Spring Break in Key West
When thinking Spring Break, you don't automatically think Key West. But if you're wanting a Spring Break out of the ordinary, if you're not satisfied following the hordes to this year's trendiest spots, then you ought to consider Key West...
Key West is as exotic as America gets- in fact, Key West considers itself an indepedent republic, and seceded from the Union on April 23rd, 1982! Faced with a Border Patrol blockade ostensibly looking for illegal aliens, Key West's then mayor Dennis Wardlow seceded, declared war, surrendered, and demanded $1 billion in foreign aid. You've got to admit it- any place with that kind of a quirky sense of humor is perfect for Spring Break.
Another factor that should endorse Key West as a Spring Break destination- clothing-optional beaches and clubs...
Another factor that should endorse Key West as a Spring Break destination- clothing-optional beaches and clubs. That's right, Key West is the only American Spring Break destination that offers you the chance to relax au natural. Key West's beaches aren't exactly 'nude beaches' it's just that the locals are a little more tolerant than most.
Key West has a party atmosphere that's only rivaled by New Orleans... the clubs and bars along Duval Street get crazy- OK, they're pretty crazy year-round, but it does pick up during Spring Break- and feature a cool mixture of locals, Breakers, and Bohemians of all stripes.
Accommodations in Key West are unusual, too. Everything from clothing optional at Atlanta Shores to pampered at the Holiday Inn Beachside.
Naturally the weather and the beaches are a big part of Key West's draw as a Spring Break destination. A subtropical climate and miles of beautiful beaches that face waters perfect for diving, kayaking, sailing, waverunning and just plain swimming, mean that watersport enthusiasts flock to the Keys in Spring.
Key West has several public beaches- Higgs Beach, Indigenous Park, Simonton Beach and Smathers Beach. Private vendors rent various equipment at Smathers Beach, including essentials like beach chairs, umbrellas, jet-skis, and kayaks. Camping isn't allowed at Smathers, and there's no boat ramp.
If you're in Key West long enough for a day trip, try going to Ft. Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas on Garden Key. Half the fun's in getting there- Ft. Jefferson is only accessible by boat or seaplane. It's a stark reminder of days gone-by, when Ft. Jefferson was the lynchpin in America's coastal defense...
Key West is of course noted for its abundant art and theatre scene. Something about Key West- the weather, the light, the frontier atmosphere- has drawn artists and writers to its shores for over a hundred years. Without a doubt the most famous of these was Ernest Hemingway, who featured Key West and its inhabitants in several novels.
Key West for Spring Break. Out of the
ordinary, and
often, out of control! 
