Eager to escape yet another cold grey winter? Temps in the Florida Keys are pleasantly mild, with sunny skies and warm island breezes just perfect for a satisfying late-winter or spring getaway. And the Keys have some breathtaking ultra-luxury oceanfront resorts that are ready to pamper visitors with subtropical sun and serenity.
Among the “stewards” who safeguard the Keys’ natural world are scores of local artists working in oils, watercolors, photography, mixed media, sculpture and other disciplines. By using their talent to depict and call attention to the Keys’ unique ecosystems, habitats, flora and fauna, they subtly inspire viewers to become passionate about protecting them.
Now that the new year has begun, it’s a good time to focus on making it both meaningful and memorable. How? By spending some “personal time” in the Florida Keys — where you’ll experience simple pleasures that remind you to relax, slow your pace, and savor unforgettable moments with people that matter to you.
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.
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 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.
Florida Keys holiday traditions center around the one and only Santa Keys — a jolly bearded fellow who brings cheer to those not lucky enough to live in the Keys, and to the underwater creatures in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. What happens on the night before Christmas? Santa Keys makes his rounds!
The seafaring spirit, vibrant marinas, renegade arts emporiums and inviting waterfront bars and restaurants of Stock Island will be showcased Dec. 13-15 during the I Love Stock Island Festival. The festival celebrates Stock Island’s culture and heritage with yummy culinary offerings, art studio tours, a holiday boat parade, live music and much more.
Incredible as it may seem, the 2019 holidays are sneaking up fast. And in the Florida Keys, they’re celebrated with festivities that range from traditional to eccentric — with, of course, a unique island twist. Throughout November and December, visitors can find events designed to jingle their bells all around the holiday-loving Keys communities.
Instead of dreading winter’s upcoming descent, consider making plans to take a break in balmy Key West. Sun, sand and clear blue waters await visitors eager to immerse themselves in warmth and relaxation at a Key West or Florida Keys beach. Local favorites even include a beach nicknamed for iconic film star Liz Taylor.