The buccaneering spirit of adventure and individuality is one of the most intriguing — and enduring — attributes that help define the Florida Keys island chain. The Keys’ renegade seafaring heritage is alive in museums and attractions, colorful shipwreck and treasure tales, dive and snorkel trips to wrecksites, and sailing cruises aboard historic tall ships.
Longtime Key Westers remember famed singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett when he lived on the island, savoring the lifestyle that helped inspire his songs. As the world slowly emerges from COVID-19 shutdowns and the Florida Keys prepare to reopen to visitors June 1, Buffett's music can evoke the spirit of Key West and memories of a more carefree time.
Many books about the Florida Keys are so well crafted that they seemingly transport readers to the island chain — portraying it so vividly that it’s almost possible to feel the humidity and smell the salt air. During this time of COVID-19 travel restrictions, what books provide the best “virtual visit” to the Keys?
Authors, playwrights, composers and poets have been lured to Key West by its one-of-a-kind environment of creativity, natural beauty and sometimes eccentric qualities — making it the muse for some of their most acclaimed career accomplishments. Those entranced by the island have included Tennessee Williams, Leonard Bernstein, Elizabeth Bishop, Terrence McNally and Jerry Herman.
While the Florida Keys remain temporarily closed to visitors, it’s possible to stay connected by sharing Keys memories and stories of extraordinary people. People like “Shine” Forbes — a sparring partner of legendary author and 1930s Key West resident Ernest Hemingway — who was one of the island’s most unique links to the colorful author.
While the Florida Keys are temporarily closed to visitors, the Lower Keys’ miniature Key deer continue to flourish, untroubled by the global coronavirus crisis. The deer have been protected for more than 60 years in the National Key Deer Refuge — thanks partly to an unorthodox lawman who helped save the species from extinction.
Clinton Curry is a seventh-generation Key West resident or “Conch” whose ancestors arrived some 180 years ago from the Bahamas’ Green Turtle Cay. The fifth generation of his family to be born in Key West, he’s passionate about preserving the history and culture of his hometown — through means including masterful conch shell musicianship.
Discover a new video that chronicles Key West’s heritage as a pioneering LGBTQ destination — and its attractions enjoyed by approximately 250,000 LGBTQ visitors annually. The video explores the island’s longstanding embrace of equality, “One Human Family” philosophy and 1.25-mile sea-to-sea rainbow flag, and answers those who wonder if Key West is “still gay.”
Key West's historic homes, many dating from the late 1800s, range from elegant mansions with wraparound verandahs and wooden “gingerbread” trim to tiny, flower-decked cottages. On Friday and Saturday, Dec. 27-28, architecture buffs can explore homes reflecting the island’s intriguing heritage, plus distinctive contemporary gems, during tours presented by the Old Island Restoration Foundation.
For decades, Key West's Mallory Square Sunset Celebration has been an iconic must-do experience for visitors and locals alike. On the pier overlooking colorful Key West Harbor, artisans sell handmade wares and foodstuffs. Performers range from acrobats and musicians to a daring tightrope walker silhouetted against the vivid hues of the evening sky.