Goldenbackpacker.com

KEY WEST - STAY FOR LESS "$$"

KEY WEST was first settled by Pirates in 1822 who ventured to earn millions $ from the Spanish shipwrecks & at one time became the wealthiest town in the USA . The long-time locals are known as CONCHS (konks) after the giant sea snails eaten by the early settlers. The sleaziness of the 1980's has now been brushed away & today it takes a lot of money to buy property here. The appeal is the sense of isolation here, detached from the USA at the very South end of the East coast it secures a non conformist identity.

ACCOMMODATION

NO 1 – KEY WEST SEASHELL HOSTEL, 718 South Street , KW. FL 33040 (bottom end of Duval St ) tele 1 800 468 5516 or 305 296 5719 Email: keyshostel@aol.com – www.keywesthostel.com - $21 dorms incl. linen with ensuite showers. Open-air kitchen with alfresco sitting /eating / meeting area in a central quadrangle. Good location for town & beaches & it's reasonably well organised but the plastic utensils are a let down so bring your own cup, plate & kfs

RESERVE – No other hostels in KW were located.

FOOD – there is a small supermarket around corner from Hostel on Whalton St. but its pricey. The Big s/m's PUBLIX - ALBERTSONS are a bus ride away in the commercial area off N. Roosevelt Blvd. but it's worth the journey.

TRAVELLING AROUND – arriving by Greyhound Bus you will be dropped off at Simonton & Virginia St's. with a reasonable walk to No 1 Hostel. For in town exploration of KW you will need to use the limited but efficient KW Transit Busses, which operate a dual, loop route system - clock & anti clock - around KW. Tickets cost $1 for a one stop ride or you can buy the $12, 7day Pass, especially as there are handy stops just outside the Hostel & it's a fair walk to/from Mallory Square

FREE IGHTS TO SEE

1. DUVAL ST – this main street bisects the Old Town with Bars, Restaurants, Shops & Pretty Homes
2. MALLORY SQ – Cruise Liners moor & tourists meet in the evening for Sunsets & Entertainers
3. SOUTHERN MOST POINT BEACON – not really (that's in Hawaii ) but a good spot for photos
4. CONCH ARCHITECTURE – starts on Caroline St. with fine Mansions & ends at Whitehead St .
5. EAST BEACHES – Zachery, Monroe County, Higgs & Smathers, all on the Atlantic Ocean.
6. WEST HARBOURS – see Game Fishing Boats returning with catches of Marlin & spot Pelicans
7. PUBLIC LIBRARY – a “gem” of a Building for local info & history, newspapers & free Internet
8. INFO CENTRE – near to Mallory Sq. for tourist pamphlets, maps & discount vouchers
9. CEMETARY – strange place at highest spot on KW, interesting epitaphs, statues & stacked coffins
10. WEST MARTELLO TOWER – originally a Civil War lookout now a delightful tropical garden

CHARGE SIGHTS NOT TO MISS

1. MEL FISHER MARITIME MUSEUM – gold & treasures from a Spanish Galleon sunk in 1622
2. FORT ZACHARY TAYLOR – Civil War defence from 1860's now a recreation area with artwork
3. LITTLE WHITE HOUSE – from President Truman to Kennedy's Bay of Pigs Command Post
4. KEY LIME PIE SHOP – local delicacy with egg yolks, condensed milk & special Key Limes

*Scott, Bill, Marianne, Sam, David, Tim, Gary & Sarah, Tom & Marianne