Key West Ferry

Well, sure, you can always take the plane to Key West. The city is serviced by Key West International Airport, where direct flights or connections from a host of Florida cities are now available.

And if you have decided to travel by land – driving from Miami International Airport, for instance – the LeJeune Road south to 836 West will take you right to the Florida Turnpike, which ends at US 1 in Florida City. To get to Key West, just follow US 1 as far south as it goes. How about that for easy driving?

But while traveling by air and by land have their merits, the increasing popularity of Key West ferry travel has travelers abandoning the old mode of travel to try out something new.

Key West Ferry Bight Terminal

The Key West Ferry Bight Terminal services this southernmost Florida island with passengers coming from Ft. Myers Beach and Marco Island on Florida's southwest coast. Key West ferry travel from these islands takes about 3.5 hours, but don't worry. It's three and a half hours of being on board state-of-the-art ferries operated by the company Key West Express.

The Key West ferry terminal itself is a towering 12,500 square foot facility equipped with amenities for maximum passenger convenience. There is an information desk, a gift shop specializing in local products and a café that offers local fare. Works of local artists also decorate walls to give you a taste of Key West art.

In addition to being the access way to Ft. Myers Beach and Marco Island, Key West Ferry Bight Terminal is also the gateway to the island's Historic Seaport District, which locals call "The Bight." Here visitors can stroll around, along a wooden Harbor Walk lined with charter boats, Key West ferry boats, restaurants, and shops. The fabled Duval Street is only about 15 minutes away. In addition to ferries, there are also numerous local transportation available.

Key West Ferry Services

* Salty Sam's Marina – With mooring field in the town of Fort Myers Beach, specifically the recently opened Matanzas Harbor Mooring Field, Salty Sam's Marina offers full service marina, Key West ferry boat sales and service, waterfront dining, and ship store.

* Sunny Days Key West – Offering Key West ferry rides to Dry Tortugas National Park and Fort Jefferson, Sunny Days Key West provides the Fast Cat II, a high speed power catamaran with cool air-conditioned cabins and comfortable indoor seating. The ferry ride is just two hours long (4 ½ to Fort Jefferson), with continental breakfast upon boarding and a tour of the Fort. Once you get to the picnic area of Fort Jefferson, the ferry boat staff also provides buffet lunch and complimentary soft drinks, water and iced tea.