Last week Pete and I decided to get out of dodge and go somewhere warm before the Christmas season. Neither of us had been to Key West for any length of time and thought it would be fun to explore a new city and catch some rays in the process! Key West was beautiful! It reminded me so much of New Orleans with the old French colonial homes lining the side streets, one main drag (Duval Street) where most of the nightlife occurs, and the above ground cemetery! The place was oozing character and was downright spooky in some spots. We really enjoyed seeing the sites and all the beauty it had to offer. We also couldn’t believe that it was December and we were swimming, snorkeling and sleeping in hammocks outside under the stars. I simply LOVE to travel and see the world. There is so much out there to see and experience. I really wish I had more time and money to see more of it! Thank you to all my wonderful friends who gave me such great tips on what to do and see on this trip. You all did not disappoint and neither did Key West. Enjoy the images and my fun little narrations!
![The Casa Marina. This was our home for the week and what a great place it was. It was the only hotel in Key West with it's own private beach and was built back in the 1920's.](https://deonnacarusophotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_8651-2-1024x774.jpg)
![A view from our pier!](https://deonnacarusophotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_8637-2-660x1024.jpg)
![The sunsets were amazing as you can see!](https://deonnacarusophotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_8770-2-1024x771.jpg)
![Our first day we spent at Fort Zachary Taylor Beach snorkeling & sunbathing!](https://deonnacarusophotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_8660-2-660x1024.jpg)
![Our second day of the trip we took a plane ride to the Dry Tortugas to go snorkeling and exploring! If you go to Key West you have to check this place out. It was built in 1826 and was used as a military site and a federal prison back in the day. It is out in the middle of nowhere literally! It was surreal spending the day in a place this old and rich in history and the white sand beaches and the snorkeling was some of the best I've ever experienced. What a day I will remember forever!](https://deonnacarusophotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_8988-2-1024x771.jpg)
![This is the view when you travel the perimeter of the Dry Tortugas or Fort Jefferson](https://deonnacarusophotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_8980-21-660x1024.jpg)
![Lots of crabs on the island! They were everywhere!](https://deonnacarusophotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_8960-2-650x1024.jpg)
![The third day we rented a scooter and went around the entire island and did some sightseeing and shopping! Renting a scooter is the only way to see this island!](https://deonnacarusophotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_9034-2-660x1024.jpg)
![Lots of Iguanas on Key West! They were beautiful but they don't like people!](https://deonnacarusophotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_9067-2-660x1024.jpg)
![When you're in Key West sometimes you forget that you are at the southernmost part of the United States.](https://deonnacarusophotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_9075-2-1024x771.jpg)
![If they didn't have decorations like this I would have completely forgotten Christmas was around the corner!](https://deonnacarusophotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_9077-2-1024x771.jpg)
![It was fun to visit Ernest Hemingway's home in Key West. What did I take away from the tour?? Hemingway loved writing, women, booze and CATS!! There were cats everywhere on this property!](https://deonnacarusophotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_9102-2-1024x771.jpg)
![Ernest Hemingway's pool](https://deonnacarusophotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_91941-660x1024.jpg)
![Ernest Hemingway's workstation](https://deonnacarusophotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_9198-21-660x1024.jpg)
![The grounds were filled with beautiful flowers, trees, ponds and lily pads!](https://deonnacarusophotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_92051-660x1024.jpg)
![And of course he had a Cat Cemetery on the grounds. I must have seen at least 20 cats roaming the property.](https://deonnacarusophotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Untitled-11.jpg)
![It was a very beautiful house on the exterior as well! Notice another cat in the shot. This time it's a black cat...YIKES!!](https://deonnacarusophotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_9208-2-1024x771.jpg)
![A couple of days we just roamed around Mallory Square and looked at all the beautiful boats in the harbor. There were some beauties our there.](https://deonnacarusophotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_9242-2-1024x771.jpg)
![Mallory Square near Duvall Street](https://deonnacarusophotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_9273-2-660x1024.jpg)
![Among some of our favorite restaurants were Blue Heaven, The Conch Republic, and the French Creperie!](https://deonnacarusophotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_9280-2-1024x771.jpg)
![There were so many cool places to eat and watch a live band up and down Duvall Street!](https://deonnacarusophotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_9298-2-1024x774.jpg)
![If you are visiting Key West for the first time or just returning please make sure you go to the French Cafe Creperie for breakfast for the BEST crepes you ever tasted in your life! These were seriously good!](https://deonnacarusophotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_9302-2-660x1024.jpg)
![Pete ordered the strawberry banana crepes!](https://deonnacarusophotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_9306-660x1024.jpg)
![I ordered the raspberry cream cheese crepes....TO DIE FOR!!](https://deonnacarusophotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_9308-22-1024x771.jpg)
![The last day of our trip we spent in hammocks on the beach sleeping the day away. It was so relaxing!](https://deonnacarusophotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_9372-2-660x1024.jpg)
![One thing I will leave you with is some images of the beautiful sunsets of Key West. Truly breathtaking!](https://deonnacarusophotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_8804-2-669x1024.jpg)
![Bye Key West! I will be returning soon!](https://deonnacarusophotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/DSC_8790-2-1024x771.jpg)