Lower Keys Visitor Guide
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Visitor & Community Guide Business Directory Chamber of Commerce • Marine Science • • Scuba Diving & Certifi cations • • Snorkeling • Sailing • Windsurfi ng • • Creative Expressions • Photography • • Ages 12-17, Two 18-Day Sessions, June-July • • Ages 10-17, Two 1-Week Sessions, August • • 3-30 day Experiential Field Trips • • Coral Reef & Nearshore Marine Habitats • • Sessions Available August-May • • Internships for College Seniors & Graduates • • Local, National & International Clientele • • Teacher Workshops • Contact Us For More Information www.seacamp.org email: [email protected] www.nhmi.org email: [email protected] 1-877-SEACAMP • 305-872-2331 FAX: 305-872-0585 SEACAMP ASSOCIATION, INC. 13200 Big Pine Ave., Big Pine Key, FL 33043 An Independent Boutique Real Estate Company Specializing in the Lower Keys Maing Dream Come True!Since 1989 FloridaHere Keys Realty at we specialize in making your dreams come true. We are a small, intimate company who will make it our priority to help you achieve that dream, whether it be for vacation, season, or a lifetime. CallOffice: Toay (305) 745-3717 Toll Free: (800) 277-7756 Email: info@fl oridakeysrealty.com Located at: Mile Marker 21.5 on Cudjoe Key /fl akeysrealty See our properties at www.floridaykeysrealty.com www.LowerKeysChamber.com 1 2 www.LowerKeysChamber.com 3 VISITOR & COMMUNITY Guide Business Directory 4 WELCOME TO THE LOWER KEYS Lower Keys 6 NATURAL ATTRACTIONS Chamber of Commerce 31020 Overseas Highway 8 DIVING & SNORKELING Big Pine Key, FL 33042 (305) 872-2411 10 FISHING www.lowerkeyschamber.com 12 DINING, SHOPPING Heron Publishing & ENTERTAINMENT 6325 Grand Boulevard New Port Richey, FL 34652 13 MAJOR ANNUAL EVENTS (800) 785-1800 14 RECREATION (352) 596-0209 www.heronfla.com 17 HISTORY Photo Acknowledgments: 18 EDUCATION (Cover photo by: Andy Newman/Monroe County Tourist Development Council) 20 HEALTHCARE Mickey A. Foster, Island Jane, Karen Walker & Vaughn Garner 22 DEMOGRAPHICS Photography, Susan Miller, RELOCATION INFORMATION Gigi Photography, 22 Maria Kretschmar, Madie Palmer, 24 LOWER KEYS MAP Dave Shaughnessy 29 ALPHABETICAL LISTINGS Copyright 2017 by Heron Publishing All Rights Reserved. The publisher and the Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce 36 CATEGORICAL LISTINGS assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the expressed ADVERTISERS’ INDEX (inside back cover) written consent of the Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce and Heron Publishing. 275 Key Deer Blvd. Big Pine Key, FL 33043 (In Big Pine Shopping Center) 2 www.LowerKeysChamber.com 3 Experience The Naturally Relaxing Atmosphere of The String of Islands That Form The Our unique environment provides a home to many species of plants and wildlife that do not exist anywhere else in the world. You will see our little Key Deer and experience the peaceful waters that hold our treasured coral reefs. The Keys showcase a natural beauty that is best enjoyed by immersing yourself in its history and understanding how fragile WELCOME our ecological balance is here. Whether you want to kayak, snorkel, dive, boat, fish, shop or enjoy our many local restaurants, there is no limit to the many TO ways you can enjoy the Lower Florida Keys. As you leave the mainland, you will travel south THE on US 1 - the Florida Keys Scenic Highway and Florida’s only All-American Road. The Lower Keys begin after you pass over the Seven Mile Bridge and REAL come to Little Duck Key, where you might stop at the pet-friendly Veterans Memorial Park to snap a picture of our pristine waters. Next on your journey is Bahia FLORIDA Honda State Park, a beautiful park with a nationally recognized beach; it is a great place to snorkel or KEYS just relax and enjoy the Florida sunshine. Big Pine Key is famous for its diminutive Key Deer and home of the National Key Deer Refuge. There are two primary public use areas with trails in the Key Deer Refuge: the Blue Hole, Watson and Mannillo Nature Trails. There are additional, more rustic trails on No Name Key, Upper and Lower Sugarloaf Key and Cudjoe Key. There are lovely bike paths on which to cycle and many opportunities to enjoy the water. The National Key Deer Refuge was established in 1957 to protect the Key Deer and other wildlife 4 www.LowerKeysChamber.com VISITOR & COMMUNITY Guide Business Directory species in the Florida Keys. The Key Military pilots train at the U.S. Naval Deer Refuge includes protected lands Air Facility on Boca Chica Key, while on 25 islands, and consists of pine Stock Island’s campgrounds and deep rockland, hardwood hammock, water marinas signal the end of your freshwater wetlands, mangrove and journey through the Lower Keys. beach areas. The Refuge has a visitor Stock Island is a small working center in the Big Pine Shopping Plaza, community just north of Key West, open Mon-Fri 9 am - 4 pm, and most separated from their famous neighbor weekends 10 am - 3 pm; visitors and by the Cow Key Channel Bridge. From residents are encouraged to stop by its days as a freighter port with ‘stock’ for information about places to see for the liveries to today’s bustling docks and photograph wildlife, maps, to the live-aboard marinas – Stock guided nature and birding walks, kids Island has an eclectic, rustic charm programs, and other opportunities all its own. at the Refuge. The Center also shares Stock Island is split, with the information on the Florida Keys Gulfside being a part of Key West and National Wildlife Refuges-Great the Oceanside unincorporated Monroe White Heron and Key West. County. The Key West portion has A few miles down the road, past Lower Keys Medical Clinic, our the cozy residential areas of the Torch Community College, our Sheriff’s Keys and Ramrod Key, is Summerland offices, KW Botanical Gardens and Key. Here, a world-class marine science the FKSPCA’s Animal Shelter. educational and research organization, The southern portion, which is in Mote Marine Laboratory, is exploring our Lower Keys District, has a lot of cutting edge techniques to grow coral small industrial-type businesses like that will hopefully help regenerate our auto body shops, welders, engine endangered reef. repair, etc. Recently, some very upscale Cudjoe Key is another charming businesses have sprung up along Safe residential island, and Sugarloaf Key, Harbor, and two new hotels have been MM 16 – 20, is famous for the Bat completed that promise to provide an Tower, a historical site chronicling a enjoyable visitors’ experience. Exciting creative, if failed, attempt at pest restaurants offer gourmet fare like control. Largely undeveloped Roostica, famous for its wood-fired Saddlebunch Keys retains its rugged pizza, and our tried n’ true Hogfish natural beauty and offers a lovely Restaurant which gives visitors a scenic drive along the remnants of the taste of casual Keys’ waterfront dining. Overseas Railroad. In Big Coppitt, you’ll Stock Island holds a lot of promise, find a laid-back residential area with a and our Chamber is delighted to number of rental homes and plenty of see the progress being made amenities to meet your vacation needs. in this community. Whether it’s relaxation or adventure you seek, you’re sure to find it in Florida’s www.LowerKeysChamber.com 5 VISITOR & COMMUNITY Guide Business Directory Natural ATTRACTIONS As the least people-populated section of the island chain, the majority of the Lower Keys’ inhabitants have four legs, fins or feathers. No visit would be complete without encountering some of the native wildlife. The National Key Deer Refuge covers nearly 9,200 acres on Big Pine Key and No Name Key. Key Deer are a diminutive, endangered species that stand only 26 to 32 inches high at the shoulder and weigh a “whopping” 90 pounds. Feeding or engaging them is illegal, because it makes them far too comfortable around humans and automobiles. Nature lovers will find a variety of activities within the refuge. Blue Hole, an abandoned limestone quarry from railroad days, is the largest body of freshwater in the Keys and home to fish, turtles and alligators. An observation platform affords the IT’S NO SECRET opportunity to view native wildlife up close. THAT MOST THINGS Just north of Blue Hole are the 2/3-mile Jack C. Watson Trail and the JUST COME 800-foot handicapped-accessible Fred Mannillo Wildlife Trail, the latter of NATURALLY IN BIG which leads to an observation platform overlooking freshwater wetland. Both PINE KEY AND THE trails are ideal for spotting Key Deer. The Great White Heron National LOWER KEYS. Refuge encompasses a 174-square-mile area between Key West and Marathon. It is also a mecca for birders, as there are more than 180 avian species within. More untamed natural beauty can be found at Bahia Honda State Park. The beach here is said to be the most beautiful in the Keys and because of its adjacent deep water channel, activities tend to be centered on the water, including swimming and snorkeling. 6 www.LowerKeysChamber.com ATTRACTIONS Live Music | Open 4:20 - Midnight Mon - Sat Grilled Oysters | 16 Taps - 150 Bottled & Canned Beers | Fresh Seafood Daily Specials Grilled Oysters | 16 Taps e Square Grouper and My New Joint OPEN ON MONDAYS January thru April SMOKED, BAKED & FRIED My Favorite Joint ....because two joints are better than one $10 Blue Plate Special Lunch | Cocktails Full Bar Happy Hour 4:20-6:30 Raw Open Tuesday ru Saturday 305-745-8880 | MM 22.5 Oceanside, Cudjoe Key | Lunch 11-2:30 * Dinner 5-10 6 www.LowerKeysChamber.com 7 VISITOR & COMMUNITY Guide Business Directory Diving & SNORKELING LIFE SPRINGS FROM ALL DIRECTIONS IN THIS AQUATIC PLAYGROUND. The stunning reefs and intriguing than 100 feet, making it an ideal wrecks of the Lower Florida Keys are snorkeling and diving site for beginners the underwater equivalent of Paris’ and experts alike.