Florida Key West Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour

See that big red buoy straight ahead? It’s hard to miss, as it’s the last thing you’ll see before the ocean. This marks the southernmost point in the Continental United States! Well, sort of. Let me explain. NOTE: This 2.3+ mile-long tour covers the essentials of Florida Key West in 1 hour.

The Historic Cedar House is coming up on our right. It’s pretty hard to miss, given the name! Why do they call it the Cedar House? Take a look at the house and the fence surrounding it. That’s right, they’re both made out of cedar. This is one of the only homes in Key West made entirely out of cedar.

Ahead on the left we can see the famous Kapok Tree. It’s the big one with wide branches spreading straight out from the trunk. Kapok trees are some of the largest flowering trees in the world, reaching heights of over 200 feet tall. They’re found in warm tropical climates, and considered sacred by many cultures.

The intersection ahead marks the beginning of US Highway One. Mile marker zero stands just ahead on our left. We’ll be approaching from the back of the sign, so make sure you walk around to the front for a better look.

If you’d like to take a quick detour to a piratical attraction, turn right onto Caroline Street. This will take you to the Captain George Carey house, home to the Pirates Well. The well is just out in front of the house.

On our right stands the Captain George Carey House! Have you ever heard of the “Wreck of the German Brides?” It’s a real thing! A ship wrecked near here in the 1800s and five German women survived. All of them were single, and every one of them ended up marrying a man from Key West!

Take a look to the left. See the sign for Truman’s “Little” Whitehouse? It’s a short walk from here, so if you’d like to check it out, you can follow the signs. But if you don’t, just keep heading down Whitehead Street while I tell you a little about it.

On our right stands the Audubon House and its surrounding tropical gardens. You can’t miss it! Constructed in 1849, this used to be the home of Captain John Geiger, one of Key West’s wealthiest men.

We’re approaching Greene Street, home to a very special Key West landmark: Captain Tony’s Saloon! The barstools in this establishment bear the names of celebrities who’ve stopped for a drink there. Want to drink at the same bar where Robert DeNiro, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, and Clint Eastwood once tossed a few back? This is your place.

On our left stands the new location of Sloppy Joe’s. Time to set the history straight once and for all. As I mentioned, this isn’t the original Sloppy Joe’s. But did you know that neither was Captain Tony’s Saloon? So where was the original?

Believe it or not, that white house with the porch on our right is the oldest house on the island! Built in 1829, it was home to the prominent wrecker, Captain Fracis Watlington, who lived there with his wife and nine daughters. Yes, you heard that right: Nine!

Notice the large white church to our left? That’s St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, one of the area’s most beautiful buildings. You wouldn’t know it by looking, but the church has seen its fair share of tragedy and disasters over the years.

Remember the fire of 1886? The white building with three archways on our right is the San Carlos Institute, and it’s where that fire began! These days it’s a museum, library, theater, and school. Oh, and an art gallery. It’s also been recognized as one of Florida’s most beautiful landmarks.

Just ahead on our right stands the Butterfly and Nature Conservatory. Here, you can see over 50 butterfly species from around the world, as well as gardens replete with flowering plants, exotic birds, and cascading waterfalls. Sort of a paradise inside of paradise.