Keys TravelerThe Magazine New Florida Keys Resorts Debuting Saving ‘Old 7’ Keys Fishing Captain Marks His 50th Year Sidewalk Poetry Your Recipe to the Keys fla-keys.com ROB O’NEAL ANDY NEWMAN Keys Traveler The Magazine Editor Andy Newman Managing Editor Carol Shaughnessy 16 Copy Editor Buck Banks Writers Julie Botteri 10 Briana Ciraulo We do! Chloe Lykes “Keys Traveler” 9 NANCY TOBIN is published by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council, the official visitor marketing Contents agency for the Florida Keys & Key West. 4 New Keys Resorts Welcoming Travelers Director Harold Wheeler 7 ‘Sidewalk Poetry’ Underfoot in Key West Director of Sales 8 Annual Coral Spawn is a Key Largo Ritual Stacey Mitchell Through the Looking Glass Florida Keys & Key West Your Recipe to the Keys Visitor Information 9 www.fla-keys.com 10 Follow the Florida Keys Overseas Paddling Trail www.fla-keys.co.uk Saving ‘Old 7’ www.fla-keys.de 12 www.fla-keys.it 13 Ghost Tours in Key West www.fla-keys.ie www.fla-keys.fr 14 Lights, Camera, Action: Shot in the Keys www.fla-keys.nl 15 Feed the Fishes at Keys Aquarium Encounters www.fla-keys.be Toll-Free in the U.S. and Canada 16 Skip Bradeen Marks 50 Years in the Fish Biz 1-800-FLA-KEYS 17 Key West Fishing Tournament Celebrating 50th For the free monthly “Keys Traveler” 18 Birding Takes Flight in the Florida Keys electronic newsletter, 19 Charters Offer Unique Excursions Adam Moss and Stacey Lucich embrace subscribe at Lower Keys Artist Sculpts ‘Fishy’ Creations after their marriage at Hawks Cay www.fla-keys.com/keystraveler 20 Traveling Tips to the Florida Keys Resort in Marathon. Couples worldwide ©2014-’15 Monroe County Tourist travel to the Florida Keys to combine Development Council tropical and traditional wedding Printed in the U.S.A. ceremonies into memorable By Original Impressions What’s This? experiences. Keys wedding facebook.com/floridakeysandkeywest You’ll find this QR code planners and other providers offer accompanying many all the support brides, grooms, stories in this issue of families and friends require. “Keys Traveler.” The QR @thefloridakeys codes can be scanned fla-keys.com/weddings by most smartphones. Activate the app, aim your phone at the bar code and you’ll youtube.com/user/FloridaKeysTV be automatically taken to a corresponding website or video for more information. Insta For iPhones and iPads, QR readers can be downloaded free at the Apple App Store. keysvoices.com @thefloridakeys BOB CARE Cover photo of a sun worshiper enjoying the beach in Key West by Rob O’Neal which re-opened in January 2015. JULIE BOTTERI 125-room Hyatt Place hotel with All of the 63 waterfront guestrooms two pools, a fitness center, meeting New Keys Resorts Welcoming Travelers and suites were redecorated and space and a waterfront restaurant upgraded with modern amenities. and outdoor bar called Lighthouse In addition to enhancements to the Grill. Boaters can enjoy a 74-slip meeting areas, pool and restaurant, state-of-the art marina that can Pelican Cove now offers a variety handle vessels up to 100 feet long. of programs including yoga, paddle- At the southernmost tip of the boarding, sunrise oil painting and a Keys island chain lies eclectic, macramé beading class. artistic Key West — and travelers Particularly notable is the recent now are welcomed at the island’s re-launch of the Islamorada Resort entrance by The Gates Hotel Key as Amara Cay Resort, an upscale West. With the first building opened boutique hotel. Property renova- in spring 2015 and the second set tions included increasing the num- for later in 2015, the new 245-room ber of rooms and suites to 110, hotel blends refined luxury, minimal- updating outdoor amenities and cre- ist design, artwork, food and music ating Oltremare, an upscale Italian- into a chic and comfortable lodging style eatery. Guests can anticipate experience. daily food and beverage experi- Guest rooms feature whitewashed ences and a Mercedes shuttle to beams, custom cypress platform Islamorada’s most popular locales. beds and photography from an Also in Islamorada, after a year- exclusive local gallery. long multi-million dollar renovation, Other highlights include the Rum the Islander Resort has joined the Row bar, two large swimming pools expanding collection of Guy Har- with cabanas and daybeds, a res- vey Outpost Resorts. Renovations It has a new Hyatt Place hotel, but the taurant featuring breakfast, lunch Artist’s rendering of Playa Largo Resort & Spa in Key Largo, which is set to open in late 2015. include upgrades throughout both iconic Faro Blanco Lighthouse remains and dinner, fitness and business the main 114-unit oceanside prop- and is shining once again at the Faro centers, and an atmosphere remi- cccommodations options room, a secluded white sand beach Blanco Resort & Yacht Club. By Carol Shaughnessy erty and the 25-unit bayside marina niscent of “old Key West.” in the Florida Keys, like the and much more. townhouse compound. The small Yacht Club with ease: it incor- The southernmost city’s Historic newest hotel to join Marriott’s A125-mile-long island chain In Islamorada, four leading lodg- collection of Guy Harvey resorts porates the famed Faro Blanco Seaport, one of the most popular Autograph Collection, set to open itself, reflect a colorful diversity of ings — Postcard Inn Beach Resort and lodges showcases Harvey’s Lighthouse, a Middle Keys landmark gathering places for visitors and in late 2015. The 14-acre water- cultural and historic influences. at Holiday Isle, La Siesta Resort, marine wildlife art, scientific re- since the 1950s. residents alike, houses a lively front resort is to feature 144 luxury Visitors can discover these influ- Pelican Cove Resort and Marina search and conservation advocacy. With the lighthouse as its “bea- diversity of restaurants, shops and rooms and suites. ences by staying in resort hotels and the Islamorada Resort — now Vacationers should be able to con,” the recently opened Mara- attractions. The district’s newest Amenities include a private ma- frequented by playwrights and presi- comprise the Islamorada Resort spot The Faro Blanco Resort & thon property features an upscale gem is The Marker Waterfront dents, inns evolved from stately rina, multiple bars and restaurants, Company and are seeing significant homes that sheltered cigar barons full-service spa and fitness offer- enhancements. and shipwreck salvagers, Victorian ings, a beach house for private or The first of this group of proper- gems built by merchants and mil- corporate functions, wedding and ties to complete renovations was lionaires, or even former fish camps conference facilities including a ball- Pelican Cove Resort and Marina, exuding rustic waterfront charm. JUAN FERNANDO AYOR Whether new or carefully re- stored, the lodging properties from Key Largo to Key West are rich in atmosphere and amenities. From late 2014 through 2015 nine new properties, comprising just over 1,000 rooms, and a num- ber of renovated lodgings are to welcome Keys visitors. Like the cur- rent accommodations options, each will showcase aspects of the island chain’s attractions and appeal. They begin at the head of the Keys in Key Largo with the elegant Playa Largo Resort and Spa, the The new lobby at the Amara Cay Resort. The Marker Waterfront Resort features 96 rooms and is conveniently located in Key West’s Historic Seaport district. 4 fla-keys.com • fla-keys.co.uk • fla-keys.it • fla-keys.de • fla-keys.ie • fla-keys.fr • fla-keys.nl • fla-keys.be Keys Traveler Keys Traveler fla-keys.com • fla-keys.co.uk • fla-keys.it • fla-keys.de • fla-keys.ie • fla-keys.fr • fla-keys.nl • fla-keys.be 5 ANDY NEWMAN CAROL TEDESCO Another Duval Street property is seeing a major change in 2015. The Southern Cross Hotel has been purchased by the owner of the Saint Hotel New Orleans and has transformed and rebranded into the Saint Hotel Key West. The historic two-story building features 37 renovated guest rooms and six suites. Also featured are a large landscaped pool, cabana area, sprawling lobby bar and 75-person balcony overlooking Duval Street. Appealing as they are, these are only a handful of the Keys proper- ties debuting enhancements or opening. Others include Islamo- rada’s renovated Smuggler’s Cove Resort and Marina, Marathon’s new Courtyard by Marriott, the reno- The Islander Resort features the Florida Keys Conference Center. vated Tranquility Bay Beach House Resort, a two-acre luxury property undergone significant renovations Resort, Captain Pip’s Marina & Hide- that debuted in December 2014. to the 160-unit property. The hotel away and the recently purchased The 96-room resort combines a lobby has been upgraded with styl- Banana Bay Resort & Marina. Key modern and timeless aesthetic with ish parquet flooring and shades of West is set to see several new the free spirit and tropical nature ivory, white and mahogany adorn all properties including the Fairfield Inn of the Key West community. Four interiors from the seating area to & Suites and Hilton Garden Inn, as room categories are available, of- the bar lounge. well as renovations to the recently fering marina, pool, garden and Old La Concha guests can enjoy en- purchased Doubletree Grand Key Town views. hanced restaurant offerings at the Resort, Gardens Hotel, Spindrift Surrounded by lush landscap- new 430 Duval and a vast selection Hotel, Southwinds Motel, Ocean ing, guests can relax and swim at of fine wines from around the world Breeze Inn, Olivia by Duval and La multiple swimming pools, complete at the Wine-O wine bar. La Concha Te Da Hotel. with poolside cocktail service, sa- also has completed Top Spa, a These new and revitalized Flor- vor Cali-Mex–inspired cuisine at the new spa located on the top floor ida Keys properties — with their on-site Cero Bodega or enjoy the of the building.