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…
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’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…
Twenty Things to Do When Visiting Key West
There are tons of things to see and do while in Key West. Well, here are a few suggestions of things not to be missed that will offer you a true Key West experience.
1. Go out on a fishing charter with Dream Catcher Charters. Key West has some of the best fishing in the world. Flats fishing and offshore fishing trips are available year-round. Species targeted include tarpon, bonefish, permit, jacks, barracudas, sharks, trout, dolphin, snapper, grouper, marlin, sailfish, kingfish, wahoo, and tuna.
2. Visit the Eco Discovery Center. Admission is free and you will learn a lot about the ecosystem of the Florida Keys while having a fun time doing so!
3. Try some Key Lime Pie! There are several places to get a slice of this Key West original, and not one will taste like another. Some of the best on the island are from the Key West Key Lime Pie Company and Blue Heaven restaurant.
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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Latitudes at Sunset Key | Review
Today my husband and I met my best friend Dianne and her husband Erik at Latitudes on Sunset Key for breakfast. We took the ferry over from the Westin Marina…
Key West Restaurant Review: The Hogfish Bar and Grill
The Hogfish Bar and Grill is hidden away in Safe Harbor on the Stock Island section of Key West. This is Key West old style! It is a locals hangout, but many a lucky tourist hear about this gem and make their way over to experience Key West the way it used to be. You can hang out at the bar, play some pool, listen to live entertainment in the evenings, or relax with a drink and some grub at a table overlooking the water.
It is Turtle Nesting Season in the Florida Keys and Key West
April 15th marks the start of turtle nesting season here in the Florida Keys, and it runs all the way through October 31st.While these little hatchlings are quite cute and an amazing sight to see, they are quite delicate and do not have a huge survival rate. There are already so many natural obstacles that they have to contend with such as predators or becoming tangled up in seaweed. So the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation is asking for our help to eliminate some of the man made threats that we have created for these little guys.
Key West and Florida Keys Saddened by Jose Wejebe Death
It was a sad day for the Florida Keys and Key West fishing community yesterday. News spread quickly that local TV celebrity and host of the Spanish Fly died in a plane crash. Shocked friends and fans texted each other and posted RIP on Jose’s Facebook page yesterday.
The Cuban born Jose was a natural at fishing, building his career and his reputation first as a guide and later as a TV personality; but his new love in recent years was flying. He was alone on his single engine plane when it crashed in Everglades City just after take off around 4:30 pm yesterday.
“Nobody has done more for fishing in the Keys than Jose,” said Dream Catcher Charters owner Capt Steven Lamp, “you will be missed.”
The Dry Tortugas and Fort Jefferson
The Dry Tortugas are a cluster of seven islands located about 70 miles west of Key West in the Gulf of Mexico. The seven islands that make up the Dry…