Fred the Tree: The Florida Keys’ ‘Celebri-Tree’
Fred the Tree, the Florida Keys’ thriving and resolute “celebri-tree” that grows improbably on the historic Old Seven Mile Bridge, is debuting as a movie star in the remake of “Road House.” The beloved Fred is also memorialized in a song and a children’s book — and his Facebook page has 34,000 followers!
Key West’s LGBTQ Heritage and Appeal Showcased in New Video
Discover a new video that chronicles Key West’s heritage as a pioneering LGBTQ destination — and its attractions enjoyed by approximately 250,000 LGBTQ visitors annually. The video explores the island’s longstanding embrace of equality, “One Human Family” philosophy and 1.25-mile sea-to-sea rainbow flag, and answers those who wonder if Key West is “still gay.”
Enter NOW to Win a ‘Florida Keys Superfan’ Coral Reef Restoration Eco-Adventure
Are you a Florida Keys “superfan”? Would you enjoy “voluntourism” activities that help sustain the continental United States’ only coral barrier reef — the reef that parallels the Keys and shelters a huge variety of marine life? If so, the “Florida Keys Superfan” eco-adventure giveaway offers you a great opportunity and an enticing prize.
‘Samantha Brown’s Places to Love’ Spotlights the Keys in January
Emmy Award–winning travel host Samantha Brown is showcasing the Florida Keys in a 30-minute episode of her program “Samantha Brown’s Places to Love,” scheduled to air on public television stations nationwide beginning in January 2020. Guided by local residents, Samantha explores the Keys’ signature foods, literary culture, history, environment and sustainability initiatives.
International Flag Football Teams Kick Off Key West’s Kelly McGillis Classic
Teams of women and girls from around the world will unite in Key West for sports matches and activities Jan. 21-27, during the Kelly McGillis Classic International Women’s & Girls’ Flag Football Championship. The championship is named for and endorsed by the actress, director, and former Key West resident who starred in “Top Gun.”
Become a Steward of the Keys in 2020
Throughout the Florida Keys, visitors can revel in nature’s richness, immerse themselves in eco-experiences, enjoy opportunities for volunteer and learning vacations, and discover why local residents are so passionate about protecting their environment and lifestyle. As 2020 unfolds, visitors can connect with the Keys’ fascinating natural world and embrace practices that preserve it.
Patrick Garvey: Steward of the Keys’ ‘Fruitful’ Future
Patrick Garvey owns and operates Big Pine Key’s 2-acre fruit farm Grimal Grove, billed as the first breadfruit grove in the continental U.S. His passion is to grow food sustainably and educate others — and he plans to reopen Grimal Grove Jan. 11 as a Florida Keys breadfruit research site, agritourism attraction and educational park.