Soothe Your Soul in the Backcountry
When the “real world” seems especially stressful, escape to a place that recharges the body, soothes the soul and inspires reconnection with life’s natural rhythms. The Florida Keys backcountry is that place — a realm of wild beauty and tranquil waters, with one of the most diverse assortments of marine life on the planet.
Simply Delicious: Unforgettable Keys Cuisine
Florida Keys diners feast on local fish, shrimp, lobster and stone crab — often flavored with tropical fruits and spiced with influences from the island chain's rich melting-pot history. As well as fueling many local eateries’ success, this simply delicious cuisine has inspired culinary experiences from festivals to classes.
The Tea (Dance) is Always Sweet in Key West
Every Sunday afternoon, Key West’s La Te Da hosts an event that has become a weekly tradition for visitors and residents who love a good time. It goes by the unlikely name of Tea Dance, and its music and merriment are overseen by beloved local DJ Rude Girl and her cohort Molly Blue.
Captain Samantha Zeher Embraces Free-Spirited Island Living
Captain Samantha Zeher, owner of Islamorada's KeyZ Charters, earned her license at just 18 while still a college freshman. Today she offers sightseeing charters that include snorkeling and sunset cruises, paddleboard, eco-tours and Everglades excursions. She’s also happy to treat passengers to island trips exploring Indian Key, Lignumvitae Key and Alligator Lighthouse -- each with a history dating back to the 1800s.
Key West Regatta Gives Minimalist Movement a Seafaring Spin
Each year on Memorial Day Weekend, fans of the fast-growing minimalist trend cheer teams powering boats made of bare-bones materials in the annual Schooner Wharf Minimal Regatta. Now in its 26th year, the quirky regatta is an undisputed tradition in the Florida Keys -- featuring minimally constructed vessels, plucky mariners displaying a “sink or swim” spirit, and maximum fun for spectators.
Stoli Key West Cocktail Classic Raises the ‘Bar’ For Mixologists
The finale of the Stoli Key West Cocktail Classic, called North America’s largest annual LGBT bartender competition, features 17 regional bartending champions from the U.S. and Canada plus a rocking lineup of celebrity judges — and it all takes place June 7-11 in Key West.
Divers Mark 15th Anniversary of Spiegel Grove Artificial Reef
In the waters off Key Largo, divers have installed a bronze plaque that names and honors the final 250 of 1,000 contributors to a project that sank a former U.S. Naval ship — exactly 15 years ago — to become an artificial reef in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. The panel was attached to the side of the Spiegel Grove, the third-largest ship ever scuttled to create a new reef for divers, as another milestone in a story that proves sometimes truth IS stranger than fiction.