Whether you’re pining for a Keys vacation but can’t get away quite yet, or are prepping for an upcoming trip to the island chain, you’ll want to watch “The Florida Keys: 200 Years of Paradise,” slated to debut this spring on Public Broadcasting Service channels across the U.S.

The fascinating 60-minute TV documentary explores the culture and history of the Keys from the early 1800s to the present. It was produced by South Florida PBS for broadcast during the island chain’s bicentennial year — this year — that commemorates the Florida Legislature’s establishment of Monroe County on July 3, 1823.

The program (partially underwritten by the Keys tourism council) takes you on a journey through the region’s dramatic history, seen through the eyes of residents who live and interpret that history every day.

Topics include the Florida Keys’ booms and busts, cultural and artistic expression, sport fishing and community leaders, industries like shipwreck salvage, natural disasters and renewal, environmental conservation and the legacy of Black pioneers.

Comments from Keys historians and others introduce viewers to the human side of the island chain’s two centuries of history — giving the story a deeply personal flavor.

“The Florida Keys: 200 Years of Paradise” is to be distributed nationally by American Public Television beginning March 1, and it’s expected to air on some 249 public television stations around the country. So check your local listings for scheduled airtimes to make sure you don’t miss it.

Meanwhile, three events are slated in Key West that showcase different elements of the Keys’ intriguing two-century cultural heritage.

Presidents in Paradise. Descendants of former president Harry S. Truman and five other U.S. commanders in chief will discuss their famous relatives and American bipartisanship Saturday, Feb. 18, at Key West’s Harry S. Truman Little White House.

The Presidential Family Forum is the centerpiece of Presidents Day weekend activities at the 111 Front St. residence — the place where Truman spent 11 working vacations during his 1945-1953 administration. Today the property is Florida’s only presidential museum.

In addition, Clifton Truman Daniel (former President Truman’s oldest grandson) will star as his grandfather in the one-man play “Give ‘Em Hell, Harry!” Sunday and Monday, Feb. 19-20. A seasoned actor and author, Clifton is the first direct descendant to portray a presidential ancestor in a stage production — and this one is absolutely unforgettable.

A Conch-Centric Celebration. Join several dozen other people and attempt to “blow your own horn” in Key West Saturday, March 4, during a celebration of the Florida Keys’ rich history known as the Conch Shell Blowing Contest.

In the 19th century, when Key West’s economy was largely based on salvaging cargoes from sinking ships, seafarers used the conch’s fluted pink-lined shells as signaling devices — blowing piercing blasts to attract attention. Today native-born residents refer to themselves as Conchs and the Florida Keys island chain is often called the Conch Republic.

The “conch honk” challenge is presented each spring by the Old Island Restoration Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the architectural and cultural heritage of Key West. In the lush garden of the island’s Oldest House Museum, 322 Duval St., entrants vie to see who can coax the most impressive sounds from their “instrument.”

Remembering Tennessee. Internationally renowned playwright Tennessee Williams, who lived in Key West for more than 30 years, once said of his chosen home, “I work everywhere, but I work best here.” Explore his writing and life in the island city during the Tennessee Williams Birthday Celebration, with events scheduled throughout March.

Expected highlights include guided curator tours of the Tennessee Williams Museum, located at 513 Truman Ave. Birthday month activities also include screenings of films based on Williams’ plays, a walking tour of the playwright’s Key West, a lecture and readings, a theater production and a commemoration of the 112th anniversary of Williams’ March 26 birth.

What else is going on in Key West and the Keys over the next few months? Just check here — and then catch the PBS documentary and begin planning your next visit.

Ever since the Florida Keys were settled two centuries ago, the island chain has been known for its residents’ adventurous seafaring spirit. Today, that spirit remains among the Keys’ most appealing attributes. And contemporary visitors can find it in museums and attractions, tales of sunken treasure and dive trips to famed shipwreck sites.

Many early settlers in Islamorada and Key West were wreckers — salvaging goods from ships that sank along the continental United States’ only living coral barrier reef, which runs parallel to the Keys. While the wreckers’ strict code mandated rescuing crews and passengers first, they also profited from salvaged cargo. In the mid-1800s, wrecking made Key West the wealthiest city per capita in the U.S.

Keys visitors can relive that era at the Upper Keys’ Indian Key Historic State Park, a small island that was once a busy port established by wrecker Jacob Housman in the 1800s, or at the Key West Shipwreck Treasure Museum, featuring re-enactors and salvaged artifacts.

A century earlier, fleets of Spanish galleons regularly sailed past the Keys carrying goods and treasures from the New World back to Spain. Many sank in the area, including 13 ships from Spain’s 1733 fleet.

Among the galleons was La Capitana, the flagship of the 1733 fleet, which sank off the Upper Keys. In the late 1930s, pioneering diver Art McKee began salvaging the vessel’s remains — recovering cannons, silver and gold coins, weapons, navigational instruments and silver bars.

Dubbed the father of modern treasure diving, McKee also uncovered the sites of the Infante, Herrera, Chaves, San Pedro and San José. His exploits are chronicled in a remarkable exhibit at the Florida Keys History of Diving Museum in Islamorada.

The Keys’ most famous wreck is immortalized at Key West’s Mel Fisher Maritime Museum. The museum showcases artifacts and treasures from the Spanish galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha, lost in a 1622 hurricane and discovered off Key West in 1985 by shipwreck salvager Mel Fisher. Items on display include gold chains, cannons, navigational instruments, coins and heavy silver bars.

Today’s adventurers can indulge their own seafaring spirit by diving the Keys’ Shipwreck Heritage Trail. Featuring nine wreck sites stretching from Key Largo to Key West, the trail was established by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary to spotlight the island chain’s rich maritime history.

Its wrecks range from McKee’s San Pedro to modern cargo and military ships and artificial reefs. Among them is the Thunderbolt, intentionally sunk in 1986 some 4 miles south of Marathon in 120 feet of water.

Three other significant vessels also beckon Keys divers. The 510-foot Spiegel Grove, the third-largest ship ever intentionally sunk to create a new reef, is positioned about 6 miles off Key Largo in 130 feet of water. It has attracted divers, fish and other marine life since its 2002 sinking.

The 210-foot freighter Adolphus Busch Senior lies in Lower Keys waters approximately 5 miles southwest of Big Pine Key. Divers have been exploring the artificial reef since it was sunk in 1998.

The second-largest vessel ever to be sunk as an artificial reef is the 523-foot General Hoyt S. Vandenberg, scuttled in 2009 about 7 miles off Key West. Its hull rests on sand at depths averaging 145 feet, but its superstructure rises to about 45 feet below the surface.

Only a few ships that sank in Florida Keys waters carried gold or other rich cargoes. But from Spanish galleons to modern-day artificial reefs, they all offer treasured adventures for divers.

Sunny, breezy subtropical holidays in the Florida Keys & Key West are filled with warmth and good cheer throughout the 125-mile-long island chain. From Key Largo to Key West, the 2022 holiday season features spirited events such as lighted boat parades, historic inn tours, only-in-the Keys frivolity, sparkling waterfront celebrations and other island festivities.

In the weeks leading up to the holidays, check out the enchanting events listed here.

Now through Dec. 10: Zonta’s Festival of Trees. The Zonta Club of Marathon, a women’s service organization, offers a free-admission display of decorated trees at its 12th Annual Festival of Trees at Marathon Garden Club, 5270 Overseas Highway. Attractions also include “Lunch with the Grinch” Saturday, Dec. 10. The upscale ticketed “Toast to the Season” is scheduled that evening at the garden club with champagne, music, libations and tasty treats. A drawing for all trees and holiday baskets is set for 9 p.m. While admission to the Festival of Trees is free, raffle tickets can be purchased for a chance to win a favorite tree.

Now through Dec. 23: Old Town Trolley’s Holiday Sights & Festive Nights Tours. The popular green and orange trolleys, festively adorned with holiday lights, showcase Key West’s best-decorated neighborhoods, buildings and homes on fun-filled 60-minute excursions. Tours depart each evening from the island city’s Mallory Square at 6:30, 7, 8 and 8:30 p.m.

Dec. 9: Key West Art & Historical Society Holiday Bazaar. The Key West Art & Historical Society hosts its sixth annual concert and holiday shopping event on the sweeping porch and walkway of the historic Custom House Museum at 281 Front St. The 5-9 p.m. free-admission event features a holiday light show produced by Key West High School’s Conch 5 Studios, unique gifts crafted by local artisans, musicians, choirs, food, libations and photos with Santa.

Dec. 9, 10 and 11: Lighted Boat Parades. Lighted and festively decorated boats, from fishing craft and cruisers to tall ships, are to cruise waters surrounding the Florida Keys. Celebrate the season with the Holiday Lighted Boat Parade of Stock Island (Dec. 9); the Key Largo Boat Parade on Blackwater Sound, themed “A Cartoon Christmas”; the Schooner Wharf Bar/Absolut Vodka Lighted Boat Parade (Dec. 10) around the Key West Historic Seaport and harbor; or the Key Colony Beach Christmas Boat Parade (Dec. 11).

Dec. 9 and 16: Holiday Historic Inn Tours. Old Town Key West is filled with unique historic inns, and two Friday evenings of 6-8 p.m. tours offer a chance to glimpse lavish decorations and experience holiday cheer, treats at bed-and-breakfast properties and two popular Key West attractions.

Dec. 10: Pops in the Park Concert “Joy to the World.” Islamorada’s family-friendly, free-admission holiday concert, themed “Joy to the World,” offers traditional and pops music by the Florida Keys Community Concert Band. The Burton Bell Ringers are to be special guests. Attendees can bring chairs and blankets to the 4-5 p.m. outdoor concert at Founders Park’s amphitheater, mile marker 87 bayside.

Dec. 11: Christmas on the Sheriff’s Animal Farm. Children and adults love visiting the unique Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Animal Farm, just northeast of Key West at 5501 College Road on Stock Island. The farm, open 1-3 p.m. on the second and fourth Sundays of each month, is educational for visitors and a haven for feathered, furry and fluffy creatures that are nurtured and cared for by jail inmates. Holiday highlights include photos with Santa.

Dec. 15: Third Thursday Art Walk. Showcasing the area’s fine arts, music and culinary nuances, Islamorada’s Morada Way Arts & Cultural District features national and local artisans whose work is showcased in galleries at Morada Way between mile markers 81 and 82, as well as beer tastings and live music. Admission is free to this outdoor pre-holiday celebration. The 6-9 p.m. Art Walk is held the third Thursday of each month.

Dec. 17: Winter Wonderland at Crane Point. At Crane Point Hammock Museum & Nature Trails, 5550 Overseas Highway in Marathon, families can enjoy an evening winter wonderland. Attractions are to include reindeer ponies and Santa Claus, holiday decorations, a chocolate fountain, other seasonal treats and libations for purchase — plus a forecast of snow!

While this listing outlines a handful of the Florida Keys’ seasonal highlights, there are plenty of other colorful festivities to enjoy as well. A complete roster of holiday activities and special events throughout the Keys can be viewed here.

A group of 15 young rescued sea turtles (one of them a tiny baby) was recently released in Gulf Stream waters off Key West by a dedicated duo from the Florida Keys-based Turtle Hospital — and they were assisted in this worthy endeavor by members of a powerboat racing team who were on the island to compete in the sport’s world championship.

The released reptiles included a juvenile green sea turtle dubbed “Ian” for Hurricane Ian, whose tropical storm-force winds brushed the Key West area in late September.

The little guy was found buried in about a foot of seaweed by a family cleaning up around a boat ramp after the storm — so 8-year-old Khannan Mellies and his family promptly named their unexpected “guest” Ian and reached out to the Turtle Hospital.

The Turtle Hospital’s manager, Bette Zirkelbach, reported that Ian and three other green sea turtles, three hawksbills and eight loggerheads were all released Nov. 12 into a sargassum weed line about 20 miles off Key West in the Gulf Stream. (Sargassum acts as camouflage for young turtles, so it’s an ideal habitat for their stage of life.)

According to Bette, Ian and most of his cohorts were “washbacks” — a term for turtles washed ashore from the Gulf Stream by a storm’s wind and water action. All were cared for at the Turtle Hospital after being found.

The turtles were carried to the release point by a fleet mate of the 39-foot TS Motorsports MTI powerboat that was competing in the 450R Factory Stock class in Race World Offshore’s 2022 Key West Offshore World Championship.

Helping with the release were Taylor Scism, driver of the boat during the championship series; her father Randy Scism, a veteran powerboat racer; Captain Jack Carlson; and Turtle Hospital founder and director Richie Moretti.

The world’s first veterinary facility of its kind, the Turtle Hospital has been rescuing, rehabilitating and returning turtles to the wild for over 30 years. It’s located in Marathon, at mile marker 48.5 on the Florida Keys Overseas Highway, and visiting it provides an inspiring example of environmental passion in action.

Daily educational tours introduce visitors to the resident sea turtles (some are recovering “patients,” and some are permanent inhabitants whose conditions make their release impossible), as well as the hospital’s healing programs for loggerhead, green, hawksbill and Kemp’s ridley turtles.

In addition to their curative efforts, founders and staff work tirelessly to raise public awareness about sea turtles and their needs, collaborate with state universities on sea turtle research, and work toward environmental legislation that makes the beaches and water safer and cleaner for their charges.

The longstanding relationship between the hospital and Florida Keys powerboat race organizers was built on a mutual desire to safeguard the sea turtles, manatees and dolphins that inhabit Keys waters. Before and during each race in the annual championship series, Richie and Bette scan the racecourse from a helicopter to spot any marine wildlife that might be on or near it.

Race World Offshore’s Key West Offshore World Championship wrapped up Sunday, Nov. 13 — and TS Motorsports, with Taylor Scism driving and legendary racer John Tomlinson as throttleman, won the championship in their class.

But despite that impressive victory, the biggest “winners” during the team’s Key West sojourn were clearly Ian and his fellow turtles — who are beginning a new life in the Gulf Stream, thanks to the good-hearted racers and the dedicated group from the Turtle Hospital.

In the unforgettable “Pirates of the Caribbean” films, the buccaneers were guided by a code of conduct that was originally created by the Brethren Court of pirate lords. Theoretically, its rules were strict and unbending — but before the end of the first film, heroine Elizabeth Swann convinced the crew of the pirate vessel Black Pearl that “they’re more like guidelines, anyway.”

Though buccaneers are few and far between in the Florida Keys (sometimes called America’s Caribbean), Keys residents and others who love the island chain are definitely guided by a code of conduct.

This code was designed to protect a treasure richer than any pirate gold — the region’s amazing natural environment. The Florida Keys are paralleled by the continental United States’ only living coral barrier reef, which is often called the third largest in the world. Much like a tropical rainforest, the reef ecosystem supports an incredibly diverse population of plants and animals.

The entire land mass of the Keys is surrounded by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, which was established in 1990 by the U.S. government. Visitors to the island chain will also find land-based refuges where birds, wildlife and their habitats are protected — including the Lower Keys’ National Key Deer Refuge that’s home to shy, soft-eyed miniature deer the size of large dogs.

So what exactly IS the code of the Keys?

Its core is the 10 Keymandments. Unlike the Bible’s 10 Commandments, which advise people what NOT to do, the Keymandments advise travelers what they CAN do to have a meaningful, memorable vacation while respecting and helping preserve the Keys environment.

Lighthearted yet educational, they’re guidelines for enjoying a sustainable travel experience in the laid-back subtropical spot.

ONE: Plant a coral (or adopt one of the cute little things, but don’t touch them on the reef).

TWO: Support the wildlife (volunteer food, funds or time to a local wild bird center).

THREE: Take out the trash (especially if it’s floating in the water).

FOUR: Capture a lionfish (any time and any size — we can show you how).

FIVE: Leave a digital footprint (share pictures with fans, friends and followers).

SIX: Hike it, bike it or hoof it (it’s low on eco-impact and high on fresh tropical air).

SEVEN: Catch dinner (and release all the fish you know you can’t eat).

EIGHT: Use a mooring buoy at dive sites (save your back and leave the anchor alone).

NINE: Conserve vs. consume (reduce, reuse and recycle even on vacation).

TEN: Get off the beaten path (you can hike, bike, walk, kayak or paddleboard along Keys trails).

While the code of conduct in the “Pirates” films proved to be somewhat elastic, the Keys code should be followed at all times by everyone who cares about the area’s environment. In fact, the Keymandments are a modern-day addition to more than a century of efforts to preserve it.

Discovering the island chain’s natural world is easy with a knowledgeable local eco-tour guide or watersports operator — whether on a kayaking paddle through tranquil waters and surreal mangrove tangles, an excursion to view dolphins in the wild, or a dive or snorkeling trip in America’s first underwater park.

To explore eco-adventures in the Florida Keys, just click here. And don’t forget … to protect and preserve the Keys’ environmental treasures, always follow the code.

As most people who care about the Florida Keys probably know, the island chain felt impacts from Hurricane Ian’s tropical storm-force winds and storm surge Tuesday night and Wednesday, when Ian passed well to the west of Key West.

So this week, Keys Voices is breaking from its usual format to provide a post-Ian update.

Major Florida Keys & Key West infrastructure remains intact throughout the 125-mile-long island chain.

Key West International Airport reopened to commercial and general aviation service Thursday morning, according to Monroe County Airports Director Richard Strickland. However, he advised arriving and departing passengers to check with their airlines before going to airports for scheduled flights.

The area of the Keys most impacted by Ian appears to be Key West, where some roads were temporarily flooded because of storm surge or blocked because of fallen trees. City crews have been working tirelessly to remove downed tree limbs and clean remaining debris from streets and landmarks including the famed Southernmost Point.

Alyson Crean, the city’s public information officer, said about 100 Key West-area homes were impacted by flooding from the storm surge, but she provided the good news that no significant damage to buildings was reported from Ian’s tropical storm-force winds.

The other parts of the island chain, from the Lower Keys through Marathon and Islamorada to Key Largo, are east-northeast of Key West so Ian was farther away from them as it passed — and therefore, they had far fewer impacts.

One family on Stock Island, adjacent to Key West, got a surprise as they cleaned seaweed from around their boat ramp: a green sea turtle hatchling  buried in about a foot of seaweed. Eight-year-old Khannan Mellies and his family promptly named the tiny turtle “Ian,” and it was transported to the Middle Keys’ Turtle Hospital for care and an eventual release back into the wild.

People who usually drive to the Keys will be glad to know that the Florida Keys Overseas Highway is open and traffic is flowing normally — though the Keys’ Sheriff Rick Ramsay cautioned everyone to be aware of the potential for road debris and standing water in some places.

Electric power went out in parts of Key West during Ian, but was restored to all customers by Friday — and people in the rest of the Keys have power as usual. Regular household and business water flow in the island chain was never interrupted.

Almost all Keys lodging facilities escaped significant impact from the storm and are open.

Most attractions, venues, watersports operations, restaurants and bars are open, with others planning to reopen in the coming days. Visitors with any questions should contact them individually.

Some state parks in the Keys may not reopen immediately; those planning to visit state parks should contact them individually as well.

Dry Tortugas National Park and Fort Jefferson, which lie 70 miles west of Key West, partially reopened to the public Oct. 2. Seaplane service has resumed, but dock repairs are needed before ferry service can resume.

Those of us in the Keys and Key West are endlessly grateful to be spared the brunt of the storm’s impacts, and will do what we can to help others who were hard hit. We encourage Keys Voices readers to do the same.

The community of Marathon, located in the Middle Florida Keys, features wonderful wildlife rehabilitation facilities, a lively performance theater and a variety of cozy inns, luxury resorts, waterside vacation homes, RV parks, marinas and casual dining emporiums.

When you visit the Middle Keys, you’ll also find creative spaces, natural attractions, scenic parks, trails, sightseeing spots and historic sites that make for an appealing blend of heritage, culture and nature. For example …

Crane Point Hammock Museum & Nature Trail. Recently listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this 63.5-acre tract at 5550 Overseas Highway (mile marker 50.5) is one of the most important archaeological sites in the Florida Keys — it even contains evidence of prehistoric Indian artifacts, and once was the site of a Bahamian village. The attraction’s on-site Adderly House, built in 1904 as a classic Bahamian-style home, is the oldest Keys house outside of Key West (and it’s listed on the National Register too).

Also on-site stands a bright-red Florida East Coast Railway train car, located at the site of Marathon’s original train station, and the Crane House that dates back to 1954. The Crane House, renovated in late 2021, is the Keys’ first venue outside of Key West to earn the Historic Florida Keys Foundation star designation. Surrounding the Museum of Natural History of the Florida Keys and the Florida Keys Children’s Museum are a kayak launch, shaded nature trails and natural habitat for birds and butterflies. Ask about the completely unique “fish pedicure” — you’ll be glad you did!

Marathon Wild Bird Center. Within Crane Point’s captivating flora is the small facility whose volunteers and local veterinarians have rescued or protected an amazing 22,000-plus wild birds such as hawks, ospreys, spoonbills and egrets. Injured birds are nursed back to health and released. Visitors not only help this very worthy center by exploring, but also support efforts through donating medical supplies including bandages and tapes, bird carriers, fresh fish and bird food (as well as money).

Marathon Community Theatre. Started as a small community group in 1944, the theater has grown to perform many shows each year — all spotlighting a talented group of local residents. Comedies, musicals, dramatic presentations and readings are offered at the popular spot, with most productions staged between October and April (“The Rocky Horror Show” debuts Oct. 27). The theater is located at 5101 Overseas Highway, mile marker 49.5 oceanside.

Old Seven Mile Bridge. Enjoy one of the Middle Keys’ most iconic experiences: cycle, walk, run, rollerblade, view marine life and watch sunrises and sunsets along a 2.2-mile section of the famed Old Seven Mile Bridge. The venerable old bridge, originally the centerpiece of the Florida Keys Over-Sea Railroad that was completed in 1912, parallels a contemporary bridge that’s part of the Keys’ Overseas Highway. Nicknamed “Old Seven,” the oft-photographed 2.2-mile span reopened to pedestrian recreation in January 2022 after a multiyear restoration. Essentially a linear park, it’s the gateway to historic Pigeon Key.

Pigeon Key. Lying beneath the Old Seven Mile Bridge at mile marker 44.8, Pigeon Key formerly served as a camp for laborers constructing the iconic bridge. The tiny island now features a museum, offers opportunities to picnic and snorkel, and hosts a marine science research program for school-age children. Daily tours are available. Reach Pigeon Key by walking or bicycling the Old Seven Mile Bridge, or by riding the recently launched visitor tram designed to resemble a train.

Shady Palm Art Gallery & Photography. Savor a leisurely exploration of this one-stop-shop emporium located at 2888 Overseas Highway. Owners Barry and Lori Gaukel feature only Keys artists, artisans and creative minds in the spacious gallery and gift shop. Each of over 50 local artists creates bold, unique pieces that include paintings, prints, jewelry, pottery, woodcarving, coconut art and much more. Shady Palm is the perfect place to purchase a memento to remember your Middle Keys visit.

Want to discover more enticing attractions in Marathon and the Middle Keys? Just click here and then start planning your visit!

In the Florida Keys & Key West, fresh seafood is a must for just about every meal. And with the abundance of fish and seafood in Keys waters, most restaurants along the island chain make it a menu staple.

It’s easy to find just-off-the-boat snapper, grouper and mahi-mahi served grilled, blackened or fried. In addition, some chefs and restaurateurs enjoy showcasing “only in the Keys” dishes, unusual species or outside-the-box preparation techniques.

That’s certainly true at Blue Heaven, located in Key West’s Bahama Village neighborhood at 729 Thomas St. on the site of a boxing ring where Ernest Hemingway once refereed local matches (yes, really!). Today diners enjoy Caribbean and seafood specialties in a lively courtyard or indoors in a funky, colorful historic building.

Breakfast with the roosters (free-range Key West poultry roaming the courtyard) is so popular that waiting lines can stretch off the property and into the street. One of the most requested breakfast dishes is the BLT Benedict, but this is not a traditional BLT featuring bacon, lettuce and tomato.

The “L” in this case stands for lobster — fresh, sweet Florida lobster. The dish is composed of poached eggs, grilled tomato slices, chunks of Florida lobster tail and crisp bacon. These luscious ingredients sit atop a toasted English muffin covered with Blue Heaven’s yummy lime hollandaise sauce.

Just outside Key West, on Stock Island in the Lower Keys, stands a hideaway restaurant called Hogfish Bar & Grill. This proudly ramshackle watering hole — a true locals’ spot that’s also beloved by in-the-know visitors — can be found at 6810 Front St. alongside an authentic “old style” marina. Most diners sit outdoors at weathered picnic tables, overlooking picturesque houseboats and sailboats moored at the adjacent dock.

The restaurant’s signature dish, as its name implies, is hogfish — a primarily diver-caught fish with a light yet unparalleled flavor. A wide variety of other Keys seafood temptations are also served, including a lip-smacking smoked-fish dip that absolutely MUST be tried.

However, the undisputed menu star is the sizeable “killer” hogfish sandwich. Enough for two to share, it consists of a generous serving of fresh-caught hogfish topped with melted swiss cheese and sautéed mushrooms and onions — all nestled on a chunk of fresh Cuban bread with a side of crispy fries.

Another unusual fish captured in Keys waters is the highly recognizable Indo-Pacific red lionfish. A voracious invader, non-native lionfish are known for outcompeting native species for food and territory.

Luckily, the lionfish’s light white meat has become a favorite of local restaurateurs and visiting diners — likened to hogfish or snapper in terms of flakiness, color and flavor. While the “lions” have venomous spines, they’re removed before preparation and the fish is completely safe to eat.

Middle Keys restaurateur John Mirabella, an avid diver and spearfisherman, helped pioneer the predator as a food fish. So, naturally, lionfish is one of the menu standouts at his Castaway Waterfront Restaurant and Sushi Bar at 1406 Ocean View Ave. in Marathon. Diners at the popular Castaway often enjoy it as a gorgeous (and unforgettably delicious) sushi specialty dubbed the “King of the Jungle Roll.”

As well as these culinary delights, there are scores of other tasty reasons to head for the Florida Keys. Click here for an overview of mouthwatering spots throughout the island chain — and then make plans for a subtropical vacation to savor Keys flavors.

I’m often asked by visitors vacationing in the Florida Keys, “Where do the locals eat?” Honestly, we eat at the same restaurants visitors do — and it would be pretty unusual to experience a less-than-stellar meal in the island chain.

In addition to having some of the best restaurants and world-class chefs, the Florida Keys & Key West also offer a variety of quintessential “only in the Keys” dishes.

The Keys’ location and heritage played a big part in developing our islands’ signature cuisine. Our remoteness and saltwater surroundings meant residents historically relied on the ocean’s bounty for food, and the multicultural settlers brought the recipes and flavors of their homelands with them.

When dining at our restaurants, you’ll notice that many choose fish and seafood for inspiration and menu staples. Did you know commercial fishing is the second-largest industry in the Keys? The incredibly fresh fish you’re served at night was probably unloaded at the docks that morning!

Our menus often include fish caught in local waters, including yellowtail, grouper and mahi-mahi. The most recent “fish addition” to some menus is an invasive species called lionfish, which has no natural reef predators except spearfishing humans. Luckily its light white meat is delicious, with a flavor often compared to that of snapper.

Lionfish is a menu staple at the Castaway Restaurant & Sushi Bar located in Marathon (some 50 miles from Key West near the famed Seven Mile Bridge). The Castaway’s owner sometimes dives for the lionfish he serves — and it’s prepared several different ways, with one customer favorite being “wrecker style” that features a savory sauce of capers, garlic, butter and diced tomato.

The fish served at Keys restaurants might be sautéed, blackened, fried, broiled and sometimes served with a sauce containing mango or other tropical fruit that adds a tasty island twist.

You may be wondering, “What about shellfish?” Well, we’ve got you covered with our very popular specialty, Key West pink shrimp. “Pinks” are generally considered sweeter than other types of shrimp, and local chefs have dishes to die for! One of my favorite restaurants, Azur, located at 425 Grinnell St., has a mouthwatering Key West pink shrimp starter served with lemon, butter, garlic and parsley.

Keys locals and visitors also love their Florida stone crab claws, which are known for their sweet and succulent meat and are harvested in the Keys from around mid-October to May 1. Because nearly all the crab’s meat is contained in its claws, they are the only parts of the crustacean that are harvested.

Once the claws are removed, the crab is returned to the sea where its claws regenerate over two years. For that reason, stone crabs are considered a renewable resource — and the Florida Keys are responsible for a good percentage of the state’s overall harvest.

During our lobster season, which runs from Aug. 6 to March 31 each year, you’re in for a real treat! Unlike stone crabs, lobsters found in the Keys are clawless. Known as spiny lobsters, they offer delectably tender meat (especially with LOTS of butter).

The mollusk conch (which is pronounced “konk,” B.T.W.) is no longer harvested in the Keys, but it’s imported and still trendy among discerning diners. Conch can be found in chowders, deep-fried fritters, salads and even breaded and fried as conch steak.

Many of our local chefs have their own unique recipes. Mangoes restaurant, located at 700 Duval St., offers really yummy conch fritters served with a Key lime aioli and lime sauce. D.J.’s Clam Shack, located at 629 Duval St., is another one of my favorites for delightful, golden deep-fried fritters.

The most popular ethnic food in the Keys is Cuban, brought to Key West by the cigarmakers and their families who fled their homeland in the 1800s. If you’re craving authentic Cuban food, this is the place. El Siboney, located at 900 Catherine St., has one of the best roasted pork (puerco asado) dishes I’ve ever tasted.

The old saying about “leaving room for dessert” is particularly apropos when you’re in the Keys — because everyone should experience our signature dessert, Key lime pie.

I’ve personally sampled at least 10 versions of the luscious treat at restaurants from Key Largo to Key West. All were different — and equally delicious. For example, Blue Heaven offers its pie topped with a mile-high meringue and Kermit’s has a fluffy whipped cream topping.

From fresh-off-the-boat seafood to traditional Cuban food to Key lime pie, the Florida Keys have a wealth of unique culinary treats for you to sample. What will be your favorite Keys dish?

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Want to hunt the skittish gray ghost of the flats, the bonefish? Come to the Keys. Feel like battling a reel-emptying blue marlin? Come to the Keys. Want to sit in a beach chair, sipping a cold cocktail while watching your bobber dance in the current? Come to the Keys.

The subtropical weather, nearby Gulf Stream and 120-mile-long arc of islands that make up the Florida Keys create one of the world’s best fishing environments.

Off the Keys’ “outer” curve lies the Atlantic Ocean. Warm and shallow near shore, the ocean reaches depths of more than 600 feet just 11 miles offshore in the Upper Keys. Near Key West, 600-foot depths are just over five miles from shore. Travel another 12 to 15 miles south, and depths begin to approach 2,000 feet.

Keys deep-sea fishing — ideally with a first-class local charter captain — means targeting some of the world’s greatest sportfish: sailfish, swordfish and marlin.

In addition, rocket-like wahoo and kingfish deliver high-speed thrills. And for a wonderful food fish, consider the island chain’s most popular summer visitor, the dolphin fish (not to be confused with Flipper).

What are the best times to catch these prizes?

Blue marlin fishing is generally best from April through July. Sailfish season runs from November through February. Most wahoo race through Keys waters during April and May, and also November through December. Kingfish are most active September to March. Dolphin fishing starts around April and continues through September.

Actually, though, those seasons often overlap — because in the Keys, most species can be caught year-round.

Closer to the reef lines, you can catch grouper and snapper with lighter gear. If you try grouper fishing, you’ll probably discover why locals say, “Whoever wins the first three seconds wins the battle.” That’s because moving a grouper out from under a rock takes arms of steel and tackle to match.

Yellowtail snapper (arguably the Keys’ tastiest food fish) are year-round residents, although the hottest fishing tends to be from April through June. Grouper are also year-round residents, but they’re best fished from November through March.

Florida Bay, edged by the “inner” curve of the Keys and the Florida mainland, is popularly called the backcountry. It’s home to five sought-after gamefish: bonefish, tarpon, permit, redfish and snook.

The largest bonefish in the world, around 8 to 14 pounds, can be caught near Islamorada. Tarpon from 60 to 150 pounds are found along the entire length of the Keys. And permit, for years found only in the Lower Keys and far north Key Largo, have begun showing up on flats everywhere in between.

The Keys’ redfish and snook usually require some coaxing out from their mangrove hideaways — but once hooked, these backcountry brutes will test even the most experienced angler.

Backcountry species are year-round residents. Temperature-sensitive bonefish can be caught all year long, but the prime months are September through November. Tarpon come close to Keys bridges from April through July. Permit are on the flats in the greatest numbers from April through September, while redfish and snook fishing is best from December through July.

The shallow unmarked waters of Florida Bay can be confusing, so it’s smart to hire an experienced backcountry guide.

FYI, you must abide by Florida fishing regulations, which define bag limits and closed seasons, and you’ll need a saltwater fishing license — available at many bait and tackle shops or here.

And trust me … whatever species you’re seeking, once you’ve tried fishing Keys waters, you’ll be hooked!