Like a Local

Close the guidebooks and let a local lead the way. BY CRICKET DESMARAIS

Close the guidebooks and let a Key West local lead the way.

WHAT’S NOT TO LOVE ABOUT AN island city known for its fabulous sunsets, tropical breezes, and two oceans divided by a street just over a mile wide? Key West is a mecca for artists, dreamers, and those with salt in their blood. Closer to Cuba than the nearest Walmart, Key West is a world away from a world, where people proudly tout bumper stickers on colorfully painted cars that say, “Slow down—This ain’t the mainland!” I left the bustle of New York City nearly 20 years ago and never looked back, trading my corporate job and the subway for a rusty bike and a pair of flip flops to discover a culture like I’ve never known before. From life on land to saltwater adventures, there’s never a dull moment. When your cruise ship pulls into port, the trick is to know where to find it.