How Florida Keys Fishing Legends Created the March Merkin
Roughly 18 years ago, the March Merkin permit tournament was born in the Florida Keys. One of the longest-running permit challenges in the world, the fly-fishing tournament is hard to fish and hard to win. Guest blogger Allison Delashmit provides a look at the angling event, and ways people can support it.
Key West Locals Become ‘Strange Bedfellows’ for Charity
Key West’s 40th annual Conch Republic Blue Ribbon Bed Race is scheduled to “blanket” the island’s famed Duval Street April 23. The zany event, billed as “the most fun you can have in bed with your clothes on,” features decorated beds on wheels that are propelled along Duval by teams of costumed runners.
Wander the Keys’ Wide-Open Spaces
Florida Keys visitors can discover a place embracing sustainability and the preservation of environmental wonders, filled with hammocks and rainforest areas, sandy beaches and on-the-water relaxation, and unique opportunities for world-class bird watching. Whether on land or water, the Keys’ natural world provides the rejuvenation that comes from time spent outdoors.
Mark Hedden: Steward of the Florida Keys Audubon Society
Mark Hedden, executive director of the Florida Keys Audubon Society and artist-in-residence at The Studios of Key West, is perhaps the Keys’ best known “bird man.” A self-taught photographer acclaimed for his recent “South of Southernmost” exhibit, he hopes to use his creative artistry to inspire others to discover the Keys’ natural world.
Off the Beaten Path: Discover Two Exotic Key West Gardens
Two Key West public gardens invite visitors to wander off the beaten path and experience the island's unique horticulture and foliage, hidden natural beauty and unique ecosystems showcasing Mother Nature at her best. Discover the Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden and the Key West Garden Club’s headquarters at West Martello Tower.
‘Bucket List’ Eco-Experiences in the Upper Keys
Every day is an adventure in the Florida Keys, where the subtropical climate and scenic natural settings create the perfect backdrop for intriguing eco-activities — such as exploring mangrove wilderness, tropical hardwood hammocks and rainforest areas, or diving a protected underwater park. Upper Keys visitors can enjoy unplugged experiences from bird watching to “voluntourism.”
‘Give ‘Em Hell, Harry!’ Spotlights Two Trumans at Key West’s Little White House
History lovers can experience Presidents' Day Weekend events in Key West at the Harry S. Truman Little White House, Florida’s only presidential museum, including a theatrical production on Truman starring the 33rd president’s oldest grandson. “Give ‘Em Hell, Harry!” is scheduled Feb. 18-19, followed by a Feb. 21 picnic on the museum grounds.