Want to log a world-class, bucket-list dive experience? Then head for Key West this Memorial Day weekend for the 10-year “on-the-bottom” anniversary of the USNS Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg. Sunk May 27, 2009, it’s the world’s second-largest vessel intentionally scuttled to become an artificial reef — and the anniversary events will be unforgettable.
Planning a visit to the Florida Keys this spring or summer? As well as enjoying the island chain’s many land-and-water attractions and near-addictive easygoing vibe, you can also explore two of the United States’ most intriguing places: Dry Tortugas and Everglades national parks. Both parks are nothing less than priceless national treasures.
Become part of Diana Nyad's health-promoting EverWalk in Key West — thanks to an inspirational invitation to readers from the legendary endurance athlete, who in September 2013 became the first person to swim from Cuba to Key West without a shark cage. Diana and her Cuba Swim expedition leader Bonnie Stoll share their latest adventure with Florida Keys residents and visitors.
In 1982, the Florida Keys & Key West seceded from the United States (for a very good reason) and formed the independent Conch Republic. Come to find out, the irreverent and gutsy spirit that inspired the Keys' secession also sparked the founding of a "country" on the other side of the world: the colorful “Republic of Whangamomona.”
Each spring, the Tennessee Williams Birthday Celebration honors the openly gay playwright who lived in Key West from 1949 to 1983. The 2019 commemoration includes film showings, curator-led tours of Key West's Tennessee Williams Museum, competitions for writers and painters, theatrical presentations, a birthday reception and even an intriguing Williams-themed cocktail tasting.
Key West is located just 90 miles from Cuba, and the two locales have a cultural connection that dates back almost 190 years, when early cigar makers found new homes in the island city. So it's no surprise that Cuban artistry, heritage sites, cuisine and even coffee enliven and enhance today's Key West.
Ever wondered how Key West residents live — and what lies behind their houses’ white picket fences, striking facades and gleaming front doors? Home tours scheduled for January, February and March offer a rare chance to find out. Discover Victorian gems and "shotgun" cottages, wonderful modern-day designs, interiors filled with antiques and art, and outdoor living spaces with lush, lovely gardens.
Former President George H.W. Bush was passionate about catch-and-release fishing in the Florida Keys. His interest in fishing for Keys species such as bonefish, tarpon and permit was so significant that he lent his name to the George Bush/Cheeca Lodge Bonefish Tournament staged in Islamorada. And the time he spent angling in Keys waters revealed a unique and appealing side to his personality.
Discover the seafaring heritage and vibrant coral reef environment of the Florida Keys, blended with a sizeable helping of heartfelt holiday spirit, during performances of the lovely and unforgettable “Nutcracker Key West.” The unique subtropical version of the classic “Nutcracker” ballet is being performed Dec. 7-16 — flavored with characters and sets that celebrate Key West’s colorful history, culture, traditions and even free-roaming roosters.
According to paranormal expert David Sloan, Key West is one of the most haunted cities in the entire United States. Visitors can discovery the island's “haunting” appeal for themselves by experiencing David's "ghost hunt" walking tour, taking an eerie excursion by trolley, "meeting" a supposedly supernatural doll or even staying in a lovely inn with a spirit guest or two.