In the Florida Keys & Key West, the holiday season is welcomed with great fanfare, festivities, and unique island flair. But for those who aren't lucky enough to be celebrating in the island chain, "Santa Keys" has dreamed up a special surprise. Discover his "gift" -- and have a joyful and meaningful holiday.
At The Fish House and The Fish House Encore in Key Largo, diners can find fresh-off-the-boat fish, traditional Key lime pie and a warm and welcoming vibe — plus unique options like Encore's "dining in the dark" culinary adventures.
While the Florida Keys are better known for their living coral reef and other offshore wonders, the island chain also features inviting beaches from Key Largo to Key West. These sandy spots are perfect for chilling out, sunning, swimming or just dipping your toes into warm, clear turquoise waters.
Rob Mitchell, owner of Key Largo's Keys Diver, relishes the diving tourism business and the island lifestyle. He also takes protecting the Florida Keys personally — making it his mission to share ways divers can help protect the oceans for generations to come.
Aspiring potters working from the clay of the earth learn, find inspiration, and practice their craft at Middle and Upper Keys studios. And opportunities abound around the island chain for people eager to explore their own potential and discover others' artistry.
Visitors can enjoy the indigenous flavors of the Florida Keys, and take home tasty edible “souvenirs” to help sustain them until their next vacation escape. The Keys are home to artisan food crafters including a master chocolatier, beekeepers and even a saltmaker.
In the Florida Keys, where the day-to-day business of living is easy, extraordinary creativity thrives. You'll find scores of freethinking spirits who, in the island chain’s nurturing atmosphere, indulge their talent for crafting wares as individualistic as they are.
Journalist Robert Silk has a great love for the Florida Keys’ natural world. Recently his outdoor outlook inspired him to write “An Eco-Tourist’s Guide to the Everglades & the Florida Keys,” and here he offers insights into his favorite activities and places in the region’s fascinating natural environment.
If one man’s junk is another man’s treasure, then the late Key Largo resident Stanley Papio was a treasure hunter extraordinaire. And ultimately, he became a treasure creator — crafting some of the edgiest and most eclectic metal sculptures of his generation.
The United States’ National Park Service celebrates its 100th birthday in 2016. And if you’re visiting the Florida Keys, you have a great opportunity to learn, discover and be inspired by two national parks that can be reached from the island chain.