THE KEYS TO HAPPINESS It’s So Easy to Fall in Love at the Southernmost Point in the U.S

THE KEYS T O H A P P I N E S S

It’s So Easy to Fall in Love at the Southernmost Point in the U.S.

By BUFFY MAC

Enchanted, paradise, gorgeous, unique, offbeat, quirky: Just a few of the words visitors often use to describe their time spent in the Florida Keys.

And all fit the vibe you find throughout the Keys, though each of the major Keys has it’s own unique feel and magical attraction. It’s that uniqueness that has long lured songwriters, authors, musicians, playwrights, artists and dreamers – each seeking inspiration, or a hideaway. For some, it perhaps allowed an escape from something.

Today, tourists enjoy the Florida Keys’ subtropical breezes and panoramic open-water views (of both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico) in many ways – while experiencing outstanding cuisine, a range of water and land adventures, plenty of live music late into the night, museums and other cultural attractions, history, architecture – and, of course, the nightly sunset party at the end of Duval Street in Key West.

The Florida Keys offers so many interesting things to do, a part of every visit should include time set aside just to explore, experience and enjoy the beauty of the brilliant aqua/turquoise water. Below are some insights and suggestions to build around for the type of vacation or getaway you desire.

And just maybe, you’ll fall in love as well…with the Keys.

(THE KEYS/KEY WEST) IS A MEDITATION ON LIFE AND A LOVE OF PLACE… IT’S A BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF ART. – DOUGLAS BRINKLEY

Historian-author; humanities chair and history professor at Rice Univ. in Texas; CNN presidential historian

KEY LARGO Considered the Diving Capital of the World, Key Largo features the only living coral barrier coral reef in the continental U.S. and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary six miles off the east coast.

Some of the most iconic dive and snorkel sites off Key Largo include: W STATUE OF CHRIST OF THE ABYSS – A famed bronze statue that rises so close to the water’s surface that it can be easily viewed by snorkelers as well as divers. The statue is nestled between the coral formations of Key Largo Dry Rocks reef in just 25 feet of water. W SPIEGEL GROVE — This 510-foot Navy transport ship was sunk in June 2002 as the latest addition to the Key Largo area’s impressive shipwreck portfolio. W MOLASSES REEF — High profile coral heads and massive congregates of tropical marine life define this popular reef. W BENWOOD WRECK — A casualty of World War II, this shipwreck is now home to huge schools of grunt and porkfish. W THE ELBOW — This reef offers several historic shipwrecks, as well as the thrill of face-to-face encounters with friendly moray eels and barracuda. W BIBB AND DUANE — These twin 327-foot US Coast Guard cutters were sunk intentionally as dive attractions in 1987 and now are virtually cloaked in colorful coral and gorgonian.

As part of the 2,900 square-nautical-mile National Marine

Sanctuary, Key Largo has six unique Sanctuary Preservation Areas – an absolute paradise for underwater photographers.

And John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park became the nation’s first undersea preserve in 1960 – and now offers traditional shorebased activities, as well as snorkeling and diving excursions to the nearby protected reefs. Plus a variety of private diving, snorkeling and fishing charters; eco-tours and dolphin encounters; and numerous on-shore attractions and activities are available.

KEY NOTE Key Largo is flanked by CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11 the Everglades National Park to the west, a premier destination for kayakers, MARATHON birders and other eco-tourists. Marathon is a 10-mile-long family-oriented island community fishing. Visitors can hand-feed hungry tarpon at Robbie’s Marina; or catch a dolphin, sea lion and parrot show at the Theatre of the Sea; or see a bit of history at the History of Diving Museum. And Islamorada offers a number of daily activities and frequent live music festivals at the waterfront ICE Amphitheater at Islamorada Founders Park – and first class theater productions at the Coral Shores Performing Arts Center. The Morado Way Arts & Cultural District also hosts a monthly Art Walk. situated in the middle of the Keys island chain – comprised mainly of Vaca Key, Fat Deer Key and Grassy Key. It offers visitors a fishing heritage, an old-Keys lifestyle and seafaring traditions. Throughout the year at annual seafood festivals and waterside restaurants, people enjoy fresh-caught fish, lobster and stone crab claws. And for anglers, local waters teem with offshore billfish and tuna in the winter, tarpon in the spring, and dolphin fish in the summer. Marathon is one of the Key’s most marine-friendly communities, At the beginning of the Florida Keys you will discover Key Largo. The modate transient cruisers. northernmost key in the chain and a little over an hour's drive from And Marathon’s Florida Keys International Airport accommodates South Florida's two major airports (Ft. Lauderdale and Miami) – but it’s both general aviation and corporate jet operators – plus, offers shuttle, a world away, with tropical hardwoods, winding creeks, and fascinating car rental and taxi services. botanical scenery that’s among the best in the state. In addition to spectacular sailing and fishing, diving and snorkeling, ISLAMORADA Marathon is home to two marine-based educational programs: The Turtle Hospital, which offers tours of the world’s first licensed veterinary hospitalKEY NOTE Situated between the saltwater wilderness of dedicated to the treatment of sea turtles; and the Dolphin Research Center. Islamorada’s luxurious The Everglades National Park and the deep blue waters Plus, at the Crane Point Museum, Nature Center & Historic Site, visitors Moorings resort is favored of the Florida Strait is Islamorada, made up of can hike through a preserved tropical hardwood grove and visit the home among fashion photogra- six islands: Plantation Key, Windley Key, Upper of an early 20th Century settler family. phers, including Bruce Weber. Matecumbe Key, Lower Matecumbe Key and the offshore islands of Indian Key and Lignumvitae Key. THE LOWER KEYS According to tourism officials, Islamorada has perhaps the world’s Where the Florida Keys island chain takes a westerly turn toward the highest density of professional offshore charter boats with tourna- sunset, the Lower Keys are home to two national wildlife refuges, a ment-grade captains. This village of islands is considered where back- national marine sanctuary and a state park, and are surrounded by a country sport fishing and saltwater fly fishing were pioneered. In fact, marine environment filled with abundant terrestrial and marine wildlife. Islamorada may be the only place on the planet where it is possible to Technically, the Lower Keys is a group of small islands that begin at catch a sailfish offshore and pursue bonefish, permit, tarpon, snook and Sunshine Key on the west end of the Seven Mile Bridge. This includes redfish in just inches of water in the backcountry – all in the same day. the National Key Deer Refuge at Big Pine Key – and backcountry kayak But it’s more than just sport adventures at Blue Hole or No Name Key. with nearly 1,200 wet slips, 1,200 dry slips and major facilities to accom-

IT IS GOOD TO HAVE AN END TO JOURNEY FORWARD; BUT IT IS THE JOURNEY THAT MATTERS, IN THE END. – Ernest Hemingway, Author

KEY NOTE The century-old steampowered boat from African Queen – also starring Bogart, with Katherine Hepburn – is available in Key Largo for canal and dinner cruises.

IN ORDER TO WRITE ABOUT LIFE, FIRST YOU MUST LIVE IT. – Ernest Hemingway, Author

Big Pine is also a jumping off point for numerous snorkel and dive excursions to the 210 ft. wreck of the Adolphus Busch Sr. and the Looe Key coral reef.

This oasis also includes Summerland Key, Big Torch and Little Torch Keys, Cudjoe Key, Sugarloaf Key, Big Coppitt Key and Stock Island. And the uninhabited Saddlebunch Keysis a network of sandy lagoons and mangrove islands worth a visit by boat (especially at sunset).

Stock Island – the hub of the Florida Keys commercial shrimping industry (the famous Key West pink shrimp), has a rustic authenticity at its colorful marinas, art studios (a haven for independent young artists) and waterfront bars and restaurants.

KEY NOTE Among the many other movies filmed in the Keys: Tomorrow Never Dies (1997; Pierce Brosnan); True Lies (1994; Arnold Schwazenegger, Jamie Lee Curtis); PT 109 (1962; Cliff Robertson); and License to Kill (1988, Timothy Dalton). KEY WEST Close to perfect. Far from normal. And closer to Cuba than it is to Miami.

Key West is Florida’s irreverent southernmost subtropical paradise –and, according to fla-keys.com, “A unique confluence of history, climate, natural beauty, cultural diversity, architecture and unabashed romantic appeal.

Palm-lined streets with gingerbread mansions and tin-roofed conch houses were home to Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, Elizabeth Bishop, Robert Frost and Jimmy Buffett – just a few of the famous people who discovered solace and inspiration in the island city whose Bahamian and Cuban heritage in large part was inspired by Bahamian wreckers, commercial fishermen, spongers and Cuban cigar makers.

In Key West, visitors can see a host of historic attractions by convenient public transportation, taxis, pedi-cabs, tour trains, trolleys, bicycles or the old fashioned way…walking. Walking is popular and convenient in Key West.

In Key West, visitors can do just about anything – or they can do nothing. Either way, it’s interesting, intriguing and fun…and almost mystical.

Favorite daytime activities are sightseeing, diving, fishing, watersports, shopping, golf and tours of historic sites and museums. At dusk each evening at Mallory Square, tightrope walkers, jugglers and animal acts (and more) perform before the sunset – a unique experience for sure.

And then comes the night. Oh, yes, the night. Streets filled with sidewalk cafes, open-air bars, legendary pubs and world-class restaurants.

In so many ways, Key West is a city of contrasts – with a lure that has endured and brought many visitors to ignore when it comes time they planned to leave.

Special thanks to The Florida Keys & Key West for its support and for providing assistance and resources for this compilation. For more information, find them at fla-keys.com; #FloridaKeys on Facebook; @thefloridakeys on Twitter and Instagram; and FloridaKeysTV on YouTube.

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