Local Color

Seven Experiences to Savor Only in the Keys

Besides balmy year-round weather, endless blue water and a seriously laid-back vibe, in the Florida Keys you’ll find an enticing array of environmental, cultural and adventure activities that can’t be enjoyed anywhere EXCEPT in the island chain. Enliven your stay with some of the “only in the Keys” experiences outlined here.

By |2021-03-16T13:16:43-04:00May 2, 2018|

Celebrate the Conch Republic’s 36th Birthday April 20-29

A lighthearted sea battle featuring tall ships, a parade dubbed the world’s longest and a “drag” race for female impersonators are all part of the wonderfully wacky 36th annual Conch Republic Independence Celebration. Set for April 20-29, the offbeat event commemorates the Florida Keys’ symbolic secession from the United States.

By |2018-04-18T19:19:32-04:00April 18, 2018|

Old Road Gallery is ‘Made in the Keys’

Old Road Gallery, owned by artists Dwayne and Cindy King, is a working studio and gallery that overflows with handcrafted pieces of pottery, bronze and copper. It’s also an outdoor sculpture garden. And each day visitors, invited to take a tour, stroll through winding trails and learn about artistic techniques and styles.

By |2021-05-13T16:04:05-04:00April 11, 2018|

So How Long is the Seven Mile Bridge Again?

How many times a day does the sun set in the Florida Keys? That's just one of the wacky questions that have actually been asked by visitors to the island chain. Read on to discover more crazy questions and their answers -- including how long the Seven Mile Bridge REALLY is.

By |2018-04-04T15:51:17-04:00April 4, 2018|

It’s a Car; It’s a Plane … No, It’s a Speeding Drag Queen!

In Key West each April, "drag racing" takes on a whole new meaning — as the island city's exotic drag queens don outlandish sporting costumes, lavish wigs and towering high heels to vie for victory in the Great Conch Republic Drag Race. The wacky competition is scheduled Saturday, April 21, on Duval Street (known, of course, as the island's "main drag").

By |2020-04-07T13:25:13-04:00March 28, 2018|

The Code of the Keys Protects Priceless Treasures

By following the "10 Keymandments," travelers can have meaningful, memorable Florida Keys vacations while respecting and helping preserve the Keys' natural world. This amazing environment includes the continental United States’ only living coral barrier reef, which supports an incredibly diverse population of plants and animals.

By |2021-05-13T15:43:03-04:00March 21, 2018|

Seven Mile Bridges: Enduring Florida Keys Icons

The Seven Mile Bridge, the focal point of the famed Florida Keys Overseas Highway, is a fascinating engineering marvel that quite simply stuns the senses. Rising in an arc toward its center, the 35-year-old Middle Keys bridge offers sweeping panoramic views of a picturesque horizon where turquoise-colored seas meet an almost impossibly blue sky.

By |2018-03-07T19:07:45-05:00March 7, 2018|

Bizarre but True ‘Undying Love’ Haunts Key West

Decades before zombies and "The Walking Dead" became pop culture phenomena, a macabre, beyond-the-grave Key West love story mesmerized people around the world. Now, beginning on Valentine's Day, the true tale of one man's death-defying obsession comes to life for theater audiences in “Undying Love: A Key West Musical.”

By |2018-02-14T20:04:24-05:00February 14, 2018|
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