Gator Club Dolphin Derby Winners!
Texan Max Hardin landed the largest fish in the Key West Gator Club Dolphin Derby last weekend. At 38.4 pounds, the fish outweighed the next largest fish by 8 pounds.…
Information about Key West
The Turtle Hospital may make Key West its New Home!
Monday, the Truman Waterfront Advisory Board listened to the staff of the Marathon based Turtle Hospital regarding moving their facility to the city owned Truman Waterfront. The Turtle Hospital manager…
Top Fifteen Restaurants Upper Florida Keys
I know that choosing fifteen restaurants may seem weird since it is kind of a random number. But since this list encompasses both Key Largo and Islamorada I thought it…
Key West’s Best Key Lime Pie
Key Lime Pie at Square One The exact origins of Key Lime Pie are a little unclear. But, the recipe can be attributed to the Florida Keys in the late…
Key West’s Tropic Cinema Summer Special
Finally, some good news for Keys kids! Every Saturday until school starts in August, Tropic Cinema will be showing a kids' matinee at 10:30 am. But the really cool part…
Top Restaurant Picks Lower Keys
NAME ADDRESS / PHONE CUISINE PRICE Bagel Island Coffee & Deli 205 Key Deer Blvd, Big Pine Key / 305-872-9912 Breakfast $ Barracuda Grill 4290 Overseas Hwy, Marathon /…
The Importance of Using Sunscreen in Key West
Key West is a hot and sunny island, most of the time at least. I am usually inside at my computer working, so I don’t spend a lot of time outdoors.
On Memorial Day weekend I finally took a day off and joined my husband and some friends on a boating excursion. We took a few of our company boats offline for the day and headed to Boca Grande. We enjoyed the day by laying on the beach, running around with our dogs playing fetch, and swimming in the beautiful waters. It was a gorgeous day and we were all having a great time.
Key West Authors
Previously I wrote a blog, Books About Key West. Well, here are some of the more well known authors that have called Key West home at one time or another…
- Ernest Hemingway
- Tennessee Williams
- Annie Dillard
- Robert Frost
- Ralph Ellison
- John Dos Passos
- Judy Blume
- Shel Silverstein
- Elizabeth Bishop (more…)
Key West’s St. Mary Star of the Sea
There is one Catholic Church in Key West, St. Mary Star of the Sea. And, Pope Benedict XVI recently designated it a Minor Basilica. That makes St. Mary the fifth…
Key West is Losing a Piece of History: Fast Buck Freddy’s Closes
Anyone who has ever been to Key West in the last 35 years and walked along Duval Street has no doubt seen the famous window displays at Fast Buck Freddy’s, our only island department store. The store is full of interesting things like Tommy Bahama clothes, tropical housewares and kitchen goods, stationary, candles, furniture, light fixtures, and many more interesting items.
Florida Keys: Pigeon Key
It seems like everywhere today developers come in and build big complexes of condos, hotels, or strip malls. Sometimes it betters the landscape when taking the place of old, dilapidated structures. But all too often they end up taking out forests or other pieces of history, and it is really sad for us and for future generations when that happens. Especially so in the Florida Keys where there is so little land to take over. The fate of Pigeon Key just of of Marathon could have gone as so, but instead the Pigeon Key Foundation was started to protect the island from development and maintain it as a historical landmark.
State Parks of Key West and the Florida Keys
Florida State Parks are a wonderful way to see the real Florida, and not the touristy theme parks and other attractions. Florida has some amazing wildlife and a rich history. The state has around 160 state run parks, and 10 of these are in the Florida Keys. As one can imagine, most of the State parks in the Keys have some sort of water actives to partake in such as kayaking, swimming, and snorkeling. But we also have historical monuments, biking in and hiking trails, picnicking areas, and many opportunities for wildlife viewing too.
- Bahia Honda State Park – 36850 Overseas Highway, Big Pine Key, FL 33043
This park is known for its beautiful beaches, snorkeling, and gorgeous sunsets. But these are just a fraction of the activities available for visitors to this park. Other activities include: bicycling, birding, boating, camping, kayaking, fishing, hiking, picnicking, scuba diving, swimming, and wildlife viewing. Anglers can fish from shore or bring a boat and launch it from the boat ramp. Snorkeling gear and kayaks can be rented on site. The visitors center is filled with interesting information as well as trinkets to bring home. And the concession stand serves some good grub too should you have forgotten your picnic basket. Full facility campsites and cabins are also available for rent. Admission charges vary. The Park is open 365 days a year from 8:00 am to sundown. - Curry Hammock State Park – 56200 Overseas Highway, Marathon, FL 33050
This park is made up of a group of islands with public access to swimming, a playground, showers, grills, and a picnic area. This park is also home to one of the largest populations of thatched palm trees in the USA. Activities at Curry Hammock include a sandy beach for swimming, sunbathing, and playing in the sand, bicycling, camping, kayaking, fishing, hiking, picnicking, and wildlife viewing. Admission charges vary. The Park is open 365 days a year from 8:00 am to sundown.
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