Instead of dreading winter’s upcoming descent, consider making plans to take a break in balmy Key West. Sun, sand and clear blue waters await visitors eager to immerse themselves in warmth and relaxation at a Key West or Florida Keys beach. Local favorites even include a beach nicknamed for iconic film star Liz Taylor.
Discover five fascinating sites in the Florida Keys' "Become a Reef Explorer" dive and snorkel program. The program spotlights Keys reefs with a specially created souvenir journal, designed for first-timers, families and fun-loving outdoor enthusiasts of all experience levels who want to log dives or snorkels while exploring the region’s remarkable reefs.
On custom charter kayak trips to Content and Mud keys in the Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge, Captain Andrea Paulson has educated thousands of kayaking clients about the importance of keeping backcountry waters pristine. Deeply passionate about the Florida Keys environment, she strives to give her clients a renewed respect for nature.
Key Largo is called the dive capital of the world — with good reason, since it draws underwater enthusiasts from around the globe to experience its diverse, fascinating coral reef ecosystem alive with sea life. Plus Key Largo, and the Upper Keys overall, are home to a weird and wonderful array of lighthearted underwater events.
Vacation volunteerism, often called “voluntourism,” contributes to the self-sufficiency and sustainability of destinations like the Florida Keys. In the Keys, advocacy groups and learning-based attractions offer hands-on experiences that visitors can discover and enjoy — helping them find out more about impacts on Florida's reefs and environment and how the average person can help as a citizen scientist.
Calm summer seas in the Florida Keys mean easygoing and easy-on-the-environment watersports powered by people or the rays of the sun. Low-impact on-the-water activities include cruising warm, clear waters on a hydrobike, standup paddleboarding through the backcountry flats, or taking a dolphin watch and snorkel tour on the Keys’ first electric-powered charter boat.
Mel Fisher's 1985 discovery of the $450 million treasure of the shipwrecked Spanish galleon Atocha is being remembered July 11-13 during Key West’s Mel Fisher Days. Highlights include a dock party with the salvage crew, behind-the-scenes tours of the Fishers' private artifact conservation lab, and the chance to hear adventurous tales recalling Mel’s exuberant spirit.
As the Florida Keys ease into summer, the “Connect & Protect” program continues to encourage awareness of sustainable opportunities and memorable activities for visitors. Mindful travelers can boost their eco-awareness and take positive action through everything from a plastic-free challenge or a boater education course to connecting with the Coral Restoration Foundation.
The Florida Keys' shallow-water backcountry is home to one of the most diverse assortments of marine life in the world, and the tranquil region is an ideal place to explore nature by kayak. Eco-conscious visitors and nature lovers can immerse themselves in the honest, unspoiled Keys on a backcountry kayak adventure.
A rainbow flag can now be seen on the 523-foot-long Vandenberg, the second-largest ship in the world to be sunk as an artificial reef. Lying about seven miles off Key West, the "Vandy" draws divers from around the world ... and its rainbow flag is believed to be the first one ever displayed on an artificial reef.