Keys TravelerThe Magazine Simply the Keys New Keys accommodations Island weddings Hemingway look-alikes Quirky Keys cuisine fla-keys.com Keys Traveler ANDY NEWMAN Race over The Magazine Editor Andy Newman the ocean Managing Editor Carol Shaughnessy Copy Editor O’NEAL ROB Buck Banks Production Assistant Ashley Serrate Writers Julie Botteri Katie Fraguela 12 Laura Myers “Keys Traveler” is published by the Contents Monroe County Tourist Development Council, the official visitor marketing 4 New resorts debut from Key Largo to Key West agency for the Florida Keys & Key West. 6 Say ‘I do’ to a Florida Keys wedding Director 7 Curtain rises on quality at Key West theater Harold Wheeler Director of Sales ‘Bloodline’ focuses on Islamorada, Key Largo Stacey Mitchell 8 Florida Keys RV camping Florida Keys & Key West 10 Keys cuisine features over-the-top options Visitor Information fla-keys.com 12 Simply the Keys Each April in the Florida Keys, 1,500 runners fla-keys.co.uk line up on the Marathon side of the modern 16 Thunderbolt ... Queen of Marathon shipwrecks fla-keys.de Seven Mile Bridge and compete in a footrace 17 Islamorada captain makes rod-building an art across the convergence of the Atlantic fla-keys.it Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. The annual fla-keys.ie 18 The importance of being Ernest Seven Mile Bridge Run was first staged fla-keys.fr in 1982 to mark the completion of a fla-keys.nl 20 Keys offer adventures and events for women bridge-building program that saw 37 fla-keys.be New dance club enhances Key West nightlife new spans constructed for the Florida fla-keys.cn Keys Overseas Highway, including 21 Skydive over the Lower Keys Toll-Free in the U.S. and Canada the then-new Seven Mile Bridge. 1-800-FLA-KEYS Tour explores Key West’s past For the free monthly 22 Keys breweries craft popular products “Keys Traveler” electronic newsletter, 24 Traveling tips to the Florida Keys subscribe at www.fla-keys.com/keystraveler BOB CARE ©2016-17 Monroe County Tourist facebook.com/floridakeysandkeywest Development Council Printed in the U.S.A. By Original Impressions @thefloridakeys youtube.com/FloridaKeysTV Insta keysvoices.com @thefloridakeys 6 ANDY NEWMAN Cover photo of paddleboarders enjoying sunset off Islamorada by Andy Newman CARLOS ESTAPE BILL HANSEN CATERING private pier, while activity offerings include New resorts debut from Key Largo to Key West paddleboarding and kayaking in a 15-foot- deep lagoon. In Islamorada, Little Basin Villas has opened in the Arts District with nine three- bedroom, 3.5-bath weekly rentals offering gourmet kitchens. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, a community pool, beach area and in-home washer and dryer. On Stock Island, just outside of Key West, the new 20-acre, 175-unit Oceans Edge Key West Hotel & Marina — billed by Singh Investors as “Key West’s largest luxury resort” — will have six pools, a dog park, watersports, a restaurant, bar, fitness building and Starbucks. Waterfront suites and rooms range from 382 to 575 square feet. The marina offers 111 wet and 52 dry slips. Also on Stock Island, the 100-room boutique The Hotel Key West at Stock Island Marina is to open in 2017 alongside an existing 220-slip marina. Water-view rooms and suites are to feature private PLAYA LARGO PLAYA Playa Largo in Key Largo features a beautiful bayfront beach. terraces. First-floor accommodations have ix new Florida Keys resorts are bringing luxury Playa Largo offers a 6,000-square-foot beach, 10 private outdoor showers. accommodations and nearly 460 new units to the secluded bungalows, a three-bedroom beach house Finally, the 22-unit H2O Suites Hotel is subtropical island chain. with plunge pool, 40,000 total square feet of meeting to open in Key West with one-bedroom S suites, a rooftop deck and pool, and In Key Largo, two new properties offer luxury venues space, a full-service spa, fitness center, marina, two for meetings, weddings and retreats, and a villa tennis courts, basketball court and kids camp. 11 individual plunge pools. It’s under vacation property has opened in Islamorada. A traditional steakhouse, ceviche and sushi bar development by Maryland-based Meisel Two new marina resorts are transforming Stock and seafood venue are on-site. Kosher options are Holdings. Island, reminiscent of an authentic fishermen’s village, available. — Laura Myers just northeast of Key West. And a boutique property is Also in Key Largo stands Largo, a private sanctuary. playalargoresort.com opening in Key West. Nestled among mahogany, palm and buttonwood trees largoresort.com In Key Largo, the 14-acre, 144-room elegant Playa and orchids, it accommodates up to 15 single guests littlebasinvillas.com Largo Resort & Spa — the first new-build resort in the or 30 in doubles. oceansedgekeywest.com Upper Keys in 21 years — has opened as the 100th It offers a 5,000-square-foot lodge and six h2osuites.com addition to Autograph Collection Hotels. 800-square-foot bungalows. Up to 100 can gather on a thehotelkeywest.com LITTLE BASIN VILLAS OCEANS EDGE Oceans Edge’s rooms offer ANDY NEWMAN Little Basin Villas features weekly rentals in views of the Atlantic Ocean. The new lobby at the Amara Cay Resort. Islamorada’s Arts District. Largo, in Key Largo, offers experiences for weddings and small groups. 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 • fla-keys.cn 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 • fla-keys.cn 5 ROB O’NEAL Curtain rises on quality SAEED AYANI/NETFLIX at Key West Theater he Key West Theater is known for its top–tier musical offer- Tings, theatrical productions, comedy specials and locally pro- duced island city events. This year the venue’s ecletic performances focus on a unique variety of nationally known musical acts. Originally a Baptist church, the here is no better place to say BOB CARE (2) theater hosted a quirky long-running “I do” than in the unique and Say ‘I do’ to a production titled “Flamingo Follies” Tmemorable Florida Keys & Key in the 1990s before closing down West. The island chain is well known for over 15 years. for its waterfront ceremonies and a In 2014 a show called “By Popu- wide array of venue options such as lar Demand” was created around historic sites, beaches, restaurants, the then-unrenovated space, which FloridaTiki bars and elegant lodging Keys wedding led to the success of the theater. facilities. “Everything sort of steamrolled Notable wedding locations include from there,” said Michael Marrero, the Key West grounds of author the venue’s executive director. Ernest Hemingway’s former home Today the 288-seat boutique and the restored “vacation White theater brings a new type of culture House” of former president Harry S. and a new level of musical enter- Truman, luxury resorts such as Key tainment to Keys audiences. Largo’s Playa Largo or the Lower “The response has been phenom- Keys’ Little Palm Island, and the his- enal,” said Marrero. “Many people toric Windley Key Fossil Reef State felt this is something that has been Geological Site in Islamorada. missing from the Key West cultural Kyle Chandler plays law enforcement For couples seeking a seafaring scene for some time.” officer John Rayburn in “Bloodline.” wedding experience, opportunities The theater joins The Studios of abound aboard tall ships, sailing Key West, Tropic Cinema and St. vessels, glass-bottom boats and Paul’s Episcopal Church to create a ‘Bloodline’ focuses on luxury motor yachts around the cultural corridor on Eaton Street in Keys. Certified divers can exchange Key West’s historic Old Town. vows underwater at the Christ of Bringing both national and local Islamorada, Key Largo the Deep statue, located off the talent into the Key West spotlight, n 2015 Netflix, an online stream- alty. Action is sparked by the return world-renowned dive capital of Key the theater hosts dozens of con- ing media provider, launched a of a black-sheep Rayburn son. Largo, and lovers of marine mam- certs by renowned performers I13-episode season of “Bloodline,” Scenic aerials of Keys bridges, mals can tie the knot at the Middle throughout the year. an original Florida Keys–set psycho- dense mangrove forests offshore Keys’ acclaimed Dolphin Research Among the 2017 calendar high- logical thriller about a contemporary and landmark Key Largo and Center. lights are shows featuring Rock ‘n’ Upper Keys family. Islamorada locations are featured. Because the Florida Keys & Key Roll Hall of Fame inductee Dave Stars of the blockbuster series They include Pierre’s Restaurant, West continues to be one of the Mason, legendary band Southside include Oscar-winner Sissy Spacek, The Moorings Village, the beach at top five U.S. wedding destinations Johnny and the Asbury Jukes and Emmy-winner Kyle Chandler, “ER” Founders Park and watering holes for mainstream couples, it is no country music hitmaker Phil Vassar. veteran Linda Cardellini and noted like the Green Turtle Inn and the surprise that the island chain is Other highlights include a local Australian actor Ben Mendelsohn, Oceanview Pub, a casual hub for equally popular with gay and lesbian musicians’ showcase known as who won an Emmy for best support- Islamorada fishing tournaments. couples. More than 625 same-sex “The Sunday Ramble” and innova- ing actor for his role in “Bloodline.” The third and planned final marriages have been conducted in tive plays — many of them original The plot follows the exploits of 10-episode season on Netflix is to Key West since early 2015.