WIXLIB

LowerKeysFISHINGSurrounded on all sides bywater, the Lower Keys are a haven forfishermen. Anglers looking to test theirskills offshore will find the deep bluewaters of the Gulf Stream filled withmarlin, sailfish, tuna, wahoo and otherferocious fighters waiting to take thebait. Trolling along the reef will yieldyellowtail, snapper and grouper.Tranquil Florida Bay, known tothe locals as the “backcountry,” isthe territory for redfish, trout and theelusive bonefish, better known hereas “grey ghosts.” The biggest challengein these shallow waters is hooking themighty tarpon, which can weigh upto 200 pounds. It’s just one of manytreasures to be caught in this sliceof paradise.There are nearly as many fishingoptions in the Keys as there arevarieties of fish. Charter a boat with alicensed guide to take you offshore orinto the backcountry. Party boats area fun way to get the family out on thewater. While bridge fishing, you cancatch dinner and create memories;there are several fishing bridges inthe Lower Keys.Bait, tackle and a licenseshould be included in your charter,as well as information on legal limitsfor “keepers.” Pack refreshmentsand wear a hat, sunglassesand sunscreen.DOLPHIN MARINA AND COTTAGESLocated at Mile Marker 28.5 on US Hwy. 1 Little Torch Key, FLBEDS BOATS BAIT BEER1 & 2 Bedroom Efficiency CottagesBoat Ramp Fuel DockMarina Store Ethanol-Free FuelLocal’s er.com11

VISITOR & COMMUNITY Guide Business DirectoryDining,ShoppingENTERTAINMENTThere are many opportunities for shopping, dining andentertainment in the Lower Keys, with everything from gift shopsto art galleries to consignment shops and even a year-round weekendflea market. No matter where you go shopping in the Lower Keys,you’re sure to find something special that you wouldn’tfind anywhere else.After you’re done shopping, check out one of many diningestablishments. Local restaurants offer a wide array of fresh seafoodand international cuisine. If you’re in the mood for some entertainment,many restaurants offer live music provided by local celebrities.Check out ourDaily SpecialsSunday Turkey & Pot Roast DinnerMonday Meat Loaf - Tuesday MexicanWednesday Italian - Thursday SeafoodFriday Prime Rib - Saturday BBQBREAKFAST LUNCH DINNERFULL BAR Happy Hour 3-731044 Ave. (A) MM31 Big Pine Key, FL 33043 305-872-410012www.LowerKeysChamber.com

EVENTS Apri l 2 2 , 2 0 1 7LKCC Business WalkAbout& Auctions at Boondocks May 1 5, 2 0 1 7Stone Crab Season Ends Ju n e 2 - 4, 2 0 1 7Big Pine & Lower Keys DolphinTournament at Sugarloaf KOA Ju ly 8 , 2 0 1 7Annual Underwater MusicFestival at Looe Key ReefLobster Mini Season(last Wed. & Thurs. ofJuly 26 & 27, 2017) Au g u s t 6 , 2 0 1 7Lobster Season Opens Oc to be r 1 5, 2 0 1 7Stone Crab Season Starts Nove m be r 2 5, 2 0 1 7Island Art Festival at MM 31 De ce mbe r 7, 2 0 1 7Holiday Gala Ja n u a ry 13 - 14, 2 0 1 8Big Pine & Lower KeysNautical Expo at MM 31 Ma rc h 3 1 , 2 0 1 8Lobster Season Endswww.LowerKeysChamber.com13

VISITOR & COMMUNITY Guide Business DirectoryLower KeysRECREATIONBahia Honda State ParkBahia Honda State Park is oneof the southernmost state parks inFlorida. The park’s pristine beaches arethe perfect place for visitors to picnic,sunbathe, take a stroll or watch thefamous Florida Keys sunset. The park’ssparkling blue waters are perfect forsnorkeling and fishing. A boat ramp isavailable for those who have their ownboats, and kayak rentals are availablefor those who don’t. Snorkeling gearcan also be rented. Nature enthusiastscan take a boat trip to snorkel abovethe coral reef. Bird watchers will enjoyseeing the various species of wadingbirds and shorebirds that inhabitthe park. And best of all, the parkprovides vacation cabins andfully equipped re Are Many Ways ToSpend The Day In TheLower Keys. CivicOrganizations HostCommunity EventsYear-Round That AreOpen To TouristsAnd Locals Alike. ParksHave Something ForEveryone, From NatureLovers To SportsEnthusiasts To ParentsLooking For Somewhere To Heritage TrailThe Florida Keys OverseasTake The Kids. So, No HeritageTrail (FKOHT) is a multiMatter What Your Ideal purpose facility for bikes andThe Florida DepartmentOuting Is, You’re Sure pedestrians.of Environmental Protection overseesTo Have It Here. the project. Running parallel to US 1,this scenic path will ultimately extendfrom Key Largo to Key West. Whencompleted, it will provide a safealternative route for bicyclists andpedestrians and will enable them toaccess every major island in the Keys.When Dealing with the IRS you need PatiencePatience“Enrolled to Practice before the IRS”Accounting & Tax ServicesCall Today!305.745.1841Serving Businesses IndividualsNon-Profits Trust and EstatesDenise M. Bays, EA(Enrolled Agent)denisembays@gmail.com24986 Overseas Highway, Summerland Key, FL 3304214www.LowerKeysChamber.com

But the Trail won’t just be for walking,running and bicycling. It will alsoaccommodate hikers, in-line skaters andsightseers and will provide picnic areas,fishing piers and boat ramps. There willalso be places to access the water forswimming, snorkeling, diving, kayakingand paddling.The trail will provide access to twoNational Parks, three National WildlifeRefuges, two National Marine Sanctuariesand ten State Parks. Campsites areavailable at some of the State Parks andother private campsites can be foundthroughout the Keys.Contact InformationFlorida KeysOverseas Heritage Trail3 La Croix CourtKey Largo, Florida 33037Phone: (305) 853-3571Tallahassee Headquarters:(850) 245-2052www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/state/keystrail/ default.htmBig Pine Community ParkBig Pine Community Park is a perfectrecreation spot for families. It offers manyfun activities that parents and children cando together, whether it’s playing in thefenced playground, skating in the skatepark, taking a stroll in the big grassy field orenjoying a meal at one of the picnic tables.For sports enthusiasts, the park offersvenues for baseball, hockey, basketball,handball, tennis, bocce and skateboarding. There is also a track for walkingand running. Big Pine Community Parkis located at the end of Sands Road, MileMarker 31, Big Pine Key, FL 33043.www.floridakeys.com/lowerkeys/parks.htmRelax & Unwind.in the sun-bleached luxury ofthe Sugarloaf/Key West Resort. 16 Miles From Key West Waterfront RV Sites On-Site RV Rentals Private Sandy Walk-In Beach On-Site Café & Pub Freshwater Pool/Hot Tub Full Service Marina Boat RentalsGreat people.Great camping. Floating Water ugarloafkeykoa.comwww.LowerKeysChamber.com15

VISITOR & COMMUNITY Guide Business DirectoryVeteran’s MemorialPark and BeachVeteran’s Memorial Park offers both aconvenient location and a breathtaking viewof the Atlantic Ocean. The beach’s coveredpicnic tables are perfect for a relaxing mealin the shade. It’s an ideal place to take thekids, and the shallow-water flats providea wonderful opportunity to teach childrenabout wildlife. The park is convenientlylocated at: U.S. 1, Mile Marker 39, Oceanside(West end of Seven Mile Bridge), Big PineKey, FL 33043.Grimal GroveGrimal Grove is quickly becoming oneof the Lower Keys’ newest treasures. It isone of the most precious and legendarytropical fruit gardens in continental NorthAmerica. Many years ago, Adolf Grimalspent thousands of dollars to purchase andtransport low pH soil from the mainland,with the intention of planting tropical treesfrom around the world. At each plantingsite, he utilized existing sink holes and dugout the solid rock to create deep craters. Hebuilt raised concrete beds at each site andrefilled these holes with black soil truckedin from the mainland, adjusting the pHaccording to whatever tree he planted. Hethen constructed large catchment basins tostore water. His irrigation system, a labyrinthof underground piping, connected multiplecisterns, ponds and pools. When he died in1997, the property fell into disarray. GrowingHope Initiative has recently taken possessionand is working to restore the property toits original brilliance. There are rare treesthriving here that do not exist anywhereelse in the US, and GHI is engaging thecommunity through workshops and eventsto raise awareness about this tropical fruitfarm. Grimal Grove is located at the end ofCunningham Lane on Big Pine Key.www.growinghopeinitiative.orgWinn Dixie Shopping Plaza Big Pine Key, Florida 33043Mile Marker 30.5(305) 872-1828Open Daily 10am – 6pm m

VISITOR & COMMUNITY Guide Business DirectoryLower KeysHISTORYThe Lower Keys have a rich history.Like most of Florida, the Keys’ firstinhabitants were Native Americans. Thearea was already home to the Calusaand Tequesta tribes when Spanishexplorers arrived in the 1500’s. Poncede Leon originally named the KeysLos Martires (the martyrs) in the year1513. Experts believe the name mayhave come from the name of an Indianvillage named Cuchiyaga (meaning“martyred place”).The population of the Lower Keyswas sparse during the 1800’s. A fewhardy settlers tried to make a livingthrough fishing, sponging and burningcharcoal but the remote location andmosquitoes made this area difficult tolive in. At the same time Key West wasFlorida’s largest city with a populationof 18,000.The Keys were changed foreverwhen Henry Flagler built a railroadfrom Miami to Key West. After sevenyears of incredibly hard work, theFlorida East Coast Railroad openedthe Keys segment in 1912. By 1917,real estate sales were encouragingroadway development and in 1928 the“Overseas Highway” existed in tandemwith the railway, using ferry boats toconnect areas where it was too costlyto build roadway bridges.In 1935 large sections of the railroadline and roadway were destroyed bythe great Labor Day hurricane. The railroad right-of-way was sold to the Stateof Florida, who converted the bridgesand built what is today’s OverseasHighway. At this time in history, it couldtake over seven hours to travel the 118miles from Key West to Key Largo.Around 1938 the road was designated an extension of U.S. Highway 1,creating an East Coast highway thatstretched from Key West to Maine. Thishighway enabled tourism to grow intothe industry that it is oeCoFLBEST VALUEIN THE KEYS!CABLE TV CAFE A/C305-872-9090www.bigpinekeymotel.comMM 30.5 BIG PINE KEY / 30725 OVERSEAS HIGHWAYwww.LowerKeysChamber.com17

VISITOR & COMMUNITY Guide Business DirectoryEducation &LIBRARIESThe Lower Keys area offersmany opportunities to gain a qualityeducation. There are many differentoptions here, from conventional publicschools to charter schools and privateschools. Primary and secondary schoolsserve all grade levels, from preschoolto twelfth grade. And after high school,students can continue their educationat Florida Keys Community College. Inaddition, there is also a public librarysystem with a branch in Big Pine Key.PRIMARY SCHOOLS B ig Pine AcademyThe Big Pine Academy is a publiccharter school located in Big PineKey and services children in gradesPre-School (3 year old classes and VPK)through 6th grade. Small class sizesand an experienced and caring staffprovide for a top quality educationfor each and every student. A newoutdoor Eco-Classroom providesan opportunity for all students toexperience and understand the Floridaenvironment through cross curricularactivities throughout the school year.For more information contactExecutive Director Cathy Hoffmanat (305) 872-1266 or email atcathy.hoffman@Keysschools.comor visit their website atbpc.keysschools.com18 S ugarloaf Elementaryand Middle SchoolSugarloaf Elementary and MiddleSchool has been recognized as an “A”rated school by the state of Florida everyyear since 2000. It was also in the top fifthpercentile of the state for point gain onthe FCAT in 2006 and 2007. In addition,the school has been designated as a“Five-Star School” by the Department ofEducation for excellence in communityinvolvement for five straight years andhas shown continuous improvement inthe performance of the bottom quartileof its students in reading and math.Sugarloaf School began as anelementary school in 1968 and waslater expanded to include a middleschool in 1986. Sugarloaf Elementaryand Middle School has since becomea center of the community in the LowerKeys, being a meeting place for manycommunity groups.For more information, please call(305) 745-3282 or visit the schoolwebsite at http://sls.monroe.k12.fl.us/SECONDARY SCHOOLSMarathon High SchoolMarathon Middle and High Schoolserves grades 6-12. The school has asuperior visual arts program and a brandnew culinary academy. They also havestrong football, baseball and basketballteams. They have won the 5-Star schoolaward for community involvement andhave been rated an “A” school for highFCAT scores. In addition, they offer awide variety of Advanced Placementclasses for college credit.For more information, please call(305) 289-2480 or visit the schoolwebsite at http://mhs.monroe. k12.fl.us/ Symbol denotes Lower Keys Chamber of Commerce member.www.LowerKeysChamber.com

VISITOR & COMMUNITY Guide Business DirectoryKey West High SchoolKey West High School (KWHS) offersnumerous advanced placement, dualenrollment and honors courses. KWHSstudents have many opportunities to joinextra-curricular sports and organizations.Students can choose from a range of varsityand junior varsity sports including football,basketball, baseball, softball, soccer, tennis,track, cross- country, swimming, volleyballand golf – all are available to both boysand girls. Key West High School has anoutstanding performing and fine artsprogram that is highly supported by thelocal community. The band and choralprograms have been nationally recognizedand have been recently rated “superior”.The auditorium is utilized by the communityfor choral, band and dramatic productions.The facilities and joint use agreementswith the city of Key West make KWHSthe flagship of the district.For more information, feel free tocall (305) 293-1549 or visit the schoolwebsite at http://kwh.monroe.k12.fl.us/Key West Collegiate AcademyKey West Collegiate Academy is atuition-free public charter high school,currently located on the Florida KeysCommunity College campus with a collegepreparatory program to meet your needs.A nurturing and personalized learningenvironment help students maintain theirTake Stock in Children scholarship andmaximize their academic potential.Offered are advanced academicprograms including Honors and AdvancedPlacement courses with a Dual Enrollmentprogram on campus in partnership withFlorida Keys Community College – studentsmay earn tuition-free college credits whileattending high school. After school tutoringand enrichment programs, clubs andorganizations to match your interestsand individual assistance with the collegeapplication process are offered.5901 College RoadKey West, FL 33040Phone: (305) 296-5927Fax:(305) 809-3191http://www.keywestacademy.orgclose to the sea creates a one-of-a-kindenvironment and the one-of-a-kindexperience of island living and learning.The average class size is 15 to 20 students,which means students get the individualattention they need to succeed. Whether astudent plans – university transfer, vocationaltraining, professional development or simplypersonal enrichment, they can achieveit through FKCC.Tours are conducted at 12:30 pm onMondays and Fridays (excluding holidays).To request a tour, please call (305) 809-3196or online visit http://fkcc.edu/contact/request-visit.daPRE-SCHOOL &SUMMER CAMPSBanana Cabana Academy22673 Pieces Of Eight RoadCudjoe Key, FL 33042(305) 745-1400 Boys & Girls ClubP.O. Box 432128Big Pine Key, FL 33043(305) 872-2400FL Sea Base BrintonEnvironmental Center23800 Overseas HighwaySummerland Key, FL 33042(305) 664-5642 Seacamp1300 Big Pine AvenueBig Pine Key, FL 33043Toll Free 1-877-SEACAMPLocal (305) 872-2331South Florida Council, B.S.A.P.O. Box 430848Big Pine Key, FL 33043(325) 212-5557SEACAMPSeacamp has been educatingyouth, instilling a love of the oceanand giving opportunities to explore theFlorida Keys since 1966. Marine Scienceis the heart of our program utilizingsnorkeling, kayaking and laboratoryexperiences. Seacamp also offers severalSCUBA programs in addition to sailingand windsurfing. They offer residentialPOST-SECONDARYcamp, day camp, and Marine ScienceSCHOOLSexperiential field trips for schools, youth F lorida Keys Community College and adult groups. The school is proudFlorida Keys Community College is unlike of their efforts to aid in both marine lifeany other community college. Everythingand ocean conservation educationabout this school and its location is unique, through their programs for locals, andfrom its natural beauty to its artistic andfor participants who come from allcultural richness. The school’s locationover the US and the world.www.LowerKeysChamber.com19

VISITOR & COMMUNITY Guide Business DirectoryLower KeysHEALTHCAREIn the Lower Keys, you willfind many providers of qualityhealthcare. These include twomajor hospitals, as well as a minoremergency center, home healthservices and hospice care. Thereare also several specialists in thearea to address specific needs.Please refer to the directory inthe back of the brochure forinformation on specific providers.Fishermen’s HospitalFishermen’s Hospital has beenserving the city of Marathon and itssurrounding communities for over 45years. The hospital has a total of25 beds, including six ICU beds.Fishermen’s offers a fully staffed,24-hour emergency room withemergency-educated physiciansand nurses on duty.Fishermen’s has a full servicediagnostic imaging department,including CT, MRI, nuclear medicine,ultrasound and echocardiography.They offer a full service laboratory,welcome walk-in patients needingoutpatient blood testing and provideinpatient and outpatient surgery.The quality of their service has earnedthem the Gold Seal of Approval fromthe Joint Commis4.Convenient Care Clinics (an EmergencyCare option for Fisherman’s)MARATHON: 5701 Overseas Hwy, Ste17, Marathon, FL 33050, 305-735-4107.BIG PINE KEY: 17 Ships Way, Big PineKey, FL 33043, 305-396-7622.For more information, please call(305) 743-5533 or visit their websiteat www.fishermenshospital.org20 L ower KeysMedical CenterThe Lower Keys Medical Centeris the primary hospital care providerfor Key West and the Lower Keys.They have been providingoutstanding health care since 1971.They have a staff of 75 physiciansand over 200 nurses. The facility isequipped with 167 beds. Availableservices include a 24-hr emergencyroom, radiology services, generalsurgery, ophthalmologic andorthopedic surgery, gynecologicalsurgery, ear, nose and throat surgery,out-patient and ambulatory care, afull-service clinical laboratory,

Refuge: the Blue Hole, Watson and Mannillo Nature Trails. There are additional, more rustic trails on No Name Key, Upper and Lower Sugarloaf Key and Cudjoe Key. There are lovely bike paths on which to cycle and many opportunities to enjoy the water. The National Key Deer Refuge was established in 1957 to protect the Key Deer and other wildlife