Spring Break 2009 in Key West
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When thinking Spring Break, you don't automatically think Key West! But if you're wanting a Spring Break out of the ordinary and you're ready to "live and let live" when you get there, then you might want to consider Key West!
Key West is America's ONLY Caribbean island... it's exotic, warm and tropical... gay and straight - in fact, Key West considers itself an independent republic; it seceded from the Union on April 23rd, 1982! Faced with a Border Patrol blockade looking for illegal aliens, Key West's then mayor, Dennis Wardlow, seceded... declared war, surrendered, and demanded $1 billion in foreign aid-all in one day! You've got to admit it- a place with that kind of a quirky sense of humor and so much diversity is perfect for Spring Break... as long as you're prepared to get along with the natives! It's possible to get pretty wild in Key West without anyone raising an eyebrow... but it's also important to "fit into" the island vibe rather than stick out and TAKE OVER... after all, Key West has LONG been known for its good time vibe! Maybe it wouldn't hurt to find out what that's all about!
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Another positive Key West factor is the warm water of the Gulf of Mexico! Unlike Panama City, Destin, and Daytona in March, the water is actually comfortable and you never have to worry about a sudden cold front dipping temperatures into the 60's. Key West is unrivaled with its warm, sultry weather and it's a paradise unlike any other... since the 1800's Key West has been known for its diverse cast of characters that know how to LIVE... and let live! Life on the beach in Key West can be a lot of fun... the beaches aren't exactly "nude beaches" but you'll find the locals are more tolerant than most... especially if you're respectful of them.
Smathers Beach is where most of the breakers spend their waking hours until the sun goes down. The beach is lined with vendors selling and renting everything from lemonade and beer to jet-skis and parasailing. The beach quickly fills with the aroma of sunscreen, games of volleyball ignite and music fills the air. The water is warm and you can go out a good ways before even getting over your head... while there's little surf, there's also absolutely NO danger of an undertow! Life's good at Smather's Beach... it's free and it's right across from the airport and the Sheraton Suites, a popular Key West hotel that will rent rooms to students.
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Fort Zachary Taylor is the State Park that's actually in Old Town and has a great beach and picnic grounds. It's not free, but it's only a couple of dollars and you can go in and out all day if you like. The park is all natural and flows to the point of rocks where the Atlantic meets the Gulf of Mexico... you can actually see the currents flowing into each other. Fort Zach or "Elizabeth Taylor," as the locals call it, is really cool and a great place to have a picnic. It's the perfect place to relax, lie in the sun and have a soothing swim in the deep aquamarine water.
Naturally the beaches and the weather are a big part of Key West's draw as a Spring Break destination. A subtropical climate and a 2 by 4 island surrounded by sparkling turquoise water that's perfect for diving, kayaking, sailing, windsurfing, wave running and just plain swimming... this is a water sports enthusiast's paradise! Key West's public beaches- Higgs Beach, Indigenous Park, Simonton Beach and Smathers Beach each have a feel all their own, but Smather's and Higgs have the most water sports equipment, including essentials like beach chairs, umbrellas, jet-skis, and kayaks. There's NO camping allowed anywhere in Key West but Boyd's Campground on Stock Island, just outside Key West, might have space if you make a reservation ahead of time.
Key West has a party atmosphere 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- but once again... in Key West, it's better to join the party rather than make your own stand out... no one-local or tourist-will appreciate anyone "taking over"... simply blend in... join the fun and GO FOR IT, getting DOWN with the coolest mixture of locals, Breakers, and Bohemians of all stripes can really be a blast!
