The Key Wester Blog Page

Key West and the Florida Keys: African Queen

The iconic boat from the Humphrey Bogart movie of the same name, African Queen, has called the docks at the Holiday Inn in Key Largo home since 1983. The boat is actually registered as a national historic site. Recently, she has undergone major restorations to make her seaworthy again. And earlier this month, Humphrey Bogart’s son Stephen was in Key Largo for the African Queen’s relaunch party. Starting later on this month, there are plans to offer a two-hour canal cruise aboard the vessel as well as small private dinner cruises.

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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.”

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Key West: Higg’s Beach

Higg’s Beach is one of the larger beaches on the island of Key West. It has public restrooms as well as grills for cookouts, chair and umbrella rentals, volleyball courts, a pier, and the fabulous restaurant and bar, Salute. Oh, and I forgot to mention lots of parking! These features make Higg’s Beach a favorite hangout for the locals as well as the spring break crowd.

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Stock Island: Reminiscent of the Original Key West

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There is no doubt that Key West is a great place to visit. But with each passing year the island becomes a bit more commercial. It has to when it is a major Florida tourist destination. Key West has to be able to compete with Orlando, Miami, and other areas that draw lots of tourists with modern amenities and many activities. We have to change with the times. Otherwise, the island would fall into the tourist doldrums and end up a dead zone like Silver Springs, once a tourist mecca, has become. But that does not mean that with a very short cab ride or drive away you that you cannot still get that old Key West feel. Just cross Cow Key Channel Bridge onto Stock Island and you will find a taste of the way Key West once was.

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Why Sometimes it is Better to Drive than to Fly to Key West

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Case in point, I had to fly up to NJ last week as I had a sudden and unexpected death in the family. While I really did not have the time to drive all the way to NJ and back to get to the funeral on time and back in time for work on Monday, I may have been better off driving to Miami and flying out of there. Here is why…

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Key West: Mallory Square

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Mallory Square in Key West

Mallory Square has been a port for US Navy ships, a cigar roller’s mecca, and a place to buy sponges from the divers who harvested them. Now this famed square is a place to gather nightly and party while you watch the sun go down.

Mallory Square is the center of Key West’s historic waterfront. It is the home of the nightly Sunset Celebration, the Key West Aquarium, the Historical Sculpture Garden, the Key West Shipwreck Historeum, Cayo Hueso Historeum, Sponge Market, Shell Warehouse, and several other shops and restaurants.

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Key West’s Premier Yachting Race Week

This week is Premier Racing week. The 25th-anniversary challenge features world-class competition and yachting teams from more than 12 countries and 24 American states. Nearly 300 racing yachts compete for class championships in this international regatta. To view the action, fans can book seats on spectator boats ranging from excursion catamarans to historic tall ships or from land at Key West’s Atlantic-front restaurants, resorts and beaches.

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