Located closer to Cuba than to Miami, Key West is Florida’s irreverent southernmost subtropical paradise that welcomes pets everywhere. A unique confluence of history, climate, natural beauty, cultural diversity, architecture and unabashed romantic appeal, Key West treats furry visitors to the same hospitality as their owners.
The southernmost point in the Continental United States, Key West is famous for watersports, lively nightlife, beaches and historic sites, most of which are pet friendly. Don’t miss Duval Street with your dog, one of the most energetic strips of shops, bars and cafes in all the land. Did we mention Sloppy Joe’s bar, a favorite hangout of novelist Ernest Hemingway? It’s dog friendly! And, for the more sober-minded, there’s the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum (look for the celebrated six-toed cats).
Even the Key West Aquarium is dog friendly. Indeed, pet friendly walking tours are the best way to see the island’s intriguing architecture, courtyards and gardens. Be sure to stop off at famous Dog Beach, an off-leash puppy playground, next to Louie’s Backyard Restaurant where pet parents can watch their fur kids play on the beach from the Afterdeck. And that’s just one of the many restaurants, along with hotels and Bed ‘n Breakfasts, that welcome dogs.
Pet friendly watersports abound, including Lazy Dog Adventures where you can paddle with your pooch on water so clear, if you look down you can see fish and underwater plant life from the side of your boat.
Of course, you and your furry friend must see Sunset Celebration on Mallory Square. It’s a Key West Tradition filled with arts and crafts, food carts, psychics, jugglers and street performers of all kinds. Dogs are most welcome to sniff out the fun. And fun it is, for pets and their people in the unique Conch Republic.