Karly Venezia, director of sales and marketing at Islamorada’s iconic 22-acre Islander Resort, has spent more than half her life working for resorts in Key West and Islamorada. She also has an unusual paddleboarding companion: her Rhode Island Red chicken, Loretta, whose on-the-water exploits created a social media sensation.
You can reach the Florida Keys via land, air, and sea. First-time travelers should experience the drive through the island chain at least once -- because the 127-mile road trip from mainland Florida to Key West via the Overseas Highway, featuring 42 bridges over blue water, is absolutely breathtaking.
This January, food and wine enthusiasts can sample the the Florida Keys' culinary delights at five fantastic cuisine celebrations. Each one spotlights local chefs’ creativity, indigenous ingredients like unparalleled fresh fish and seafood, and premium wines. And the Keys' subtropical weather provides another "tasty" reason for a January escape to the welcoming island chain.
Santa does things a little differently in the holiday-loving Florida Keys -- and he even brings some Keys warmth and cheer to people who can't spend the season in the subtropical island chain. Unless you're on the naughty list, you might just get a visit from jolly old Santa Keys this year!
Much of Key West’s gay nightlife can found in or near the famed “Pink Triangle,” a cluster of LGBT bars, entertainment clubs and shops around the 700 and 800 blocks of Duval Street. No matter what night you visit, there’s always an astounding array of live entertainment offerings — from drag shows to cabaret to karaoke.
At noon on New Year's Eve, don't miss the annual Key West Dachshund Walk -- a short stroll for long dogs that has become a beloved holiday tradition. Last year the wacky walk drew nearly 200 dachshunds, many of them sporting whimsical costumes or accessories as they trotted around Key West’s historic downtown area.
Celebrate the lead-up to Santa’s Dec. 25 arrival by sharing unique, festive experiences with friends and family. Florida Keys experiences, to be exact — because the island chain’s December calendar is packed with creative, colorful and heartwarming events designed to spark smiles and lasting cheer.
Celebrate New Year's Eve in Key West by watching beloved drag queen Sushi, perched in a super-sized red high-heel shoe, "drop" to famed Duval Street in a wacky takeoff on the Times Square ball drop. The Key West event marks its 20th anniversary this year -- and features celebrity guest host Austin Armacost, best known for Logo TV’s “The A-List.”
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.