TODAY... live from the Keys!

Visitors and residents are invited to watch the Today Show live from Key West, Tuesday July 28, from 7 to 10 a.m.

It will all happen from the Westin Key West Resort & Marina. The special broadcast from the Conch Republic is part of a "Today Takes a Vacation" series where the show examines traditional domestic vacations and explores the beauty of the United States. Set your Tivo's!

Wanna go Sword Fishing?

Come on... this looks like a shot right out of a Zane Grey photo album! But no, this is right here right now in Islamorada.

Our sword fishing has gained a ton of well deserved national press and Richard Stanczyk out of Bud n Mary's is the one who discovered the secret of catching these behemoths in broad daylight.

If you want to catch one of these, go see Richard at Bud n Mary's marina or contact us at Pines & Palms Resort. They are now selling all-day 12 hour charters specifically targeting swordfish. It's a long day... instead of a charter, it really should be called an adventure!

This is a photo of the results of a trip from last Thursday. Not all charters are this productive (the fish in the foreground is over 400 pounds) but catching at least one swordfish is now common place in Islamorada and you'll be looking for dolphin and tuna along the way.

Ever wonder why Islamorada is called the Sportfishing Capital of the World? Every fish in this hemisphere can be caught in our waters! With all the opportunity here... the hardest part is deciding what you want to fish for!

55 Foot Boat stuck off Whale Harbor

What were they thinking? It's hard the figure how anyone could own or be the captain of an expensive 55 foot yacht with all the bells and whistles (like radar and chart plotters), yet lack the wisdom to use channel markers.

I am very familiar with this area, it's a great Tarpon fishing spot. There is a narrow little unmarked channel in there but he missed that too. If you look closely you can see the ditch he dug between the two boats. The fine will be hefty since they charge $75 per square yard and they are still measuring the damage estimated to be a half mile long.

Cheeca Lives!

It couldn't happen any sooner... fishing captains, tour operators, retailers, hoteliers, and everyone associated with tourism (most everyone here) can't wait for Islamorada's Cheeca Lodge & Spa to reopen this December 15th. 

Our national economic problems coupled with the loss of Cheeca really hurt our little town. It made me think of the Joni Mitchell song: "with a pink hotel, a boutique, and a swinging hot spot... you don't know what you've got till it's gone." That's the way most people I know feel about our temporary loss of Cheeca.

Click here for the article about Cheeca's grand reopening.