Key West activities
Until about a year ago, local gun enthusiasts had no place to go to shoot their firearms unless they took a boat offshore. I guess that could be fun but I would think that aiming on a rocking boat would be pretty hard to do. And plus, what would you shoot at? Sounds like a big old hassle, and an expensive one at that with fuel prices what they are. Anyway, we now have the Big Coppitt Gun Club located just about 7 minutes north of Key West.
September is a notable month for inshore fishing. The flats are alive with baby tarpon, bonefish, and permit, although there are many other species available as well such as sharks, jacks, barracuda, snook, redfish, and jack crevalles. Typically this time of year though avid flats fisherman, both spin and fly fisherman, tend to visit our area for the trifecta of tarpon, bones, and permit. I have to say that the Dream Team is doing a great job with their clients at it too.
When the Eco Discovery Center opened down here, I was skeptical. But my husband and I one day finally decided to check it out. Unfortunately, thinking it would have to be lame, we did no allot ourselves enough time to visit this place, which turned out to be awesome and super informative about the Florida Keys eco-system.
We had enough time to run through the different exhibits very quickly and we also got to see the 20 minute movie, “Reflections of the Florida Keys”, starring local dive celebrity Megan Haney Greer. If you have just a little bit of time here, I highly recommend viewing this film as one of the things you check out. The footage was amazing and the story was very interesting while still imparting lots of information to the viewers. Plus, the theater is HD with surround sound. (If you don’t have time to see the film you can purchase it in the gift shop.)
The 4 day long party celebrating the life of Captain Tony Tarracino, one of the most famous residents Key West has ever had, starts tonight!! Tony died at the age of 92 in 2008. He was the owner of Captain Tony’s Saloon located at 428 Greene Street, the former location of the original Sloppy Joe’s Bar where Hemingway spent many a days. He was also a boat captain, a smuggler, a movie actor, and the mayor of Key West. Here is the schedule of events:
Okay, so lobster season has begun and that means that the annual Lobsterfest will be here soon! Participating bars and restaurants include Rick’s, Lazy Gecko, Fogarty’s, Hog’s Breathe, Bagatelle, Sloppy Joe’s, and more! The food is amazing and the street fair and concert are a blast! If you love Florida Lobster you need to be here to join in the celebration!! Below is the schedule of events for Lobsterfest 2011! (more…)
Established in 1938, the Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge is located in the lower Florida Keys and Key West and is comprised of about 200,000 acres of open water and islands which provides nesting, feeding, and resting areas for over 250 species of birds. The refuge was originally created to protect the great white heron, which are only found in the Florida Keys, from extinction. This area has also become an area where loggerhead and green turtles come to nest and feed.
Key West has practically always been a haven of sorts for artists and aspiring artist of all kinds. The island has a rich and diverse history in the arts. Key West has many art galleries, theaters, museums, festivals, dances, music,concerts, literary events, and more! Here are some regular events that you can feel free to take a part in during your visit to Key West!
So you have a car and you want to get away from the hubbub of Key West for a day. Well here are some things to do just a short drive away.
1. Check out Geiger Key Marina & Tiki Bar. Drive us US1 N and turn right at the Circle K on Big Coppitt Key onto Boca Chica Road. Drive for about 1.5 miles and turn left onto Geiger Rd. You can hang out o the restaurant and tiki bar and get some great food with a nice view. And when the Navy pilots are doing drills there is no better viewing area than here! Saturday nights isa always Steak night in the BBQ pit and Sundays is always BBQ chicken and ribs night. YUMMY!
2. Go to the Jumping Bridge on Lower Sugarloaf Key. Drive up US1 N and turn right at MM17 onto Sugarloaf Blvd. (Sugarloaf Shores). Follow the road until it takes a sharp right. To your left you will see a yellow barrier. Park and walk through the yellow fence barrier to the bridge. The water is about 15 – 20 feet deep. You will probably find a bunch of locals already there jumping in and having a blast!
The traffic coming into the Florida Keys and Key West is already picking up with Floridians trailering their boats down readying for lobster mini season which falls on July 27th and 28th this year. Mini season is always the last Wednesday and Thursday in July, and it usually brings about 25,000 visitors to the Florida Keys. With that number of visitors, hotels are full up and so are marinas.
During this two day lobster bonanza, each properly licensed snorkeler and diver is allowed to take up to six legal sized lobsters per day. Night snorkeling and diving is not permitted during this event, but bully-netting from a boat is permitted at night. (more…)
This week Key West has been busy celebrating the life of one of its most famed residents ever to call the island home, Ernest Hemingway, or as the locals used to call him, Papa. From July 19th to the 24th, the 31st Annual Hemingway Days celebration rages. Some of the scheduled events include a Papa lookalike contest, the running of the bulls, an arm wrestling competition, readings from nationally recognized authors, an offshore fishing tournament, the Drambuie, and a literary competition presided over by none other than Hemingway’s own granddaughter, Lorian Hemingway. (more…)