Things to do nearSouthernmost Point of the Continental U.S.A.

The Southernmost Point of the Continental U.S.A. has drawn curious travelers to the corner of Whitehead and South Streets for generations. The landmark itself is a large concrete buoy, painted in bold red, black, and yellow, installed in 1983 partly to discourage tourists from trespassing on private property nearby. It has since become one of the most photographed spots in Florida, a pilgrimage site for road-trippers completing the full length of U.S. Route 1 and for anyone who simply wants to stand at the literal edge of the country.

Key West has long attracted writers, artists, and wanderers drawn by its remoteness and its light. That spirit is palpable here at the southern tip, where the Atlantic meets the Gulf of Mexico and the horizon feels unusually wide. The surrounding Old Town neighborhood rewards slow exploration, with the The Hemingway Home and Museum just a few blocks north and the Key West Lighthouse rising above the treetops nearby.

For those who want to get out on the water, the warm shallows surrounding Key West are ideal for snorkeling along the living reef system that runs through the Florida Keys. The Southernmost Point of the Continental U.S.A. is a place that earns its fame honestly, offering a genuine geographic thrill and a vivid introduction to everything Key West does well.