The Florida Keys are an archipelago of some 1,700 islands extending from the southern tip of Florida in a loose southwestern arc between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean. Quirky Key West, the westernmost of the populated islands, lies just 94 miles from the coast of Cuba. These islands are a national treasure, and the drive along U.S. 1 ranks among the country’s most scenic. The Keys’ climate roughly parallels the tropics, with hurricane season running from June 1 to November 30. Ernest Hemingway famously lived and worked in Key West for many years, and his house is a fascinating stop.