Guidebooks are annoying. Just because some editor who doesn’t know me tells me which restaurant is the best or what attraction is a must-see doesn’t make it a must-see attraction. Sightseers’ Delight is dedicated to the weird, the quirky and the fun. After all, traveling is fun.
If it’s not, you’re doing it wrong.
All of the places highlighted in this ever-growing database are great. Sightseers’ Delight has visited them all. We think you should make a point to see every one of them. But, this is not a guidebook. Just a webpage to help you plan your next adventure.
Mallory Square is a plaza situated on the waterfront in Key West’s historic Old Town just west of the northern end of Duval Street, facing the Gulf of Mexico. It hosts the nightly “Sunset Celebration,” considered one of the city’s main tourist attractions. Every night, hundreds of tourists flock to the square — or one of the adjacent watering holes — to watch the sunset. The celebration includes arts and crafts exhibitors, street performers, and food carts. Adjacent to Mallory Square is the city’s cruise ship port, which opened in 1984. However, cruise ships must depart before the nightly sunset celebration.
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The Southernmost Point Buoy is a concrete buoy that ostensibly marks the southernmost point in the continental United States and is a popular photograph for tourists. The buoy, which sits at 18 feet above sea level, was established in 1983 at South and Whitehead streets. Cuba is about 90 miles south of the point, but the exact distance is disputed, as is the southernmost point claim. The southernmost point was initially marked with a small sign before city officials erected the buoy in 1983. Hurricane Irma damaged the paint job in September 2017, but the original artist, with support from the city of Key West, refurbished it.
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The African Queen is a historic steamboat located in Key Largo, Florida. Built in 1912, the vessel gained worldwide recognition after being featured in the 1951 film “The African Queen” starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn. Today, visitors can take a 90-minute cruise on the African Queen, exploring the beautiful waterways of Key Largo while learning about the boat’s fascinating history. The boat has been meticulously restored and is a beloved attraction in the area, providing a unique and memorable experience for visitors of all ages.
This post partially incorporates text generated with GPT-3, OpenAI’s large-scale language-generation model.
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The Florida Keys Memorial, also known as the Hurricane Monument, is a landmark located in Islamorada, Florida. The monument was constructed to honor the hundreds of victims of the devastating Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, which caused widespread destruction and loss of life in the Florida Keys. The 81-foot-tall memorial is made of native keystone.
This post partially incorporates text generated with GPT-3, OpenAI’s large-scale language-generation model.
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Everglades National Park was dedicated in Everglades City, Florida, on Dec. 6, 1947. It is famous for its unique ecosystem: wetlands, sawgrass marshes, cypress swamps, and mangrove forests. It is home to a diverse array of plant and animal species, including endangered species like the Florida panther and the manatee and rare species like the American crocodile. Visitors can explore the park’s many hiking trails, canoe and kayak along its waterways, take an airboat tour, or participate in ranger-led programs and educational activities. The park is also a popular destination for birdwatching, fishing, and camping.
This post incorporates text generated with GPT-3, OpenAI’s large-scale language-generation model.
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The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is 45 minutes east of Orlando International Airport. It brings to life the epic story of the U.S. space program through immersive and interactive experiences. Exhibits highlight the history of space exploration, including s Saturn V moon rocket and the Space Shuttle Atlantis. The U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame is located on the center’s grounds.
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The Amelia Island Museum of History provides visitors with an overview of the island’s history, starting with its Native American occupants and continuing through modern times. The museum is located in the former Nassau County jail.
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The Fernandina Beach Marine Welcome Center & Shrimping Museum gives visitors to Amelia Island a quick overview of the shrimping industry and its impact on the region. The Amelia Island Museum of History began running the museum after the city of Fernandina Beach approached the museum in 2010. The small museum, located on the waterfront in downtown Fernandina Beach, includes information about the shrimping industry and the families who played a vital role in its development. Theor efforts helped make the state “the birthplace of the modern shrimping industry.”
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Construction on Fort Clinch started in 1847 after the Second Seminole War on a peninsula near Amelia Island’s northernmost point. The only battle at the fort, named in honor of General Duncan Lamont Clinch, a leader in the First and Second Seminole Wars, happened during the Civil War. In 1862, Union troops recaptured the fort after Confederates seized control of the structure. The state of Florida bought the fort in 1935. Today, the fort is part of the 1,100-acre Fort Clinch State Park, which opened to the public in 1938.
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The Palace Saloon claims the title of the oldest bar in Florida and the last American tavern to close during Prohibition. Josiah Prescott built the structure, which opened in 1878 as a haberdashery. But, Louis G. Hirth purchased the structure in 1903 and converted it to the Palace Saloon. The establishment was apparently a favorite haunt of famous socialites, including the Carnegies and the Rockefellers. On the eve of Prohibition began, the bar apparently reported $60,000 in bar receipts, supposedly the most profitable day for the establishment. The establishment survived the dry era as an ice cream parlor until 1931 when the booze began flowing again,
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