In Key West each April, "drag racing" takes on a whole new meaning — as the island city's exotic drag queens don outlandish sporting costumes, lavish wigs and towering high heels to vie for victory in the Great Conch Republic Drag Race. The wacky competition is scheduled Saturday, April 21, on Duval Street (known, of course, as the island's "main drag").
By following the "10 Keymandments," travelers can have meaningful, memorable Florida Keys vacations while respecting and helping preserve the Keys' natural world. This amazing environment includes the continental United States’ only living coral barrier reef, which supports an incredibly diverse population of plants and animals.
"West Side Story" composer Leonard Bernstein also had a "Key West-side story" -- a connection with the island that most people never knew about. It will be revealed in “Remembering Lenny” and other offerings that explore the American musical legend’s work and the ways the island city influenced it. And it's all part of a national celebration commemorating the 100th anniversary of Bernstein’s 1918 birth.
“Taste of Key West,” an open-air food extravaganza at Key West's famed Mallory Square, is a one-stop foodies’ delight featuring offerings from several dozen local restaurants. It's the perfect opportunity to sample an amazing variety of the island’s primo cuisine — against the backdrop of a fabulous sunset.
The Seven Mile Bridge, the focal point of the famed Florida Keys Overseas Highway, is a fascinating engineering marvel that quite simply stuns the senses. Rising in an arc toward its center, the 35-year-old Middle Keys bridge offers sweeping panoramic views of a picturesque horizon where turquoise-colored seas meet an almost impossibly blue sky.
Key West lies just 90 miles from Cuba, and the two islands share a cultural connection that dates back more than 180 years. On March 7, a unique event will commemorate the Cuban heritage that enlivens and enhances the island city — and it includes the unveiling of what is believed to be the world’s largest cigar sculpture.
The Key West Business Guild and its visitor center first opened their doors in 1978 to support the LGBT community and promote tourism to the all-welcoming island city. Now celebrating its 40th "birthday," the Guild remains a vital force in showcasing the destination that has been called “the gem in the crown of the U.S. gay community.”
There’s a woman living in Islamorada who’s likely the envy of sportsmen of all ages. Her name is Dianne Harbaugh — and as well as organizing several respected Florida Keys fishing tournaments each year, she's also a pilot, an expert angler, and the first woman in the world to land a blue marlin on fly.
Decades before zombies and "The Walking Dead" became pop culture phenomena, a macabre, beyond-the-grave Key West love story mesmerized people around the world. Now, beginning on Valentine's Day, the true tale of one man's death-defying obsession comes to life for theater audiences in “Undying Love: A Key West Musical.”
What's the best way to explore the subtropical island of Key West? Walking, bike and trolley tours offer a number of options — house and garden, pub crawls, culinary and tasting, Florida Keys architecture and even ghost tours led by (what else?) a “ghost host.” Whatever you choose, our gay-friendly island paradise awaits your discovery.