Big Pine Key and the Lower Keys

Anglers are to pit their skills against the Lower Florida Keys’ wiliest in-water inhabitants during the fourth annual Sugarloaf Showdown, a fundraising fishing tournament scheduled Thursday through Saturday, Nov. 2-4.

Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park, encompassing 300 acres on Windley Key at mile marker 84.9 near Islamorada, reopened Thursday, Oct. 5, for day use.

After the Florida Keys were impacted by Hurricane Irma Sept. 10, local government officials announced Monday that the island chain would reopen to visitors Sunday, Oct. 1.

Recovery efforts continue throughout the 125-mile-long Florida Keys island chain after Hurricane Irma struck the destination Sept. 9.

In the wake of Hurricane Irma impacting the Florida Keys, infrastructure evaluations and restoration efforts have begun, Keys officials said Tuesday.

Night divers are to take to Florida Keys reefs for a chance to witness a delicate reproductive phenomenon that occurs when coral polyps release millions of gametes (eggs and sperm) in synchronized mass-spawning rituals. The event is likely to occur around the August and September full moons. 

In today’s hyper-connected, stress-filled, hurry-up world, the best vacation — like the best life — is all about simplicity. 

When work schedules and responsibilities seem especially stressful, the siren song of the subtropical Florida Keys can be almost impossible to resist. The inviting island chain offers a variety of ways to treat body and mind to “unplugged” relaxation on and off the water.

Encouraging environmentally responsible behaviors is a crucial element of the Florida Keys’ commitment to protecting the region’s natural resources, including the continental United States’ only living coral barrier reef. Visitors can share in that commitment by following the “10 Keymandments.” 

People from around the world are drawn to the Florida Keys, seeking one-of-kind opportunities to encounter the island chain’s indigenous creatures. Whether exploring the many national wildlife refuges or getting up close to a bottlenose dolphin or sea turtle, there are numerous ways for visitors to get “simply wild.”