| Key West Travel Guide - Visitor Information for Key West, FL in the Florida Keys

Key West Travel Guide Is Against Dredging for Cruise Ships

David Dlugitch — Sun, 17 May 2020 16:32:07 +0000

There is already too much pressure on our eco-system and quality of life to accommodate bigger and more ships. Enough is enough!

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,
Nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

-Dr. Seuss

Key West Travel Guide wants to make it abundantly clear: we are against dredging in the Florida Keys to accommodate larger and more cruise ships.

For too long, Key West has thoughtlessly welcomed an ever increasing number of cruise ships to our port, ignoring damage they do to the fragile eco-system and the quality of life for its residents and visitors. And all of it has been for the benefit of a few businesses that have been poor stewards of our environment. Today those businesses are actively “green washing” their image, but don’t be fooled: larger and more cruise ships is NOT the right thing to do for our coral reef, our quality of life, and our future.

Now is time for change.

Key West is currently debating whether to support funding a study about the feasibility of dredging to accommodate the next generation of cruise ships: ever larger and with even greater numbers of passengers.

This shouldn’t even be up for debate.

Dredging in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is not permitted and would require an exemption from congress.

And in response to overwhelming pressure from Key West residents, in 2011 the Key West City Commission overwhelmingly voted against funding the channel widening study.

But it is up for debate, and the local chamber of commerce has organized a political action committee (PAC) in support of gouging a wider channel.

Fortunately, many local residents are fighting this with their own PAC, known as the Key West Committee for Responsible Tourism.

This election day, Key West residents will vote on a poorly-worded referendum which will decide if the dredging study should be carried out.

Key West Travel Guide is against this study, along with many other local businesses and organizations.

If you want to support this effort, here is what you can do to help us stop this madness:

1) visit the Key West Committee for Responsible Tourism website and donate.

2) send an email to Key West’s city commissioners and mayor and let them know what you think of dredging in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

Here are their email addresses:

District 1 – Jimmy Weekly jweekley@keywestcity.com
District 2 – Mark Rossi mrossi@keywestcity.com
District 3 – Billy Wardlow bwardlow@keywestcity.com
District 4 – Tony Yaniz tyaniz@keywestcity.com
District 5 – Teri Johnston tjohnston@keywestcity.com
District 6 – Clayton Lopez clopez@keywestcity.com
Mayor Craig Cates ccates@keywestcity.com

3) write a letter to the editor of the Key West Citizen newspaper at ttuell@keysnews.com
If they publish your letter, it will give Key West residents an opportunity to hear what visitors think about dredging for cruise ships.

INFOGRAPHIC: Key West’s Glass Ceiling

David Dlugitch — Wed, 13 May 2020 20:28:43 +0000

Few women have broken through the wage disparity with men.

Have you ever wondered what wages and earnings are like in Key West? What do men and women earn in their various professions?

Key West Travel Guide took a look at the recent census data and compiled the data into an infographic.

The results of our research were so interesting we thought we’d share what we learned with you.

There are a few occupations where women earn more than men, including:

Education, legal, community service, arts, & media
Food preperation and serving
Personal care and service
Transportation (though the data in this category seems too anomalous to be valid)

And when it comes to education level attained, only women with a graduate or professional degree earn more than their male counterparts.

Infographic showing wages in Key West, comparing men and women (click image for larger version)

CAUGHT ON SATELLITE: Key West Cruise Ship Causing HUGE Silt Plume

David Dlugitch — Wed, 13 May 2020 20:13:35 +0000

Cruise ships are already too large for the shallow Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Yet some want even larger ships.

Old time residents of Key West bemoan how the nearshore water is no longer crystal clear. Locals who snorkel and dive the reef wonder where the 100-foot visibility days went. Fishermen shake their heads at how dredging the main ship channel to accommodate larger ships destroyed miles of coral and sea-bottom communities, on which many fish are dependent, while allowing large cruise ships to regularly stir up the bottom and silt the water with their massive propellers.

Yet a small but powerful minority of Key West business interests who cater to cruise ships don’t want you to know the real truth: cruise ships are doing damage to the fragile Florida Keys eco-system. To further their business interests, these mass-tourism business owners are trying to sell the idea that a study is needed to determine the feasibility of dredging to accommodate larger cruise ships.

But studies have already been done, the most recent was the Army Corp Reconnaissance Study of 2010 which concluded:

This project is anticipated to have a significant negative effect on environmental quality. Widening the channel would have significant and negative effects on an unspecified amount of coral lightly distributed over approximately 17 acres. The project would also have negative effects on an unspecified amount of critical environmental habitat. Increased cruise traffic, as with an increase in any waterborne commerce, would likely also cause an increase in water pollution and turbidity

But these are just words. Sometimes a picture can do a better job of telling the story.

So, here is a satellite image from DigitalGlobe (which is what Bing uses in its maps) showing a cruise ship approaching Key West harbor causing a massive silt plume. This is a rare picture of what cruise ships regularly do to our water. And keep in mind, in 2012, 327 cruise ships arrived in Key West.

Key West cruise ship causing massive silt plume on approach to Key West harbor. (Click picture to enlarge)

In October residents of Key West will vote on a referendum asking if they want to study dredging for even bigger cruise ships.

We say no. NO WAY.

Some Basics: Florida Keys Geography & Early History

David Dlugitch — Sat, 25 Apr 2020 14:36:56 +0000

Learn about the Florida Keys vast history and unique geography

The “keys” are a chain of rocky islands, stretching some 180 miles from Biscayne Bay to the Dry Tortugas. On the north and west they touch the shallow waters of Florida Bay; on the east and south lie the deeper waters of the Straits of Florida and the deep-blue Gulf Stream. The City of Key West is 80 miles farther south than the southernmost point in Texas, hence, Key West is known as the “Southernmost City”. This is really a lower-48 designation as Honolulu, Hawaii is 193 miles farther south than Key West.

In the climatic sense, the keys belong to the tropics, even though the Tropic of Cancer lies 70 miles south of Key West. The Tropic of Cancer is located at 23.5 degrees north; Key West is located at 24.44 north, as shown in the map. Summers are warm – average 82 degrees, record temperature 95 degrees – and are wetter than the rest of the year, as the trade winds bring moisture-laden clouds from the Atlantic Ocean. Winters are pleasant – average 71 degrees, lowest temperature 41 degrees – but the warm air is usually displaced three or four times in the season in short cold spells, as cold waves reach down from Canada.

The upper keys are the bony skeleton of an ancient coral reef, 10,000+ years old. The lower keys were formed or egg-shaped limestone particles cemented together in a form of rock called Miami oolite. Both overlie about two miles of limestone deposited by tiny marine animals, foraminifera, on top of submerged foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Pieces of the white Key Largo limestone can sometimes be found that have metamorphosed into calcite crystals, yellow and sparkling.

Christopher Columbus “discovered” the New World in 1492, when he landed in the Bahama Islands. Juan Ponce de Leon, a Spaniard who had been with Columbus on his second voyage, is credited with being the first European to land in Florida, on Easter Sunday, 1513. The name of the new land was taken from the Spanish name for Easter, Pascuas Florida.

Spanish attempts at colonizing Florida were ineffectual, except for a military post at St. Augustine and the Indian towns across the peninsula to San Marcos (St. Marks). But Florida was valuable to Spain because of the shipping routes, south along the west coast, north along the east. When British and colonial troops captured Havana in 1792, Spain ransomed the city by trading all of Florida for it, in 1763. Britain returned the region to Spain in 1783, rather than see the young United States seize it. Then, in 1818, the United States bought all of Florida from Spain for five million dollars.

Key West was the first permanent settlement in the keys, 1822. Monroe County was formed in 1828, and included all of Florida south of Lake Okeechobee. Florida became a state in 1845. Six other counties were created out of the inhabitable portions of the mainland of Monroe County, leaving only the southwest tip of the peninsula and the keys. Almost all of the remaining mainland has been incorporated in the Everglades National Park; in effect, Monroe County is the Florida Keys.

Many of the early settlers came to the keys from the Bahamas, where the queen conch, a large marine snail, is a staple food. For the reason, their descendants are often called “conchs”. Although mainlanders have used the term as an insult, natives consider it a compliment. In either case, the “h” is silent, and word pronounced as if it were spelled “conk”.

19 Florida Keys Environmental Regulations You Should Know

David Dlugitch — Sat, 25 Apr 2020 13:45:18 +0000

The beautiful ecosystem of the Florida Key is fragile and protected by state and federal regulations. Learn about the most common rules you must know when visiting the area.

The Florida Keys and Key West are a fragile and unique environment brimming with life and complex ecosystems. Numerous state and federal regulations exist to protect the Florida Keys and surrounding ocean.

Recent reports of wildlife violations prompted us to create this guide to the many environmental protections that everyone, visitors and residents, should know. Please share this with anyone planning to visit Key West & the Florida Keys.

19 Environmental Protections You Should Know

Turtles – There are five species of sea turtle in the Florida Keys, four of which are endangered. All are protected species and, as such, sea turtles and their egg nests must not be touched, disturbed, or taken – including by pets.

Marine Mammals – It is illegal to feed, harass, touch, capture, or kill any marine mammal, including dolphin and the manatee. Do not try to swim with dolphin in the wild (It’s ok if they swim up to you, but swimming towards them is harassment). Do not feed or give water to manatee, otherwise you encourage them to frequent populated areas which often results in injury from boat propellers and hulls. Obey boat-speed restrictions in canals and other areas where manatees are often found, known as “Manatee Zones”.

Crocodile – The American Crocodile is a threatened species and, though rarely seen in the lower Florida Keys & Key West, is protected by state and federal law. Do not harass, kill, touch, feed, or possess crocodile.

Key Deer – This miniature white-tailed deer is found only in the middle Florida Keys (mainly Big Pine Key & No Name Key), and they are a highly-endangered species, with less than 800 in the wild. The deer and their habitat are protected by numerous regulations established by the National Key Deer Refuge. Obey the strictly-enforced speed limits on Big Pine Key (45 mph during the day, 35 mph during the night) and keep an eye out for deer near the road. Do not feed, harass, touch, capture, or kill key deer.

Queen Conch – The large and beautiful shell of this mollusk is a symbol and mascot of Key West, sometimes known as the Conch Republic. It is illegal to harvest, take, or possess live Queen Conch.

Reef & Coral – Coral is fragile and under enormous threat from rising ocean temperatures as a result of global warming. It is prohibited to take, touch, possess, or remove coral. Do not stand on or touch reef when snorkeling and scuba diving. Do not anchor on reef – use a mooring buoy when available. Do not discharge holding tanks into the ocean. Know how to safely navigate so as to avoid running aground. There are significant fines for damaging the reef.

Sponges – Regulated by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission, the taking of sponges must follow strict rules and limits, including licensing. Do not touch, harvest, or molest sponge in the wild.

Mangroves – The saltwater tolerant mangrove has been found to be an important part of the Florida Keys ecosystem and, as a result, regulations were created to protect and preserve them. Learn more about them here. Do not cut, trim, remove, harvest, or harm mangroves.

Seagrass – The shallow, grassy bottom of much of the Florida Keys waters is responsible for the large diversity and concentration of marine life. These grass beds are critically important habitat for countless juvenile fish, crustaceans, and invertebrates. Most of the Florida Keys nearshore water is very shallow – often less than a foot. Boats that run aground do serious and long-lasting damage. Florida regulations impose heavy fines for creating propeller scars in the seagrass beds. Rely on an updated marine chart and the ability to navigate a safe course. Otherwise, leave the skippering to a knowledgeable local.

Birds – All migratory birds in the Florida Keys are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Do not hunt, trap, harvest, or harm any birds. (Chickens, a common sight in Key West, are also protected against any acts of malice.)

Miami Blue Butterfly – Highly-endangered and considered among the rarest insects in the United States. Learn more here. No person shall take, possess, or sell a Miami Blue Butterfly.

Lobster – Fishing for lobster has many restrictions. Lobster may only be caught from August 6 until March 31 (there is also a lobster “mini season” during the final Wednesday and Thursday of July). There is a 6 lobster per-person, per-day bag limit, and the carapace (main body shell) must be larger than three inches. Regulations require a fishing license & lobster permit, dive flag, and approved measuring device when in the water. Spearfishing lobster is prohibited. You must not fish for lobster in canals or within 300-feet of shoreline. Learn the lobster rules from this useful NOAA fact sheet.

Shark & Sawfish – Numerous sharks are now federally protected species and may not be harvested, including Caribbean reef, Hammerheads, Lemon, and Tiger shark. Sawfish are an endangered species and it is prohibited to purposefully hunt or interfere with them.

Click for larger version

Fish: Nearly all fish in the Key West area have restrictions on minimum/maximum size, catch limit, and open/closed season. And there are numerous agencies on the water patrolling for violators. If you plan to fish in Key West, visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to learn about saltwater fishing regulations. Also, this chart from FWC is particularly helpful in identifying species and rules.

Tropical Sea Life – Harvesting of Bahamas Starfish, Longspine Urchin, Horseshoe Crab, Anemone, and Sea Fan is prohibited.

Dune vegetation – It is illegal to cut, harvest, remove, or eradicate any of the grass known as sea oat. Other dune vegetation is equally important to prevent shoreline erosion. Please do not walk on beach plants.

Sea water – All of the Florida Keys are a “no discharge zone.” Boaters are prohibited from discharging sewage overboard. Use a pump-out facility to dispose of waste. Properly dispose of all garbage.

Click for larger version

Ocean navigation – If you are going on the water, you should be aware of the boundaries of the Key West National Wildlife Refuge (includes every island west of Key West) and the Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge (includes every island north of the inhabited lower Florida Keys islands). No personal watercraft are permitted in these areas, including waverunners, jet skis, airboats, hovercraft, water-skiing, and the landing of aircraft and ultralights. See this map to understand the refuge boundaries.

Backcountry Islands – The “backcountry” of the Florida Keys consists of uninhabited mangrove islands and shallow turquoise water. No camping, fires, or pets are permitted in any of the backcountry islands within the refuges.

Learn more about the environmental refuges and sanctuaries of the Florida Keys here:

Key West National Wildlife Refuge

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge

Ecological Reserves

Complete list of protected marine zones in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

Tips to help protect the Florida Keys environment:

Be gentle with the environment. Be kind to the wildlife by not disturbing or feeding them. Take only pictures. Leave only footprints.

If you are fishing, get a fishing license, know the regulations, possess appropriate measuring devices when fishing, and properly dispose of monofilament line. Visit the Florida Fish & Wildlife website to purchase a fishing license and learn about saltwater fishing regulations.

Do not dump boat & RV holding tanks into the environment or into sewer drains. Use a pump out facility, available at all marinas.

If you see trash, pick it up. Properly dispose of garbage. Recycle paper, plastic, and metal. Make it a mission to leave the Florida Keys better than you found it.

Report wildlife abuses. Call the Fish & Wildlife Commission at 888-404-3922, or dial *FWC or #FWC from your cell phone.

Thank you for helping to protect the beautiful Florida Keys & Key West!

5 Tourist Traps to Avoid on Your Key West Vacation

David Dlugitch — Fri, 24 Apr 2020 18:16:11 +0000

Avoid these 5 tourist traps to keep your Key West vacation relaxing and enjoyable

Key West Travel Guide is here to help you have a fantastic vacation while getting the most out of every vacation dollar. We LOVE our little island!

One thing really annoys us: tourist traps. Shady businesses that prey upon people on vacation.

There are five Key West tourist traps that we suggest you avoid (or, at least, enter with skepticism and awareness.)

T-Shirt Shops

For years, Key West had a well-documented problem with Duval Street t-shirt shops. Aggressive salesmen were fleecing customers with last minute charges, especially on “custom” iron-on shirts. Stories of customers who had paid hundreds of dollars for a few t-shirts were common. As a result, the City of Key West passed an ordinance regulating their behavior, including requiring written estimates of how much a custom t-shirt is going to cost. Regardless, those shops are still in business and not where we suggest you shop.

Our Suggestion: If you are looking for a souvenir t-shirt, avoid the shops with the zillion iron-ons and packed with trinkets. Instead, try COAST on Whitehead & Petronia Street. They offer original designs, higher quality shirts, and fair prices.

$5 Shops

Many of the shady t-shirt shops have tried a new line of attack – the $5 store. For some reason, an unusually haggard individual holds up a sign reading $5 at the store’s entrance. Inside you’ll find the same tacky merchandise and pushy salespeople.

Jewelry Stores

The Today Show’s Rossend Reports recently published an article detailing their experience shopping in a few of Key West’s tourist jewelry stores. Investigators purchased diamond stud earrings at two different stores. Both pairs turned out to be of dubious quality and vastly overpriced. While the particular Key West stores weren’t named, we suggest avoiding “duty free” jewelry stores.

Solution: Better to buy diamonds and emeralds from your reputable, hometown jeweler.

Shady Art Galleries

Ugh. This one kind of breaks our heart. Key West is known as an artistic inspiration. We LOVE the arts. And there ARE numerous outstanding Key West artists.

But watch out for the factory art galleries whose merchandise is often mass produced – and their salespeople a little too slick. Most of these galleries rely on warm lighting, hidden prices, a private room to view artwork, and a well-rehearsed sales pitch. Novice art buyers and the tipsy can easily be taken. We question the motives of any gallery that does not display prices. Be especially wary of salesmen mentioning appreciating value & price, offering big savings, or expressing urgency that a “limited-edition” is running out.

Solution: Here are a few reputable galleries we recommend: Jag Gallery (1075 Duval St), Key West Art Center (on Front Street), Gingerbread Square Gallery (upper Duval Street), Greene Street Gallery (on Greene Street), Salt (on Fleming Street), and 7 Artists & Friends Gallery (on Simonton Street)

Cosmetic Shops

The latest and most audacious tourist traps in Key West are cosmetic shops that have popped up on Duval Street. Pushy salespeople stand at the entrance handing out samples and launching into a sales pitch to anyone nearby. The face lotions are wildly expensive. One store touts diamonds as a key ingredient in face cream. Another gold. Another caviar. Salespeople make wild claims, spout quackery, and have been accused of emitting creepy vibes (women have complained to the city about being touched by the salesmen). They are unrelentingly aggressive.
One customer was charged $40,000 for beauty products. She complained to the City of Key West. Numerous others have as well. We highly suggest you avoid these stores. You’ll know them when you get near one.

Solution: Visit Besame Mucho, on Petronia Street nearby Blue Heaven). They sell high-quality products, including some cosmetics, lotions, and shampoo for men and women.

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