Every day is an adventure in the Florida Keys, where the subtropical climate and scenic natural setting create an ideal backdrop for high-energy activities no matter what the time of year. Visitors easily enjoy watersports and energetic eco-adventures, unparalleled offshore diving and organized sporting challenges for endurance-sports enthusiasts, but also enjoy a little wackiness while … Read more
While the Florida Keys & Key West are widely known for their vibrant natural beauty, easygoing atmosphere and year-round warmth, they also entice scores of visitors to enjoy cultural events that can be experienced only in the Keys. Showcasing the island chain’s heritage as a haven for creative spirits, they range from celebrations of resident … Read more
The Florida Keys: a tropical island paradise known for incredible snorkeling, fresh seafood dining, and laid-back luxury. While a few areas throughout the Florida Keys are still making minor repairs and improvements post-Hurricane Irma, rest assured Key Largo is open for business and eager to welcome guests. I started my Florida Keys vacation in Key Largo—the … Read more
Every day is full of natural wonders throughout the Florida Keys, known for their sweeping, scenic backdrops of earth, sea and sky. Throughout April, Keys visitors and residents can celebrate Florida Keys Earth Day with unique outdoor activities to be experienced only in the Florida Keys. This year’s Earth Day is Sunday, April 22. The Florida Keys & Key … Read more
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
New Orleans might have its jazz and Memphis its blues, but Key West is home to a musical art form all its own: conch shell blowing. Everyone from novices to “pucker pros” can attempt to prove their prowess at the offbeat skill during the island city’s 56th annual Conch Shell Blowing Contest, scheduled at noon Saturday, March … Read more
Sponsored by The Monroe County Tourist Development Council, 1201 White Street, Suite 102 Key West, Florida 33040. Winning a Florida Keys Angling Vacation could be as simple as following the Florida Keys Facebook page and entering the #FishFLKeys trip giveaway, part of a four-month social media program that launched Monday. The program spotlights the Keys’ recreational … Read more
The first Cemetery Stroll to be offered at the Historic Key West Cemetery this season will take place on January 27, 2018. During the stroll, small groups of visitors will be escorted to gravesites where interpreters will tell the stories of the deceased in brief monologues. The groups are scheduled for departures at 9:30, 9:50, and 10:10 Reservations are necessary, … Read more
The last text from Islamorada before Hurricane Irma plowed into the Keys was about fishing. “Look forward to a visit after things get back to normal. Bonefish are making a comeback,” wrote Richard Stanczyk, proprietor of Bud N’ Mary’s Marina for the past 40 years. Fishing is always a central topic in Islamorada, with its well-earned reputation as … Read more
After the Florida Keys were impacted by Hurricane Irma Sept. 10, local government officials announced Monday that the island chain would reopen to visitors Sunday, Oct. 1. While Key Largo and Key West were least impacted by the Category 4 storm, not all lodging, including RV resorts and other tourism facilities throughout the Keys, are … Read more
Atlanta-based developer Songy Highroads and partner the Wardman Group of Washington, D.C., purchased two oceanfront Islamorada hotels this summer, paying a combined $16 million. The companies closed on the 37-room Days Inn & Suites Key on Islamorada’s Upper Matecumbe Key on July 27 for $8.8 million. They bought Harbor Lights Resort on Windley Key, also a 37-room … Read more
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
The temperatures have been letting us know it’s summer for quite some time now, but it’s not too late to get in on the season’s hottest deals. Those of us lucky enough to call South Florida home are also fortunate to have America’s tropical island oasis right on our back doorstep: the Florida Keys. While … Read more
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
I have been in love with the Florida Keys most of my life. Having been born and raised in South Florida, the natural beauty of the area has captivated me since early childhood. The fortune of growing up in a boating family instilled me with an unending need to experience nature to it’s fullest. The … Read more
Making music with a conch (pronounced “konk”) shell might seem quite unusual, but dozens of people tried it Saturday afternoon, during Key West’s 55th annual Conch Shell Blowing Contest. When the “Conch Honk” concluded, Delaware’s Jayne Challman and Key West musician Steve Gibson were declared the adult winners — after each one coaxed not just … Read more
The Florida Keys arc off the state’s southeastern tip like a long strand of tiny beads on a silver chain. Or at least I thought so years ago, looking at the map after watching John Huston’s film classic “Key Largo.” The “beads” are, of course, the islands, and the “chain” is the 113-mile Overseas Highway … Read more
With its azure blue waters, swaying palm trees, year-round warm temps and bright blue skies, Kid Friendly Florida Keys makes for the perfect tropical escape. Two state parks, a national park, and a national marine sanctuary offer plenty of opportunities to explore and learn. Plus it’s easy to reach, at just a little over an hour’s … Read more
Hardly a weekend goes by in the Florida Keys & Key West without a special event or festival taking place. Providing entertainment and enjoyment for visitors virtually throughout the year, the Festivals and Events celebrate everything from the Keys’ colorful history, artistic culture and quirky ambiance to underwater wonders, outdoor adventure and tasty cuisine. While … Read more
The Florida Keys is home to the three most expensive hotels in the Sunshine State with #1 Little Palm Island. This is the finding of a new survey conducted by Miamihotels.org. In determining the rankings, the survey compared luxury hotels based on their cheapest available rate for a double room during the month of February … Read more