Every July 4th in Key West, there is a magnificent fireworks display off the White Street pier. As a huge fan of fireworks, I have always enjoyed watching them. But perhaps my best Independence Day experience was on the sunset dinner cruise. The huge catamaran set sail around 7 pm, before sunset to give plenty of time to enjoy the delicious food and refeshing drinks before the show. The ocean was a beautiful, emerald green and the golden sun sparkled off the calm waters. We were enjoying a relaxing sail boat ride as we watched the sun dip below the horizon. When the sky was completely dark, we heard the music in the background. Our national anthem, especially on July 4th, always makes me a little emotional. Then the fireworks began. I stood in awe of the huge, colorful lights bursting in the night sky, and everything and everyone around me were lost in that beautiful moment.
All Aboard the Key West Express! This is the best way to experience the island of Key West. The Conch Tour Train travels all around the island, and the friendly tour guides entertain while describing the history of Key West. 
If you’ve ever seen them in action you know how truly spectacular they are.. Currently the oldest flying aerobatic team, the squadron’s 6 pilots perform in many shows all over the country every year.. Last month, they performed in Key West.. Instead of fighting the large crowd at the Navy Air Station, we decided since it was such a beautiful day, we would view the stunts from a boat offshore.. And we did!. This was our view; the Angels flew directly overhead. They flew in formation, upside down, and in the “Diamond” then broke off, each in a different direction. It was incredible! The thunderous roar of flight at the speed of sound and the precision flying of these professional pilots was awesome. The day was a perfect example of how every once in a while, technology and nature can be in perfect harmony.
Every night in Key West something magical occurs. The warm, golden sun dips below the glistening blue water, creating a painting in the sky with splashes of pink, purple, blue, and gold. It is truly a thing of beauty. It’s no wonder, then, that the people of Key West, tourists and locals alike, flock to the western most point on the island, Mallory Square, to witness this sight. In the true spirit of Key West, a normal, everyday occurrence like the sunset becomes a reason to celebrate!
Kayaking is all about the journey- not the destination. You can travel as quickly or as slowly as you like, while you take in the nature that surrounds you. The backcountry of the lower Florida Keys is the perfect place for kayaking. The backcountry abounds with mangroves which hide within them a plethora of tropical fish and dozens of small crabs. Birds soar overhead looking for their catch, and the warm sun radiates down upon you.
Devise your own route through the mangrove trees and explore secret creeks and rivulets, or search for Florida Keys marine life. Bottlenose dolphin jump and play in these waters and sea turtles graze beneath the surface. Bring a picnic lunch and bask in the glorious Florida Keys sunshine. Explore remote islands and enjoy the peace and serenity of this tropical paradise that is the Florida Keys.
A Guaranteed White Christmas – Despite 78 degress we had a snowy white Christmas in Summerland Key this year. Every year around the holidays, viewers of the Weather Channel send in their videos explaining why they should have a white Christmas at their house. This year one lucky Summerland Key resident won the “Guaranteed White Christmas” contest. The Weather Channel sent representative Adam Berg to the home on Summerland Key where he broadcasted live all Christmas day. In addition, Adam brought with him a huge truck filled with 40,000 pounds of the white fluffy stuff and sprinkled snow around the home all day long. Kids, adults and dogs alike enjoyed playing in the snow Christmas day. It was a delight to see the faces of kids who have never seen snow before. Children used garbage can lids as sleighs and dodged palm trees as they slid down the mountain of snow in the front yard, made snow angels in their shorts and tank tops and built snowmen accessorized with sunglasses to protect their eyes “made of coal” from the blazing Florida Keys sun. The snowmen however, did not fare so well, as they fell victim to the tropical sun and the 78 degree temperature. 
On the corner of White Street in Key West, you’ll find something very odd: two gossipers sitting in front of a giant head. Of course, it’s less odd when you consider that these objects are made completely out of sand and water. The sand sculptures are crafted by hand using any tool you can possibly think of; small brushes, towels, spoons, forks knives, etc. The 6 month project is very conveniently called The Sandbox and is owned and operated by Sand-Isle, LLC, which holds 3 hour workshops to teach the public how to build these beautiful works of art. The artists who created the giant head were featured on the show Sand Blasters on the Travel Channel and this is the piece that won! The piece is called “Close-Minded, and if you look closely at the photo you can see a zipper across the top of the head, eyes sewn shut, and corks plugging up the ears and nose. The sculpture is so meticulously built, it’s hard to believe it’s not made of cement! If left alone without touching, the sculptures can last up to 6 months. The sun and wind do the most damage, while rain is simply absorbed into the sand. Programs offered by Sand Isle are sculpting courses; school workshops; team building events; sculptures on location; and coming soon, a sand sculpting competition for both professionals and amateurs! 
Fantasy Fest celebrates its 30th birthday this year! Contrary to popular belief, the festival is not just about crazy “Keys” people being…well crazy. It began in 1979 as a way to increase tourism to the Florida Keys at a typically slow time of year. It is just one of the many things that make our Florida Keys paradise special and fun! Fantasy Fest, for those of you who are unfamiliar, is a 10-day event with a different central theme each year. During the 10 days, there are many (MANY!) ways to get in trouble all over the island of Key West. The bars of Key West host wild theme parties every night of the week. This October, the festival should prove to be a truly creep-tacular event as the theme is “Villains, Vixens, & Vampires”. The best part of Fantasy Fest is getting to dress up in your most outrageous costume! Glitter, feather boas, false eyelashes, colorful makeup, extreme hairdos…nothing is too taboo. And don’t feel like you have to spend tons of money to have a great costume. The most creative and original costumes are usually the best, so many people make their own costumes at home. Fantasy Fest is a great way to “let your freak flag fly”! The event begins Friday, October 23 and while Fantasy Fest is considered to be an adult entertainment event for the first 9 days, the last day (Sunday, November 1) is children’s day which will feature costume contests, games, and arts & crafts- all for the kids!