Reviewers say there is some street parking, but most recomm end walking in from town. The Square becomes a hive of activity, as street performers, musicians, and food vendors gather to provide food and entertainment. Every evening hundreds of people gather here to watch the legendary Key West sunset. to 5 p.m. Situated across the street from the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, the lighthouse is located in Old Town. Mallory Square is located in the heart of Key West.

Visitors are divided on whether the admission price is worth the local history provided in the museum, but most agree that the panoramic views seen from the top of the lighthouse are unbeatable. The lighthouse and museum are open daily (except Christmas) from 10 a.m. Discounts are available when you purchase your tickets online. Admission for adults costs $17 kids ages 7 and up get in for $8, while children under 7 can enter for free. One ticket gets you access to both the lighthouse and the museum. The gift shop is also a great place to find regional art. The cozy house is now a museum that surveys the history of lighthouses in the Keys, with photographs and various artifacts. After taking in the views, take a look around the keeper's quarters, which have been around since 1848. Once you're up there though, be patient: According to past travelers, the viewing balcony at the top is very narrow. If you can fend off the claustrophobia and don't mind heights, the climb up the tiny and constricting 88 steps to the top of the Key West Lighthouse is worth it for the views, say recent visitors. Several of the city's top guided tours make stops here. Visitors also recommend sticking around after your tour (which takes about 20 to 30 minutes) to peruse the gardens and take in the distinct design touches of Hemingway's wife, Pauline. Recent travelers recommend a visit here (despite the perennial crowds), and offer praise for the knowledgeable tour guides, who bring Hemingway's time in Key West to life.

Inside, the rooms contain memorabilia about Hemingway's life and work. The grand house itself is interesting, as it was one of the first in Key West to have indoor plumbing and a pool. Literature buffs take note: Hemingway penned parts of some of his most famous works, including 'A Farewell to Arms' and 'For Whom the Bell Tolls,' in this very residence. His former home – which he lived in for less than 10 years, but owned until his death in 1961 – is located in Old Town and is now a U.S. Literary icon and journalist Ernest Hemingway is one of Key West's best-known and well-loved 'freshwater Conchs' (a resident who was not born on the island).

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