Brian Vest: Steward of the Conch Republic Marine Army
Brian Vest, founder-president of the Conch Republic Marine Army, a nonprofit organization created to restore Florida Keys marine habitats, has taken more than 4,000 volunteers to the Keys backcountry. Nearly every Saturday, groups of up to 10 volunteers commit to a five-hour experience to clear debris washed up on remote, uninhabited islands.
Offbeat ‘Zero K’ Race is MOO-ving Experience
While some runners push themselves to race long and grueling distances, participants in one recent Florida Keys challenge did the exact opposite. About 1,400 “athletes” who didn’t want to break a sweat romped, strolled and ambled across the Florida Keys’ shortest bridge (spanning mere feet!) during April’s Cow Key Channel Bridge Run.
Long Live the Kings and Queens of Fantasy Fest
In Key West, festivals are staged every month, celebrating everything from mouthwatering Key lime pie and succulent Florida lobster to Gay Pride. And one event, the campaign for Fantasy Fest king and queen, is a fundraiser that's important to the entire community.
Close Encounters with Ben Daughtry
Ben Daughtry’s passion for creating educational experiences in marine conservation led him to open Florida Keys Aquarium Encounters — where visitors can enjoy immersive experiences with reef fish, invertebrates, stingrays and even sharks without entering the ocean.
History and Humor Define April’s Conch Republic Independence Celebration
Loaves of stale Cuban bread, a governmental border checkpoint, and a request for a billion dollars in foreign aid played major roles in the Florida Keys’ secession from the United States and the formation of the independent Conch Republic.
Key West Loves its Tea Dance
The sidewalk was vibrating under my feet as I walked down Catherine Street to La Te Da, the famous guesthouse on Upper Duval that hosts our traditional Tea Dance every Sunday evening.
Kids Can Explore Keys’ Underwater World
Family vacations in the Florida Keys mean moms, dads and kids can enjoy adrenaline-fueled fun in the 125-mile island chain that parallels the continental United States’ only living coral reef.