Florida Pelican © Author Adventures

Ernest Hemingway

Novelist Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961) is among the bestselling US authors of all time. He helped usher in a new style of writing that soared to instant popularity and has since held its own as required reading in numerous secondary schools and colleges.

Key West is where Ernest Hemingway lived during the 1930s and where he completed his writing of A Farewell to Arms, a classic available at most any public library or bookstore. After publishing A Farewell to Arms, the author continued to visit Key West regularly for the rest of his life.

Also read about literary landmarks connected to Ernest Hemingway through the Idaho Illinois, Michigan, and South Carolina pages of authoradventures.org.

The House

When you visit, do not miss the Ernest Hemingway House and Museum. Designated as a national historic landmark in 1968, it still stands strong today, even as a survivor to Hurricane Irma, according to the Los Angeles Times (9/11/17). Along with its large tribe of cats, it withstood one of the worst natural disasters in US history. Ask a tour guide about “the penny” and see if you can find it.

The creative community of Key West has long been the home of the Key West Literary Seminar for aspiring and professional writers alike. You can read about it at www.kwls.org.

© Author Adventures

Key Lime Pie

An experience not to miss is a slice of Florida key lime pie. This homegrown delicacy has had some controversy through the years because many restaurants and bakeries in other parts of the country disagree about its look, taste, and consistency.

Local purists typically say that authentic key lime pie filling should be light yellow, not green, have a pudding texture, not gel, and should have no meringue. Also, picking directly from the tree and immediately using the juice provides the freshest taste.

The Ernest Hemingway House and Museum is the tenth stop on Florida Author Adventures Trail #2.