Despite the Florida Keys' subtropical climate, residents tend to go a little overboard with holiday decorations (for example, an inflatable 10-foot-tall reindeer perched atop a small houseboat!) and throw themselves gleefully into extended merrymaking. In fact, from Key Largo to Key West, the December calendar is packed with events designed to spread seasonal cheer.
Do you love Stock Island? You should, because the island that lies next to Key West has a lot going for it — a cutting-edge cultural and culinary scene, seafaring heritage, contemporary waterfront lifestyle and cheerfully offbeat charm. And that’s what you can experience during the 2017 I Love Stock Island Festival.
The Florida Keys are rich in "mañana mindset," irreverent humor and unexpected joys. Now is a great time to discover and connect with the island chain and the spirit that defines it — and with the special Keys experiences that will make your senses tingle and your smile spread from ear to ear.
The Florida Keys are reopening to visitors Sunday, Oct. 1, following recovery efforts after Hurricane Irma impacted the island chain Sept. 10. Recovery is progressing well and the spirit and resilience of Keys residents is strong, despite the difficult hurricane impacts and aftermath. Many Keys special events — including Key Largo’s Oct. 18-22 Humphrey Bogart Film Festival, Key West’s Oct. 20-29 Fantasy Fest and Marathon’s Oct. 21 Stone Crab Eating Contest — are to take place as planned.
The southern stretch of U.S. Highway 1, running from mainland Florida throughout the Florida Keys to Key West, has been called the Overseas Highway, the Highway That Goes to Sea, and -- for those of us who love the island chain -- the road home. Now, following Hurricane Irma’s assault on the Keys and parts of mainland Florida, it's also an enduring symbol of our road to recovery.
For those of us whose job and passion it is to showcase the Florida Keys to visitors, major storms are something to take seriously — and be proactive and honest about. As concerns about Hurricane Irma loom for so many people, the Keys tourism website is featuring the latest updates about the storm and its potential path, strength and timing, and vital evacuation information.
Experience an in-depth sojourn in the subtropical Florida Keys & Key West, and you’re likely to discover some fascinating indigenous species in hidden, tucked-away gardens nestled throughout the 125-mile-long island chain. Here’s an intriguing look at five gardens well worth exploring.
For more than three decades, the Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival has spotlighted coral reef protection and environmentally responsible diving. The unique “submerged songfest” takes place in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary at beautiful Looe Key Reef (about six miles south of Big Pine Key).
The Florida Keys offer a terrific choice of sea-based adventures that you can discover at your own pace, according to your own energy level. With options that range from paddleboarding to snorkeling, you only need one basic ingredient to have an exhilarating outdoor experience in the Keys: simply saltwater!
Encouraging environmentally responsible behaviors is vital in protecting the Florida Keys' natural resources — including the continental United States’ only living coral barrier reef. Visitors can share Keys residents' commitment to preserving the unique ecosystem by following the “10 Keymandments.”