Sometimes, you can catch some great works of cinematic art at independent, non-profit movie theaters like Tropic Cinema – only a short walk from the quaint Key West bed & breakfast the Tropical Inn at 416 Eaton Street in Key West.

Tropic Cinema’s first season was in the spring/summer of 1999 and it has blossomed ever since. A creation of the Key West Film Society, the venue was started because of the lack of good movie options in Key West. Residents and visitors alike had to travel long distances to find unique cinema. But by the 2002/2003 season, the theater had become so popular, it needed its own permanent home.

Thus the current home at 416 Eaton Street was born – complete with a bar/snack area and 4 screens. Once a department store in the 1950’s and more recently used as a laser tag arcade, the 8,000 square foot site began its transformation in April 2002.

In addition to the Keys’ best selection of independent, alternative and foreign films, Tropic Cinema also has a great lineup of live musical acts and theater.

So during your next tropical getaway, visit Tropic Cinema for a unique movie experience and a wonderful night out on the town.

Summer time is nearing and that means hotter temperatures and higher ultraviolet radiation from the sun are here as well – the risk for sunburn is much greater and for a fair skinned redhead like myself, this spells danger.

 When enjoying the sites of America’s Caribbean at the quaint Key West bed & breakfast the Tropical Inn, be sure to lather up with some top-quality skin care products to protect yourself and your family from the dangers…and pain…of too much sun exposure.

And being on the water makes wearing sunscreen all the more critical…rays reflecting off the water can be a double whammy…even on overcast days when you least expect your skin to burn.

There are several ways to avoid sunburn according to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta…first, limit time in the sun during peak hours (10 AM – 3 PM) and wear protective clothing like wide-brimmed hats and a shirt that covers your arms.

Finally, if you must be in the sun…say sunning on the beach…be sure you lather up real good with sunscreen with a sun-protection factor (SPF) of at least 15.

Based on my experience, if you’re fair skinned, a SPF 30 is the absolute minimum. The higher the SPF the better…I generally wear at least a 45-50 SPF when I’m outside for longer than a few minutes.

And that’s the key - it only takes a few minutes for your skin to burn in the summer. So keep on top of taking care of your skin…the alternative is very painful and will surely ruin time that can be better spent relaxing and taking in the sites.

Key West International Airport’s (EYW) origins date back to 1913 when Augustin Parla flew a bi-wing plane to Muriel, Cuba. Commercial service began in the 1920’s…but due to the shortness of the runway, weight restrictions are enforced on aircraft and passengers.

Four major airlines serve the Key West International Airport (EYW) with service to major hubs like Atlanta, Charlotte and Miami. You can fly to Key West from anywhere in the world through Delta, Continental, American and US Airways.

There are also charter flights available to the Dry Tortugas National Monument and a company called Yellow Taxi provides daily charter flights to Naples and Key West.

If you have a family or are looking for a less expensive option, Miami International Airport is the closest major airport – nearly all airlines serve this major air travel facility in south Florida, about 160 miles from Key West.

However you choose to get to the Tropical Inn, be careful so you can fully enjoy your visit to America’s Carribbean.

The closest refuge to Key West is a tiny chain of islands west of the city – only accessible by boat, the Key West National Wildlife Refuge contains mostly mangrove swamps and a few sandy beaches. Established in 1908 by President Teddy Roosevelt, the refuge protects nesting areas for endangered sea turtles and wading birds among other things.

Spanning over 200,000 acres of open water and islands to the north of the Overseas Highway from  Key West to Marathon is the Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge. It was established in 1938 to serve as a sanctuary for great white herons and 250 species of birds. Known as the “backcountry” to locals and along with Key West NWR, it is one of the oldest wildlife refuges in the United States

Farther up the coast in lies the Key Deer National Wildlife Refuge near Marathon. Consisting of 9200 acres of hardwood pine forests, tropical hardwood hammocks, fresh and saltwater wetlands and mangroves, this refuge was established in 1957 to help protect the Key Deer, a short deer only found in the Keys. The visitor center for all of the Keys’ wildlife refuges is located here.

Finally, the Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge is again farther north in Key Largo and, as you probably guessed, was designated to protect the American crocodile. Adjacent to the Key Largo Hammock State Botanical Site, this area is the largest continous track of hardwood forest remaining in the Keys. However, it is not open to the public.

So while you’re relaxing at the Tropical Inn, get great views and see some of the native wildlife of the Keys. It will be well worth the time.

Today, the term is used for tourism promotion, drawing visitors to the wide variety of Key West bed & breakfast establishments, attractions and events. 

But major controversy is brewing over the term. Self-proclaimed secretary general of the Conch Republic Peter Anderson claims the term is his intellectual property and has made a good living since 1990 capitalizing on it. He has commented that he will “…go to the wall” to defend his exclusive use of the name.

Well, a Key Largo business group is suing Anderson for the right to use the term for a Conch Republic Days commemoration event to be held in April, the same time a similar event is being held in Key West. Anderson wants 50% of all profits from the event in exchange for use of the term.

“We agree that this is his intellectual property, in Key West,” Key Largo business man Robert DiGeorgio said. “…this is 100 miles up the road in Key Largo. He wants 50 cents out of every dollar we make. That gives us no choice. We either walk away or take on the fight.”

Calls to Anderson seeking comment on the Upper Keys business group’s website launch were not returned before this story appeared in the Key West Citizen.

Regardless of the outcome, the quaint Key West bed & breakfast The Tropical Inn is ready for anything. While there certainly won’t be violent conflict, tempers will surely be flaring among the natives.

“If he wins this case, there will be no Upper Keys Conch Republic celebration,” DiGeorgio said.

Paddle surfing is making its way into the Keys as an alternative, eco-friendly way to explore the mangrove, flats, backcountry or simply cruise the beaches on a calm day.

Working much the way it sounds, a person stands on a 10-12 foot long stand-up surfboard specially designed with fins for stability and padded decks for safety. A canoe-like stroke with a long paddle propels a person along.

The sport dates back to the ancient Polynesians who brought it with them to Hawaii. Throughout the ‘40s and ‘50s, Waikiki surfers used stand-up boards to access better waves farther offshore.

Popularity of paddle surfing waned until it was introduced in California by Laird Hamilton, a well-known surfer. Quickly adopted by other surfers, the sport migrated east where it has been adopted in a more mellow fashion in the Florida Keys.

“Anywhere that is good to kayak is good to paddle down here,” commented Brad Lange, owner of Seven Sports in Islamorada. He points out the numerous kayaking trails that are available to paddle surfers. Paul Menta, owner of the Kitehouse in Key West, started renting stand-up surfboards along with kites and has seen rentals quadruple in the last year.

Paddle surfing is a great way to see many protected areas of the Keys. One distinct advantage it has over kayaking is that you can see more in and out of the water standing up, as opposed to sitting in a kayak. Also, paddle surfing is a great way to get in shape!

Custom stand-up surfboards run anywhere from $1000 to $1500 while a generic, non-custom model is available for around $750. As the sport’s popularity increases, these prices can be expected to come down some.

A highly flexible carbon fiber paddle costs $350, where light weight and flexibility are the big concerns. Lange expects to soon see aluminum and wood paddles selling for around the same price of regular kayak paddles.

However, if you’re just taking a relaxing vacation at the Tropical Inn Bed & Breakfast and want a great way to see out of the way places, rent a stand-up surfboard for around $35 and up. A nice three-hour group tour is available at the Kitehouse for $75.

It’s easy to learn paddle surfing! See remote areas of the Keys you might not be able to otherwise access.

The average price for a gallon of gas has fallen dramatically from its July peak of $4.10 per gallon average. Recessions do cause less demand and lower prices but no one expected this much of a drop. Consensus was that $2 gas was a thing of the past.

Prices though are still considerably cheaper on the mainland than they are at the end of the overseas highway in Key West according to Gasbuddy.com. In Florida City and Homestead, you can get a gallon of regular for around $1.75 while the same costs around $2.05 in Key West, a $6.00 savings on a 20 gallon fill-up.

But instead of gas price blues, its recession blues now. The Tropical Inn’s convenient downtown location puts you within walking distance of many popular Key West attractions, so you can still take advantage of travel savings.

From November 29th through December 7th, celebrate the Keys’ and Caribbean’s rich and colorful maritime heritage with the likes of Blackbeard, Captain Kidd and Sir Henry Morgan.

Top quality entertainers and re-enactors from around the country will join Key West’s own crew, the Bone Island Buccaneers for a week of piratical escapades. Each day, join Captain Finbar and his crew onboard the schooner WOLF for pirate attacks and sailing adventure that will give you tall tales to tell for a good while!

The ye olde festival also coincides with the official end of hurricane season. On the night of Nov. 30th, gather at the USS Mohawk Memorial Museum for the Official End of America’s Hurricane Season Party and watch NOAA weathermen burn the Hurricane Flags, signifying the official end of hurricane season.

A highlight of this year’s festival will be the Pirate Tavern in Fort Zachary Taylor, open each night from Dec. 4th until the end of the event. Come enjoy a frothy brew and hear sea stories that’ll take you back a few centuries to when piracy was the law of the seas.

And you wouldn’t want to miss the Walk the Plank National Championships on December 4th!

Well shiver me timbers! The Tropical Inn Bed & Breakfast is right in the middle of everything for ye land lovers that need a dry place to stay!

Every four years, the Little White House in Key West has an informative exhibit of the electoral process for the presidency. The exhibit this year will be on display through November 30th.

This year’s campaign has been the longest in history. And as we saw in 2000, more individual votes do not necessarily translate into a victory. The Electoral College actually elects the president in mid-December, a citizen votes for the slate of electors for their state. So in essence, the presidential election is actually 50 separate state elections. A candidate needs 270 of the 538 available electoral votes to be elected.

So how is this accomplished? Each state has a certain number of electors based on the number of representatives they have, plus 2 senators. Florida for instance has 25 representatives in Congress so the grand total of electoral votes for Florida is 27. A candidate must win the popular vote in enough states to get to 270.

The exhibit has interesting electoral history and explains the process in great detail, from beginning to end. If you will be visiting Key West this month, this exhibit at the Harry S. Truman Little White House will help you gain a good understanding of how the process works.

All with the benefit of the sun and fun atmosphere of Key West!

Considered a gem of the restoration movement in Key West, the Audubon House & Tropical Gardens located at 205 Whitehead Street would have been demolished in 1958 had it not been for the Mitchell Wolfson Family Foundation.

The home was constructed in the American Classical Revival architectural style of the mid-1800’s by Captain John Geiger, Key West’s first harbor pilot.

Beside the one acre of lush tropical foliage, the house is best known for naturalist John James Audubon, who visited Key West and the Dry Tortugas in 1832.

Housing over 28 first edition works by Audubon, the naturalist sighted 18 new bird species for his “Birds of America” portfolio. One painting of particular significance is of a white-crowned pigeon that features the large Geiger tree in the front yard. See many of his paintings along with other artists in the adjacent Audubon House Gallery.

Filled with unique, quality furnishing purchased mostly in Europe, these furnishings were typical of higher class Key West homes in the 1800’s and represent the ideal of elegance and comfortable living in 19^th century Key West.

The other top attraction of the Audubon House is the one acre, lush tropical gardens. Share the brick paths with many scattering geckos while taking in the orchids and bromeliads. The 1840’s style nursery provides a historic glimpse of gardening in old Key West.

So during your stay at the quaint Tropical Inn Bed & Breakfast, take the short stroll to the Audubon House, which can be easily rented for any type of event.