My husband and I got married in a Florida Keys park beside the Atlantic Ocean, less than half a mile from the home we still share.

Was it the bride or the groom that the passing angler was trying to rescue from matrimony? We'll never know. (Photo by Richard Watherwax)

We wanted a simple wedding, one that reflected the easygoing way we live. We had no idea that our ceremony would be serendipitously blessed by a pod of dolphins frolicking just offshore, or that our golden retriever “flower dog” would unexpectedly abandon his duties and take off, tail wagging, for the nearby beach — followed by our startled four-year-old flower girl.

And we certainly didn’t expect that a sport fishing boat would motor by and one of its anglers would offer us a wedding-day message.

Spotting the celebratory crowd, and a man and woman obviously about to tie the knot, he cupped his hands around his mouth and hollered across the water, “It’s not too late — JUMP! We’ll pick you up!”

Was he trying to rescue my husband-to-be from the perils of matrimony? Or me? We’ve laughed about the incident many times since that day, but we’ll never know.

Actually, we’ve laughed about a number of offbeat wedding occurrences (including the wandering flower dog). Though we could have held our ceremony practically anywhere in the U.S. or Caribbean, we know our beloved Keys were the perfect spot.

Couples in love can have a dolphin for their "best man" at Islamorada's Theater of the Sea. (Photo courtesy of Theater of the Sea)

We’re far from alone; the Florida Keys are one of the country’s top wedding destinations.

Why? For one thing, the attitude is very easygoing and informal — which means much of the stress of typical wedding planning simply doesn’t happen. Terrific planners can be found from Key Largo to Key West to handle every detail.

Plus, a visit to the Keys is generally regarded as a lighthearted vacation occasion for the entire wedding group — so the experience of the wedding becomes a unique, eagerly anticipated occasion for everyone involved.

And once the wedding party and guests arrive, they’ll be happily entertained. So many activities can be arranged for family and friends — from deep-sea fishing to tall ship sailing excursions to salon services — that the bride and groom don’t need to worry about taking care of their guests. Instead, they can focus on the deepening of their relationship and their lives together.

Another plus is that, while the Keys certainly host formal weddings, many are delightfully informal. The “tux and unflattering bridesmaids’ dress” cliché simply doesn’t have to apply.

What could be more romantic than a horse-drawn carriage as your wedding transportation? (Photo courtesy of Island Horse Drawn Carriage, Inc.)

Shorts or khakis for men and pretty sundresses for women are popular wedding attire, making the wedding a more laid-back and comfortable experience for the whole group (and eliminating the cost of an item that’s worn only once).

And the food options couldn’t be better — whether gourmet or waterfront casual. Many Keys restaurants overlook marinas, beaches or world-class sunset spots, and can easily accommodate groups.

Imagine a reception menu of fresh local seafood: sweet Key West pink shrimp and stone crab claws, conch fritters and chowder, Key lime pie and dishes with a Caribbean or Cuban flair.

Naturally, more traditional cuisine is also available — and trust me, Keys caterers are happy to provide full onsite service at wedding hotspots like Key West’s Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum.

Golden retrievers make excellent "flower dogs" for Keys weddings -- unless they wander off! (Photo courtesy of Crystal Ruffo)

Looking for a setting for intriguing wedding photos? Try the water’s edge with a famed Keys sunset as the backdrop, a historic Civil War-era fort, the Southernmost Point that marks the southernmost spot of land in the continental U.S., or the tiny island of Pigeon Key beneath the Old Seven Mile Bridge near Marathon.

Or pose in a horse-drawn carriage on an Islamorada beach, or cruising on Key Largo’s restored African Queen (yes, the actual boat used in the classic Bogart film).

In fact, if you’re making wedding plans of any kind, consider saying your “I Dos” in the Keys. Just remember to avoid wandering anglers — and keep an eye on your flower dog!

Topics: Big Pine Key & Lower Keys, Highlights, Islamorada, Key Largo, Key West, Local Color, Marathon, Voices Main Archive

Only the most senior of us senior citizens are old enough to remember Pigeon Key in its historic glory — but we all can visit the tiny island, which lies underneath the Old Seven Mile Bridge in the Middle Keys. And it’s well worth a visit, since there are very few sites as important in the history and development of the Florida Keys.

History buffs can visit the former Over-Sea Railroad work camp at Pigeon Key, lying beneath the historic Old Seven Mile Bridge. (Photo by Andy Newman, Florida Keys News Bureau)

The islet’s first claim to fame came during the construction of the Keys extension of the Florida East Coast Railroad, Henry Flagler’s ambitious undertaking that became known as the Florida Keys Over-Sea Railroad. Work on this massive project — a railroad whose track stretched nearly 100 miles “out to sea” to connect the Keys with mainland Florida and each other for the first time — began in 1905, but it was not completed until 1912.

One of the most challenging parts of Flagler’s enterprise was the construction of the Seven Mile Bridge just west and south of Marathon. For that, he needed workers and a place to house them. Pigeon Key was the ideal spot, so a construction camp was built to house several hundred workers.

When the railroad was completed, Pigeon Key became home to the maintenance workers. Its amenities included permanent homes, a school for children of married personnel and even a post office.

Pigeon Key's restored historic structures and tranquil atmosphere offer visitors a glimpse of the Over-Sea Railroad era. (Photo courtesy of the Pigeon Key Foundation)

Everything went according to plan after the railroad’s completion until the devastating hurricane of 1935. Instead of restoring the heavily damaged railroad, the powers that be decided to construct a two-lane road through the Keys to Key West. At that time, the U.S. was still in the throes of the Great Depression and the government sent hundreds of men to Pigeon Key to give them jobs building the road. 

Once completed, the highway served the Keys well. Many of the original bridges were modernized or replaced in the 1980s. I traveled the “new highway” all the way to Key West in its infancy, and I marveled at the construction miracles the workers had achieved.

Today Pigeon Key is thriving as home to the Pigeon Key Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in 1992 to preserve the cultural history of the Keys. Its Pigeon Key Marine Science Center oversees many educational programs.

The early homes have been restored, and the former home of one of the officials how houses a museum, with exhibits from the days of the former railroad and the original highway.

Educational programs are high on the list of the foundation’s projects, and daily guided tours are offered for visitors of all ages.

Pigeon Key has recently adopted solar power for its energy needs -- using today's technology to enhance the historic setting. (Photo by Andy Newman, Florida Keys News Bureau)

Believe me, touring the windswept island will make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time, becoming part of the simpler lifestyle that characterized the Keys decades ago. 

For a relaxing getaway, you can stay at the Pigeon Key guesthouse, a comfortable building that’s listed on the National List of Historic Places. The guesthouse sleeps 10, with two baths, a living room, and a kitchen. It’s a great place for a multi-generation family vacation, or for a group of friends to get together and reconnect in a tranquil, slow-paced setting.

For many years Pigeon Key could be accessed on foot across the Old Seven Mile Bridge. However, that avenue is now closed, and the only way to reach the historic island is by a short ferry ride from Knight’s Key. The ferry is an easier way for seniors to travel and is a delightful trip.

When Henry Flagler completed his railroad and realized his dream, he opened up the Florida Keys as a recreational area for people from around the United States and around the world. Those of us who love the island chain, whether as residents or eager visitors, will be forever glad he did!

Topics: Highlights, History, Local Color, Marathon, Senior Adventures, Voices Main Archive

Originally, she was more interested in working with porcupines and skunks than birds. Yet Kelly Grinter has spent 18 years at the helm of the Marathon Wild Bird Center — and now she’s one of the Florida Keys’ best-known wildlife rehabilitators.

Kelly Grinter is renowned for her passion for helping the Keys' avian residents and visitors.

Kelly came to the Keys in 1995 to intern at the Wild Bird Center in Tavernier, in part to escape a cold Massachusetts January and an unsatisfying career in graphic design.

A friend of hers was an ornithologist — and that friend’s passion and knowledge about birds convinced her to relocate and learn.

“I discovered that birds were light for flight and had high metabolisms, and thought, ‘Okay, they’re interesting,’” she said.

In addition, she was intrigued by the Florida Keys’ location within a migratory flyway, where 10,000 or more birds pass the same travel paths each year. Winged travelers ranging from small songbirds or warblers to birds as big as bald eagles — white ibis, brown pelicans, red-shouldered hawks, ospreys, double-crested cormorants, raptors and peregrine falcons — take a migratory break in the fall before they head farther south to Cuba.

Within a year, Kelly was offered the top spot at the Marathon Wild Bird Center at the Museums of Crane Point, tucked inside a 64-acre hardwood hammock at mile marker 50 on Florida Bay.

The center’s mission is to rescue, rehabilitate and release injured birds. Each year, it treats 500 or more migratory and native birds.

The Marathon Wild Bird Center rescues and rehabilitates wild birds in need and releases recovered "patients" back into the wild.

“The coolest thing about coming to the Marathon Wild Bird Center,” Kelly said, “is you get to see these birds up close and personal.”

People might glimpse a red-tailed hawk, pelican or osprey in flight or in their nests, but sightings in the wild rarely offer the chance for a close-up examination of the bird.

“Here, visitors can see their plumage, interact with them and discover they each have their own personality,” Kelly advised. “Families learn together.”

During the past 18 years, she has performed thousands of avian rescues. Few, however, were as harrowing as helping a young female pelican that had swiped and swallowed the 8-inch filet knife a fisherman was using to cut mackerel at his cleaning table.

Kelly was afraid she would lose precious time transporting the bird to the center’s hospital to anesthetize it and surgically remove the knife. So she attempted to extract it right then.

Each year, the Marathon center provides help and a safe haven for around 500 native and wild birds.

“The blade was pointing straight up, so I figured all I had to do was pull it up and out,” she recalled. “After a few unsuccessful attempts at grabbing the slimy blade, I put on latex gloves and on the count of one-two-three, up and out came the knife, without a drop of blood.”

The crowd gathered around erupted in cheers.

“I told the pelican not to do that again and released her back into the water,” Kelly quipped.

At 42, she remains enthusiastic and committed to her chosen path. In 2006, she was named a finalist for the Animal Planet network’s Hero of the Year award.

She’s fueled by life-affirming events such as the birth of baby cormorants at the center and the release of the young birds into the wild. Her toddler son, Noah, accompanied her on the release so he could watch and learn.

“I love what I do, caring for these innocent creatures. Honestly I can’t see myself doing anything else or living anywhere else,” Kelly said. “I want to help others learn how to care for birds, and I want my son to be an advocate for the birds of the Keys.”

Topics: Animal Ambassadors, Environment, Local Color, Marathon, Profiles, Voices Main Archive

The Florida Keys’ underwater world, featuring the continental United States’ only living coral barrier reef, draws divers and snorkelers from literally around the globe to explore its wonders.

Photographer Don Kincaid documented much of the search for the shipwreck of the 1622 Spanish galleon Atocha off Key West.

That world also inspires Keys-based artists and photographers passionate about documenting, memorializing and capturing it in their work.

For example, there’s longtime Key West resident Don Kincaid, who calls himself a “treasure diving photographer.” What that intriguing title actually means is that he played a vital role in the discovery of the shipwrecked Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha off Key West.

As a kid, Don snorkeled the waters around the island and became fascinated with ocean life and historic shipwrecks. He turned that fascination into a career when he met Mel Fisher — the eccentric visionary who spent 16 years seeking the Atocha’s treasures and artifacts — and began photographing the quest.

Key Largo-based Stephen Frink turned his passion for the undersea realm into international success. Today he’s one of the world’s most published underwater photographers.

Stephen Frink's work includes this iconic underwater photo of Key Largo's bronze Christ of the Abyss sculpture. (Photo by Stephen Frink)

He’s also a savvy photojournalist whose accomplishments include spending 17 years with Skin Diver magazine and nine years with Scuba Diving magazine — plus authoring a coffee-table book titled “Wonders of the Reef.”

Stephen is a strong supporter of the Keys’ long history of marine conservation. Viewing images of the underwater world, he believes, can inspire people to work for reef protection.

That belief is shared by marine life artist Wyland, who lives in the Upper Keys. Wyland is best known for the gigantic marine life murals he’s created around the world to promote ocean conservation.

It’s almost impossible for Florida Keys visitors to miss his 7,500-square-foot panorama of the Keys’ living coral reef that adorns all four sides of a Key Largo building — or his large-scale reef life murals in Marathon and Key West’s Historic Seaport.

In fact, his Keys murals are seen by millions of people, showing them the beauty of the area’s underwater world and encouraging them to value and protect it.

Kim and Ian Workman, shown several years ago, help install their “Back Country” gyotaku creation in Key West's airport terminal.

Lower Keys artist Kim Workman relies on the area’s underwater creatures for more than inspiration — they’re the actual medium for her art! A master of the traditional Oriental art form of gyotaku or fish rubbing, she has spent years memorializing local finned and gilled denizens.

Typically, the gyotaku process begins with placing the fish on a wooden bench and painting it with black sumi ink. White rice paper is then pressed over the fish and gently rubbed — and when the paper is lifted, an exact black ink positive image is revealed.

Kim makes her fish art “pop” by adding vibrant watercolors. Key West travelers can see her most dramatic piece, a large-scale gyotaku collage created a few years back with her late husband Ian, hanging in the island’s airport terminal.

A lovely mermaid "plays" one of August Powers' "fishy" sculpted instruments. (Photo by Bob Care, Florida Keys News Bureau)

Like Kim, Lower Keys artist August Powers recreates the Keys’ ocean inhabitants. His creations are offbeat yet brilliantly crafted sculptures that blend their characteristics (believe it or not!) with elements of musical instruments.

The result is collection of whimsical hybrids — the “manta-lin,” “sax-eel-phone,” “clambourine,” “trombonefish” and many more. August’s “fishy” instruments can be spotted on the ocean floor each year, displayed by costumed participants in the Lower Keys Underwater Music Festival.

Want to find out more about Keys artists and their work? Just click here for the full picture.

Topics: Arts, Big Pine Key & Lower Keys, Environment, Key Largo, Key West, Local Color, Marathon, On the Water, Voices Main Archive

The Florida Keys are full of interesting characters — and some of them aren’t even human! Like Ten Speed, the late legendary mutt who, the story goes, drank Kahlua and cream at the oceanfront cocktail bar at Key West’s upscale hangout Louie’s Backyard. And Bonnie the manatee, who’s been been rescued and treated repeatedly by marine mammal experts from Marathon’s Dolphin Research Center after getting tangled in monofilament line.

Miles Marker recently debuted to introduce family activities throughout the Florida Keys.

But not many are as unique as Miles Marker, an animated mile marker who stars in a new video introducing the Keys to kids.

If you’ve ever driven through the Keys, you’re probably aware of the signs that appear periodically on the right shoulder or median strip along the Overseas Highway. These small green signs bear white numbers that begin with number (and mile) 126 just south of Florida City.

Mile markers decrease steadily from there to Key West, ending with the zero marker at the corner of Fleming and Whitehead streets. Keys residents refer to them regularly when giving addresses — so if you’re asking for directions, don’t be surprised to hear that a particular spot is located at (or just before or just after) a certain mile marker number.

Miles Marker, though his name and appearance were inspired by the little signs, is different. Instead of indicating location, he indicates family fun — all along the island chain from Key Largo to Key West.

The video Miles stars in, and the associated Family Fun web section, are great kid-friendly resources for families planning a Keys visit. Both reveal activities that parents and kids of all ages can enjoy together, strengthening their bonds and creating shared memories.

For example, in Key Largo, Miles recommends checking out the world’s third-largest coral reef in a glassbottom boat from John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Or diving or snorkeling that reef in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary to discover colorful fish, marine life and corals.

Now here's a fun-filled family experience involving fish: feeding tarpon from the dock at Robbie's Marina in Islamorada. (Photo by Bob Krist/Florida Keys News Bureau)

In Islamorada, known as the world’s sport fishing capital, he suggests families catch dinner on a fishing trip with a skilled charter captain — and then head for a restaurant that cooks the catch.

What about the Middle Keys? Kids and parents can share an unforgettable learning experience at Marathon’s Turtle Hospital, where sea turtles find help and healing. They can even meet some “patients.”

The Overseas Highway’s mile markers continue through the Big Pine and the Lower Keys, and so does Miles. Families there, he explains, might kayak the shallow-water backcountry or look for tiny Key deer on Big Pine Key.

And what about Key West? Miles recommends options like biking along the island’s narrow lanes and waterfront, stopping at the Butterfly and Nature Conservatory to step into a fascinating world of living butterflies, and visiting America’s Southernmost Point.

“In fact, along the Florida Keys, you’ll find more than 100 miles of family fun,” Miles concludes. “But don’t take my word for it — discover this great vacation spot with YOUR family.”

Want to find out more about family-friendly activities in the island chain? Just click here and start exploring.

Topics: Big Pine Key & Lower Keys, Islamorada, Key Largo, Key West, Local Color, Marathon, On the Water, Quirks, Voices Main Archive

There’s more to the Florida Keys than meets the eye, yet some people visit once and think they’ve seen it all. Well, they’re wrong! With so many hidden gems and colorful locales, even frequent visitors can enjoy new experiences each time they return to the island chain.

Welcome to Alabama Jack's, the laid-back heart of Card Sound, where you'll find wonderful conch fritters and Key lime pie. (Photo by Andy Newman, Florida Keys News Bureau)

For example, if you choose the road less traveled (in this case, Card Sound Road, an alternative to the roadway known as the 18-Mile Stretch), you’ll cruise past Alabama Jack’s, Card Sound’s only restaurant and a popular local watering hole. This offbeat establishment offers some of the best conch fritters in the Keys — and a Key lime pie that I guarantee is beyond wonderful.

Continue along Card Sound Road and then connect with U.S. Highway 1 to meander onward. Once in Key Largo, if you’re interested in art and nature, definitely don’t miss Kona Kai Resort, Gallery & Botanic Gardens. This unique boutique property includes not only a beautiful inn, but also one of the most sophisticated art galleries in South Florida, featuring world-renowned artists.

That’s not the property’s only attraction — Kona Kai Resort is surrounded by a lush botanic garden that captivates the senses and immerses you in a tropical paradise. The garden is staffed by an ethnobotanist and tours are offered regularly.

With its fine art gallery and lush botanic garden, Kona Kai Resort is one of the Keys' most appealing hidden gems. (Photo courtesy of Kona Kai Resort)

Moving on to Islamorada, if you arrive on the third Thursday of the month, you can enjoy the Morada Way Arts & Cultural District’s Third Thursday art walk — featuring national and Keys-based artists and galleries along picturesque Morada Way. And whether it’s Thursday or not, you’ll discover a rich blend of artistry, fine crafts and great food.

Heading down the highway, look for the larger-than-life dolphin statue at Dolphin Research Center on Grassy Key. It’s more than just a pleasing sight — one of the first “Flippers” of television fame is buried beneath it. Tour the acclaimed nonprofit marine mammal research and education facility to meet the dolphins currently living there.

Not far away is Marathon’s Turtle Hospital, the world’s first state-licensed veterinary hospital for sea turtles. Chances are you’ll spot one of the facility’s specially designed “turtle ambulances” parked out front, and tours are offered daily so you can learn about the hospital and its “patients.”

Strike Zone passengers travel on a comfortable catamaran during their island excursion and picnic. (Photo courtesy of Strike Zone Charters)

In the Lower Keys at the 524-acre Bahia Honda State Park, a portion of the Old Bahia Honda Bridge provides a dramatic reminder of the historic Florida Keys Over-Sea Railroad. Stroll along the old bridge, which arches between sea and sky, for a panoramic view of the park and surrounding blue water.

And while you’re in the Lower Keys, dive into the oceanic environment on an island-hopping excursion aboard Strike Zone Charters’ glass-bottom catamaran, departing from Big Pine Key. The tour includes snorkeling, light-tackle fishing, bird watching, occasional dolphin spotting and a private island beachfront fish cookout (trust me — it’s delicious).

Think you won’t find any hidden gems in Key West? Just head for the ruins of the historic, never-used Civil War–era fort called West Martello Tower to encounter one of the most overlooked (and most tranquil) hideaways in the entire Keys island chain.

Discover the Key West Garden Club's tranquil oceanfront oasis at historic West Martello. (Photo courtesy of the Key West Garden Club)

There, set against the wide sweep of the Atlantic Ocean at Atlantic Boulevard and White Street, stands a beautiful garden featuring indigenous plants, rare palm trees and breathtaking vistas. It’s home to the Key West Garden Club, where lush foliage blooms against the weathered brick fort — with wonders including a huge tree grown over a narrow tunnel-like archway you can walk through.

In case you haven’t figured it out by now, the spots listed here are just a few of the treasures to be found in the Florida Keys. From secluded natural areas to little-known historic sites to environmental attractions, you can make new discoveries every time you visit. So why not start planning an exploration today?

Topics: Arts, Big Pine Key & Lower Keys, Environment, Highlights, Islamorada, Key Largo, Key West, Marathon, On the Water, Voices Main Archive

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the Keys
smiling holiday revelers savored the breeze.
But in other locations, nobody was smiling
as they braved freezing temperatures far from the islands.

In the Keys, blending seafaring heritage and holiday spirit means wonderful displays like this lobster trap Christmas tree. (Photo by Rob O'Neal, Florida Keys News Bureau)

While Keys visitors partied in warm outdoor bars,
toasting friends with mojitos sipped under the stars,
Christmas spirits had plans for the cold “refugees”
who were physically elsewhere but craving the Keys.

That’s why, out on the beach, there arose such a squawking
of unsettled seagulls in seagull talk talking
that drivers of cars cruising next to the ocean
couldn’t figure out what had caused all the commotion.

The moon on the shining white crescent of beach
made the shoreline of Cuba seem almost in reach
when what to the drivers’ amazement appeared
but a Santa in flip-flops and seaweed-decked beard.

Could this be Santa Keys greeting an underwater denizen? (Photo by Bob Care, Florida Keys News Bureau)

Now, this Santa was wise and this Santa was bright
and he sure sympathized with the northerners’ plight.
In his past life, before heading south for the sun,
he too spent the winter months freezing his buns.

So he hijacked a sturdy old boat used for fishin’,
found some Key deer to pull it and started his mission.
Sailing skyward to surf on a tropical breeze,
he steered his ship north bringing gifts from the Keys.

As palm fronds before a wild summer storm fly
(when the shutters are closed and the water is high),
Santa Keys cruised the northern states with his Key deer
spreading visions of warm blue seas and island cheer.

A trio of canine "kids" awaits the arrival of Santa Keys. (Photo by Mary Threlkeld)

At each house where the residents longed for the tropics,
he left small Keys tokens stuffed deep in their stockings.
There were conch shells and flip-flops and Key lime tidbits,
Margarita mix too — and “Buffett’s Greatest Hits.”

There were fishing reels, dive logs and lotions for sun
Conch Republic flags, stickers that read “U.S. 1,”
tiny replicas of Key West’s Southernmost Point
and shrimp sauce from a funky old Keys seafood joint.

When he dropped the last gift at the last snow-topped house,
Santa Keys told his Key deer to steer a course south.
His farewell drifted back on a sweet balmy breeze:
“Merry Christmas to all — now come visit the Keys!”

Topics: Big Pine Key & Lower Keys, Highlights, Islamorada, Key Largo, Key West, Local Color, Marathon, Quirks, Voices Main Archive

The holiday season’s festivities will conclude with New Year’s Eve parties throughout the Florida Keys — some featuring take-offs on New York City’s traditional Times Square ball drop that include “dropping” a drag queen, gigantic manmade conch shell, pirate wench and 7.5-foot replica sailfish.

Stuart Newman reels in a sailfish off Islamorada. (Photo by Andy Newman, Florida Keys News Bureau)

But don’t despair; the end of the holiday season heralds a whole new year of fun in the Keys.

January is crammed with things to see and do for people of all ages and interests. A number of them take place in the Upper and Middle Keys.

For example, if fishing is your passion, gather three angler friends and enter the Key Largo Sailfish Challenge Jan. 4-6. A friendly but serious competition, the annual light-tackle event pairs professionalism with camaraderie as teams of anglers put their skills to task, vying for the cash prizes and trophies that await the top three finishers.

You can also focus on fishing Jan. 17-19 at Islamorada’s Cheeca Lodge. The Presidential Sailfish Tournament, the second in the Florida Keys Gold Cup Sailfish Championship series, features light tackle fishing for high-flying sails.

Not everyone, nor every senior, is an angler. And fishing is only one of many things to do in the Keys.

Stone crabs are a delectable, and renewable, Florida Keys seafood specialty that can be savored at an Upper Keys food festival. (Photo by Bob Care, Florida Keys News Bureau)

Food lovers shouldn’t miss Uncorked … the Key Largo and Islamorada Food & Wine Festival. From Jan. 10-19 you can enjoy libations, culinary delights prepared by Keys chefs, classes in food and wine pairings, cooking demonstrations, themed wine dinners, art and wine shows, and the “Grand Tasting” finale.

Key Largo has another treat in store for food lovers Jan. 26-27: the Stone Crab & Seafood Festival. Fresh conch, local stone crab and other seafood will tempt the palates of adults and children alike. Arts and crafts vendors will show their wares, cooks will give demonstrations, and more.

For art lovers, Islamorada showcases the works of national and local artists with the Third Thursday Art Walk set for Jan. 17, spotlighting the many galleries in the Morada Way Arts & Cultural District. Live music and fine dining are on tap as well — and the event repeats on the third Thursday of every month.

Islamorada is also the site of the Fine Art Expo Jan. 26-27 in the Morada Way Arts & Cultural District. In addition to meeting some of the artists and craftspeople whose pieces are displayed, you can enjoy music, food and performance art surprises as you stroll through the eclectic expo.

Upper Keys visitors and Islamorada residents celebrate the arts at Morada Way cultural events. (Photo courtesy of the Morada Way Arts & Cultural District)

Don’t feel left out if you’re a music lover. The Marathon Community Theater will present the Gordon Ross Cabaret Jan. 11. Featuring jazz, blues, pop and more sung by celebrated Keys entertainer Ross, this event is a first for Marathon.

In addition, “Hooked on Classics” will be presented by the Keys Community Concert Band Jan. 19 at Islamorada Founders Park. This outdoor concert is free to everyone, but bring your own chairs or blankets to sit on.

Theatergoers have a treat in store for them at the Marathon Community Theater Jan. 17 through Feb. 9, when “Five Women Wearing the Same Dress,” will delight audiences. This comedy is about five bridesmaids who discover common ground while taking refuge during an over-the-top wedding reception.

What else is scheduled in the Florida Keys in January and the rest of the winter season? For descriptions of all the latest happenings, just click here — and then make plans to take an “event-ful” winter break in the Keys.

Topics: Arts, Islamorada, Key Largo, Marathon, On the Water, Senior Adventures, Voices Main Archive

An informal poll of veteran gift-getters elicits this interesting fact: receiving seven swans a-swimming would not add cheer to the average Christmas morning. Neither would unwrapping six geese a-laying.

Submerged in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Santa listens to gift requests from an underwater denizen. (Photo by Bob Care, Florida Keys News Bureau)

Eggs are all well and good, those polled informed me, but most areas already have perfectly adequate feathered populations, whether pigeons or parrots — and where would you stash six geese in a typical contemporary dwelling anyway?

No, our informal poll is quite clear on the fact that most of the imaginative gifts suggested in that traditional musical favorite, “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” would be wildly impractical in this enlightened age.

Where, then, does the discriminating Christmas shopper go to discover the perfect gift?

Possibly to the Lor-e-lei Cabana Bar in Islamorada. No, that’s not a suggestion that you forget shopping and belt down a few tall rum somethings. Instead, consider picking up one of the bar’s signature “sunset celebration” sweatshirts — adorned with a blazing waterfront sunset scene that’s guaranteed to make even snowbound northerners feel a hint of warm breeze.

Veteran gift-getters agree that a white chocolate crocodile from Key Largo Chocolates is WAY better than six geese a-laying. (Photo courtesy of Key Largo Chocolates)

Moving from wearable to edible gifts, delight those on your list with meltingly rich handmade chocolate truffles or other treats. Stop by Key Largo Chocolates, the brainchild of Kristie Thomas (the only chocolatier in the Florida Keys), to find truffles handmade from natural ingredients including the best chocolate from around the globe.

Kristie is also known for yummies that include specialty chocolate bark with Key lime and pistachios, and “chocodiles” — whimsical 9-inch-long crocodiles made of white or dark chocolate. (Some would value the Key Largo shop’s concoctions more highly than virtually every gift lauded in “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”)

For presents that feed the senses but last longer than most chocolate, head for the Rain Barrel Artisans’ Village in Islamorada (note: the best way to spot this intriguing enclave is to look for Betsy, the 30- by 40-foot sculpture of a Florida Keys lobster, that stands out front.)

For the ocean lover on your list, arrange a dolphin "adoption" through Marathon's wonderful Dolphin Research Center. (Photo courtesy of Dolphin Research Center)

At the Rain Barrel, you’ll find artistry by a variety of skilled creative spirits — and many have working studios onsite. Take a leisurely ramble through the sprawling property, watching the artists and learning about their work, and I guarantee you’ll discover something wonderful for even the pickiest person on your list.

Speaking of something wonderful, consider making your favorite friend or family member a dolphin “parent.” Marathon’s Dolphin Research Center, a non-profit marine mammal research and education facility, offers “adopt a dolphin” packages to help support its worthy programs.

Founded in 1984, the center is home to a family of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions, most of them born there. Several levels of adoption are offered, and “parents” receive goodies like adoption certificates, bios of their aquatic “children” and more.

May you find everything you're seeking to celebrate a fabulous Florida Keys Christmas.

Whether you opt for a dolphin adoption, artwork, chocolates or a sweatshirt celebrating the Florida Keys sunset, ideally the gift ideas here will result in holiday happiness. (FYI, all can be purchased via phone or Internet, but why not take a seasonal break in the Keys to do your shopping in person?)

No doubt those on your list, like the discriminating gift-getters polled in our informal survey, will agree: the presents described above are far more appealing (and quieter!) than six geese a-laying, seven swans a-swimming, or 12 drummers drumming. But whatever you choose to give your friends and family, may you find everything you’re seeking to celebrate a Florida Keys Christmas.

Topics: Arts, Islamorada, Key Largo, Local Color, Marathon, Quirks, Voices Main Archive

Beyond shopping and sharing rooms, meals and toothpaste, a girls’ getaway in the Florida Keys means low-tech ways to recharge and renew, as you discover abundant “BFF” adventures with your best buds.

Sun and fun, activities and renewal await during girls' getaways in the Florida Keys. (Photo by Andy Newman, Florida Keys News Bureau)

For example, rejuvenating day spas, massage therapies or alternative-healing treatments can reconnect mind, body and spirit during a pampering spa break and wellness getaway. Spas and treatment centers are located throughout the Keys.

Among them is Marathon’s Tranquility Bay Beach House Resort, where guests can choose from a full range of therapies — including custom herbal scrubs and poultices, facial and body masks and vibrational energy balancing.

Islamorada’s The Spa at Cheeca Lodge offers massage and facial rooms, a wet room with a Vichy shower for scrubs and wraps, poolside cabanas and an oceanside tiki hut for outdoor treatments.

Seeking a beach escape? One of the Florida Keys’ most popular camping and recreation areas, the Lower Keys’ Bahia Honda, features deep near-shore waters for swimming and snorkeling as well as kayaking, camping, picnicking, watersports, a marina and rental cabins.

Deservedly named one of the leading U.S. beaches in several travel studies, Bahia Honda’s pristine sandy expanse is part of a 524-acre state park located on Bahia Honda Key between mile markers 36 and 37.

Looking for pampering in paradise? Keys spas offer treatments, therapies and body care for indulgence-seekers.

The Keys also are a great place for girlfriends to share an ultimate sports adventure. Like the fish they want to learn how to catch, women migrate from all over to land new angling skills — and embark on first-ever fishing trips — at an award-winning “Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!” weekend seminar.

It’s held each November in Islamorada, the sportfishing capital of the world.

If serenity is your goal, appreciate the oldest practice of self-discovery in glorious sunshine and on tranquil waters that showcase the Keys’ natural beauty. Yoga on the Sea groups leave the dock from Marathon and, after a short cruise, their boat anchors in a beautiful setting for an hour of yoga designed to increase flexibility and strength through chanting, breath-work and seated and standing postures.

Or enjoy a relaxing sunset meditation to still the mind, followed by complimentary wine and hors d’oeuvres. All classes are tailored to individual needs and can be enjoyed by beginners through yoga veterans.

A slice of Key lime pie is one of the sweetest things about the Keys experience -- perfect for BFFs to share. (Photo by Bob Krist, Florida Keys News Bureau)

After your day of activities, indulge with your “bestie” in culinary creativity, sampling fresh-from-the-boat Keys seafood favorites like Key West pink shrimp, savory conch or sweet and tender Florida lobster.

And FYI, it’s almost impossible to visit the Keys without sampling Key lime pie. Usually served nestled in a graham cracker crust and smothered in whipped cream, it’s a sinfully indulgent finale for any meal.

Looking for cocktails and camaraderie? Around the island chain, you’ll find the vibrant rhythms of reggae, salsa and tropical rock spilling from the open doorways of clubs and saloons … the whirr of a blender as a bartender concocts a perfect frozen margarita … the laughter and clink of glasses as new friends at a palm-shaded courtyard bar toast the evening’s promise.

Planning the perfect place to celebrate and get away together? The fun and frolicsome Florida Keys are sure to top the travel wish list for BFFs, mothers and daughters or sisters — so gather the girls and come on down!

Topics: Big Pine Key & Lower Keys, Islamorada, Key Largo, Key West, Local Color, Marathon, On the Water, Voices Main Archive