Connect with Keys Life

Immerse yourself in the nature of the Florida Keys. Let it change you.

Connect with one of the Keys’ “natural resources” — the friendly, easygoing people who live here.

With the Keys’ funky hotspots, close-to-nature lifestyle and lively arts community, locals choose to embrace a laid-back vibe and culture and make it their own.

When you open yourself to chatting with Florida Keys residents, seeking their insights and recommendations for off-the-beaten-path adventures, you can immerse yourself in the Keys and forge a lasting connection with the colorful, magical islands.

Vacation Like a Local: Make the Keys Connection

The Florida Keys & Key West aren't just another vacation destination where you arrive, soak up some sun on a pretty beach, maybe do a little shopping or take a sightseeing tour, sample the local cuisine and depart, essentially unchanged, after a few days. In fact, rather than being a typical "tourist," you can practically become a temporary local — enjoying a vacation experience that fills your senses and leaves you feeling vibrantly alive. Read more

‘Local’s Choice’ Tips

Each month our Keys Traveler e-Newsletter spotlights an interesting resident in a ‘Local’s Choice’ profile. Learn about the featured locals’ lives and get insights into their favorite Keys spots to dine, explore and relax.

Local’s Choice’ tips From Craig McBay
Craig McBay, who owns Islamorada’s Florida Keys Brewing Co. with his wife Cheryl, is a busy man — operating the Upper Keys’ first microbrewery, its beer garden and tasting room; and overseeing a wide range of branded merchandise. Find out his favorite Keys spots to dine, explore and relax. Read full story

‘Local’s Choice’ Tips From Chef Christian Ledwith
Christian Ledwith is the 30-year-old chef at Chef Michael’s, the popular 60-seat restaurant in Islamorada that’s nearly always packed. He grew up in the Upper Keys, graduating from Island Christian School in 2011. Find out his favorite Keys spots to dine, explore and relax. Read full story

‘Local’s Choice Tips From Photographer Nick Doll
Nick Doll, who lives by Key West’s official philosophy that all are members of “One Human Family,” has become one of the island’s best-loved residents. Find out his favorite Keys spots to dine, explore and relax. Read full story

‘Local’s Choice’ Tips from Laura Zequeira-Smith
Alexander’s Guesthouse in Key West is known to the LGBTQ community and its allies as a “home away from home,” thanks to general manager Laura Zequeira-Smith. Find out her favorite Keys spots to dine, explore and relax. Read full story

‘Local’s Choice’ Tips from Adam Gonzalez and Camron Martinez
Adam Gonzalez and Camron Martinez have grown to love Key West and its people, and say they can’t imagine living anywhere else. Find out their favorite Keys spots to dine, explore and relax. Read full story

‘Local’s Choice’ Tips from Chef Pedro Aviles
Pedro Aviles, the creative spirit behind the popular dishes at Key West’s Nine One Five restaurant, is a Key West local who enjoys easygoing activities and simple pleasures that enrich his Florida Keys lifestyle. Find out his favorite Keys spots to dine, explore and relax. Read full story

‘Local’s Choice’ Tips from Renita Kavallieros
Key West fire show artist Renita Kavallieros, known as “Andromeda Fyre” after the galaxy Andromeda, is a world-renowned fire dancer, belly dancer and flow artist who’s traveled to over 45 countries and performed around the globe. Find out her favorite Keys spots to dine, explore and relax. Read full story

‘Local’s Choice’ Tips from Howard Livingston
Trop-rock singer Howard Livingston, son of a Kentucky coal miner, started playing Keys-inspired music 18 years ago and recently released his 11th album, “House Down by the Sea.” Find out his favorite Keys spots to dine, explore and relax. Read full story

‘Local’s Choice’ Tips from Jack Micciche, Owner of Key Largo’s ‘Mother Ocean’
Jack Micciche, who owns the funky and eclectic Mother Ocean Key Largo Marine Consignment store with dad Carmine, describes the vintage, quintessentially Keys outlet as “nautical Narnia.” Find out his favorite Keys spots to dine, explore and relax. Read full story

‘Local’s Choice’ Tips from Christopher Peterson
Key West entertainer Christopher Peterson, one of the island city’s most popular female impersonators, is the Florida Keys’ newest New Year’s Eve icon, starring in the annual New Year’s Eve “Red Shoe Drop.” Find out his favorite Keys spots to dine, explore and relax. Read full story

‘Local’s Choice’ Tips from Dan Cornell
Dan Cornell, who owns Cruisin’ Tikis Key Largo with wife Laurie, operates three Tiki boats that depart from Snooks Bayside Restaurant & Grand Tiki Bar and Sundowners restaurant in the Upper Keys. Find out his favorite Keys spots to dine, explore and relax. Read full story

‘Local’s Choice’ Tips from Chef Paul Kapsalis
Chef Paul Kapsalis and wife Kris Kubik are owner-operators of South of the Seven restaurant, tucked inside the 1950s-era Sugarloaf Lodge at mile marker 17 on Sugarloaf Key. Find out his favorite Keys spots to dine, explore and relax. Read full story

‘Local’s Choice’ Tips from Kermit Carpenter
If Key limes were to have an ambassador, that person would likely be Kermit Carpenter, the famed proprietor of Kermit’s Key Lime Shop. Find out his favorite Keys spots to dine, explore and relax. Read full story

Florida Keys Stewards

Meet some of the quirky, creative, genuinely friendly residents who weave eco-consciousness into their everyday lives — protecting wildlife, eating local foods, supporting fishermen, reducing plastic waste and giving back to their island communities.

Each month our Keys Traveler e-Newsletter spotlights a “Steward of the Keys.” Learn their stories and find out about their lives, work, passions and reasons for loving the island chain and proactively preserving it.

David Burke: Deputy Steward of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
David Burke, recently named deputy superintendent of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, has flown more than 3,500 Navy helicopter flight hours above the earth, across the world. Now Burke oversees operations, partner agreements, budget planning and execution, and various supervisory tasks for the sanctuary. Read full story

Allison Delashmit: Steward of the Lower Keys Guides Association
Allison Delashmit, who became the executive director of the Lower Keys (Fishing) Guides Association last fall, is a natural-born storyteller. The petite organizer is using that talent to be a big voice for the association, which includes more than 100 vetted guide members and 150 to 200 angler members. Read full story

Bill Keogh: Steward of the Lower Keys’ Natural World
Naturalist, eco-guide, photographer-writer and paddling guidebook author Bill Keogh, a 44-year resident of Big Pine Key, operates Big Pine Kayak Adventures. He’s also a member of the Florida Keys Wildlife Society, supporting the Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges, and has led full moon kayak tours as fundraising events for more than 20 years. Read full story

Steward of the Keys: Frank Betz Spins Fish Tales
Captain Frank Betz began fishing the Florida Straits in 2005 while working for the Boy Scouts of America at the Sea Base Camp on Summerland Key. Today he shares his passion for fishing the Florida Keys’ deep blue waters as a guide, offering Folklure Charters fishing trips from Summerland and Big Pine Key. Read full story

Steward of the Keys: Dan Dawson Dives
Dan Dawson, co-owner with wife Mollie of Key Largo’s Horizon Divers, certified by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary as an environmentally responsible Blue Star operator, discovered his passion for diving at an early age. Today, he’s energized by seeing kids and young adults learn about the Keys’ environment and its protection. Read full story

Michelle Nicole Lowe: Steward of the Keys Through Art
Michelle Nicole Lowe, one of the Florida Keys’ best-known artists, paints colorfully whimsical and expressive wide-eyed marine life, wild birds and multi-hued flora and fauna. Through her artwork, the fifth-generation Keys resident promotes conservation of the island chain’s natural life — sea turtles, tarpon, herons, indigenous creatures, subtropical florals, mangrove hammocks and more. Read full story

Erin Allison: Steward of the Keys’ Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center
Erin Allison has been executive director of the Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center Inc. since June 2023. Though just 26 years old, she is a dedicated Keys nonprofit leader who’s big on achievable goals. They include broadening the organization’s local outreach through education and by holding public releases of rehabilitated wild birds. Read full story

Terry Helmers: Steward of Keys Volunteerism
Terry Helmers is a Florida Keys volunteer extraordinaire. His underwater specialty, as a volunteer and as a NOAA- and national parks-authorized diver, is mooring buoys. The dedicated Helmers has logged about 800 volunteer hours with the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and more than 2,300 at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Read full story

Mill McCleary: Steward of Plastic Free Key West
Mill McCleary, executive director of the Reef Relief organization based in Key West, uses advocacy and organizational skills to create tangible impacts through clean water and healthy ecosystems. He has overseen Reef Relief’s establishment of Key West Marine Park, founding of Coral Camp for Kids, and recent Plastic Free Key West program. Read full story

Sue Cooper: Steward of the Lower Keys Backcountry
Sue Cooper, a Florida Keys paddleboard guru and author of “Millionaire in Flip Flips,” is the face of Lazy Dog Adventures — known for its slogan, “We do more in a week than most people do all day.” But don’t let that slogan fool you; Cooper is brimming with business acumen and motivational concepts. Read full story

Cindy Lewis: Steward of Keys Coral Protection
Cindy Lewis, director of Keys Marine Lab on Long Key, is a woman of diverse talents. A respected specialist in marine biology and coral restoration, she is an American Academy of Underwater Science diver and a National Association of Underwater Instructors dive master. She also plays the French horn with a concert band. Read full story

Taylor Hale: Artist/Steward of the Keys' Natural World
Artist Taylor Hale, a Florida Keys native raised in Key Largo, has come home. Hale is known for his stunning ethereal works of clouds and surreal scenes of the Keys' natural world, mostly on and around the water. He recently unveiled an Islamorada gallery to display his artistry, with a second coming soon. Read full story

Billy Litmer: Steward of Sustainable Eco-tours
Billy Litmer is the founder of Key West’s Honest Eco tours, specializing in wild bottlenose dolphin-watching and nature charters. Designer and builder of the island’s first lithium-ion battery-powered hybrid charter boat with electric motors, he shares his love for the Keys’ wildlife and environment with guests — inspiring them to cherish both. Read full story

Those who love the Keys form personal connections to the unique environment. Watch videos below and “meet” some of these stewards of the Florida Keys’ natural world: