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Travel Tales: The Florida Keys
by
findingDulcinea Staff
Key West may be immortalized in the song, “Margaritaville,” but I was a devotee of the Florida Keys long before I reached the legal drinking age. As a camper at Seacamp, part of the Newfound Harbor Marine Institute on Big Pine Key, I was focused on mastering the techniques behind research dives and tagging sharks, but also managed to discover that Key West hosts a thriving community of artists. In the years that followed, I’ve had a chance to explore the many sides of the Florida Keys.
An Exotic Ecosystem
My first experience in the Keys was as a tourist, on Duck Key, at the Hawk’s Cay Resort. My parents took our family there a little before my 10th birthday, and it was the most exotic destination I had ever visited, or could imagine.
Source: Hawk’s Cay Resort
My favorite things about the trip were pretending to be a dolphin in the swimming pool and a boat trip to explore an island surrounded by mangroves, which are plants and trees that adapt to growing in salt water. They’re the foundation for complex ecosystems in the shallow waters around the islands in the keys. Unfortunately, development and pollution in the keys threatens both the mangroves and the species that live in them. Similarly, the keys’ stunning and renowned coral reefs are also in danger. Visit Reefrelief.org to see images of all the Florida keys’ endangered species. Or, on a more hopeful note, view images of healthy coral species.
Source: Reef Relief
That trip to Duck Key piqued my interest in marine ecosystems, and I decided that I wanted to be a marine biologist when I grew up. So, three years later, I returned to the keys to attend Seacamp, where I got my NAUI scuba certification, studied animal behavior and coral reef ecology, and caught and tagged nurse sharks for a shark biology course.
Source: Seacamp
One of my favorite memories was formed during an animal behavior class. We were snorkeling, and had been assigned to mimic the behavior of dolphins in a pod. Suddenly, we realized that we had been joined by an actual pod of dolphins. Dolphins are reputed to be one of the most intelligent species of mammals, so I’m sure we didn’t fool them, but perhaps they recognized our attempts and thought it would be amusing to tag along. Looking down and seeing a dolphin underneath me in the water was one of the most surreal moments of my life. If the experience appeals to you, there are the ways to swim with the dolphins that don’t require chirping into your snorkel and flapping an imaginary tail.
One of the dolphins trained to swim with people at Dolphins Plus, Key Largo.
Dolphin Safari, a charter out of Key West that is endorsed by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) will take you on snorkeling trips to see dolphins. If you can’t make the trip, visit the photo gallery.
Source: Dolphin Safari
The Key West Aquariam, Hemingway Home, and Sunset Celebration
Of course, not all of our adventures occurred in open water; we took a few field trips that ensured we’d get out of the sun. One memorable trip was to the Key West Aquarium, built during the Great Depression to foster the key’s now energetic tourism industry. Explore the site to learn about the aquarium’s history and tours, or view their webcams.
Source: Key West Aquarium
On one visitor’s day, I met up with my family for some non-marine-biology-related activities. While reefs and wildlife are some of the biggest draws for visitors to the keys, Key West has also been a notable cultural mecca and home to many artists. Famously, Ernest Hemingway lived there, in what is now the Hemingway Home and Museum. Apparently, you can get married there, although that’s not an experience I can personally attest to.
Source: Hemingway Home and Museum
The vegetation surrounding the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum in Key West.
A greater testament to the abundance of artistic energy in Key West is the nightly Sunset Celebration. Key West is one of the rare locations on the East Coast where the sunset can be seen over the ocean, and the town celebrates the occasion with a festival every night of the year. Even hailing from a big city, I was overwhelmed and impressed by the quantity of artists, street performers, and food and crafts vendors gathered in Mallory Square to create exuberant sideshows that complemented the main attraction—the magnificent Key West sunset.
Source: Sunset Celebration
Rachel Balik
Guides Writer
Guides Writer
© 2012 Dulcinea Media, Inc.
