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.

Well, not quite that bad, but big controversy is brewing over the term “Conch Republic”, a sentimental term coined during Key West’s secession protests toward the U.S. in 1982. That year, the U.S. Border Patrol blockaded the overseas highway that leads to Key West, causing major problems for residents and badly hurting tourism.

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.

Ahoy matey! The 9th annual Pirates in Paradise Festival in Key West is almost here!

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!