Browsing: Key West

Charter
By

The Moorings Starts Charters in Key West

The Moorings just opened its latest charter operation in Key West, the southernmost point in the United States; it’s actually closer to Havana than it is to Miami. Key West, just in case you haven’t been there, also exists in a different mind-set than the rest of the United States; it’s fun, it’s historic, and the boating is sensational. Once the home of Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams and Jimmy Buffet, Key West offers a vacation, on land or on the water, that you won’t forget. It has a unique architecture, and is full of pastel homes and colorful bars. You…

Cruising Life
By

Meet Squid, a New Solar-Electric, Dolphin-Watching Charter Boat in Key West

About 14 years ago, Billy Litmer took a Greyhound bus from Kentucky, where he was in college, down to Key West to go snorkeling. He wanted to stay, so he went to work for snorkeling tour companies. Five years ago, he started his own business, Honest Eco Tours, specializing in dolphin watching. Then he got the idea of building his own emission-free boat that would have the least possible impact on the fragile Keys environment. The result: Squid, a 35-foot solar/electric catamaran that can hit 15 knots, but usually travels at half that speed, leaving almost no wake or carbon footprint.…

Cruising Life
By

Navy Cracks Down on Boaters Anchored in Restricted Waters Off Key West

If you’re going to Key West, make sure you check your chart before you drop anchor. The Navy just cracked down on boats anchored in restricted waters there, issuing citation to 37 vessels, including some that were being used as vacation rentals. The problem was that the boats were anchored in restricted areas around the Naval Air Station in Key West. The Navy wanted to clear them out of potentially dangerous areas near bunkers on Fleming Key that store explosive materials. Fleming Key is connected to Key West by a short bridge and is just across Garrison Bight from the…

Cruising Life
By

Key West: Home of the Colorful Conch Republic and a Great Cruising Destination

Key West is a lot of things. The Conch Republic. The end of the road, or at least the end of the 127-mile-long Overseas Highway. It’s irreverent, different, fun. And it’s colorful: Consider the daily scene where hundreds, or thousands, of people, plus various fire-eaters, jugglers and tightrope walkers, gather on Mallory Square to look for the green flash as the sun goes down. Or the annual Fantasy Fest parade (pictured above right) or the New Year’s Eve blowout (above left). Most of all, Key West is a great cruising destination. If you’re looking for a weekend or more, head…

Cruising Life
By

A Fast Guide to the Best Bars, Marinas and Fun Spots in Key West

If you’ve ever been there, I think you have to admit that Key West is unique, a one-off, there’s nothing like it. Ernest Hemingway, for one, loved it, writing that “it’s the best place I’ve ever been, anytime, anywhere.” The southernmost point in the United States, Key West is the heart of the Conch Republic, a jumping off point for Cuba for a lot of cruisers (including me, more than a decade ago), a sportfishing mecca, and the center of parties and celebrations that go on and on – from the evening gathering at Mallory Square to catch the…