When enroute to Key West and the Tropical Inn: cozy bed and breakfast in Key West, you will cross-over the Seven Mile Bridge on U.S. 1. Originally built in 1912, the Seven Mile Bridge was considered the “Eighth Wonder of the World” when it was completed. It connects Knight’s Key, or the city of Marathon in the middle Keys, to Little Duck Key in the lower Keys.

The bridge was initially constructed by Henry Flagler as a railroad line linking Key West to the mainland. Henry Flagler pioneered the first railroads to Florida and is considered to be the father of Miami. When Flagler announced the development of 128 mile Key West extension in 1905, he was particularly interested in opening trade with Latin America and the western U.S. with the construction of the Panama Canal.

The overseas railroad was completed in 1912, one year before Flagler’s death. The bridge was badly damaged in the Labor Day hurricane of 1935. Flagler’s company, the Florida East Coast Railway, sold the bridge to the state of Florida where it was converted into a highway bridge.

After converting to car traffic, the bridge continued to see damage from hurricanes, especially from Hurricane Donna in 1960. The current span was constructed from 1979 to 1982 and is a more modern, sturdy structure. Most of the old bridge still exists and is used by many as a fishing pier.

The bridge is featured in several movies of recent years, most notably True Lies in the early 1990’s starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis. An explosion by missile strikes on the old bridge was simulated. Additionally, a scene in 2 Fast 2 Furious was filmed in 2003 along with scenes from License to Kill and Up Close & Personal .

During your stay, the Seven-mile bridge is a beautiful sight for sunsets and a historical treasure. A small, 5-acre island situated between the old and new bridge known as Pigeon Key is currently being restored as a history museum. The island has barracks that housed as many as 400 workers that built the original span. Guided tours are available.

There is a pleasant 2-mile walk from Marathon to Pigeon Key along the original bridge. Each April, the main highway is closed for several hours to host the fun run commemorating the new bridge’s construction, which attracts over 1500 runners.

The Seven-Mile bridge is an indelible part of anyone’s trip to the Keys, unless they arrive by plane or boat! You certainly will not forget it.

Lobster mini-season in the Keys will be here before you know it, July 30 th and 31 st this year. The spiny lobster, or Florida lobster, is a fun catch and a culinary delight like their Maine lobster cousins. The Key West lobster mini-season, created in 1987 to ease the pressure of the first day of the commercial season and attract tourists, is limited and rules change each year.

One new rule in particular for the 2008 Key West lobster mini-season is the ban of snorkeling and diving from the shoreline, specifically within 300 feet of marinas and residential and commercial shorelines. Licensing rules are pretty much the same, a saltwater fishing license with a lobster stamp, which is only $2.00 extra for both residents and non-residents.

Bag limits are different in the Keys than in the rest of Florida. During the mini-season and regular season (8/6-3/31), it is 6 lobsters per day rather than the 12 lobsters allowed in the rest of the state. And, the lobster must have at least a 3-inch carapace, which is the distance from the forward edge of the rostral horns along the middle to the rear of the carapace.

Lobster diving for the Key West mini-season is only allowed in the day time. Always have your dive buoy and flag in the water when you are driving. Safety is key to having a successful lobster outing. The mini-season is extremely busy on the waters around the Keys so you must be careful.

While many people bring their own boats, rentals and charters are available to take you to the best spots.

The key lime is a staple of the many culinary delights that originate from Key West, the most famed of which is the Key Lime Pie. The key lime is also a great ingredient for marinades and adds zest to seafood and poultry.

Originally from southeast Asia, the key lime traces its introduction through the Middle East to North Africa and on to Sicily. It was brought to the Keys and other tropical paradises via Spanish explorers. The tropical climate of the Keys provided a perfect environment for the lime to grow.

The Key Lime’s scientific name is Citrus aurantifoliabut is also known as the Mexican lime, West Indies lime, or Bartender’s lime. It is 2.5 to 5 centimeters in diameter and is yellow when ripe, but is green when commercially harvested. Today, the key lime is also grown in Texas, California, Mexico, and across Central America.

One identifying feature that separates a key lime tree from other lime trees is that they possess large thorns. The trees need as much sunlight as possible and cannot be exposed to too much cold. The soil in the Keys was perfect for this tree but over time, saltwater intrusion and flooding has caused the frequent problem of salt damage.

The Key Lime pie is one of the more delicious uses for the lime. These pies do not even require baking since the high-acidic content of the lime cooks the pie itself but it is agreed that baking the pie improves taste and texture. Many recipes only require mixing egg yolks, milk, vanilla extract, and key lime juice and then pouring into a graham cracker crust and refrigerating for four hours.

Marinades with key lime juice are also great for chicken, pork, and fish. If you have visited the Keys, you have no doubt experienced the flavor the key lime inspires. Located on or near Duval Street, blocks from the Tropical Inn Bed & Breakfast , mainstays such as Sloppy Joe’s and Hog’s Breath Saloon serve up various dishes with key lime that have been traditions for decades in “The Conch Republic”.