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The Spirit (movie)
Unlock the beauty of Florida's Upper Keys
Unlock the beauty of Florida's Upper Keys

Despite its enduring quirks, Key West is light-years removed from the escapist island that awaited a failed country songwriter who pulled into town a penniless nobody in the 1970s. That was Jimmy Buffett, of course, whose Key West-inspired 1977 hit "Margaritaville" would transform both his career and the Conch Republic into mainstream attractions. For Key West, the southernmost city in the continental United States, it opened the door to a marketing gold mine, an image that eventually smoothed away the town's rough edges into something closer to a theme-park with booze. It's home to the flagship location of Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Cafe, where tourists in...