, bars and cafes anywhere, offers Sloppy Joe’s bar, a favorite Key West hangout of novelist Ernest Hemingway. And, for the more sober-minded, there's Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum. (Look for the celebrated six-toed cats). Walking tours of Key West are the best way to see the island's intriguing homes, courtyards and gardens. Start in the center of town at the Key West City Cemetery, which offers a glimpse of Key West's past and its offbeat sense of humor.