Key West is a fun city with some interesting history, lots of attractions, good shopping and good food, so here is our list of Things To Do in Key West.

If you want to do the road trip from Miami to Key West, check out our Miami to Key West Drive: The 20 Best Stops here.

Where to Stay in Key West

Parking is very difficult in Key West, so we opted for a hotel that was close to Mallory Square and close to most of the restaurants, shopping and main attractions. If you choose a hotel farther away from the main attractions, that is fine, but I would plan to use Uber instead of looking for parking.

We stayed at the Opal Key Resort and Marina and loved it.

Click here for other hotels in the area to consider.

For most of our time, we left our rental car in the hotel parking garage and walked around, but if it was too hot or we were in a hurry, then we would call an Uber and that worked great.

When to Go to Key West

Key West has great weather all year; however, consider these when planning your trip:

• Hurricane season starts June 1 and ends November 30. Historically, the chances of hurricane activity are greater between August 15 and October 15.
• The busiest season is around Christmas into early January.
• March through May is a great time, especially before school is out, because it is warmer, but not too hot and not too crowded with summer vacationers.

Things to Do

Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square

One of the evenings that you are staying in Key West, make sure to go to Mallory Square before the sunset. This nightly event started in the late 1960s! It begins two hours before sunset, and everyone is invited to watch the beautiful sunset as the sun sinks into the horizon.

The nightly festival hosts visitors from all over the world. You will be entertained by the magicians, jugglers, clowns, and local musicians.

You can also shop local artists and enjoy food and drinks from the nearby vendors. It is a fun time to be outside and enjoy the talented performers!

Hemingway Home and Museum

The Ernest Hemingway Home was the residence of American writer Ernest Hemingway in the 1930s. The house is at 907 Whitehead Street, across from the Key West Lighthouse. This home is the most popular tourist attraction in Key West.

The house is also famous for its many cats that live there, commonly called Hemingway cats. Around half are polydactyl, meaning that they have six toes on each paw. The cats are named after celebrities like Humphrey Bogart or Marilyn Monroe. You can see many of them lounging in the house as in the photo below.

The entry fee includes a 30 minute guided tour which is very informative about the history of Ernest Hemingway and the house. The house is open daily, 365 days a year from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
You can just walk in for a tour as no reservations are required. Please note that it is currently cash only for admission.

Hemingway’s pool is massive, being 24 feet wide and 60 feet long. It goes from 5 feet deep in the shallow end to a depth of 10 feet in the deep end and holds over 80,000 gallons of water. It was built in 1938 for only $20,000, but that is equal to $414,000 in 2022 dollars! Ernest complained about the growing cost of construction. Supposedly, Ernest was so upset about the costs that he flung a penny on the pool patio and said to his wife, “Pauline, you’ve spent all but my last penny, so you might as well have that!” Whether the story is true or not, you can see a penny embedded in the cement at the North end of the pool and shown in the photo below.

Hemingway’s writing studio is upstairs in a separate building from the main house. You definitely want to peek into his studio, so make sure you go up the outside stairs to see it. Hemingway wrote every day in the morning from first light until about noon. You can see his studio in the photo below.

If you are a reader and interested in Hemingway’s works, here are arguably, his top 3 novels. Pick one up and read it while you are chilling in Key West!

1. The Old Man and the Sea
2. The Sun Also Rises
3. A Farewell to Arms

Harry S. Truman Little White House

The Harry S. Truman Little White House was originally on the waterfront when it was built in 1890. It served as the first officer’s quarters on the U.S. naval station. In 1911 the building was converted into a single-family dwelling to house the base commandant.

In November 1946, President Truman had finished 19 months in office, but was physically exhausted. His doctor ordered a vacation somewhere warm. Truman arrived in November 1946 and when he left he promised to return when he felt the need for rest. His next vacation here came in March 1947. Truman had additional visits every November through December and every February through March. Truman realized that where the President was, the White House was. Documents issued from the Little White House read “The White House, US Naval Station, Key West, Florida.” Truman spent 175 days of his presidency at the Little White House.

During the time Truman was staying at the Little White House, various cabinet members and foreign officials were regular visitors for fishing trips and poker games.

The tour is 2.5 hours long and gives you good insight into Truman as a president and the history of the house and naval station. The Truman Little White House is open 7 days a week, 365 days a year including all holidays. You can find ticket prices here.

Key West Lighthouse and Keeper’s Quarters

Key West Lighthouse and Keeper’s Quarters opened in 1848 and over the years had a number of upgrades including adding a Keeper’s Quarters and finally, electric light. In 1969, the Coast Guard decommissioned the Key West Lighthouse since new technology made the lighthouse obsolete. Today, this lighthouse stands as a museum dedicated to Key West’s maritime heritage.

You can walk up the 88 steps to the top of the light as well as explore the belongings, photographs, and words of the lighthouse Keepers.

If you are interested, you can schedule a Key West Lighthouse Sunset Experience. The price is not cheap, but available for small groups (2-4 people), large groups (5-8 people) or a proposal package if you want to propose to your significant other.

Dry Tortugas National Park

We so wanted to spend a day at Dry Tortugas National Park, but the transportation to this island gets booked up months in advance, so if you want to do this you will need to plan in advance. If you can’t do it, don’t be too discouraged, as we did a wonderful full day Sail, Snorkel and Kayak tour that was fabulous! You will learn about it in the next section.

You can get to the park by ferry boat or seaplane.

You can snorkel and swim around various areas.

If you want to dive, you must bring your own equipment with your own boat as pressurized tanks are not allowed on the ferry or seaplane.

While you are on the island you can tour Fort Jefferson. If you get to the island by the ferry boat, you can join a 60 minute tour of the fort from one of their employees.

Sail, Snorkel and Kayak Tour

We had an awesome time with Danger Charters on our Full Day Premium Sail, Snorkel and Kayak tour. The tour was from 10am until 4:30pm and included lunch which served an awesome Curry Chicken Salad.

We sailed the Key West waters aboard a classic 65 foot schooner to the Key West National Wildlife Refuge. In the refuge, we were able to snorkel through the sponge gardens and over coral patch reefs in very clear water. After snorkeling, we then took kayaks to explore around a mangrove island.

Check out this video of our tour and during the snorkel part of the video, you will see many different sea creatures. For the kayak part of the tour, you can see the mangrove island up close.

If you want to take some amazing underwater video, then get an affordable GoPro camera from Amazon. We used a GoPro Hero 8.

Also, you can take your phone on the kayak with this waterproof phone pouch.

Visit the Southern Most Point of the U.S.A.

Visit the Southern Most Point of the U.S.A. and get someone to take your photo!

You can find this buoy at the corner of Whitehead St. and South St.

There is often a line and in the summer, it can be quite hot, so bring a bottle of cold water with you.

Duvall Street

Duval Street is the main street for shopping, bars and restaurants. It cuts across Key West, starting from near Mallory Square to the other side of the island. Make sure you plan some time to just wander around Duval and the surrounding streets to check out the shops, bars and restaurants.

You can visit Sloppy Joe’s Restaurant and Bar at the corner of Duval St. and Greene St. where they have live music daily.

Shipwreck Museum and Tower

The Key West Shipwreck Museum and Tower is well worth a visit to learn the unique history of Key West.

Between the 1850s and 1921, around 100 ships per day passed by Key West. The waters around Key West were well known as some of the most treacherous in the world. On average, at least one ship per week would wreck somewhere along the Florida Reef.

During that time, wreckers as they were called would watch the reef night and day from observation towers. Some were over 90 feet high. When a wreck was spotted, they would yell “Wreck Ashore” and the wreckers would race to the reef to be the first to reach the wreck. This was financially important to the wreckers as the first man to reach the wreck became the “wrecking master” who controlled the salvage operation and got a larger share of the salvage. The goods salvaged were sold at auction and the wrecking courts awarded between 25 and 50 percent of the profit to the wreckers. This made Key West one of the richest cities in America.

In this museum you will learn about the wreckers and see some of the treasure that has been recovered.

You can also go to the top of the tower and get a great view of Key West.

Mel Fisher Maritime Museum

The Mel Fisher Maritime Museum gives a view of the life of a treasure hunter along with many exhibits on shipwreck archaeology. You will get to see a variety of treasures recovered from the treasure and slave ships that once sailed the waters near the Florida coast. You will definitely want to see the magnificent gold, silver and jewels of the Spanish Treasure Galleons galleries.

The museum is open 365 days a year and is located at 200 Greene Street.

Key West Post Card Photo Spot

This Key West Postcard Photo Spot is on the side of the Cuban Coffee Queen. Ask someone to take your photo and take this postcard home.

This is the place for great Cuban coffee, so buy some to enjoy while you are there and buy some to take home. There are a few difference locations, so make sure you go to the waterfront one at 284 Margaret Street.

If you do not have an espresso maker, I would recommend purchasing this affordable Classic Stovetop Espresso Maker from Amazon. It is so easy to use, and you put it right on your stovetop. In addition, it is small so it will store easily, and there are three sizes: 3-cup, 5-cup and 8-cup. This one is a 5 cup. There are several colors to choose from, so you can get your favorite.

Take a Photo of a Key West Gypsy Chicken

There are lots of roosters and chickens that roam around the streets of Key West, and they have been dubbed Key West Gypsy Chickens by the locals. The one below was outside of our hotel room and provided an early wakeup call each morning!

These birds are so prevalent, that you can even get rooster souvenirs in the shops, like the T-Shirt below where the rooster is touting that they own this town! You will certainly see them walking in and out of restaurants like they own this town! They are beautiful and add to the charm of Key West.

Mile Post 0 Photo Spot

If you look closely at the sign on the corner behind us in the photo below, you will see Mile Post 0 for Florida Highway 1. It is a cool spot to take a selfie.

Places to Eat

There are many great places to eat in Key West. Here are the ones that we enjoyed and one that got away! If you plan in advance you don’t have to let the last one on our list below get away.

Bagatelle

The Bagatelle Restaurant is located at 115 Duval Street, close to Mallory Square and is in a historic, architecturally beautiful building, built in the 1800s.

We went here for dinner one night and it was very crowded. We ended up eating at the bar, which was fine, and better than waiting longer.

We started with a Crab Cake, which was delicious!

I had the Chicken Caesar Salad.

My husband had a special salad with apples, cranberries, candied walnuts, bacon and blue cheese and he loved it!

Caroline’s Cafe

Caroline’s Cafe is located at 310 Duval Street. We stopped in for a lunch and enjoyed the outdoor patio.

Try some Conch Fritters if you haven’t ever had them. They are hushpuppies with finely chopped conch meat in them.

We also tried their Macon and Bacon Salad, which was good. It is made with fried chicken, corn, Vidalia onions, crunchy bacon, maple pecans, romaine lettuce, and homemade ranch dressing.

Clemente’s Wood-Fired Trolley Pizzeria

We chose to get wood fired pizza one evening and have a casual dinner at Clemente’s Wood-Fired Trolley Pizzeria which is located at 516 Fleming St. This pizzeria is off the beaten path and we enjoyed a nice dinner at a sidewalk table in the cool of the evening.

We chose to get one pizza with half meatball and half supreme. The pizza was really tasty with a thin crust.

Azur

The Azur Restaurant is a chef-owned restaurant located in Old Town Key West at 425 Grinnell St.

The restaurant serves Mediterranean specialties in their dining room or on their shaded terrace.

I had the special of the day, which was sea bass with shrimp, and it was delicious!

My husband had the branzino which he enjoyed every bit of, even with the work to get it off the bones.

We also had the pecorino-sesame fried cauliflower for a side dish to share.

Cafe Marquesa

The Cafe Marquesa is a small, but cozy, high-end eatery located at 600 Fleming St. It was the fanciest restaurant that we went to during our stay in Key West and included the requisite white tablecloths.

I had the Scottish salmon over asparagus with roasted eggplant and it was very good.

My husband had the filet with asparagus and French fries, and I must say that he devoured it!

For dessert we shared the beignets with powdered sugar, crème Anglaise and fresh berries. The beignets were crunchy on the outside but melt in your mouth soft on the inside and the crème Anglaise on them was awesome.

Garbo’s Grill

Garbo’s Grill is a food truck that makes some tasty tacos, burritos, hamburgers, hot dogs, poke bowls and lobster rolls! It is located at 409 Caroline St, behind Hank’s Saloon.

They have two Happy Hours with the first being 4pm-6pm and the second being 10pm to midnight. Happy Hour is the best time to go because you can get their Taco Trio with 1 Korean BBQ taco, 1 Cayo Fish taco and 1 Yum Yum Shrimp taco for a bargain price!

During Happy Hour, you can also get two Umami Sliders for a deal!

Latitudes

The Latitudes restaurant is the one that we couldn’t get into because all of the reservations were taken, so if you want to go there, make reservations way in advance as reservations are required! Their dinner menu looks fabulous!

And the view out the slide open doors looks amazing too!

This restaurant is not on Key West, but on a small island next to Key West called Sunset Key. So, you have to get there via a small shuttle boat that departs from the western edge of the island of Key West from Opal Key Resort and Marina. This boat travels just a mere 500 yards away, which is about a seven-minute ride to the dock at Sunset Key Cottages.

DID YOU Vacation in KEY WEST?

If so, leave a comment below about what you did and what you loved!

This Miami to Key West Drive is a beautiful road trip with several fun and unique stops along the way! Also check out these Things to do in Key West.

What is the Distance from Miami to Key West?

It is 167 miles from South Miami Beach to Key West. Depending on the stops you make along this Miami to Key West road trip, you may add a few more miles.

How long does it take to drive from Miami to Key West?

If you were to drive straight through, it would take about 4 hours. With the stops we made, it took us about 8 hours and 30 minutes, and we did the drive in a single day.

Should we make the drive in one day or take multiple days?

We did the drive in a single day. You can certainly add more stops and longer stops and enjoy more of the Florida Keys. We will include a few other options to consider at the end of this article. Also, you can make this a one-way trip and fly into Miami and out of Key West, or you can fly in and out of Miami and drive back to Miami at the end of your stay and do a few more things on your drive back.

Where to stay in Miami Beach?

We stayed here and enjoyed it:

Hilton Bentley Miami/South Beach
101 Ocean Drive
Miami Beach, Florida, 33139, USA

However, there are many other hotels in the area, click here to view them.

Before your drive, spend a little time enjoying a little of Miami. Here is what we did and we highly recommend.

1. Enjoy the South Miami Beach

Enjoy South Miami Beach during the day.

The beaches are nice for getting a little sun and enjoying the water.

2. Walk Around South Beach

Enjoy walking around South Beach. You can easily walk up and down the streets that run parallel to the beach. While anytime is good, the evening is especially nice as the temperature cools down. The street next to the beach is aptly named Ocean Dr.

There you can see the former Versace mansion at 1116 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139. The mansion has now been turned into a luxury boutique hotel where you can rent rooms and a restaurant, Gianni’s Restaurant, serving a blend of Italian and Mediterranean food.

You can also take a step back in time admiring the art deco style buildings in the area, like the Park Central Hotel shown below, which is at 640 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, FL 33139.

3. Eat a Delicious Greek or Mediterranean Dinner

Where to Enjoy Dinner?

The Greek and Mediterranean Restaurant inside the Hilton Bentley hotel, Santorini by Georgios, is so good that it is a favorite among locals and visitors alike. We enjoyed an extremely delicious dinner there, and the blue ambient lighting was rather cool!

We started with an appetizer of Spanakopita.

For main dishes, my husband had the lamb chops, which he loved.

And I had the Moussaka, which is Greek Eggplant Lasagna. Their version was called Moussaka Fusion, with a pan-style moussaka, eggplant stuffed with potatoes Bolognese, feta and topped with a creamy béchamel sauce. It was delicious!

We finished with a wonderful Baklava for dessert.

4. Do The Little Havana Food and Cultural Tour

One of the things we like to do in cities that are large enough is a food walking tour. In Miami, we did this fabulous Little Havana Food and Cultural Tour!

Where is Little Havana Miami?

The center of Little Havana Miami is located at the intersection of Calle Ocho (Southwest Eighth Street) and SW 16th Avenue, where you will find the Little Havana Visitor’s Center and El Pub restaurant.

We were able to tour Little Havana and learn about the Cuban culture, immigrant’s history and sample some amazing Cuban food!

Here are a few of the foods and drinks we sampled, but you will get more on the tour.

First was a beef empanada, which was so delicious! If you want to try something similar at home, try our Puerto Rican Empanadas – Air Fryer Style.

Next, we sampled some Cuban Coffee and learned about the 4 Types of Cuban Coffee. We had the Café Cubano, which is a type of espresso that originated in Cuba, where the espresso shot is sweetened with sugar.

Then, we enjoyed a sit down lunch with a Mojito and a Cuban Sandwich.

We also sampled, some fresh, hot cinnamon and sugar Churros as you can see my husband enjoying!

We also learned about the Cuban culture with a tour of the Domino Park and a Cigar Factory.

We were able to watch an expert hand roll cigars.

Also, you will see a few Little Havana Miami Roosters!!!

The rooster represents strength and power in Cuban folklore.

As you wander through Little Havana, you will see a number of rooster statues and roosters in various wall art. As you can see below, there are a few statues in front of the El Pub restaurant and the Little Havana Visitor’s Center. Feel free to stop by for a selfie with any of them!

5. Take an Everglades AirBoat Tour

We also did a fan boat tour in the Everglades. There are a few different operators. You will want to call and reserve a time as they often sell out in advance.

We selected Airboat Rides Miami, which had a fun wildlife show before the tour, where we saw this massive alligator.

The airboat ride was fun. You can go as a group or as a private group. Check out our video to get a taste of the tour, with my husband narrating:

The photo below is us leaving the dock area. It is very treed here.

Then you start going through tall sawgrass.

Some parts are a little less grassy, where you can see a longer distance.

Our guide took us to view a very old and no longer used hunting cabin and dock.

Can you see the large alligator that is in front of me in the photo below?

The Miami to Key West Drive

Here is a map overview of the stops we made.

If you want an easy to follow map on your mobile phone, then just click the More options link in either map below, which will open the map in Google and then click the Send directions to your phone link.

Here is a map with the stops we made along with the optional stops listed here as well.

Rent a Convertible

Consider renting a convertible for the Miami to Key West drive. We rented a Mustang Convertible and enjoyed having the top down on some of the ride.

What are Mile Markers?

It is important to understand mile markers for this drive, since many of the attractions are listed by the mile marker closest to them. I knew what mile markers are, as you see them in the little green signs every mile on the highway (see photo below).

These are useful if you have a breakdown or accident. What I didn’t know is that where the highway intersects a state line, the mile marker numbering typically begins at zero. The numbers then increase as you travel north on north-south roadways and increase as you travel east on east-west roadways. So, since we are going south on this trip, the mile markers will be decreasing and you can take a photo of mile marker 0 in Key West!

Leave Early

Try to leave early so you have the day. 9am if possible from South Beach.

Plan ahead for the turtle hospital by getting a ticket in advance for the 3pm tour.

So, my detail loving husband put together this nice table, so you can use it to create your own plan. You can add and remove any activities you want, but since the Turtle Hospital needs a reservation, it is helpful to make sure you can get there on time.

6. Key Largo Chocolates (Mile Marker 100.5)

Our first stop was at Key Largo Chocolates on – you guessed it – Key Largo. The address is 100470 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL. It took us about 90 minutes from South Beach to get here.

We had some tasty chocolate turtles.

And we ate their unique Chocolate Dipped Key Lime Pie on a stick. If you like Key Lime Pie, then give this one a try!

Yes, it does even include the pie crust inside!

7. Islamorada Brewery and Distillery (Mile Marker 82)

Our next stop was in Islamorada, FL. It took us about 30 minutes to get here from Key Largo. We had lunch and a cool drink at Islamorada Brewery & Distillery where we had a flight of beer and a sandwich from the food trucks on their outdoor area. Their address is 82229 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada, Florida 33036.

The patio was nice with shaded picnic tables.

This was a good stop for lunch. I had a fruity drink and my husband had a small beer flight.

The menus vary depending on which food truck is there. We had a beef sandwich…

and fried plantains. It was really tasty!

8. Morada Way Arts and Cultural District (Mile Marker 81)

About a mile down the road is the Morada Way Arts & Cultural District, which is a nice stop to shop some local artist galleries. The address is 140 Morada Way, Islamorada, FL 33036.

We visited several of the art galleries. Here are a few you should check out.

Jessica Ann Art Gallery – This gallery has some great ocean and bird art.

Redbone Gallery has many artists with Florida artworks around sea life and outdoor scenes. Here is an example from one of the artists:

Islamorada Art Gallery By Pasta is another art gallery, which has large ocean artworks. Here is an example:

Elena Madden Studio Gallery has her very unique water, light and motion art. Here is an example from her motion art:

9. Feed the Tarpons at Robbie’s of Islamorada (Mile Marker 77)

Drive another 4.5 miles and make a stop at Robbie’s of Islamorada, located at 77522 Overseas Highway Islamorada, FL.

This place has a restaurant, shop, open air market and more, but the thing you must do is feed the Tarpons!

Below is my husband, feeding the Tarpons.

You can try to have them take the fish out of your hand, but it is harder than it looks as it is easy to drop the fish when the Tarpons jump out of the water.

Or, you can just toss it in and watch the fun!

Just make sure that you don’t leave your bait bucket alone, or the pelicans will have a feast!

10. Turtle Hospital (Mile Marker 48.5)

The Turtle Hospital is located in Marathon, Florida and I think it is a must see. Their address is 2396 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050.

Reservations are recommended and in our case, you had to have them as they sell out fast during the day. If you are doing the drive in one day like we did, then I recommend you book a late time in the day (3pm or 4pm) a few days before your trip.

The guided educational tour is about 90 minutes long and covers the hospital facilities and the sea turtle rehabilitation area. It starts with an educational presentation on sea turtles as well as a behind the scenes look at the hospital facilities and rehabilitation area. At the end of each program you can feed the permanent residents.

The Turtle Hospital’s mission is to rehab injured sea turtles and return them to their natural habitat, educate the public, conduct and assist with research aiding sea turtles by working with state universities, and working for environmental legislation making the beaches and water safe and clean for sea turtles.

11. Seven Mile Bridge (Mile Markers 47-40)

After you leave the Turtle Hospital, the next bridge you will drive across is the Seven Mile Bridge, the longest bridge in Florida. It connects Knight’s Key in the Middle Keys to Little Duck Key in the Lower Keys.

You will also see part of the original bridge, which was a railroad bridge built in the early 1900s. After a hurricane destroyed that original bridge, it was sold to the U.S. Government and converted to a bridge for automobiles. A new bridge was constructed beside the old one and opened in 1982. The old bridge has been converted to a pedestrian walkway and fishing pier, but only a part of that original bridge is left, so it doesn’t go the full seven miles.

12. See the Key Deer on Big Pine Key

On Big Pine Key you can see Key Deer. You have to drive carefully here as these Key Deer are endangered. The Key deer is the smallest subspecies of the North American white-tailed deer. They travel through all of the Florida Keys habitats, and can walk, wade or swim from island to island.

They are quite friendly and used to humans.

13. No Name Pub (Close to Mile Marker 30)

This No Name Pub is also on Big Pine Key. It is not hard to find, but here is the address if you need it: 30813 Watson Blvd, Big Pine Key, FL 33043. It will take you about 30 minutes to drive from the Turtle Hospital to this pub.

Inside is eclectically decorated and you can add your dollar bill to the wall if you want.

It is a great place to grab a cold drink and a little snack!

The House Specialty is their Homemade Smoked Fish Dip, and it is so good!

14. Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square

It will take you about 1 hour to drive from the No Name Pub to Key West. So, for timing, if you do the 90 minute Turtle Hospital tour from 4-5:30pm or earlier, then you will get to the No Name Pub about 6pm. So, enjoy a cool drink and an appetizer for about 30 minutes, so you can get to Mallory Square by 7:30 and then have time to see the sunset. If you are staying in Key West for a few days, then you don’t have to rush as you can watch the sunset any evening.

Once you get to Key West, check into your hotel and then make sure you are at Mallory Square before the sunset. This nightly event started in the late 1960s! It begins two hours before sunset, and everyone is invited to watch the beautiful sunset as the sun sinks into the horizon. The nightly festival hosts visitors from all over the world. You will be entertained by the magicians, jugglers, clowns, and local musicians.

You can also shop local artists and enjoy food and drinks from the nearby vendors. It is a fun time to be outside and enjoy the talented performers!

Additional Stops to Consider

If you have the time, here are a few additional stops that you might want to consider adding.

15. Coral Castle Museum

The Coral Castle Museum is a sculpture garden of stone that you can tour. It was built by one man, Edward Leedskalnin. Ed built it from 1923 to 1951 by himself, carving over 1,100 tons of coral rock. He did this with a secret process and only hand tools, making this a very mysterious accomplishment. The museum is open every day.

Coral Castle Museum
28655 South Dixie Highway
Miami, FL 33033

16. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park – (Mile Marker 102.5)

The first undersea park in the U.S., John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, covers approximately 70 nautical square miles. The mangrove swamps and tropical hammocks in the park’s upland areas offer visitors a unique experience; however, it is the coral reefs and their marine life that bring most visitors to the park. Above is the Christ of the Deep sculpture you can see on a snorkel or scuba tour.

You can enjoy the view of the reef from a glass-bottom boat tour, but you can get a much closer look by scuba diving or snorkeling. Canoeing, paddleboarding and kayaking through the park’s waters are also popular activities. All these tour reservations and equipment rentals require online booking in advance so book them early for the best availability.

Fishing is permitted in designated areas. You can also enjoy walking on short trails, picnicking, or swimming at the beach. The Visitor Center has a 30,000-gallon saltwater aquarium and a theater where nature videos are shown.

17. Rain Barrel Village – (Mile Marker 86)

Since 1978, Rain Barrel Village has proudly supported local artists. The work in the galleries is from more than 500 artists!

Don’t forget to take a selfie with Betsy, the giant Spiny Lobster!

18. History of Diving Museum (Mile Marker 83)

The Florida Keys History of Diving Museum collects, preserves and displays all things relative to the history of diving. The museum tells the history of exploring under water. If you are a scuba diver, you may want to consider adding this stop to your trip.

19. Dolphin Research Center (Mile Marker 59)

The Dolphin Research Center has been rescuing and rehabilitating whales and dolphins since 1984.

In addition to maintaining a great environment for the dolphins and sea lions, they also assist marine mammals in distress in the surrounding waters of the Keys.

To reach as many people as possible, the Center provides a variety of educational programs that allow the public a chance to learn firsthand about the world of the dolphin.

In addition to learning about dolphins and the research center, you can swim with dolphins here as well!

Address: 58901 Overseas Highway | Grassy Key, FL 33050

20. Bahia Honda State Park (Mile Marker 37)

The Bahia Honda State Park is known for its scenery, sandy beaches, clear waters and magnificent sunsets.

The park is an excellent place to observe wading birds and shorebirds, and introduces nature lovers to the island’s plants and animals.

Kayaks and snorkeling gear can be rented, and boat trips to the reef for snorkeling excursions are available.

Address: 36850 Overseas Highway, Big Pine Key, FL 33043

Where to Stay in Key West

Parking is very difficult in Key West, so we opted for a hotel that was close to Mallory Square and close to most of the restaurants, shopping and main attractions. If you choose a hotel farther away from the main attractions, that is fine, but I would plan to use Uber instead of looking for parking.

We stayed at the Opal Key Resort and Marina and loved it.

Click here for other hotels in the area to consider.

We typically left our rental car in the hotel parking garage and mostly walked around, but if it was hot or we were in a hurry, then we would call an uber and that worked great.

Miami to Key West Drive Frequently Asked Questions

Best Time of Year to Drive from Miami to Key West

Miami and Key West have great weather all year; however, consider these when planning your trip:

• Hurricane season starts June 1 and ends November 30. Historically, the chances of hurricane activity are greater between August 15 and October 15.
• The busiest season is around Christmas into early January.
• March through May is a great time, especially before school is out, because it is warmer, but not too hot and not too crowded with summer vacationers.

Timing Options to do this in One Day

If you want to do the optional activities, how many more days and where to stay?

If you are driving from Miami to Key West and back, then you can do some of the activities on the way down and others on the way back. If you are doing a one way trip from Miami to Key West, then depending on the activities you want to do, you might need to do this drive in 2 or 3 days.

Specifically, if you want to do some of the water activities in John Pennekamp State Park, then, you should plan on staying one night in Key Largo or Islamorada. Here are Key Largo Hotels to consider for your stay. If you want to stay on some amazing white sand beaches, then opt for Islamorada. Here are Islamorada Hotels to check out.

If you also want to hang out at the Bahai Honda State Park, and / or spend time at the Turtle Hospital and Dolphin Research Center, then you may want to spend a night in Marathon. Here are the Hotels in Marathon.

Did you Do the Miami to Key West Drive?

If so, leave a comment below about what you did and what you loved!

Sample the great tastes of Chicago with this do-it-yourself Chicago Food Tour! You will taste Deep Dish Chicago Pizza, Chicago Hot Dogs, The Billy Goat Tavern Cheeseburger, Fannie May chocolates, Garrett Popcorn and also see the Tiffany Dome and Millennium Park with the Cloud Gate (aka the Bean)!

There are many Chicago Food Tours available, but this self-guided Chicago Food Tour is one where you are in control of the timing for each stop and allows for any additional wandering to be added in by you!

This Chicago Food Tour is a walking food tour, although you can use Uber if you want to do less walking. There are two options for this food tour, but they both cover all the same eateries. The only difference is whether you want to include a side trip to the Navy Pier, which I highly recommend.

Where to Stay in Chicago?

We stayed at The Palmer House, which is a great Hilton Hotel in a fabulous location. Did you know that their kitchen invented the brownie? Get their original brownie recipe here. Below is a look at their bar and lounge area.

Chicago Food Tour Maps

The first option, is the shorter option without including a trip to the Navy Pier. This option is 2.1 miles with a total walking time of about 45 minutes. If you want an easy to follow map on your mobile phone, then just Click here for this Chicago Food Tour Map in Google Maps and then click the Send directions to your phone button.

This second option is the best one because it includes a trip to the Navy Pier. This option is 3.8 miles long with a total walking time of about 1 hour and 20 minutes. If you want an easy to follow map on your mobile phone, then just Click here for this Chicago Walking Food Tour Map in Google Maps and then click the Send directions to your phone button.

Chicago Walking Food Tour Details

For this food tour, you may want to eat a light breakfast or skip breakfast and then start this tour at 11am.

Chicago Deep Dish Pizza

You may think that Chicago-Style Pizza has a thick crust in that deep dish, but that is not the case. It has a thin crust with a high edge from the deep dish that allows it to hold in lots of cheese and toppings. The Chicago-Style Pizza also layers on the toppings differently, with lots of cheese on top of the crust, then some toppings, like sausage is placed on top of the cheese, then the tomato sauce, then other toppings like black olives on top of the tomato sauce. So, it looks different and tastes different. The buttery crust is so delicious, it really makes the perfect base for this Chicago classic.

Start your tour at Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria, their Gold Coast Location at 1120 North State Street (at State & Rush), Chicago, IL 60610.

I recommend that you order the Deep Dish Malnati Chicago Classic. It is made with sausage, mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce on a buttery crust. It’s authentic Chicago!

For a vegetarian option, order the Deep Dish The Lou. It has spinach, mushrooms and Roma tomatoes covered with three cheeses, on a garlic, buttery crust.

They also have gluten-free pizza crust options as well for all of their pizzas.

Chicago Hot Dogs

After you are finished with your deep dish Chicago pizza, it is time for a little walk to taste a true Chicago-style Hot Dog or Chicago Dog at Portillo’s Hot Dogs.

To get there, start walking South on State Street, take a right on W. Walton St. and when you get to the corner of W. Walton St. and Dearborn St. take a diagonal short cut through Washington Square Park – you will exit the part at W. Delaware Pl. and N. Clark St. Continue South down N. Clark St and you will find Portillo’s Hot Dogs on the Northwest Corner of N. Clark St. and W. Ontario St. This will be a 0.8 mile walk that will take about 15 minutes.

Chicago Hot Dog Ingredients

Do you know why Chicago Dogs are so good?

Because it takes nine ingredients to make one! The Chicago hot dog is said to be “dragged through the garden” because of so many toppings!

Here are the nine ingredients for a Chicago Dog:

• It starts with an all-beef frankfurter
• on a steamed poppy seed bun
• topped with yellow mustard,
• chopped white onions,
• bright green sweet pickle relish,
• a dill pickle spear,
• tomato slices or wedges,
• pickled sport peppers
• and a dash of celery salt

The method for cooking the hot dog itself varies depending on the vendor, but most often they are steamed or, water-simmered. Less often they are grilled over charcoal and referred to as “char-dogs”.

Chicago Food Tour: Optional Navy Pier

To get to the Navy Pier, head South on N Clark St and cross W Ontario St, keep going on N Clark St until you get to W Grand Ave. Then turn left onto W Grand Ave and it will take you straight to the Navy Pier.

What is the Navy Pier?

Navy Pier is a long pier on the shoreline of Lake Michigan and includes parks, gardens, shops, restaurants, family attractions and exhibition facilities. You can also book sightseeing boat tours that leave from the Navy Pier. It is one of Chicago’s most visited tourist attractions. Click this link to learn more about what is available at the Navy Pier.

Navy Pier Ferris Wheel

You can get a cool beverage from any of the restaurants on the pier. Also, you can take a ride in the Ferris Wheel to get a nice view of the lake and the city.

Chicago Children’s Museum

If your kiddos are along for this tour, consider making a stop in the Chicago Children’s Museum. It has fun, hands on activities for toddlers to ages 9 and over. Click this link to check out the current activities available.

The Navy Pier Photo Spots

There are a couple of cool spots to take a photo. One is by this giant anchor at the end of the pier, with Lake Michigan and a lighthouse in the background.

Another good spot is at the north side of the end of the pier, where you can see the length of the Navy Pier on the left side, with the city in the background.

The Billy Goat Tavern

The Original Billy Goat Tavern is a must see on this Chicago Food Tour!

To get to the Tavern from the Navy Pier: Head north on Park Dr/N Streeter Dr toward E Grand Ave, then turn left onto E Grand Ave. Next, turn left onto N Rush St, then cross E Hubbard St and then turn left onto E Hubbard St. Take the stairs down to the Billy Goat Tavern.

To get to the Tavern from Portillo’s: Head east on W Ontario St toward N Clark St, then turn right onto N State St. Next, cross E Hubbard St and then turn left onto E Hubbard St. Take the stairs down to the Billy Goat Tavern.

You will find the original Billy Goat Tavern under the street level, so you have to walk down this flight of steps to get there, but there is a nice sign letting you know you are on the right track!

The Billy Goat Tavern was made famous by the Curse of the Billy Goat and Saturday Night Live in The Olympia Restaurant skit.

The Curse of the Billy Goat

The Curse of the Billy Goat was a sports curse that was supposedly placed on the Chicago Cubs Baseball franchise in 1945, by Billy Goat Tavern owner William Sianis. The curse lasted 71 years, from 1945 to 2016. During game 4 of the 1945 World Series at Wrigley Field, Sianis’s pet goat, named Murphy, was bothering other fans, and so the pair were asked to leave the stadium. Sianis was outraged and allegedly declared, “Them Cubs, they ain’t gonna win no more,” which had been interpreted to mean that the Cubs would never win another National League pennant, at least for the remainder of Sianis’s life. The Cubs lost the 1945 World Series to the Detroit Tigers, and did not win a World Series championship again until 2016. See William “Billy” Sianis and his Billy goat in the photo below.

Billy Goat SNL Skit

Saturday Night Live cast members John Belushi and Bill Murray knew the Billy Goat from their days doing stand up comedy at the Second City comedy club in Chicago. Click the Play button below to see The Olympia Restaurant Skit.

Cheeseborger

This is a fun, historical place to grab a “cheeseborger”. The cheeseburgers here are good, but you are stopping here for the history and to see this special place.

The current owner of the Billy Goat Tavern, Sam Sianis, is the nephew of the original owner William. As of this writing, he is in his 80s and can sometimes be seen working or visiting with patrons. We found him cutting up some onions when were were there as you can see in the photo below.

We had the pleasure of meeting Sam Sianis while he was working there, he definitely loves his customers!

Fannie May

Now it is time for a short sightseeing walk on the way to Fannie May’s for a chocolate, ice cream or coffee.

When you get up to the top of the stairs, take a look across N. Michigan Ave. at the Tribune Tower.

The Tribune Tower is a 36-floor neo-Gothic skyscraper built between 1923 and 1925. The tower was the home of the Chicago Tribune, Tribune Media, and Tribune Publishing until moving out in June 2018. Now it has been turned into condominiums.

If you take a right and start walking South down Michigan Ave. you will be right next to the Wrigley Building with it’s famous clock tower.

The Wrigley Building is a skyscraper that was built to house the corporate headquarters of the Wrigley Chewing Gum Company. It was Chicago’s first air-conditioned office building.

Now, let’s walk to Fannie May. Keep going South on Michigan Ave. and cross the Chicago River walking on the bridge. Enjoy the beautiful view of the river and city skyline.

When you get across the river, Fannie May will be diagonally across from you, so cross over both Michigan Ave. and E Wacker Dr. and you will be there.

The first Fannie May shop was opened in 1920 in Chicago and it become an instant success.

The Fannie May chocolates are so good and they have a large variety to choose from! Enjoy this iconic Chicago chocolatier.

If chocolate is not your favorite treat, no need to worry as they also serve ice cream and coffee.

After you get your fill of chocolate, ice cream and/or caffeine it is time for our last food stop on this tour.

Garrett Popcorn

Garrett Popcorn Shops is an American chain of gourmet popcorn stores founded in 1949 in Chicago, Illinois. Today, it has shops in nine countries, but the majority of its brick and mortar stores are still in Chicago. As such, it is regarded as part of classic Chicago cuisine. So, we are going to go there next!

To get there from Fannie May, head south on N Michigan Ave and walk 2 ½ blocks (about 5 minutes) and it will be on the same side of the street as Fannie May.

What should you order when you get there?

While they serve lots of flavors, to get the authentic Chicago Pop Corn, you have to order the Garrett Mix!!! It is the best mix of sweet (Caramel Corn) and savory (Cheese Corn) and it is what made Garrett Popcorn famous! Feel free to order any other flavors you like in addition to the Garrett Mix. The good news is that you can sample a little out of the bag and then take the rest to eat later, since you are probably stuffed by now!

Chicago Cultural Center’s Tiffany Dome

Since you are fueled up, we have two more fun stops on the tour! The first is to see the Tiffany Dome inside the Chicago Cultural Center. To get there, head South on Michigan Ave. when you get to E Randolph St, the center will be diagonally across from you, so cross both E Randolph St. and Michigan Ave. and enter the center.

The Chicago Cultural Center opened in 1897 and it is a Chicago Landmark. Inside, it has a reception area where the Mayor of Chicago has welcomed Presidents and royalty, diplomats and community leaders. It is located across Michigan Avenue from Millennium Park. Originally the central library building, it was converted in 1977 to an arts and culture center.

Once you are inside the center, go into the Preston Bradley Hall. There you can see a large, ornate room that is capped with a 38-foot Tiffany glass dome. This is the largest Tiffany dome in the world!

The Tiffany Dome is absolutely beautiful and worth a quick side trip into this building to see it and snap a few photos!

The Cloud Gate (AkA The Bean) in Millennium Park

Millennium Park is a top attraction to see in Chicago. You can see and take photos of the Cloud Gate, also known as the “Bean” for its shape.

Cloud Gate is a public sculpture that is the centerpiece of Millennium Park. The sculpture is nicknamed “the Bean” because of its shape. Made up of 168 stainless steel plates welded together, its highly polished exterior has no visible seams.

The design was inspired by liquid mercury and the sculpture’s surface reflects and distorts the city’s skyline.

You can walk around and under Cloud Gate’s 12-foot high arch. On the underside is the “omphalos” (Greek for “navel”), a concave chamber that warps and multiplies reflections.

In the summer and fall, there are plenty of beautiful plants and flowers to view in Millennium Park.

If you are looking for Chicago souvenirs, there are a few shops right across the Michigan Ave. from Millennium Park.

Chicago Food Tour Feedback

We hope you loved your tour, if so, please leave a comment below and tell us all about it!

Planning a long weekend in Andalusia? Here’s an easy-to-follow Malaga itinerary with lots of photos to help you rock your 3 days in Malaga, Spain!

Pssst! If you’re planning a trip in the near future, don’t forget to register for travel insurance before you go!

Oh, Malaga.

You are really something special.

To be honest, I’d never heard of Malaga until about three months ago.

I saw a cheap flight deal ($50 round trip!) from my home airport of Geneva nonstop to Malaga and booked it on a whim. 

My tickets were for late February. This is a time when the snow at my home in the Jura Mountains is measured in feet rather than inches (sorry, metric system). 

The typical weather in Malaga during this time of year? Mostly sunny and approaching 70 degrees. 

Hmm, 3 days in Malaga?

SOLD!

3 Days in Malaga

Malaga is on the coast of the Southern tip of Spain and is serviced by a major airport.

Due to its fabulous location on the Costa del Sol, Malaga has its fair share of high-rise hotels and tourist-trap restaurants near the beach.

While you can stay in this “developed” part of town, I chose to spend my time in the Old Town and it’s what I recommend for you, too. 

Since I was traveling solo, I opted to stay at the Urban Jungle Boutique Hostel which was lovely.

If you’re more into personal space and privacy, there are lots of great hotel options on Booking.com.

There’s plenty to see and do to keep you busy for a long weekend. 

Here’s my recommended Malaga in 3 days itinerary!

Day One

Rise and shine!

The first thing on today’s Malaga Spain itinerary is the gem of Malaga: The Alcazaba.

You’ll find the entrance to this site smack dab in the middle of Old Town.

Just head up those stairs and enter the little building to buy your ticket. There’s a machine you can use that takes cash and coin.

The ticket is €3.50 for an individual. If you prefer, you can buy tickets here for multiple sites on this itinerary (like the Roman Theatre and the Gibralfaro Fortress). It doesn’t save you any money, but if might save you some time!

Once you’re inside, the labyrinth of walls leads you up to the inner sanctuary of the fortress. 

The interior is filled with lush plants, giving the complex a tropical vibe.

Since you’re here early in the morning, you should have plenty of opportunities to take photos.

Built all the way back in the 11th century, Malaga has the best preserved Alcazaba in all of Spain!

Back when it was built, this palatial fortification sat snugly on the coastline. Just imagine the views!

The view over Old Town is spectacular from up here. You can really get a sense of the size of the cathedral.

If you look down from here, you can see the remains of the Roman Theatre. We’re going there next!

Take your time strolling through the gardens and courtyards on your way back down.

Head back out the same way you came in.

Once you get back to the entrance, swing a sharp right to access the free viewing platform for the Roman Theatre.

You can follow the little footbridge around to the right to take a seat right inside the theatre. 

From here, the Alcazaba is directly behind you. The little glass pyramid on the top left of the image shows an underground archaeological viewing area. 

To access the ruins, head to the nondescript, rectangular, army-green building you see on the right.

Okay, up next is a visit to the Malaga Cathedral.

You can wander around the outside and be done in fifteen minutes, or you can opt to pay for the “cultural visit” and go inside.

I’ve seen approximately 10,000 cathedrals on my adventures, and honestly I’m tired of paying to visit them.

Here’s a tip: If you just want to poke your head inside but don’t need to make a whole thing out of visiting, go on a Sunday morning. The cathedral is open during this time for mass. You can (respectfully!) go inside to take a quick look.

When I went in there was a little roped off area for visitors to stand and take a look. Of course you don’t want to be wandering around inside the cathedral while they are conducting a service! 

This is the main entrance to the cathedral. Pretty, right?

Make sure you do a full loop around the building so you can see it in all its glory.

Notice how the cathedral has one finished tower (on the left) and an unfinished one on the right. 

It was built between 1528 and 1782, but somehow they never got around to finishing that second tower.

Many locals refer to the cathedral as La Manquita (the one-armed lady) instead of using the proper name: Santa Iglesia Catedral Basílica de la Encarnación.

Phew, that’s a mouthful.

Even with only one arm, she’s still a very lovely lady.

Alright, by now you’ve probably worked up an appetite.

Hopefully you’ve remembered that you are in Spain and lunch doesn’t start until around 2pm (1pm at the earliest). 

Today, I recommend heading over to Meson Mariano, where you can find main dishes as well as tapas. Be sure to try the artichokes!

After lunch, treat yourself to a siesta. Most everything will be closed anyway, so you might as well get in a good nap.

After your nap, why not wander around in the old town.

I loved just looking at the beautiful buildings!

For people watching, find a shaded bench at the Plaza de la Merced.

There’s a nice fountain at the Plaza de la Constitution.

Once it gets to be around 8pm, it’s time to look for some dinner.

For your first night, I recommend hopping around to two or three places for tapas. 

There are plenty of spots for tapas throughout Old Town, so why not explore on your own!

If you’re looking for somewhere to start, I really liked the atmosphere in Bar Malaga.

It can get quite packed at the bar in the evenings, but if you’re lucky enough to get a seat you can eat right there at the counter. 

They also have an upstairs dining room if you’d rather sit down at a table to eat.

Either way, absolutely order the dish of fried eggplant with beer-honey.

It was my favorite tapa in all of Malaga!

Day Two

Today starts off with a true “Malagan” breakfast:

Churros and chocolate at Casa Aranda! 

Don’t make the tourist mistake of ordering churros for dessert. Here, they make up part of the most important meal of the day.

The churros are airy and light on the inside, and the chocolate has a consistency somewhere between hot chocolate and warm chocolate pudding.

I don’t even really like sweets and I LOVED this decadent breakfast.

After breakfast, direct yourself to the Mercado Central (central market) to do some shopping.

It’s a really lovely market! Stop here to pick up some local raisins (weirdly delicious) and almonds.

Next, take a few hours to explore the free modern and contemporary art museum: CAC Malaga.

If modern art isn’t your thing, you can simply wander around the up and coming “SoHo” neighborhood. This area is quite lively and filled with artisans. 

Once you’ve tired of walking, decide where you want to go for lunch. 

La Fabrica de Cerveza (The Beer Factory) Craft Brewery serves up a mean pint, and I’ve heard the truffled omelet is amazing. If you like it here, check out their events line-up for while you’re in town.

For wine-lovers, head to Antigua Casa de Guardia where you can sample directly from the aged barrels. They get really busy after 1pm, so come around noon to avoid the rush. This place is much more about wine than it is about food (although they do serve small plates). If you’re starving, fill up elsewhere before coming here to taste wine.

After your siesta, make your way to the Picasso Museum before they close at 7pm.

For dinner tonight, visit the famous Bodega El Pimpi.

This beautiful restaurant has been *the* place to go in Malaga since 1971. 

Be sure to check out all of the photographs in the bar which showcase celebrities who have visited!

It can get quite busy here, so make a reservation online before you go. 

Make it an early night tonight, because tomorrow morning you hike up to Gibralfaro! 

Day Three

First order of business (after more churros and chocolate, of course): 

Gibralfaro Castle!

Okay, only kidding, that’s another photo of the Alcazaba.

But good news, the path up to Gibralfaro takes you along the upper outside of the Alcazaba, giving you an entirely new perspective of the ruins.

The walk up to Gibralfaro is absolutely lovely, and only takes about fifteen or twenty minutes. 

To find your way up, head back to the entrance of the Alcazaba and turn right to walk up the hill.

There are some truly lovely views as you walk up. You can see right over the Jardines de Puerta Oscura — aren’t they lovely? Don’t worry, we’ll walk through there on our way back down.

Once you reach the top you’ll need a ticket to enter the ruins. There’s another ticket machine up here, but there was also a human behind a desk when I visited. 

If you already bought your ticket when you visited the Alcazaba, just skip the ticket line and show your ticket to the guard at the entrance.

Now you’re free to explore!

I only saw a handful of other people the whole time I was up there!

I guess most people just visit the Alcazaba and don’t bother making the walk up here. 

At least I had this Seagull to keep me company!

If you thought the views from the Alcazaba were nice, wait until you make it to the top of Gibralfaro. Gorgeous!

As promised, now it’s time for gardens. 

On your walk back down, wander through the Jardines de Puerto Oscura.

Once you arrive back at sea level, take a stroll through the Jardines de Pedro Luis Alfonso.

There’s a lovely view of City Hall from here, too.

Keep walking towards City Hall…

… then cross the street and explore the spacious Parc de Malaga.

This is a great place to come to escape the heat. There’s plenty of shade and lots of park benches around.

When you’ve had enough of the gardens, head back towards Old Town. Lunch today is at Casa Lola, a favorite of locals and tourists alike.

Though we’re going to the beach after lunch (yay!), Casa Lola is much better than anything you’ll find at the port.

Get there early (a little before 1pm) if you want a chance at snagging a table.

Do as the locals do and order a glass of tinto de verano in lieu of sangria at lunch.

The tinto is simply red wine mixed with a citrusy soda (like lemon fanta). Order sangria and you’ll get tinto de verano with an orange slice for twice the price. 

Today’s siesta will be taken on the beach. 

Depending on the time of year you visit you may want to head to La Caleta to get away from the crowds. 

When I visited, La Playa de Malagueta was mostly deserted so I spent my time there. It’s only a 10-minute walk from town!

If you’re not feeling a nap, walk along the beach and explore the port.

Lots of visitors rave about watching the sunset from the rooftop bar at AC Marriott.

For tonight’s entertainment, check out a live Flamenco show accompanied by a meal of delicious Spanish food. Flamenco Malaga Centro has you covered!

I hope you enjoy your 3 days in Malaga much as I did!

Farewell, Malaga!

Hike the beautiful Misery Ridge Loop at Smith Rock State Park in Central Oregon. Don’t let the name fool you, this hike is anything but miserable!

No long weekend in Central Oregon is complete without a visit to beautiful Smith Rock State Park. 

Smith Rock State Park

See those rocks? That’s the view of the park from the highway.

The park is positively glorious!

Smith Rock State Park is very popular for rock climbers, but I prefer hiking. 

It’s only about 35 minutes from Bend, or 3 hours from the Portland Airport. I highly recommend staying in Bend and making a weekend out of it!

You can also elect to camp near the park if you’re visiting in the milder months of the year.

When you arrive at the park you’ll need to pay an access fee. At the time of my visit, the machine only accepted cash — exact bills, no change.

I did hear a rumor that there is a machine in the nearby campground that takes credit card. I’d say just plan on bringing some cash!

If you camp in a state park, you can use your receipt as your parking pass. Win-win!

We visited the park in December, and I’m really glad we did. 

There were very few other people in the park, so it felt like we had the place to ourselves.

We saw a little bit of frost here and there, but the weather had been mild so all of the trails were clear and open.

If you visit during the summer, be sure to get there early. As close to sunrise as possible would be my advice! 

The park gets quite hot in the summer, and the more popular trails can get a bit crowded.

There are a few nice picnic areas in the park, so if you plan to spend the whole day there it’s a good idea to bring some food with you.

Choosing a Trail

Conveniently, the park has an awesome website where you can find lots of information about the trails.

There is a big map of the trail system in the car park when you arrive, but you’ll likely want to decide which trails to take before you get there.

Take a look at this great map of the park to help orient yourself to the various trails.

You’ll find plenty of places to explore in this 650-acre park!

Hiking the Misery Ridge Loop

We chose to hike the Misery Ridge Loop it looked like a challenging walk up-hill.

Looks pretty punishing, doesn’t it?

Okay, to be fair, the views were TOTALLY worth it.

You will see plenty of beautiful things to see along this path, including lots of scraggly old trees.

Okay, so to hike the Misery Ridge Loop, you’ll want to leave the parking lot and follow The Chute down to the footbridge. 

Once you arrive at the footbridge there’s a little sign that points you to the Misery Ridge Trail. This trail leads you straight up, up, up to the top of a huge rock formation.

When you arrive at the top, you’ll have views of the park in every direction. This is a great place to relax and have a little snack if you brought one.

As I said, we did the hike in December so it was a bit chilly when we started out. 

We were thoroughly warmed up from the exertion by the time we arrived at the top!

The sun was shining that day and there was hardly any wind, so we spent a good long while just relaxing at the top and taking in the views.

Continue following the Misery Ridge Trail all the way until you arrive at Monkey Face.

Monkey Face is a 350-foot tall monolith, and one of the most prominent features of the park. 

It’s popular for rock-climbing, and if you look closely you can see the pitons for anchoring carabiners up and down the rock face.

So what do you think? 

Does it look like a monkey?

Once you pass Monkey Face, you’ll join up with the Mesa Verde Trail which zig-zags you back down to the river. 

The Mesa Verde Trail eventually connects you to the River Trail.

You’ll follow the River Trail all the way back around to the footbridge where you started.

To complete the Misery Ridge Loop, just follow the Misery Ridge, Mesa Verde, and River Trails. 

Equally popular is tackling this hike from the opposite direction, aptly referred to as the Reverse Misery Ridge Loop.

Regardless of which direction you take the loop, you’ll be treated to stunning vistas both above and below.

I love the stark beauty of winter, but I definitely want to visit again during the green season.

Misery Ridge Loop is 3.7 miles long, with an elevation gain of around 1,500 feet. 

Most people seem to consider the difficulty level to be “intermediate,” which is where I would rank it as well. 

If you have more time (and energy!), check out the 7.3-mile Summit Loop trail which leads you through the whole park.

Looking for more things to do in the area? Check out my post on planning the perfect long weekend in Central Oregon!

Plan your perfect long weekend in Central Oregon with visits to 3 of the 7 “Wonders of Oregon” (and plenty of trips to the brewpubs!).

Our favorite Oregon trip was our perfect long weekend in Central Oregon.

When most people think of visiting Oregon, their mind goes straight to city of Portland. The good old City of Roses, aka Beervana, home to hippies, craft beer, and people wearing socks with sandals.

Portland is an amazing city, but I have a serious crush on Central Oregon.

Once you leave the Willamette Valley behind and drive over the Cascade Mountains, everything is completely different.

The trees are different, the landscape is different, and you can actually see blue skies more than just three months of the year.

The air is crisp, the sky is blue, the crowds are absent, and there’s plenty to explore.

Where to Stay

As most people tend to do, we based ourselves in the city of Bend for the weekend.

There are plenty of places to stay in Bend, no matter your budget.

Booking.com

We stayed in a darling little Airbnb just outside the city which boasted its very own hot-tub. There are lots of cute places to stay around town.

Another great option is to stay at the Old St. Francis School, a 1936 Catholic schoolhouse which has been transformed into a hotel. Stay in an old classroom, grab a pint at the pub, catch a movie in the classic theater, or take a dip in the soaking pool. Even if you aren’t staying here, you can still come by for a cozy drink and a self-guided walking tour of the property.

Eating & Drinking

A perfect long weekend in Central Oregon wouldn’t be complete with plenty of opportunities to eat, drink, and be merry.

Eats

Best Breakfasts

Hit up McKay Cottage Restaurant for a big breakfast to fuel you up before a big day.

For classic eats, try one of the many local diners like the Black Bear Inn, Jake’s Diner, or Jackson’s Corner.

For a healthy start to your day, head to Mother’s Juice Cafe for smoothies, CBD elixirs, oatmeal bowls, and breakfast sandwiches.

Ready for Lunch?

Looking for classic pub food? Look no further than one of the dozens of brewpubs in the downtown area. People rave about the burgers made from beef fed on spent beer grain at Deschutes Pub, while the wings at Worthy Brewing have their own dedicated fan club.

Offering fusion food and craft cocktails, Spork is becoming a wildly popular lunch spot. Their menu makes me drool!

For something a little different, check out Sintra, a Portuguese restaurant featuring delicious Mediterranean specialties like seafood gazpacho. They also have a lengthy sandwich and salad menu.

Veg(etari)ans will love the entirely plant-based menus at Salud Raw Foods. Mixed group? Head over to Chow to find dishes to suit every dietary preference.

Dinner Time

For the best sunset experience in town, head over to Crux Fermentation for the sundowner special (discounted prices for a half hour before/after sunset).

For a laid back evening, simply pick a brewpub you didn’t go to for lunch!

Looking for something a bit more romantic? Try Ariana Restaurant for luscious seafood, the Blacksmith for a classic steakhouse experience, or the Jackalope Grill for delectable cuisine in a white-tablecloth environment.

For dinner with a river-view, head to Anthony’s at the Old Mill District for Oregon seafood or to Pine Tavern for comfort food in the coziest spot in town.

Drinks

Bend is known for having some amazing breweries, so if you like beer you’ll be in heaven. There’s actually more breweries per capita in Bend than any other city in Oregon (even Portland!).

Be sure to check out some of my favorites: Deschutes Brewing, Crux Fermentation Project, 10 Barrel Brewing, and Boneyard Brewing.

Most of the breweries in Bend do growler fills, so if you’re staying in town for a few days don’t hesitate to pick one up!

This website has a great overview of breweries in Central Oregon, so be sure to check it out if you’re planning a visit.

For the truly dedicated, you can get your commemorative passport stamped on the Bend Ale Trail.

Wine and spirit aficionados will also find plenty of places to wet their whistle in Bend.

If you’d rather have someone else handle the planning, Bend Brew Bus will pick you up at your hotel or Airbnb and cart you around on the tour of your choice (beer, cider, wine, spirits, or a mix!).

Not big into drinking? Never fear, there are plenty of things to do on a long weekend in Central Oregon!

Things to Do

Owners of the Bend Brew Bus, Wanderlust Tours (nice name, right?!), offers local excursions to volcanoes and caves, as well as snowshoeing and canoeing trips.

This is a great option if you’re only in town for a few days and don’t want to bring your own equipment. Canoes are notoriously difficult to fit into the overhead space on an airplane.

If you have access to a vehicle, my recommendations would be to visit three of 7 Wonders of Oregon that are all reachable as day trips from Bend.

Smith Rock State Park

Smith Rock State Park is a quick 35-minute drive from central Bend.

It doesn’t look like much from the road…

…but once you get in there you’ll see why it’s a MUST for your perfect long weekend in Central Oregon.

Do some research ahead of time and pick a trail you’d like to walk.

There are beautiful views everywhere in the park!

We did the Misery Ridge Loop (the opposite of the suggested route, the reverse misery ridge loop) and it was epic.

If you’re not keen to go UP but you still want to look around, there are trails that circumnavigate the big rocks and follow along the river.

You’ll be happy you made the trip!

Crater Lake National Park

The only National Park in the state of Oregon, Crater Lake is a feast for the eyes.

It’s a bit of a drive from Bend (a little under two hours), but it’s absolutely worth it.

I love to visit here in the winter because there’s hardly anyone around. The pristine snow gives the lake a truly ethereal quality.

The Painted Hills

The famous Painted Hills can be found about two hours away from Bend, in the opposite direction of Crater Lake.

I don’t know how I missed out on visiting this spectacular place for more than 30 years!

We were blown away by the beauty of these hills, especially because we were the only ones there that winter day.

The hills are one of three parts of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, an area made up of layers of fossilized remains from as far back as 45 million years ago.

The three units (Painted Hills, Sheep Rock, and Clarno) are spread out over almost 20,000 acres.

There’s a great museum you can visit which will give you an idea of what Oregon looked like way back then.

The museum also doubles as a visitor’s center, so it’s a nice place to start your visit.

There are no restaurants or gas stations located within the monument, so be sure to plan ahead!

While you’re in the area, make the short drive (9 miles) over to Mitchell, Oregon to explore a bona fide ghost town.

Next, head to the Wheeler High School fossil beds where you can  dig for your very own treasures to take home.

Itinerary: Perfect Long Weekend in Central Oregon

Note: I recommend packing picnic lunches to take with you each day, as restaurants can be difficult to find once you head out of town. Both Market of Choice and Trader Joe’s will have lots of great options!

Friday:

• Head out early towards the John Day Fossil Beds Monument for a day you won’t soon forget.

• Explore the three units of the monument, dig for fossils at Wheeler High School, and wander the streets of a ghost town.
• Watch the sunset beer-in-hand at Crux Fermentation, then get cozy at Pine Tavern for dinner on the river.

Saturday:

• Spend the morning exploring Crater Lake. Rent some snowshoes before you go, or plan time to take the boat to Wizard Island in the summer months.

• On your way back to town, stop to visit the High Desert Museum or hike around the Newberry Volcano Caldera (seasonal).
• Reward yourself with a dip in the soaking pool at the Old St. Francis School, followed by dinner and drinks in the pub.

Sunday:

• Pack up your things, eat a big breakfast at McKay Cottage Restaurant, and drive to Smith Rock State Park for a day of hiking.

• Grab a late lunch in Madras (or bring a picnic to Smith Rock!).
• Bid farewell to your perfect long weekend in Central Oregon and head back to Portland!

Get inspired to make the hike to Kjeragbolten, the famous Norwegian rock suspended between two cliffs over a 1,000-meter drop.

Pssst! If you’re planning a trip in the near future, don’t forget to register for travel insurance before you go!

I’m sure you’ve all seen them. 

The countless photos on travel blogs and Instagram accounts of the famous Kjeragbolten in Norway.

Each photo looks remarkably similar, with a lucky traveler posed on top of the rock lodged between two cliffs overlooking a deadly 1,000-meter drop.

Maybe he is showing off a nice little jump on top of the rock. Maybe she is rocking a complicated yoga pose. Maybe he is down on one knee and she is covering her mouth with her hands.

I’ve seen it all, people.

If your feed hasn’t been filled with these photos in recent years, go ahead and take a moment to search the hashtag “kjeragbolten” on Instagram.

Looks incredible, doesn’t it?

Well, it is. And it isn’t.

I made the hike to kjeragbolten in August of 2017. 

To sum it up, it’s exhausting, it’s beautiful, and there’s a giant line of people at the top waiting for their turn to snag the ultimate Instagram photo. 

Rather than wait in line, I sat down and ate my packed lunch. 

I was tired. And hungry. And couldn’t care less about climbing up onto that rock.

The photo I have of Kjeragbolten has some random person’s head sticking out from the side of the cliff. Nice, huh?

But you know what?

That hike was amazing. The views were incredible. It’s one of my fondest memories. 

Today I just want to share some photos from the hike in the hopes that they will inspire your next adventure.

If you’re headed to Norway, I highly recommend that you make the hike to Kjeragbolten.

Just don’t be surprised when you see the photo line at the top.

The Hike to Kjeragbolten

Most hikers make it there-and-back in between 6 and 8 hours. We did it in about six and a half hours, including the time we spent at the top.

The hike to Kjeragbolten is 7.5 miles long and is generally rated Strenuous. The elevation gain is 1870 feet, and there’s a lot of ups and downs on the hike.

There are three summits you have to make it over, which then means you have to make it back over them in the opposite direction on the way back down.

I was not in the best of shape when I did this hike (I’d just come from a week of heavy beering in Ireland), but I still managed to do it. Barely. 

When we made it back to our wild camp that night I slept like a baby!

Tips for the Hike to Kjeragbolten

• Make sure to wear proper shoes. I did the hike in Nike runners and I was cursing myself the entire time. Boots, people!!
• At that elevation there can be snow, even in August. Wear layers.
• There can be intense winds at the top, so use caution when standing near cliffs.
• Parking at the main site is quite expensive. If you feel up to it, try parking a little ways away on a side road and walking to the entrance.
• For a detailed description of the hike itself, check out this great post.

Happy Adventuring, my friends!