Florida – Key West
Florida (Pensacola, Tampa & Key West)
My first visit to the sunshine state was in 2008, when I visited Disney World in Orlando along with my family. We flew directly New Jersey directly to Orlando, spend 4 days in the fun city and went back. It was a hectic schedule as we were running from theme Park to theme Park to catch all the fun rides with kids. Since then it has been a wish to drive across this beautiful sunshine state. Finally I got the chance in 2023 December, when my good friend Shamsher invited me to visit him in Tampa and spend a few days with his family.
I started from long journey from Dallas on 7-Dec 2023 by road and drove east across Texas and through the states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama and entered the pan handle Gulf Coast of Florida. I took a break at Pensacola Beach and stayed at the Surf & Sand beach resort.
Pensacola Beach : It is a Florida resort community on the Gulf Coast barrier island of Santa Rosa. Famous for its white-sand beaches & turquoise water these include Opal Beach, part of Gulf Islands National Seashore. Pensacola Beach Boardwalk has shops, eateries and, nearby, the Pensacola Beach Pier stretches into the Gulf of Mexico.
Tampa Riverwalk : It is a 2.6-mile-long (4.2 km) open space and pedestrian trail along the Hillsborough River in Tampa. The Riverwalk extends along most of the downtown Tampa waterfront from the Channelside District on the eastern terminus to the mouth of the Hillsborough River and then north along the riverside to Tampa Heights, forming a continuous path that connects a multitude of parks, attractions, public spaces, and hotels. One of the most famous attractions is the Armature Works, which is a historic mixed-use hub ripe for exploration — full of unique experiences, innovative eateries, memorable events and everything in-between. With its unobstructed view of the Hillsborough River, the historic structure has been restored and re-imagined into what is now a premier Tampa destination.
Key West is the southernmost city within the continental United States. It lies about 100 miles from the mainland on a sand and coral island about 4 miles long and 1.5 miles) wide in the western Florida Keys. It is just 90 miles north of Cuba. A railroad was constructed in 1912 connecting the main keys from Miami all the way up to Key West. The main keys include Key Largo, Islamorada, Bahia Honda, Big Pine, Marathon, Middle Keys..etc. The railroad was destroyed by a hurricane in 1935. It was replaced by the Overseas Highway (opened 1938), which connected the keys by 42 bridges (including one 7 miles long) over vast expanses of water. Largest of the keys is Key Largo, about 30 miles long and formerly known for its plantations of key limes.
The Seven-Mile bridge is part of the Overseas Highway (US-1) which spans across 2300 miles. The bridge now comprises of 2 bridges – one for traffic and the older one for cyclists & pedestrians. There are vista points at each end of the bridge, which allows tourists to take pictures of the breathtaking engineering marvel.
The Ernest Hemingway House was the residence of American writer Ernest Hemingway in the 1930s. The house is situated close to the southern coast of the island. Due to its association with Hemingway, the property is the most popular tourist attraction in Key West. It is also famous for its large population of so-called Hemingway cats, whose descendants still live there.
The residence was constructed in 1851 and was inhabited by Hemingway and his wife Pauline Pfeiffer from 1931 to 1940. They restored the decaying property and made several additions. During his time at the home, he conceived the idea and started working on the initial draft of “Farewell to Arms“. He also wrote some of his best-received works, including the non-fiction work “Green Hills of Africa”, “The Snows of Kilimanjaro” and “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber”, and the novel “To Have and Have Not” . After the Hemingway’s divorce and deaths, the house was auctioned off and subsequently converted into a private museum in 1964. On November 24, 1968, it was designated a National Historic Landmark.
It is reported that his last wish before committing suicide in 1961 was to return to Key West one last time to see his favorite place again, but it didn’t happen.
Little White House : It was the winter home for the US President Harry Truman. Due to his ill health, doctors advised him to be in a warmer place. So he selected Key West and made it his Presidential Winter Residence. It later became the official holiday residence of multiple Presidents like Dwight Eisenhower, J.F. Kennedy & Jimmy Carter. It also has a political significance as the historic meeting between US President John F. Kennedy and British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan took place here during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The property spreads across 10 acres of lush green gardens and Palm trees. It has since been converted into a Museum and can be rented for Corporate Events and Wedding Ceremonies.
The Southernmost Point Buoy is an anchored concrete buoy in Key West marking the southernmost point in the continental United States, the lowest latitude land of contiguous North American states. The large painted buoy was established as a tourist attraction in 1983 by the city at the corner of South Street and Whitehead Street. One of Key West’s most iconic landmarks, it’s also where the famous “90 miles to Cuba” saying is scrawled.
