My first visits to Key West as a young graduate student were doused in the costumes and Mardi Gras beads of Fantasy Fest. Crowds of boozed up revelers stumbled from one bar to the next along Duval Street, parting only long enough to admire elaborate body paint, or perhaps what was beneath. For many visitors, even in non-Fantasy Fest times, the bars and shops of Duval Street are the main attraction with the possible addition of a brief photo shoot at the Southernmost Point and a sunset stop to view the antics at Mallory Square. But Key West is one of those multi-layered gems that shines ever more brightly the further you stray from tourist-trampled sites. Surrounded by the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, its nature is one of those things that gives it glow. Below I’ll share some of my favorite Key West nature stops and activities. (Hint: It includes a lot of birding, so you might want to consider getting a copy of my Birds of Florida book before you go.)

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park –

Protecting what remains of a critical fort from the 1800s, this park is also famed for its white sand beach, offshore coral reefs, and as a birding hotspot during migration. While the moat and shoreline boast waterbirds at any time of year, the true excitement comes during migration when hammock and prairie along the hiking trails fill with migratory songbirds and even the parking lot comes alive with avian life.