Loaves of stale Cuban bread, a governmental border checkpoint, and a request for a billion dollars in foreign aid played major roles in the Florida Keys’ secession from the United States and the formation of the independent Conch Republic.
The sidewalk was vibrating under my feet as I walked down Catherine Street to La Te Da, the famous guesthouse on Upper Duval that hosts our traditional Tea Dance every Sunday evening.
Family vacations in the Florida Keys mean moms, dads and kids can enjoy adrenaline-fueled fun in the 125-mile island chain that parallels the continental United States’ only living coral reef.
Slip away to the southernmost outpost in the continental U.S. this spring to soak up the salt air, sweet breezes and irresistibly laid-back vibe.
Captain Karen Luknis of Venus Charters cut power to the Suzuki engine as I watched her Pro-Line coast across Garrison Bight to a gentle stop at the dock, after helping another group of clients make lifelong memories.
Many of the Florida Keys most appealing festivals and events celebrate visual, performing and literary artists’ passion and talent. And while each one is different, they all spotlight the Keys’ vibrant history, natural richness, and irresistible vibe that inspires creative spirits.
Key West has inspired creative types for decades, and perhaps none so much as painters. I know at least a dozen men on the island whose passion is capturing on canvas the island’s landscapes, wildlife and people.
Not unexpectedly, given its exuberant community of artists, Key West is home to a diverse variety of galleries. One of the earliest established — and still flourishing — is Guild Hall Gallery, an artists’ cooperative located at 614 Duval St.
David Kaufelt’s greatest accomplishment, and the one that made perhaps the most lasting impact, was founding the superb and critically acclaimed Key West Literary Seminar. In early February, a national literary landmark was dedicated in his honor on the island he loved.
Discover Key West through the appreciative eyes of a visiting writer from North Carolina, as he experiences the island’s highlights and hotspots and soaks up some welcome winter sun.