Check-in-Key West

Key West is a relatively niche destination for Chinese tourists. Located in Monroe County, Florida, United States, Miami is the nearest large city. It is the southernmost city in the continental United States, across the sea from Cuba, and is also the southern starting point of U.S. Highway 1. Key West is a coral reef island with flat terrain. Because the local tidal range is not large, the land and sea levels are almost at the same level, and it feels a bit like a city floating on the sea. In particular, there are about 100 miles of cross-sea bridges built through a series of islands and reefs. It is said that there are 42 bridges. The most famous one is the "Seven Mile Bridge", which is the filming location for many movies. The unique islands, reefs, roads and bridges form a beautiful marine landscape, which is also known as the "Eighth Wonder of the World". The island houses the former residence of Hemingway, the author of "The Old Man and the Sea", and the palace of former US President Truman. The completely different style from big American cities attracts tourists from the United States and all over the world. Unconventionally, I also took advantage of the opportunity of traveling in Miami to take a two-day and one-night island chain tour. We set out from Miami on the first day. The scenery along the way was so beautiful that we stopped many times to enjoy the view. When we arrived in Key West, it was almost sunset. We didn’t have time to go to Mallory Square to watch the sunset, so we just watched the afterglow of the sunset near the hotel. As I walked into the street, I had the illusion that I was somewhere in Central or South America. Both the buildings and vegetation on both sides of the street looked exactly like a tropical island, which was completely different from other cities in the United States. The town is not big and can be covered on foot. Due to time constraints, the focus of this trip was Hemingway's former residence. In the residence museum, I saw some precious photos of him in the Chinese war zone during World War II. Perhaps there are little-known stories about him that are worthy of further study. Don't miss the southernmost point of the United States, which is only 90 miles from Cuba. However, if you want to take a photo, you have to queue up for a long time. People from all over the world like to take "I've been here" photos. Another must-see spot is the "0" mile marker at the starting point of US Route 1. Other attractions include Mallory Square, the lighthouse, the old town, the beach, snorkeling and water activities. In addition to cruise ships docked at the pier, there are also U.S. Coast Guard ships. It is understood that there is no public transportation and the main means of transportation is by self-driving or cruise ship docking. Joining a group day tour in Miami is also a good choice. Various travel platforms including Ctrip offer itineraries. For me, the actual time for sightseeing is only half a day, and there are too many places worth visiting, so I can only feel a little regretful. I hope I'll have the chance to visit Key West again.