Key West is the southern most city in the Continental Unites States. You are only about 90 miles from Cuba at the end of the island. So it is absolutely necessary to have your photo taken at this marker. I did the photo here of my son and daughter-inlaw, and then they took one with the wife and myself. It is just one of those things you have to do to prove you were there. Key West also has the Southernmost House. This house is a historic home that has been converted into a luxurious B&B Inn. It sits right on the ocean by the southern most point. I have not been inside, but I checked out their website, a pretty cool place.
http://www.southernmosthouse.com/
The historic lighthouse on Key West is a nice attraction to visit. Everyone loves lighthouses, and I love to photograph them. Originally built in to 65 feet 1825 ,it was destroyed in a hurricane in 1846. In 1894 the tower was raised to 100 feet. It is difficult to get good photos of it due to the building and trees surrounding it. The view from the top is worth the climb though.
The big reddish brick building is the old post office and customs house. It aso housed the federal courthouse for the southern district of Florida. It is now the Key West Museum of Art and History. This was right next to the Westin Hotel where I stayed, conviently located next to Mallory Square. There are many attractions and a vast amount of history to learn about Key West. I spent 5 days there and did not begin to see it all. so I am already planning when I may return. Certainly when it is cold and dreary up north.
You can visit Key West on a cruise, but I would not reccomend it. The ships dock early in the morning, and like most port stops you have all day to explore. But, the ships have to pull out before sunset so they do not block the view of the sunset for the people down at the docks. You do not get to experience the Key West night life. Photography is pretty easy here. Have a wide angle to short telephoto zoom and that will be all you need for most of your shots. The sunlight is extremely bright, so low ISO settings and high f stop settings lead to some great photos with a lot of depth and vibrant colors. Everyone won't mind looking at your vacation photos if you do them right and be a little creative.
