Florida Keys and Key West (www.fla-keys.com) has great Florida Keys news, photos, videos and more
FLORIDA KEYS � Helping to set a world standard of marine conservation and ecological concern, Florida Keys tourism interests and Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary officials strive to balance resource protection with recreational and educational uses to protect fragile marin...
KEY WEST, Florida Keys � Bowling with coconuts isn�t often associated with gourmet cuisine and fine wines, but it will be during the Key West Food and Wine Festival now through Sunday, Jan. 31. The festival celebrates Key West�s lively culinary scene, indigenous ingredients and multifac...
KEY WEST, Florida Keys � Tall ships, fishing vessels, workboats and pleasure craft have plied Key West waters since merchants and seafarers first settled the island. Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 27-28, modern-day boating aficionados can continue that seafaring tradition at the Rotary Cl...
KEY WEST, Florida Keys � Southernmost on the Beach Hotel, located on the Atlantic Ocean at 508 South St. in Key West, has been named one of the United States� top 10 best hotels for romance in TripAdvisor�s eighth annual Travelers� Choice Awards. Winners are based on millions of reviews and o...
MARATHON, Florida Keys � A weekend-long event for runners and walkers, the annual Sombrero Beach Run typically attracts families of all ages, and even international participants from Canada, Germany and Trinidad and Tobago. Themed the Marathon Weekend, the 2010 event begins Friday,...
MARATHON, Florida Keys -- Five green sea turtles began an almost 4,700-mile trip from their home in the Florida Keys to a marine park in England Wednesday. The reptiles convalesced at the Florida Keys- based Turtle Hospital, some as long as 10 years, due to spinal chord injuries sustained...
KEY WEST, Florida Keys � Maybe major rock stars aren�t abandoning their electric guitars to play conch shell concerts, but fans of the fluted, pink-lined shell are puckering up for a rocking test of skill in Key West. The 48th annual Conch Shell Blowing Contest begins at 1 p.m. Saturday, Marc...
KEY WEST, Florida Keys � The roar of cannon fire and the sight of soldiers in Civil War uniforms are to greet visitors at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park Friday though Sunday, Feb. 26-28, when the annual Civil War Heritage Days festival transforms the fort into a mid-1860s encampme...
KEY WEST, Florida Keys � Veteran sailboat racing teams from around the world are to compete in the waters off America�s southernmost city during Key West 2010, now through Friday, Jan. 22. Presented by Nautica and now in its 23rd year, the Key West event is one of the most prestigious sailing...
FLORIDA KEYS � Sailors from around the world are to ply the Florida Keys waters in January, harnessing the region�s warm wind and waves during two exhilarating regatta challenges. The quiet beach at Founders Park, mile marker 87 bayside on Plantation Key, is to come alive with one of the Un...
ISLAMORADA, Florida Keys � Bargain hunters looking for deals can ogle new and used gems at the annual Gigantic Nautical Flea Market, a two-day open-air market set for Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 20-21, at Founders Park, mile marker 87 bayside on Plantation Key. Boat parts, electronics, mar...
BIG PINE KEY, Florida Keys � Country-rock troubadour Jerry Jeff Walker is to headline a musical extravaganza set for 1-9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, to benefit Habitat for Humanity of Key West and the Lower Florida Keys. The event takes place at Lazy Lakes RV Resort on Sugarloaf Key�s Johnson Road...
KEY WEST, Florida Keys � Twenty-five teams of women and girls from across the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Scandinavian countries and the United Kingdom are to converge on Key West in February for the 19th annual Kelly McGillis Classic International Women�s & Girls� Flag Foo...
KEY WEST, Florida Keys � Noel Paul Stookey of the iconic folk music trio Peter, Paul and Mary is to showcase his songs, spiritual/political passion and humor at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, at Key West�s Tennessee Williams Theatre, 5901 College Road on the campus of Florida Keys Community Coll...
KEY WEST, Florida Keys � A theater named for actress Peggy Dow is to debut at Key West�s Tropic Cinema Friday and Saturday, Jan. 15-16, with a film series and reception starring the actress. The luxurious 50-seat theater is the fourth at the Tropic Cinema, an 8,000-square-foot film center a...
FLORIDA KEYS � Beginners, avid paddlers and outdoor enthusiasts looking for personalized kayaking and camping expeditions in the Keys can now paddle with the people who quite literally wrote the book about it. For years, husband-and-wife writing team Bill and Mary Burnham have chroni...
BIG PINE KEY, Florida Keys -- The No Name Race 5k Walk/Run is set for the Lower Keys Saturday, Jan. 16, benefiting the Monroe County Domestic Abuse Shelter. The ninth annual race begins at 8 a.m., covers 3.1 miles and is based at the Old Wooden Bridge Guest Cottages & Marina on Big Pine Key. Walk...
KEY WEST, Florida Keys � Thirty-three contemporary sculptures are to enhance the land- and seascapes around two Civil War�era forts and a botanical garden during the 15th annual Sculpture Key West exhibition. Set for Jan. 16 through April 16, the open-air exhibition spotlights the tale...
MARATHON, Florida Keys � More than 80 nationally recognized fine artists and craftspeople are to exhibit their creations at the 16th annual Pigeon Key Art Festival scheduled Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 6-7, at Marathon Community Park, mile marker 49 oceanside in Marathon. The critically...
KEY WEST, Florida Keys � Initiation of low-cost flights by a major airline to the Florida Keys began Dec. 16, when the first AirTran Airways flight arrived from Orlando to Key West International Airport. Ceremonies for the scheduled 12:40 p.m. arrival showcased the completion of a $31.6 mill...
KEY LARGO, Florida Keys � What do you get when you combine fresh seafood, live local entertainment, cooking demonstrations, casting classes and costume contests? All come together at the inaugural Key Largo Stone Crab & Seafood Festival set for Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 30-31, at R...
FLORIDA KEYS -- There has never been a recorded snowfall in the subtropical Florida Keys according to official National Weather Service records dating back to 1870. But it apparently will snow on one Lower Florida Keys residence Christmas Day. The Weather Channel is guaranteeing that fo...
KEY WEST, Florida Keys � Several hundred runners are expected to race through historic Key West Sunday, Jan. 31, during the annual Key West Half Marathon. Set to begin at 7 a.m., the sporting challenge takes place on a flat, fast 13.1-mile half-marathon course through the island city�s Old Tow...
KEY LARGO, Florida Keys � Visitors can stroll among and view native plants and lush landscaping while getting ideas for tropical gardening during the annual Garden Walk presented by the Upper Keys Garden Club Friday, Feb. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Garden Walk is to include seven private, re...
ISLAMORADA, Florida Keys � Engaging craft items, gallery-class fine art and other enticing wares await visitors to the popular Art Under the Oaks show set for Saturday, Jan. 16. The annual event is to be held on the shaded grounds of San Pedro Catholic Church, mile marker 89.5 bayside on Plan...
KEY LARGO, Florida Keys � John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is set to host a popular lecture series focused on Florida Keys history, archaeology, culture and environment. In their 19th year, the free, one-hour lectures are to be held inside the park�s Visitor Center at mile marker 102.5...
KEY LARGO, Florida Keys � Some of the nation's finest collegiate swimmers are to vie for honors at an Orange Bowl Festival event in Key Largo. The seventh annual Orange Bowl Swimming Classic is set for 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 2, at the Jacobs Aquatic Center, mile marker 99.6 oceanside in Key Largo....
KEY WEST, Florida Keys -- A historic Coast Guard cutter that performed search-and-rescue missions between the Florida Keys and Cuba during the 1980 Mariel Boatlift arrived in Key West Tuesday afternoon to serve as a floating museum. The 327-foot Ingham, launched at Philadelphia in 193...
KEY WEST, Florida Keys � An extraordinary assembly of American and international poets will gather in Key West Thursday through Sunday, Jan. 7-10, for the 28th annual Key West Literary Seminar. The 2010 seminar will explore 60 years of American poetry and pay tribute to Richard Wilbur, a f...
FLORIDA KEYS � New Year�s Eve partiers unwilling to endure cold-weather festivities, such as the traditional �ball drop� in New York�s Times Square, can find exuberant celebrations and far warmer temperatures in the Florida Keys. In Key West, revelers can choose from three very differ...
KEY WEST, Florida Keys � The Key West Symphony, a unique gathering of professional symphonic musicians from around the United States, is to begin its 2009-10 season with a concert featuring world-renowned violinist Cho-Liang Lin. The curtain is to go up at 8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec....
KEY LARGO, Fla. -- The inaugural Jewfish Creek Bridge Run attracted almost 800 participants Saturday in the Florida Keys. The foot race was the first to cross the recently completed $93 million, 1.25-mile-long Jewfish Creek Bridge and portions of the 18-Mile Stretch, a section of the Over...
KEY LARGO, Florida Keys � For more than 25 years, the annual Seven Mile Bridge Run has attracted sold-out fields with participants eager to run across the convergence of the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico in the Florida Keys. Now, running enthusiasts can add a second Keys bridge run to th...
KEY LARGO, Florida Keys -� Two-time Super Bowl-winning coach Jimmy Johnson is to combine two of his favorite sports �- football and fishing -� into one event Feb. 4-6, with the Gridiron Greats Billfish Bowl in the Florida Keys. The tournament is slated to begin a few days before Super Bowl XL...
ST. CROIX, V.I. -- A hawksbill sea turtle, treated at the Florida Keys-based Turtle Hospital, was released late Tuesday afternoon off a Virgin Islands� beach about 100 yards from where it was attacked by wild dogs almost a year ago. �Sandy,� a mature nesting female, was flown back to St. Croix i...
MARATHON, Florida Keys � To intrigue those interested in aviation, Marathon has two exciting events on tap for visitors �dropping in� to America�s southernmost island chain in November. Thursday through Sunday, Nov. 5-8, up to 250 jumpers from Florida and beyond are to land in the Keys on...
KEY LARGO, Florida Keys � Under seemingly inquisitive eyes of a goliath grouper and other marine species, Scuba-donned swashbucklers took to the seas for wild-eyed hands of five-card stud in an Underwater Pirates Poker Tournament that highlighted the second annual Key Largo Pirates...
KEY LARGO, Florida Keys � Chefs with a wide gamut of experiences are testing their best recipes in preparation for the Key Largo Chamber of Commerce�s 28th annual Key Largo Cook-Off. This culmination of culinary creativity is set for Thursday, Nov. 12, at the Holiday Inn, mile marker (MM) 1...
KEY WEST, Florida Keys � The historic seafaring town of Key West is to become a pirate stronghold Saturday, Nov. 28, through Sunday, Dec. 6, when �brethren of the coast� and lively wenches invade the island for the 10th annual Pirates in Paradise festival. Pirates in Paradise offers a packed...
ISLAMORADA, Florida Keys � Sun, warm sand and sea breezes swirl together with the sumptuous taste of fine wines, beers and spirits during Islamorada�s second annual Wine on the Water, set for Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 14-15. Open to the wine- and beer-loving public, the event is to be stage...
FLORIDA KEYS � Surrounded by warm, clear water and lying adjacent to the continental United States� only living coral barrier reef, the Florida Keys offer lively hauntings and friendly competitions for Halloween celebrants both above and below the water�s surface. For those who prefe...
KEY WEST, Florida Keys � When internationally acclaimed singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett wrote �I Have Found Me a Home� about Key West, he described riding his old red bike to �the bars and the beaches of my town.� Thursday through Sunday, Nov. 5-8, the island popularly credited as the insp...
MARATHON, Florida Keys � Many visitors land in the Keys by car, boat or plane, ready to enjoy a warm, gentle tropical breeze. But about 250 visitors will feel a 120-mph breeze when the Keys Boogie skydiving weekend comes to Marathon. Set for Thursday through Sunday, Nov. 5-8, the Keys Boogie b...
KEY WEST, Florida Keys � Every dog might have its day, but only in Key West does that �day� include competing in a beachside costume contest specifically designed for party animals. Dressed-up dogs, costumed cats, bright-plumed birds, pot-bellied pigs and other domestic animals are to...
KEY WEST, Florida Keys � In the early 1800s Key West was settled in part by Bahamian residents who migrated across the water to the new American seaport city. The annual Goombay street festival, a high-energy celebration of the cultural connection between Key West and the Bahamas, is set f...
MARATHON, Florida Keys � The Florida Keys Chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association is to sponsor its Aviation Day at the Florida Keys Marathon Airport Saturday, Nov. 14, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The family-oriented event is free and open to the public at the airport, located at 9400 Overs...
KEY WEST, Florida Keys � Top American and international powerboat racing teams are to churn up the waters of Key West Harbor during the Key West World Championship slated for Sunday through Sunday, Nov. 8-15. Boats compete in 14 classes during the season-ending championship series, accl...
KEY LARGO, Florida Keys � Grinning jack-o�-lanterns surrounded by spectator reef fish are to make their annual appearance beneath the sea during the Underwater Pumpkin Carving Contest hosted by Amy Slate�s Amoray Dive Resort, located at mile marker 104.5. Buddy teams are to compete dur...
KEY WEST, Florida Keys � Tens of thousands of revelers are expected in Key West Saturday, Oct. 31, to celebrate Halloween with the 2009 Captain Morgan Fantasy Fest Parade, the highlight of the island city�s annual Fantasy Fest masking and costuming celebration. The spectacularly spooky...
KEY WEST, Florida Keys � Beginning Thursday, Dec. 17, visitors to Key West can take advantage of AirTran Airways� nonstop jet service between Orlando and the island city. The AirTran flights, to be offered four times per week, will inaugurate the first scheduled service to Key West by a maj...
KEY WEST, Florida Keys -- Country singer and songwriter Billy Currington spent several days in Key West this week shooting a video for "That's How Country Boys Roll," a rollicking highlight of his 2008 CD "Little Bit of Everything." Currington, whose top ten singles include "I Got a Feeli...
MARATHON, Florida Keys � Steeped in a community�s tradition of giving and organized by dedicated volunteers, the Marathon International Bonefish Tournament celebrate its milestone 50th anniversary with the 2009 event, set for Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 17-20. Believed to be the...
MARATHON, Florida Keys � Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is scheduled to help release an endangered green sea turtle off the Florida Keys at 3 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 8, and the public is invited to watch. Crist, along with Monroe County Commissioner Mario Di Gennaro and staff members of the Florida Ke...
KEY WEST, Florida Keys � Motorcyclists from throughout the United States are to travel one of America�s most scenic highways to raise money for charity during the 37th annual Key West Poker Run, set for Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 17-20. Riders on up to 10,000 bikes are expected to trave...
MARATHON, Florida Keys � Nature enthusiasts can get acquainted with some of the unique birds and wildlife native to the Florida Keys at the 11th annual Florida Keys Birding and Wildlife Festival set for Wednesday through Sunday, Sept. 23�27. The family-friendly event is to be staged at th...
FLORIDA KEYS � Key West�s nightly Sunset Celebration has been named America�s best unheralded free attraction, and Bahia Honda State Park near Big Pine Key has been ranked number two in a list of best United States beaches by TripAdvisor. Both accolades were determined by the TripAdviso...
MARATHON, Florida Keys � A loggerhead sea turtle, that was ill and coincidentally found its own way to The Turtle Hospital in Marathon, was released Sunday off the Florida Keys. Staff members of The Turtle Hospital saw the turtle swimming near a dock,just 20 feet away from the turtle rehab...
LOOE KEY, Florida Keys � Forty years after the release of their �Yellow Submarine� album, the Beatles are embarking on another underwater adventure. Divers costumed as the iconic quartet are to star in the 25th annual Underwater Music Festival set for Saturday, July 11, in the waters off...
KEY WEST, Florida Keys � Long-distance swimming enthusiasts are to compete in a 12.5-mile open-water swim Saturday, June 13, on a route that circumnavigates the island of Key West. Solo swimmers and relay teams of two to six people are to compete in the annual Florida Keys Community Colleg...
KEY LARGO, Florida Keys� Nearly 20 hit songwriters from Nashville, Tenn., and the Florida Keys are set to strike a chord with country music audiences during the Singers & Songwriters Festival in Key Largo with performances at indoor and outdoor stages each weekend throughout May. Th...
MARATHON, Florida Keys � The Seven Mile Bridge, longest of 43 spans on the Florida Keys� Overseas Highway, is to close temporarily to vehicular traffic on the early morning of Saturday, April 25, for an annual footrace over the convergence of the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. Monroe C...
KEY WEST, Florida Keys �- Pompano Beach resident Tim Maddock and his angling crew caught and released 50 sailfish off Key West Thursday, while tuning up for the World Sailfish Championship that begins next Tuesday. Maddock, who owns the Vitamin Sea Too, a 33-foot Contender, fished with M...
FLORIDA KEYS � Racers are to run across as many as 40 bridges and through the Florida Keys island chain beside the Atlantic Ocean, Florida Bay and Gulf of Mexico during the second annual Keys Ultra-Marathons set for Saturday, May 17. Racers can choose from three competitions on a route stre...
ISLAMORADA, Florida Keys � �Betsy� the giant Florida Keys spiny lobster moved to a new home Friday. Perched on special trailer, Monroe County Sheriff�s Office deputies escorted the larger-than-life replica of a crustacean up the Florida Keys Overseas Highway to its new residence at th...
FLORIDA KEYS � Earth Day is officially celebrated April 22, but in the Florida Keys, surrounded by a national marine sanctuary and paralleled by the United States� only living coral barrier reef, celebrations take place all month. John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, mile marker (MM) 1...
ISLAMORADA, Florida Keys � The annual Bay Jam music festival is slated for Sunday, April 19, at the TIB Bank of the Keys Amphitheater at Founders Park, mile marker 87 bayside on Plantation Key. Concert goers can revel in the sounds of an eclectic range of musicians from midday through sunse...
MARATHON, Florida Keys � Significant maintenance required for portions of the Seven Mile Bridge is requiring the Florida Department of Transportation to plan closing the span for up to four hours possibly beginning as early as 8 p.m. each overnight on Wednesday, March 18; Monday, March 2...
KEY WEST, Florida Keys � A colorful waterfront setting, arts and crafts by skilled Florida Keys artisans and tunes by talented local and visiting musicians are top attractions at the ninth annual Schooner Wharf Open Air Art & Music Affair. The event is set for 10 a.m. to midnight Saturda...
MARATHON, Florida Keys � A visit to the Florida Keys is generally filled with color � blue skies, aquamarine waters, orange sunsets and puffy white clouds � but visitors are encouraged to think green during the fourth annual Green Living and Energy Expo in Marathon. Open to the public Satu...
NORFOLK, Va. -- A decommissioned Air Force ship, that once tracked Mercury, Gemini and Apollo space launches off Florida, is being prepared in a Virginia shipyard to become a new habitat for marine life and an attraction for recreational divers in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctu...
ISLAMORADA, Florida Keys � Live music in an amphitheater setting, mouthwatering food and artistry ranging from raku pottery to stitchery and sandcastles are sure to whet attendees� appetites for color, creativity and cuisine at the 18th annual Florida Keys Island Fest. The event is se...
MARATHON, Florida Keys � The waters off Sombrero Beach are to be transformed into a swift racecourse for the Battle in the Bay Dragon Boat Festival set for Saturday, May 9. Dragon boat racing, one of the world�s fastest-growing water sports, involves 20 paddlers moving in unison � a combin...
WEST SUMMERLAND KEY, Florida Keys � As many as 650 amateur and professional astronomers from around the world are preparing to gather in the Lower Florida Keys to view stars and constellations that aren�t visible anywhere else in the United States. The 25th annual Winter Star Party, host...
MARATHON, Florida Keys � Marathon is known as the Heart of the Keys, but the Original Marathon Seafood Festival takes delectable aim at the tummy. This much-anticipated feast is set for Saturday and Sunday, March 14-15, at Marathon Community Park, mile marker 49 oceanside. The annual mun...
BIG PINE KEY, Florida Keys � Local and visiting musicians are to showcase folk, bluegrass, country, traditional and original tunes during the 20th annual Terry Cassidy Pickin� Party, set for noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1. For the 10th consecutive year the popular jam session benefits Habita...