Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory: Our most recommended tours and activities

Key West Conch Train Tour

1. Key West Conch Train Tour

Climb aboard Key West’s conch train for a 75-minute sightseeing tour of the tropical paradise. The train departs from Front Street Depot and loops through the Old Town to end back behind the Depot at Mallory Square. You can jump off at Truval Village to visit the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, Key West Lighthouse, Southernmost Point, and Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory. Climb to the top of the observation tower at Key West Shipwreck and Treasures Museum. Travel back in time to the days of hand-rolled cigars at Mallory Square. And stroll through the Cayo Hueso y Habana Historeum. Back on the conch train, learn about Key West characters, such as Mel Fisher, whose lifelong search for 2 sunken Spanish galleons finally turned up treasure worth USD 450 million. Jump off to enjoy great shopping on Duval Street, and fine dining at restaurants such as Hog's Breath Saloon, Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville or the Hard Rock Café. Be sure to take advantage of the complimentary ticket to the Sails to Rails Museum for a comprehensive overview of the Florida Keys and Key West history. It is one of Key West's top attractions and located within walking distance of the starting point of the Conch Train.

Florida Keys: Self-Guided Walking Tour

2. Florida Keys: Self-Guided Walking Tour

Start by downloading the Action Tour Guide app. This serves as your personal tour guide, narrated tour, and map, all rolled into one. Once downloaded, your tour begins at the intersection of Duval Street and South Street. From there, unearth the island’s wild history and hear about the fights over its ownership, including how a Spanish naval officer sold the island to two people at the same time! As you keep walking, learn about the wreckers who once salvaged materials from destroyed ships! Then meet some of Key West’s literary legends, including larger-than-life Ernest Hemingway. Pay a visit to the Hemingway Home and Museum and learn how he left his mark on the island. Next, you’ll go back to 1886 and revisit the infamous Great Fire. Unearth the devastation and the possible arson behind the tragedy. Then get to know Henry Flagler. Hear how he fought to connect the Florida mainland with Key West by rail and learn about the challenges he overcame in the process! You’ll also get the story behind the hurricane that ultimately destroyed his railroad. On another wild note, you’ll discover the famed pirates who terrorized the area and seized riches. Meet Black Caesar and separate fact from fiction. Up next, stop by Harry Truman’s “little” White House and find out which other presidents spent time here. After that, stop at the Audubon House and Tropical Gardens. Dig into the house’s history and meet Captain John Geiger, whose family occupied it for four generations! Learn about the efforts to restore the home and how this movement helped create the Key West you see today! Your journey then takes you to Clinton Square, which features monuments that pay tribute to both Union and Confederate soldiers and highlights Key West’s complicated history. Next is Mallory Square. If you’re there at the right time, take part in the famed Sunset Celebration, featuring music, vendors, and other entertainment. Learn how playwright Tennessee Williams started this beloved ritual with a bottle of gin! Walk on to Duval Street, the heart of Key West. Take in some of the many bars and shopping options, including the famous saloon where Hemingway once tossed a few back! Then take a spooky turn at a haunted Hard Rock Cafe. Hear the ghost story that distinguishes this cafe from the others! Next, pass by La Concha Key West, the hotel where Tennessee Williams finished his famed play, A Streetcar Named Desire. As the journey winds down, hear about Mel Fisher and the greatest underwater treasure find of all time! After that, maybe enjoy a cup of Key West’s rich Cuban coffee or delicious key lime pie. Next is the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory, featuring over 50 butterfly species for the insect-inclined. Your tour concludes here.

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Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory
Cocoon yourself in the colorful world of butterflies and tropical birds in this ecological paradise.

Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory
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What people are saying about Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory

Overall rating

4.8 / 5

based on 37 reviews

The experience was excellent and Rob is an amazing tour guide with experience of having lived in Key West which gave a completely different flavour to the tour. Thank you very much for a very thoughtful tour. Loved the city and loved the tour

The tour has 4 convenient stops, and was very informative about some if the island’s history. The guide was very entertaining. I would recommend this tour for anyone visiting Key West.

I loved the Conch Train tour. It was informative and beautiful ride with very knowledgeable drivers.

Fun tour to learn more about Key West. My husband & I used the tour as a guide to what to check out.