Catch the Daily Sunset Party
When the light fades, the party begins
It's not unusual for the waning of daylight and the waxing of cocktail hour to assume special significance on a tropical island, but in Key West, sundown has attained particularly exalted status. As the afternoon light begins to fade, the party begins.
The best place to catch the fun is Mallory Square, a waterfront plaza where residents and tourists convene daily for a jubilant celebration of nightfall. Food and craft vendors, musicians, acrobats, daredevils, palm readers and a selection of local eccentrics make for a lively, carnival-like atmosphere that will get you warmed up for the island's nightlife.
Every visitor should experience the Mallory Square sunset celebration at least once, but if the street festival scene is not your cup of tea, you might prefer the more contemplative surroundings of Fort Zachary Taylor State Park, which offers clearer views of the western horizon, pleasant picnic areas and an up-close look at gargantuan cruise liners heading out to sea.
Perhaps the most civilized option is to park yourself at the rooftop bar of the Crowne Plaza La Concha on Duval Street, a venerable Key West hotel that opened its doors in 1926. Here, seven floors above the heart of Old Town, you can savor your gin and tonic in comfort as you wait for the sun to slide into the Gulf of Mexico.
| 
)
