2 years after Hurricane Irma – Still Waiting on Funding

Two years after Hurricane Irma, the Florida Keys are still waiting on funding for recovery

There are still many individuals, businesses, and local governments Still Waiting on Funding for damages caused by Hurricane Irma in September 2017. Two years after Hurricane Irma barreled into the Florida Keys, some neighborhoods still show obvious signs of the aftermath of Category Four storm that leveled homes and sent boats from the water into … Read more

GMO Mosquitoes Proposed Again For Florida Keys

GMO Mosquitoes Proposed Again For Keys — As New Study Finds They Can Interbreed With Wild Insects

You have probably been reading and listening to news reports of the Mosquito born diseases plaguing the US this year. There are EEE (Eastern Equine Encephalitis which as killed at least 11 in the US), Dengue (In the USA, as of August 7, 2019, 216 dengue cases were reported to the CDC. During 2019, Florida, California and New York have … Read more

What’s New in the Florida Keys for Fall 2019

The Florida Keys with community efforts to sustain precious natural resources through the Connect & Protect initiative, continue to unveil ways to preserve the Keys’ environment and connect visitors who love the outdoors to the island chain’s unmatched beauty. Efforts to replant and preserve coral along the Florida Reef Tract are ongoing. In addition, two new eco-stay properties, tucked … Read more

Ten Keymandments Florida Keys Visitors Guide

While the Bible’s Ten Commandments advise people what NOT to do, these “Ten Keymandments” are designed to guide visitors in what you CAN do to have meaningful, memorable vacations while respecting and helping preserve the Florida Keys environment. An education campaign focusing on the preservation of the environment is being introduced to motorists entering the … Read more

7 Florida Keys Hotels Full of Caribbean Charm

 These Florida Keys hotels are blessed with warm sunshine, fresh seafood, and stellar beaches—and are the perfect passport-free alternative to the Caribbean. A Caribbean getaway can mean good things like relaxing on an island, soaking up the sun, and swimming in clear blue water. But it can also mean long flights, passport hassles, and endless customs lines. … Read more

Safe Boating in the Florida Keys

Safe Boating navigating Florida Keys shallow waters can be a challenge for even the most experienced boater. Unfortunately, inadvertent or careless boating practices can cause serious trouble for the Florida Keys ecosystem. With a little care, you can avoid damaging valuable Keys habitat (and your boat) and avoid fines, fees, and other costs associated with … Read more

7 Experiences to Savor Only in the Florida Keys

Florida Keys locals and in-the-know visitors often greet the news of some particularly offbeat happening by grinning, nodding and sagely murmuring, Only in the Florida Keys. FLORIDA KEYS — Florida Keys locals and in-the-know visitors often greet the news of some particularly offbeat happening by grinning, nodding and sagely murmuring, “Only in the Keys.” The phrase … Read more

Stock Island Where Old Key West Is Hiding

With two new hotels, Stock Island, an under-the-radar spot in the Florida Keys known for its laid-back, vintage vibe, may not be a locals-only spot for much longer. I’m chatting with Bobby Mongelli, owner of Hogfish Bar & Grill, the delightfully ramshackle Stock Island institution situated on Safe Harbour Marina, roughly a 15-minute drive north of Key West, … Read more

Wasted Away Again in Margaritaville – Keys Leads In Binge Drinking

The Florida Keys are famous as a place to party. That’s how they got the nickname “Margaritaville.” But the hard-drinking lifestyle is taking a toll on the residents. “We have the highest percentage of binge drinkers in the state of Florida,” said Alison Kerr, spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Health in the Keys.  Wasted Away Again in … Read more

Group Requests More Protection for Florida Keys Permit

Research provided by the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust in conjunction with local guides in the Florida Keys has provided state biologists with information suggesting that the May through July closed season for harvesting spawning permit may not be long enough. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission in 2011 created a Special Permit Zone — state … Read more

Florida Keys Tourism – Love It or Leave It

Early Florida Tourism In the early 1900s, thousand of tourists were coming to Florida. They came to stay in the new hotels, rest in the warm weather, enjoy the natural beauty, and some even came to recover from illnesses. Many wealthy people, such as Thomas Edison, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Henry Ford, built winter homes … Read more

What Do You Know About Florida Keys Names

Ever wondered about Florida Keys Names and why certain locations are named as they are? You may be on vacation in the Florida Keys, or a resident, and asked that question. If you’re boating and come across Alligator Reef, don’t think the name means it’s overrun with reptiles. The reef was named after the USS … Read more

Rainy Season Equals Mosquito Season in the Florida Keys

Unlike Northern parts of the U.S., South Florida, including The Florida Keys, has just two seasons. The dry season which begins in November and runs into May. The rainy season which occurs from May through October. While there are Mosquitoes in the Florida Keys year around, they usually are reduced during the dry season due to the … Read more

Florida Keys Tourism Report First Quarter 2017 The High Season

Monroe County Tourist Development Council’s most recent Smith Travel Research report shows Florida Keys Tourism is doing just fine. The Florida Keys continued with Florida’s best average daily rate. during the first quarter of 2017, at $315. The report on Florida Keys Tourism, with data from January through March 2017, provides a look at the average … Read more