Key West has gone to the dogs these days. You see them everywhere – capering in costumes, strolling the streets, reclining in doorways, resting in restaurants, tucked under bar stools, and of course splashing in (selected) surf. All days are dog days in dog-friendly Key West, because most everybody is chilling on the tropical vibe, […]

The waters of the Florida Straits, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Gulf Stream-washed Atlantic seaboard of Florida are exceptionally rich in terms of maritime history. From the earliest Spanish and Portuguese explorers, through the golden sagas of over 200 years of Spanish treasure convoys, to the days of the slave trade and the pirates […]

Florida has a long history of attracting explorers in search of treasures of various types. Of the many tales regarding various Florida treasures, perhaps the most long-lived legend is attached to reports of the expeditionary travels of Spanish explorer and conquistador Ponce de Leon. Ponce de Leon is thought to have landed in the area […]

A majority of the popular accounts concerning the activities of the pirates of the Florida Keys arose due to a confluence of historical events that occurred in the relatively short period from the mid-1600s into the 1700s. Known popularly as the “Golden Age of Piracy”, and generally agreed upon as running from about the 1650s […]

The blue Caribbean waters, coral atolls, mangrove-shrouded inlets, and remote anchorages that make up the marinescape surrounding Key West have always attracted explorers, escape artists, and pirates of various stripes. From the notorious Edward Teach, also known as Blackbeard, to Captain William Kidd, Black Caesar, and Jean La Fitte, on to the rum runners of […]

Throughout its history, Key West and the Keys in general have held a bit of the frontier, outlaw mystique. Adventurers, castaways, smugglers, runaways, and renegade souls of various stripes have always been and still are attracted to the area. And a significant part of Keys’ regional lore is the many tales of the exploits of […]

Key West is such a busy, vibrant little city that you are going to have your hands full with places to go and things to do from morning to night. You will be on the go, and, like many visitors, may find yourself wondering about the best way to get around town. Fortunately, Key West […]

The far west end of Key West beyond Whitehead Street holds several easily accessible points of interest that are well worth exploring. Fort Zachary Taylor and the local favorite Fort Zach Beach are both wonderful places to spend a day. Maritime history buffs will surely want to take in the Key West cruise ship docks […]

Due to their proximity to the Keys (about 275 miles from Key West; 55 miles from the closest islands to mainland Florida), the islands of the Bahamas have always been a source of influence and immigration for Key West. The islands’ original inhabitants were the Lucayan, Arawakan-speaking Taino peoples; after Columbus made his first New […]

One of the most popular pastimes for Key West locals and visitors alike is exploring the amazing marine environment around the island. Key West is well-known as a great destination for enjoying the underwater sports of snorkeling, SNUBA, and SCUBA. If you are visiting Key West, I highly recommend that you take advantage of the […]