The Conch Connection

The month of March brings some of the best weather of the year to South West Florida. While our northern friends are still shoveling snow, here in the Sunshine State we are slathering on the spf 30 and heading to the beach. In the midst of Spring Break and perfect weather falls St. Paddy’s Day, so put on some sunscreen, get your green on and watch a parade!

What does Thomas Edison, mid-February and a 2 week party all have in common? The Edison Festival of Light, of course. Each February the City of Ft Myers recognizes its most famous winter resident, Thomas Alva Edison. He built a sprawling home and laboratory along McGregor Boulevard in 1885. Over the years he also encouraged a number of his friends to make the move south. Henry Ford was his most famous friend who shared the property on McGregor Boulevard known as the Edison Ford Estate.

There are plenty of places to watch a ball drop. Key West, naturally, has a few more colorful ideas. On Thursday, December 31, 2026, you can ease into the evening with a famous sunset, then ring in the new year with a giant red shoe, a glowing conch shell or a pirate wench descending from a schooner mast—all within a short Old Town walk of one another.

That wonderfully odd mix is exactly why New Year's Eve here is so much fun. The air is warm, the streets are lively and a simple midnight countdown turns into a story you will be telling long after you have traded flip-flops for winter boots. The island's current New Year's Eve event guide confirms the big three celebrations, but individual venue details can change, so check the official pages before you head out.

Fort Zachary Taylor is one of those Key West places that can surprise you twice. First, there is the setting: a massive brick fort tucked beside one of the island’s favorite beaches. Then there is the history. Behind those shaded archways and weathered walls is a story of military strategy, Union-held Key West and cannons that spent decades buried inside the fort itself.

Today, “Fort Zach” is an easy place to mix a little time travel with a relaxed afternoon by the water. You can wander through old gun rooms, stand beside historic artillery and then trade the brick corridors for snorkeling, swimming or a picnic beneath the trees. That combination makes it much more than a stop for dedicated history buffs.

January 28 - February 1, 2026

The annual Key West Food and Wine Festival has been recognized by the Travel Channel as one of the top 5 food and wine events that you must attend.  This series of wine and food themed venues showcases a diverse range of wines and inventive cuisine, hosted by their passionate creators at iconic island locations. 

Celebrate your romance with Seashells, Sunshine & Sand.   Some people dream of this day forever and should be one of the most memorable moments of your life.  Whether your dream wedding includes
glistening tropical waters with sand between your toes, sophisticated sunset elegance at a five-star resort or anything in between, America's Caribbean Island Paradise offering year round weather, breathtaking water views and an abundant array of options will make your special day exactly as you imagine. Make memories at  Smather’s beach, Higg’s beach, Fort Zachary Taylor historic state park or the gazebo overlooking the Atlantic Ocean at West Martello Tower & Gardens. 

Photo Credit: HemingwayHomeEvents via Instagram by @irismoorephoto

You can even forgo the traditional wedding and broadcast your nuptials digitally, as some have taken to social media to live-stream their wedding, for those that are far and away and could not attend personally.  Not only can you invite and and everyone, you want, but you'll also have virtual remembrance as well.

Fort Myers Beach hosts the largest sand sculpting event in the state.  Considered a "Must See" experience and one of the TOP TEN best sand sculpting competitions in the world by USA Today and CNN Travel.

Key West Race Week Has a Sound All Its Own

First comes the rumble. Then the spray, the bright race boats and the kind of crowd that knows something very loud and very fast is about to happen. Key West Offshore World Championship Week turns the island into a playground for offshore-racing fans, curious first-timers and anyone who enjoys a little extra buzz with their sunshine.

From November 1–8, 2026, the championship brings world-class teams, waterfront viewing and plenty of reasons to linger after the engines quiet down. You do not need to know the difference between a catamaran and a V-bottom to have a great time. Just bring your sunglasses, a little patience for a lively island and a healthy respect for horsepower.

Closer to Havana than Miami, Key West has a long history of trade with Cuba and the rest of the Caribbean.  Everything from sponges to seafood and ivory was brought into Key West.  Arguably the most famous import was tobacco.  Along with this tobacco came the elusive Cuban Cigar.