|
| Vol. 1, No. 3 | January 2005 |
 |
| The Hammocks in Marathon offers a picturesque view of the Gulf of Mexico. |
& Key West For Winter 2005
Butterfly watchers can discover an incredible diversity of species in the Florida Keys at the Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Butterfly State Park, located at mile marker (MM) 106 in Key Largo. Species to be glimpsed include the Schaus swallowtail, silver-banded hairstreak, and both hammock and mangrove skippers. Rare tree snails, which feed on lichens and bark of the tropical trees, also can be observed by park visitors.
Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park is open from 8 a.m. until sundown 365 days a year. The state park contains nearly 2,500 acres stretched along nearly 11 miles of north Key Largo. This acreage includes mangrove swamp, coastal rock barren and strand communities, but approximately two-thirds of the park is rockland hammock. Call 305-451-1202 or visit floridastateparks.org/keylargohammock.
Artists David Dunleavy and Guy Harvey are to begin painting a 300-foot mural on the exterior of the Florida Keys History of Diving Museum at MM 83 in Islamorada on Jan. 24.
Dunleavy has created endangered species on 30 major walls, while Harvey is a respected professor of marine biology and a world-renowned marine wildlife artist. The completion of their joint effort is to be celebrated with a dedication planned for Feb. 11-13.
Scheduled to open in mid-2005, the Diving Museum is to provide an educational and cultural experience focusing on the history of undersea exploration in the Keys. Its principals, Dr. Joe Bauer and Dr. Sally Bauer, have spent more than 30 years collecting and preserving artifacts, antiques, books, documents, photographs and oral histories related to diving and the unique role the Keys have played in its development.
For more information, call 305-664-2784 or 305-664-9737.
Islamorada's Chesapeake Resort, fronting on the Atlantic Ocean, MM 83.5, now incorporates Rainbow Reef Dive Center, offering dive and snorkel trips, full gear rental and sales, all levels of dive training and air fills.
Guests at the property also can enjoy the thrill of an ultralight flight over the beaches and around Islamorada.
In addition, Chesapeake is to debut wireless Internet service so guests can check their e-mail on beach hammocks or anywhere on the property using wireless cards — available from the resort — for laptops.
For more information about the Chesapeake Resort, visit the property's Web site at chesapeake-resort.com or call 305-664-4662, or toll-free 1-800-338-3395.
The Hammocks at Marathon, MM 47.5 bayside at 1688 Overseas Highway, recently celebrated its grand opening. Formerly Best Western Marathon Resort and Suites, the Hammocks at Marathon offers a choice of studio, one- or two-bedroom villa accommodations.
The property's amenities include a spacious swimming pool and tiki hut overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, a fitness center and an on-site marina offering a variety of watersports equipment and activities.
For details, call 305-289-1525 or visit bluegreenrentals.com.
Marathon-area visitors seeking cruising excitement with a dollop of history can now get swept away on the vintage schooner yacht Malabar X.
Seneca Daysails' Malabar X Schooner departs from the fishing pier in Glen Harbor Park, Watkins Glen or slip 61 at Marathon Marina, 1021 11th St. oceanside.
A racing/cruising schooner designed by John Alden, the Malabar X was built in 1930 and was twice victorious in the renowned Bermuda Race. Passengers are invited to try the helm, trim the sails, or simply sit back and relax under the warm Florida Keys sun.
Seneca Daysails offers morning, afternoon and sunset cruises on the Malabar X with prices ranging from $30 to $40 per person. For more information, visit senecadaysails.com or call 607-535-LAKE.
Key West's Ocean Key Resort, a Noble House property located at Zero Duval St., is to open SpaTerre in January and celebrate the addition of the Noble House signature spa with a name change to Ocean Key Resort & Spa.
The 2,550-square-foot boutique spa is to feature a couples massage room, three individual massage rooms, a facial room and a wet room with a Vichy shower. The spa's salon will offer two pedicure stations, two manicure stations and a makeup station, while its fitness center is to incorporate flat-screen televisions fixed on each piece of state-of-the-art cardio equipment.
Each treatment room, named after an element of the ocean, is to be fitted with soothing décor and fabrics that reflect the natural beauty of the water that is just steps away.
Located in Key West's historic Old Town, Ocean Key Resort & Spa features deluxe one- and two-bedroom suites. For information and reservations, call toll-free 1-800-328-9815 or visit oceankey.com.
Visitors seeking a "sea-scaring" adventure can find it during Pirates of the Scaribbean, a 90-minute, high-seas sailing excursion presented by the Schooner Liberty and Key West's Original Ghost Tours. As the Liberty cuts through the waters surrounding Key West with sails billowing, a pirate captain garbed in buccaneer regalia tells tales of the pirates, shipwreck salvagers and other scurvy sailors who plied the nearby waters.
Pirates of the Scaribbean is to set sail at 8 p.m. each Wednesday, Friday and Saturday night from the Hilton Marina, 245 Front St. The cost is $45 per person, plus tax.
For reservations, call 305-292-0332. For information about the Liberty vessels, visit libertyfleet.com.
For more information on "What's New in the Keys" click here.
 |
|
Farr 40-class sailing yachts race on the downwind leg on the final day of the 2004 Key West regatta. |
More than 300 sailboats and 3,000 sailors from around the world are expected for Key West 2005, presented by Nautica, scheduled Monday through Friday, Jan. 17-24.
Now in its 18th year, the Key West event is to feature boats from 24 to 75 feet in length sailed by Olympic medalists and professionals from the America's Cup, competing among weekend sailors eager to test their skills against the celebrities.
Competitors are to race on four courses set over a 10-mile stretch of the Atlantic Ocean that lies just off Key West's shore. Racing is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. daily.
Key West's Historic Seaport, stretching along the island's Gulf of Mexico shoreline, is to be event headquarters. Sailing aficionados can mingle with racing crews at the docks and book seats on spectator boats at the site.
For more information and a race schedule, visit Premiere-Racing.com or call 781-639-9545.
The Tradewinds OpenCat Midwinter Nationals, the first in a six-regatta buoy race series to determine 2005 North American Multihull Sailing Association national champions, is scheduled Jan. 14-16 in Key Largo.
Now in its 19th year, the Tradewinds OpenCat Midwinter Nationals is open to all one-design and formula classes. Qualifying classes are to consist of five-boat fleets. First- through third-place flags are to be awarded, along with points toward the national championship.
The Tradewinds series opener consists of two days of back-to-back racing on Blackwater Sound, beginning at noon Saturday and 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Gilbert's Resort, at mile marker 107.9 in Key Largo, is to serve as headquarters.
For more information about the Tradewinds OpenCat Midwinter Nationals, call 305-451-3287 or peruse catsailor.com.
For more travel information on the Florida Keys:
www.fla-keys.com
