This island's residents go out of their way to ensure visitors experience their slower pace of life with an added touch of hedonistic-fueled fun. Key West is certainly not a destination for either the prudish or those seeking an action-packed vacation. It is not out of the realm of possibility to see men in thongs or g-strings and topless women on the main drag of Duval Street. Key West's tropical climate affords visitors the perfect opportunity to shed their clothes and sunbathe nude. This geographic isolation from mainland Florida and its anti-gay politics remains one of the island's best assets, and many of the city's elected officials are either gay or gay-friendly.Īlthough thousands of cruise ship passengers crowd the narrow cobblestone streets around Mallory Square on a daily basis, the island has maintained its anything-goes reputation. The island, known to locals as the Conch Republic, is roughly 90 miles north of Cuba and 160 miles south of Miami. Located literally at the end of the road, Key West has welcomed gay travelers for decades. See the Monroe County, Key West Chamber of Commerce, and Florida Health websites for local updates. See the CDC website for details and updates. There are restrictions on the entry of some travelers into the United States in an effort to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Emergency measures in the wake of Covid-19:
