What’s New in the Florida Keys - Winter 21/22

Winter in the Florida Keys is sunny, breezy and typically offers the warmest winter weather in the continental United States. The 125-mile-long island chain is particularly popular with visitors for its wide-open spaces, on-the-water activities and picturesque scenery framed by warm turquoise waters.

With UK travellers now returning to the USA, here are some of the new experiences, accommodation options and upcoming events in the Keys:

Keys Transportation

FlixBus, a European company with bus and rail services in 36 countries, offers a convenient new car-free option, six days per week, for travel to the Keys from Miami and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood international airports. The 56-passenger, single-level motorcoaches are equipped with free Wi-Fi, an on-board entertainment portal, power outlets, reclining seats with spacious legroom, luggage space and a restroom. Passengers can travel from the two airports to the Keys with stops at Islamorada, Marathon and Key West. Stops in Key Largo and Big Pine Key also are planned. Tickets are priced from $7.99 per person. Visit flixbus.com or the company’s app, available free at the Apple App Store or Google Play.

Keys Anniversaries

Everglades National Park is planning its 75th anniversary, kicking off this month [January 2022] with a monthly Everglades Iron Ranger Challenge series and other events throughout the year — all leading up to the anniversary on Dec. 6, 2022, of the park’s founding. A new 24-unit Flamingo Lodge & Restaurant, located in the park’s Flamingo area on mainland Monroe County about a 40-minute drive from the park's entrance, and a new Flamingo Visitor Center are scheduled to open in spring 2022. Both the lodge and restaurant are being built from modified and enhanced shipping containers, above the ground on cement pillars and connected by a boardwalk. Concessionaire Flamingo Everglades Adventures, a subsidiary of Guest Services Inc., is to unveil the lodge with one- and two-bedroom units. In addition, 186-square-foot eco-tents for “glamping,” erected on platforms with a queen or two double beds, and 42-foot houseboats (for a maximum four adults and two children), are available for overnight stays. Ninety-minute Flamingo Bay Boat Tours are offered multiple times daily, with one route taking passengers to explore the backcountry and one focused on the bayside. Prices are $40 per adult, $20 for children ages 5 to 12 and free for younger children. Visit flamingoeverglades.com.

In Key West, residents and businesses are planning activities throughout 2022 to highlight the 200th anniversary of the island’s first permanent settlement in 1822. Planned activities include “Commemorating 200 Years of Settlement” March 19-30, encompassing the bicentennial of the date March 25, 1822, when Lt. Matthew C. Perry erected the American flag at Key West. Attractions include the creation and dedication of a time capsule to be placed beneath the American flag at Mallory Square and opened in 50 years; talks and events highlighting the island city’s history; a parade; a celebration of baseball, one of Key West’s most-loved sports; a history–themed VIP party and a Heritage Festival with stage performances, eco-friendly silent drone fireworks and festivities set for Saturday, March 26. Other activities celebrating Key West history, culture and community are to be ongoing. Visit keywest200th.com.

Keys Museums

The Custom House Museum, operated by the Key West Art & Historical Society, is to unveil “Key West 200” celebrating the 200th anniversary of the first permanent settlement of Key West in 1822. Running Jan. 21 through Dec. 11, 2022, the exhibit is to highlight Key West’s people, culture and community. Artefacts will include sponge-fishing equipment, cigar roller tables and tools, 19th-century homewares, clothing, artwork and photographs, Florida Keys Over-Sea Railroad memorabilia, Ernest Hemingway’s boxing gloves, Native American tools, Key West Hand Print dresses and U.S. Navy ship models. Key West 200 is to chronicle history by decade and showcase glimpses of Key West life through development, immigration, industries, culture and education. The exhibit is to be staged across the Custom House Museum’s two full galleries and foyer at 281 Front St. Visit kwahs.org.

Keys Accommodations

An expansion at Grassy Flats Resort & Beach Club, celebrating two years on the Middle Keys’ Grassy Key at mile marker 58, is to be completed by Feb. 1, 2022, and features 28 new oceanfront guest rooms and a new second pool. The oceanfront Humidor House includes four king suites with four-poster mahogany beds and private balconies. The Wrecker’s House offers two queens, a king and three king suites with private wraparound balconies. An enhanced and expanded Barrel & Bale venue, with 152 seats and a rooftop bar, is scheduled to open in late spring. Visit grassyflats.com.

On Sugarloaf Key at Sugarloaf Key/Key West KOA Holiday campground, 44 new vacation suites in two accommodation buildings are planned at the full Lower Keys campground that recently reopened after extensive upgrades and renovations. The RV campground resort’s amenities include a pool, air-conditioned café, pub offering live music, private beach, marina and watersports rentals. Planned new vacation suites, targeted for completion in late 2022, are to range from 453 to 784 square feet and feature private balconies. Four of the units are to offer wheelchair accessibility. The Lower Keys campground is located at 251 State Road 939. Visit koa.com/campgrounds/sugarloaf-key/.

In Key West, Mellow Ventures Backcountry Outfitters plans to unveil three off-the-grid vessels for overnight accommodations by spring. The new "outposts" are to be built on 50-foot catamaran hulls. One is a fully restored former cigar-maker’s cottage. The all-inclusive, customised Backcountry Eco Vacations are to include on-the-water stays, experiences and healthy meals and feature three tiers: the Eco Outpost with a Tiki boat dockside, Eco Sailing with catamaran dockside, and Eco Adventure with the Sugar Shack 2.0, with overnight trips to the Marquesas Keys. The backcountry charter company has locations at 1605 N. Roosevelt Blvd. and at 201 William St. In addition, the expanded and renovated Mellow Café & Gastropub on North Roosevelt Boulevard reopened in late December with added outdoor picnic-table seating for up to 60. It serves vegan fare, artisan tacos, exotic meats and craft beer. Visit mellowkw.com/eco-vacations.

The 186-unit Margaritaville Beach House Key West, formerly the Barbary Beach House Key West, opened in mid-November as Key West’s only Margaritaville resort. Accommodations include standard rooms and one- and two-bedroom and mobility-access suites. The property features a Tin Cup Chalice Bar & Chill full-service restaurant, lagoon-style pool, 24-hour fitness centre, provision shop and family-friendly activities. Its 4,000 total square feet of meeting space includes the Coconut Telegraph business centre and five indoor and outdoor venues and an open-air Tiki space for events of up to 80 people. Amenities include complimentary welcome frozen cocktails, daily poolside refreshments such as fruit smoothies and popsicles, concierge service, lounging hammocks, complimentary airport pickup and drop off, shuttle service to downtown and non-motorised watersports. The resort is located at 2001 S. Roosevelt Blvd. across from Smathers Beach and about a mile from Key West International Airport. Visit MargaritavilleBeachHouseKeyWest.com.

Keys Attractions and Tours

Ever been on a hiking excursion to hunt down exotic fruits? On Big Pine Key, the 2-acre fruit farm Grimal Grove — billed as the first and only breadfruit grove in the continental United States — has just started offering 90-minute guided tropical fruit excursions showcasing species of subtropical and tropical fruits, trees and plants. “Our new fruit hunting excursions allow visitors to have a fun, fanciful and unique culinary experience,” said Patrick Garvey, owner-director of Grimal Grove. “I started the tours to integrate Keys culture and adventure with the growing of food.” Participants can sample sweet and sour exotic fruits including breadfruit and learn the story of 1950s-era hermit Adolf Grimal, a recluse who designed Old Grimal Estate at 258 Cunningham Lane. Visit grimalgrove.com or call or text 305-923-6663 to book a tour.

Key West's 8,200-square-foot Hemingway Rum Co. Distillery at 201 Simonton St. plans to unveil a 2,400-square-foot centre for hosting events in January 2022. The distillery also offers private "Papa's Cocktail Classes" with a tour, tasting, mixology class and cocktail glass for a maximum of 12 participants from Tuesdays to Sundays beginning at 5 p.m. Formerly a tobacco warehouse, the venue houses the Papa's Pilar Rum production facility, an experience centre, tasting room and trading post. A 350-gallon still produces up to 80 gallons of rum daily from molasses, yeast and water. Reservations are required for the experience. Visit papaspilar.com.

At Islamorada’s offshore Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park, ranger-led tours of the island park are available at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays until April 30. Visitors can learn about Lignumvitae Key’s virgin tropical hardwood hammock and 65 species of rare native trees and shrubs. The foundation of the Matheson house, the island’s showpiece, built in 1919 by wealthy Miami chemist William J. Matheson, has been restored. The 5-acre cultural site once featured landscaping by famed botanist David Fairchild and includes the house, a rainwater cistern and hurricane shelter. The park’s main outermost “T” visitors' dock also was rebuilt. Visitors can take a self-guided tour at the park, which is accessible by private charter and from nearby marinas including Robbie’s Marina. It’s closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Visit Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park | Florida State Parks.

Keys Environment

In Islamorada, the nonprofit organisation Florida Bay Forever Save Our Waters Inc. has unveiled its new home, the Florida Bay Eco-Center, formerly Islamorada’s historic Russell Cottage, at Green Turtle Hammock Nature Preserve, an 11-acre conservation area owned by the Village of Islamorada with nature trails, a kayak launch and direct access to Florida Bay. Florida Bay Forever is planning future educational programming at the centre, which also has a gift shop. The organisation hopes to establish the site as a gateway to Everglades National Park, billed as “the largest wilderness area east of the Rockies,” said Emma Haydocy, Florida Bay Forever executive director. It’s open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit floridabayforever.org.

Grateful Diver, a lifestyle brand that supports the Key West–based non-profit Reef Relief — dedicated to preserving and protecting the coral reef ecosystem through education and outreach in the Florida Keys — is selling its branded merchandise at Key West retailers Sea, Key West, a watersports company, and Conch Republic Seafood Co., a Key West restaurant at 631 Greene St. Grateful Diver apparel and accessories feature a lightning bolt on a red dive flag, designed in the 1990s by Grateful Dead band co-founder and drummer Bill Kruetzmann. Visit thegratefuldiver.com.

Keys Diving

The Looe Key Reef Resort and Dive Center, located on Ramrod Key in the Lower Keys, has been purchased by Key West businessman Adam Veitenheimer, who is planning renovations to the open-air outdoor restaurant, its Tiki bar and other upgrades in 2022. The resort is known among divers for its overnight accommodations and a dive centre offering trips to nearby Looe Key. It's the only dive operator to offer trips to the 210-foot Adolphus Busch, intentionally sunk in 1997 as part of the Florida Keys Wreck Trek. The centre was first established in the early 1950s and is located at 27340 Overseas Highway (mile marker 27.5). Visit looekeyreefresort.com.