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.
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.
The Key West community remembers the late Gilbert Baker, creator of the original LGBT rainbow flag -- and working alongside him June 15, 2003, during Key West PrideFest, to unfurl a 1.25-mile-long 25th anniversary edition of the iconic flag along the entire length of Duval Street.
For visitors who wonder how Key Westers live — and what lies behind their houses’ white picket fences, historic facades and gleaming front doors — home tours scheduled for December, January, February and March provide a rare chance to find out.
Captain Lain Goodwin, owner of Dirty Waters Charters, knows that muddy waters — where fresh water spills from Florida Bay’s backcountry and Everglades National Park into the Gulf of Mexico’s salty waters — are rich with the world’s best fishing.