Key West ranks just behind New York, New York; Maui, Hawaii; Las Vegas, Nevada; and New Orleans, Louisiana, as best destinations in the United States. It is one of three Florida cities on Tripadvisor’s roster of top 25 domestic destinations, with Orlando ranked 14th and Miami Beach at 18th.“Key West’s rebound as a popular vacation destination is a response to our wide open spaces, subtropical island breezes and abundance of water activities,” said Stacey Mitchell, director of the Florida Keys tourism council.

“Visitors seeking a nature-based respite from the stressors of everyday life can find it in organically socially distant experiences in our backcountry waters, legendary sunsets and bicycling through our lazy lanes and historic neighborhoods,” Mitchell added.

Describing Key West, Tripadvisor mused: “Does time ever pass in the Florida Keys? Everyone and everything in Key West seems to go at its own pace, right down to the ice melting slooooowly in your margarita glass.

“Of course, it’s not all limes and leisure — Key West is known as the ‘Winter White House’ because of its appeal to visiting U.S. presidents, and the island has been home to literary greats like Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams,” Tripadvisor stated.
“The diving here is phenomenal, as is the kid-friendly Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center.”

The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory, Dry Tortugas National Park and Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park are cited as “don’t miss” attractions.

Established in 2002, Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best awards are the highest honor Tripadvisor bestows. The awards are based on millions of reviews and opinions from travelers around the world, reflecting “the best of the best” for service, quality and customer satisfaction, from hotels and accommodations to destinations, attractions, restaurants and experiences. Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best award winners are selected annually based on feedback from millions of Tripadvisor members.