All Key West, All Day

After a restful night's sleep at The Gardens Hotel, it's time to explore more of Key West.

Walk a few blocks from The Gardens Hotel this morning to enjoy breakfast under the trees at Blue Heaven where the dishes are, well, heavenly. With Benedicts like beef tenderloin, Key West Shrimp, and lobster, and Richard’s Very Good Pancakes served plain, or with bananas, pineapple, pecans, or blueberries, you can’t go wrong.
At Blue Heaven, no one will bat an eye if you order a slice of Key lime pie with its towering meringue, even for breakfast.

Burn off breakfast with a short walk to the Key West Lighthouse & Keeper’s Quarters; the lighthouse was first lit in 1848 with a female keeper. Over the years the lighthouse was upgraded and Keeper’s Quarters were added before it was decommissioned in 1969.
Climb the 88 steps to the top for 360-degree views of Key West and the waters that reach to the horizon.

From the lighthouse, walk across to the Hemingway Home & Museum where Ernest Hemingway lived and wrote during his time in Key West.
A docent-led 20- to 30-minute tour will lead you through the house and grounds, where you are sure to spot a few of the famous six-toed cats that are decedents of Hemingway’s own cat, Snow White, given to him by a ship’s captain.

Somehow it's already time for lunch, so make your way to Moon Dog Cafe & Bakery, where there's plenty to choose from on the menu. Think truffle French fries, ahi tuna poke, and wok-fired Brussels sprouts to share, and salads, tacos, burgers, and sandwiches to enjoy on your own. The pizzas are quite tempting, too. Choose a table inside or out, and enjoy a lingering lunch.

Before you leave Key West and the Florida Keys, make one last stop at Key West First Legal Rum Distillery. As the name implies, the distillery opened 90 years after Prohibition ended, and is the first legal rum distillery in Key West.
Free 15- to 20-minute distillery tours are offered daily between noon and 5pm, or book a one-hour Mojito Class so you can learn to make your own at home. The class includes a mojito glass, muddler, and bar spoon to keep, and all the ingredients to make your own drink to enjoy.
Raise a mojito and toast your time in the Florida Keys!

Your route ends tonight in Key West, but that doesn't mean you have to leave. Spend the night here, and tomorrow, explore the city.