Escape to sun-soaked Key West in September: Shoulder season

Imagine starting the day answering emails on a shaded porch, finishing a few hours of work, then heading out for an afternoon snorkel or fishing trip.

That’s what September can look like in Key West.

While winter brings peak tourism, fall offers something quieter — a season locals often consider one of the island’s best-kept secrets. With fewer visitors and warm tropical weather still firmly in place, September is an ideal time to plan a monthlong escape to the Florida Keys.

For remote workers especially, the island becomes an inspiring place to balance productivity and adventure. For retirees, it’s a place to let your imagination run wild: Channel your best Hemingway as you land big game fish, or maybe start banging away at that novel you’ve always vowed to write!