The Key West Cemetery is one of the more unusual attractions I visited on the island.
I know recommending a cemetery sounds a little strange, but this isn't your typical cemetery. Between the funny epitaphs, colorful local history, beautiful trees, famous graves, and plenty of wandering chickens, the Key West Cemetery offers a completely different side of Key West than Duval Street, the beaches, or the bars.
If you enjoy history, photography, local stories, or simply exploring places that feel a little different from the typical tourist attractions, I think it's worth adding to your Key West itinerary. If you're still planning your trip, be sure to check out my Key West Travel Guide for First Time Visitors.
Yes. Even if you're not normally someone who visits cemeteries while traveling (I am not usually this person ha), this one is worth a stop. The Key West Cemetery is one of the most unique historical attractions on the island and provides a glimpse into Key West's history, culture, and sense of humor.
What makes it interesting isn't just the size of the cemetery. It's the stories attached to many of the graves, the unusual monuments, and the famous epitaphs that have become attractions of their own.
It's also a nice break from some of the busier tourist areas. During my visit, it felt peaceful without being boring, and there was always something interesting to spot around the next corner.
If you're building an itinerary, this pairs well with Visiting the Hemingway House in Key West.
Plan for about 30 minutes to an hour.
If you're simply walking through to see a few famous graves, you can move fairly quickly. If you enjoy reading headstones, stopping at historical markers, taking photos, and exploring different sections of the cemetery, it's easy to spend longer.
I originally thought I'd be in and out fairly quickly. Then I started wandering through the various sections and looking for specific graves, and the visit took longer than expected.
The cemetery dates back to the 1800s and contains thousands of graves, many of which tell fascinating stories about the people who helped shape Key West. Unlike many cemeteries, there are quite a few above-ground tombs and monuments throughout the property. The architecture alone makes it interesting to explore.
The cemetery is also known for several unusual epitaphs that have become famous among visitors. Some people come specifically to find them. The combination of history, architecture, local legends, and a little bit of Key West humor makes it feel very different from a typical cemetery visit.
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There are several notable spots that many visitors try to find while exploring.
This is probably the most famous grave in the cemetery and one of the main reasons many visitors stop by.
It's easily the most searched-for gravestone in Key West, which is why so many people end up wandering around trying to find it.
More on exactly how to locate it below.
Another well-known epitaph that reflects the sense of humor Key West is known for.
It's one of those details that catches your attention and reminds you that this cemetery has plenty of personality mixed in with the history.
As you walk through the cemetery, you'll find family plots that date back generations and provide a glimpse into Key West's past.
The Jewish Cemetery section is one of the most recognizable areas within the grounds and serves as a useful landmark when searching for the famous epitaphs.
Because Key West has such a strong connection to the ocean, you'll also find memorials connected to the island's maritime history.
Some of the most visually striking areas of the cemetery feature elaborate above-ground tombs and monuments that make excellent photo subjects.
Honestly, yes.
The cemetery is much larger than it first appears.
From the entrance, it doesn't look particularly complicated. Once you start walking around, though, you'll quickly realize there are multiple avenues, sections, pathways, and graves spread across a much larger area than most visitors expect.
Many of the locations people specifically want to find can be surprisingly difficult to locate.
I would strongly recommend using my map while exploring. Otherwise, it's very easy to spend a lot of time walking in circles looking for a single gravestone.
The famous “I Told You I Was Sick” gravestone was one of the main things I wanted to find during my visit, and honestly, it was more difficult to locate than I expected.
If you're entering through the main Key West Cemetery entrance, you'll know you're in the correct place because you'll see the large Key West Cemetery sign.
From there:
The famous gravestone is located near the Jewish Cemetery section.
You'll know you've reached the correct area when you see the Jewish Cemetery archway featuring a Jewish symbol above the entrance at the very end of 7th Avenue.
This is where having a map becomes especially helpful. The cemetery is much larger than it appears at first glance, and many visitors spend far longer searching for this grave than they planned.
I may or may not have done a few extra laps myself.
Yes. While it is still a cemetery, it also functions as an outdoor historical site. During a visit, you'll see a mix of history lovers, photographers, families, and curious travelers exploring the grounds.
Children will probably be more interested in spotting the chickens than reading historical markers, but families regularly visit the cemetery without any issues.
If you're interested in photography, there are plenty of interesting subjects throughout the property.
Some of my favorite photo opportunities included:
The combination of old stonework, tropical landscaping, and historic monuments creates a very different look from most Florida attractions.
If photography is a priority during your trip, you may also enjoy my guide to Best Photo Spots in Key West.
The Key West Cemetery isn't usually at the top of most visitors' itineraries, but it ended up being one of the more memorable stops of my trip.
Between the famous epitaphs, historic monuments, wandering chickens, beautiful trees, and stories hidden throughout the grounds, it offers a side of Key West that many visitors miss.
If you enjoy history, photography, local culture, or simply exploring places that feel different from the typical tourist attractions, I'd absolutely recommend spending an hour wandering through one of the most unique cemeteries in Florida.
Just bring my map. Your future self will appreciate it.
If you're trying to fit multiple attractions into the same day, my One Day in Key West Itinerary (Perfect for Cruise Passengers & First-Time Visitors) may help.
If you end up booking anything for your trip, using my affiliate links helps support my blog at no extra cost to you. I spend a lot of time researching and writing these guides, so I really appreciate the support.
There’s a little cottage tucked inside a forest just south of Amsterdam that serves giant Dutch pancakes, and somehow I ended up there on a bike ride with no plan and left completely obsessed. 🥞
Boerderij Meerzicht is inside Amsterdamse Bos, Amsterdam’s massive outdoor park full of biking trails, canals, deer, and families spending the whole afternoon outside. It doesn’t feel like a tourist spot. It feels like something locals actually go to, which is exactly why I liked it.
Dutch pancakes are nothing like American pancakes. They’re huge, thin, somewhere between a crepe and a flapjack, and the toppings cover the whole thing. The honest caveat: the ordering system is slightly confusing at first because pancakes are ordered separately from everything else. Watch one other table do it and suddenly it all makes sense.
I got the apple pancake with cinnamon and powdered sugar, and it was exactly what I wanted. Also got the savory bacon, apple, and syrup combination, which sounds wrong and tasted very right.
Full review with the ordering process breakdown, what we ate, prices, and a tip for navigating there without getting lost | link in bio.
The tulip fields in the Netherlands look exactly like the photos, except the photos don’t capture how massive the color blocks actually are stretching across the countryside. Or the windmills. Or the sheep randomly standing in the middle of everything like they don’t know they’re in the most photogenic country on earth.
The honest caveat: tulip season moves fast, the fields rotate every year, and peak bloom is not a guarantee, it depends on the weather, the harvest schedule, and a little bit of luck. But that’s also part of what makes it feel less like a tourist attraction and more like something you actually found.
Full driving route with towns, parking tips, and what to expect | linked in bio. 🌷
#netherlands #travelling #tulipfields #exploreeurope
Amsterdam has a way of making you feel like you need to see everything, and then rewarding you most when you slow down anyway. The museums and canal cruises are worth it, but so is just wandering neighborhoods, eating whatever looks good, and sitting along the canals with a grilled cheese and nowhere to be.
First-time visitor guide is on the blog. Link in bio. 🌷
#travelling #travel #amsterdam #visitamsterdam #traveleurope
10 stops. One very full day. Zero regrets. Amsterdam has one of the best food scenes I’ve experienced anywhere in Europe, but the honest caveat is that some of the viral spots come with lines that will genuinely test your character. I skipped a few. I regret nothing.
Here’s what actually made the cut on my self-guided Amsterdam food tour:
Fresh stroopwafels at Hans Egstorf: made right in front of you, warm caramel, no line. This one won.
Lourens cookie croissant: flaky outside, gooey chocolate inside. Did not share.
Café Winkel 43 apple pie: one of the rare viral places that fully lives up to the hype.
Davie’s Amsterdam for the Lelie sandwich: pastrami, pickles, marbled bread. Deceptively simple. Absolutely excellent.
De Kaaskamer to end the day: 400+ cheeses, grilled cheese with what they call ketchup (it’s not ketchup, and it’s better), and bunker cheese aged in underground military bunkers.
The full route covers 10 stops through Jordaan, the 9 Streets, the canal district, and the flower market area with a Google Map included so you can just follow along.
Full guide with every stop, tips for beating the lines, and what I’d skip vs. do again | link in bio.
#amsterdam #visitamsterdam #netherlands #travel #visitnetherlands #traveleurope
There’s a version of Gatlinburg that’s all fudge shops and tourist crowds, and then there’s the version that actually makes you want to come back.
Here’s everything worth doing downtown, in the order I’d do it: 🏔️
✨ Start at @gatlinburgskypark before the crowds hit
✨ Walk the strip mid-morning when it’s still manageable
✨ @googooclusters stop (see my post from Tuesday: don’t skip it)
✨ Dinner at one of the local spots off the main drag
✨ Wander back out at night when the lights are on and it gets actually pretty
This isn’t your overscheduled Smoky Mountain itinerary. It’s more of a “here’s what I’d actually do if I had one solid day” kind of list.
Full downtown Gatlinburg guide linked in bio. 🔗
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