| Page Views: 8,393 Last Visit to Key West: - | ~THE CONCH REPUBLIC~ by Michael_D - last update: Oct 5, 2003 |
I just returned from a nice 5 days in the CONCH REPUBLIC as Floridians call it. Gulf stream breezes and rum tiki drinks and beautifull sunsets. Did some snorkeling and sailed a day or two. It's Florida at its BEST!****
---THE FLORIDA KEYS are surely one of the most unique places in America. For 8 years I had a 30 foot sailboat moored at Key Largo.It was once just a lose collection of unconnected coral islands and the quirky dream of financier Henry Flagler. Flagler is the person I would credit with having the biggest impact on Florida.(yes,,bigger than Gloria Estefan and but maybe NOT Walt Disney lol) He is best known for building hotels in the early 1900's, the best of which by my estimation is the old Flagler Hotel in St Augustine now housing FLAGLER COLLEGE. Flagler is also credited with completing the railroad that ran from Jacksonville to Miami, no small feat in itself. But with all his success, his BIGGEST dream was to create a road for automobiles from Miami to Key West connecting hundreds of islands by bridges.
---Despite rampant public criticism his dream became a reality in 1912...after a construction campaign costing over 27 million dollars. Unfortunatley, his overseas highway was sadly short lived when a hurricane religated much of the roadbed unuseable and a number of the bridges were reduced to twisted metal debris just a year after completion.
---However,FLAGLERS early attempt constitutes , in large part, the roadbed of what is now the OVERSEAS HIGHWAY.. spanning some 120 miles , 41 bridges and passing through sleepy towns, swaying palm trees on languid keys, providing stunning blue water vistas on its way to "MAGARITAVILLE"... Better known as KEY WEST the capitol of a mythical Jimmy Buffettland called THE CONCH REPUBLIC.
---Today "THE KEYS" are a magical vacation destination whose exotic blue waters and island mystique are rivaled only by its Caribbean island nieghbors to the east. To me it would be more aptly named AMERICAS BAHAMAS.Thanks to the forsightedness and creativity of Henry Flagler, Key West is just a pleasant 2 hour ride from MIAMI. As you drive on US 1 from Homestead to Key West, youll pass such exotic-named places as, Key Largo, Islamorado, Big Pine Key, 7 Mile Bridge and Sugarloaf Key.For most of that way you will be the happy traveller that has blue water vistas on either side of you and nothing but a TEQUILA SUNRISE to look forward to...where IS my lost shaker of salt, anyway? |
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Michael_D's Key West Travel Tips
 Comments for Michael_D about Key West | | | | |
Babzz Wed Mar 5, 2008 17:51 UTC
Re: transportation - I guess that explains why car rentals are such big business in Florida! | Maria250 Thu Jan 31, 2008 20:13 UTC
Again, great tips!! Didn't know Hemingway had his (most!) productive yrs in FL. Yay. And I do know his work very well. Hm, ok, who doesn't! | dfactor Fri Feb 10, 2006 09:58 UTC
Yeah, I agree, really great sunset shots. | worldrider Sat Feb 4, 2006 22:00 UTC
Beautiful photo for the rotation, and yes to Key West! |
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