The Alex Vega Key West Firehouse Museum was one of the most interesting stops we made in Key West…read more We met the owner, who was incredibly kind and took the time to explain the entire museum to us. He also let us interact with several of the props, which made the experience feel much more personal and fun. There is so much to see, including historic firefighting equipment, old uniforms, artifacts, photo opportunities, and fascinating displays about Key West's fire department. We even got to sit behind the desk of Joseph "Bum" Farto, Key West's former fire chief. Bum Farto was a larger-than-life local character who disappeared in 1976 shortly before he was supposed to be sentenced in a federal drug case. He was never found, and many people believe his ghost still haunts the firehouse, especially near his old desk. Naturally, I had to sit in Bum Farto's chair. The moment I did, I accidentally farted, and the result was far more dramatic than expected: a cloud of green fog rolled out from beneath the desk and formed the shape of a tiny demonic firefighter. It let out an evil laugh before vanishing into the ceiling. The owner stared at me in stunned silence. I claimed it was Bum Farto's ghost. My friends pointed out that it was probably just me. Either way, I recommend showing proper respect when sitting in the missing fire chief's chair. It may be haunted or the chair may simply have a very aggressive ventilation system. Bum Farto was a larger-than-life local character who was convicted in a federal drug case and disappeared in 1976 shortly before he was supposed to be sentenced. He was never found and was eventually declared dead in absentia. His disappearance became one of Key West's enduring mysteries, and many people believe his ghost still lingers around the firehouse, particularly near his old desk. The museum displays his desk, uniform, and other belongings, so naturally I sat down and immediately began wondering whether I was about to be recruited into an afterlife fire department. The museum highlights Bum Farto's desk and mystery, while local haunted-history accounts describe reported encounters with his spirit. Haunted Key West We got some incredible picture opportunities, including behind the desk, and the owner made the entire visit memorable. The museum also offers after-hours ghost tours and paranormal investigations for those brave enough to explore the firehouse after the living staff have gone home. A wonderful museum with tons of history, unusual artifacts, great photo opportunities, and just enough ghostly mystery to make you question every unexplained noise. I highly recommend visiting and if you sit at Bum Farto's desk, be polite. You never know when the missing fire chief might return to ask why you're using his chair.

This museum has more artifacts than any I've ever seen. It's a little off the beaten path, but…read morestill in Old Town, and I highly recommend it! Also, I love that this museum wants you to touch everything! There are signs saying "put on this hat and jacket" to see how you'd look as a firefighter, and "sit in this chair" to pretend to be the fire chief. It was honestly so refreshing and cool after having been in so many other Key West museums where you can't touch anything. The staff were so friendly and helpful, excited to tell stories about the Key West fire department and history. Plus, the museum has a ghost...I mean, it doesn't get better than that!

You're in the Keys... so let's know up front this museum is no Metropolitan Museum of Art or the…read moreGuggenheim; the keys have museums but for the most part they are all low-key and this one is no exception. It's not large and it's not overly impressive but it is interesting; more in the sense of it's actual history and not what they have to offer. The real deal is the place was, to put it bluntly, a turtle slaughterhouse... Sea Turtles were brought in from the boats and loaded into the building (that sits over the water as part of the docks). They canned the meat and also made Turtle Soup. Key West no longer processes sea turtles into meals but the history is here... Regardless of whether you love or just like it, it is free, so when life gets closer to normal, swing in for a peep.

When a great stop along the drive down to Key West. The exhibits were thoughtful and informative…read more There is a 90 minute tour which is worth every penny. It's nice to support their rehab efforts

The University of Florida IFAS Extension has created this beautiful garden in the middle of a…read moreresidential area in Key West, on Catherine St. Here you will see over 50 different species of plants that are native to the Florida Keys, some of which are listed as threatened or endangered by the state of Florida. The wildflowers planted here support a diversity of pollinators including bees, wasps, moths, butterflies, and other insects. It is also a stop-off for resident and migratory birds. Urban, pocket gardens, like this one, have become increasingly important as natural, wild spaces and wildlife habitats continue to decline due to urbanization, increased pesticide use, climate change, and other environmental factors. Recent studies have documented alarming decline in insect populations worldwide. So, increasing plant diversity in yards and neighborhoods is one way to make a major positive impact locally. We loved walking around the path and reading about the plants, butterflies and insects that thrive in the area. Most of the plants have plaques in front, so you know what they are.

We had a fantastic experience at the East Martello Museum in Key West! The museum is full of…read morefascinating history, unique exhibits, and plenty of interesting stories that give you a different perspective on Key West's past. A special mention goes to the docent, who was incredibly friendly, welcoming, and knowledgeable. Their enthusiasm and willingness to share stories and answer questions made the visit even more enjoyable. Definitely worth a stop while in Key West, especially if you enjoy history, local culture, and discovering some of the more unusual stories of the island. Highly recommended!

Interesting Fort. Lots of great things to see in the Fort & Museum…read more The unfortunate part is that is that there isn't a lot of signage on the tour. It is a self guided tour and they give you a map with some description. They had great signage got Robert the Doll and the Count. There are places that were area not allowed to go to due to renovations, but at least they lower the price. I did the Robert the Doll tour the night previous. I think I learned more about the place through the Sloan ghost tour. Also never received my ticket or emailed ticket to get a day ticket as stated when I bought that ticket. Would I go again? Yes. I do recommend visiting. But ask questions and read the map for information.

We visited here on Wed 2/04/26 in the afternoon. Only a few other visitors, but it was a weekday &…read morewe were in Key West on vacation. Located on Stock Island just east of Key West off US Route 1, next to the College of the Florida Keys campus. A visit is 1-2 hours. Plenty of parking. Easy walking trails that let you meander through the key's native diverse flora. Must be 200+ plant/tree identification markers. Very helpful woman at the entrance provided us with a map for the self-guided tour. This place is maintained by the volunteers of the Key West Botanical Garden Society. Has been here for 90 years. Admission is $15.pp, $10.pp for seniors. Open 10am-4pm daily. Recommended for the visitor that wants to enjoy an alternative to the crowded Key West Old Town & Duval St. Thank you. Nick & Liz, Albany, NY, USA

This place is located on Stock Island and was my first visit here since I didn't know it existed…read moreand I've been to Key West maybe 8 times. It is more a forest than a Botanical garden, and in the June heat and humidity, use insect spray for sure! I love Strangler Fig trees, and there were plenty of them. Plant signage was everywhere, there is a stand with plants for sale. I was lucky to be there when the Nursery employee was there and brought me back to the Nursery where there were so many more varieties of plants. They are all very reasonably priced. I bought a small Soursop tree for $10 and another vine type plant with a trellis for $10. I enjoyed the experience, but don't expect the typical Botanical Garden.

We loved our visit to the US Coast Guard Cutter Ingham Maritime Museum in Key West. Touring one of…read morethe most decorated Coast Guard ships in history was fascinating and totally worth the time. The self-guided tour lets you explore the ship's quarters, radio room, galley, and even a barbershop at your own pace and really gives a great sense of what life was like on board. The ship is very well preserved was amazing to see. Just a heads up that the stairs throughout the ship are narrow and quite steep, which is something to keep in mind if mobility is a concern or you're visiting with young kids. It's a unique, educational experience and an easy 5-star stop if you're in Key West and want something a little different from the usual tourist spots.

What an interesting tour! You get to walk around the ship and experience its history. It's so cool…read moreto see what it was like to live on the ship many years before. I definitely recommend it if you're looking for something to do!

It's a cool museum, but pretty small and a bit repetitive. Because it was included in Conch Train…read moreTour tickets, it was good, but hard to justify $10 per person otherwise. It does give some good history of Henry Flagler, who is an important person in Florida history.

It's a good thing to do while waiting for the Trolley. (I am really glad we did not buy special…read moretickets just to come into the museum.) It is informative; however you learn a lot of the same information in other museums. So you are getting some repetition The woman who checks you in is as lovely as can be and knows the schedule for both the trolley and the train. (Down to the minute.)

By far the coolest store in KW. Amazing selection of cards (Pokemon, Basketball, Baseball etc.)…read morecomic books and all kinds of games. Loved playing the Golden Tee and claw machine. Really caters to every age and there's not enough I can say about the customer service here. I had the best time stopping in and picked out a few gifts. Can't wait to go back!!

I tried to visit this place twice with my son on Sat Aug 31st. The first time the business wasn't…read moreopen at noon, the time it states to open on its website. I called the business and the owner apologized and said she would be opening late that day from 1pm-7pm. I said I would return later on before closing. I came back at 5:58pm again with my 6 year old son in tow and it was CLOSED. We were both upset and it was a complete waste of my time going there twice in one day.