Couple conversing at a bar with walls covered in currency.

Insider's Guide

Explore Like a Local

Think of this as the Keys’ not-so-secret handshake. 

The Insider’s Guide is your path to hidden gems, insider’s tips and expert recommendations. From snorkeling secrets and fishing tips to stories of locals who protect these islands, this articles in this guide takes you beyond the surface, so you can travel The Florida Keys & Key West like a local.

Costumed group attending Fantasy Fest parade

Fantasy Fest & Beyond: Spooky Fun in the Florida Keys

Fantasy Fest may be Key West’s most famous costume extravaganza (Oct. 17–26), but the spooky season fun doesn’t stop there. Across the Florida Keys...

Smiling man embraces a dolphin in shallow water.

Steward of the Keys: Hunter Kinney Innovates with the Keys’ Dolphin Life Inc.

Hunter Kinney, head coach and chief innovation officer for Dolphin Life Inc. in the Upper Keys, is a Kentucky boy who loves all animals.

Smiling couple in front of the ocean, clear sky in the background.

Steward of the Keys: Carla Burns Directs the Conch Republic Marine Army

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Valerie Preziosi: Steward of Endangered Key Deer

Valerie Preziosi, founder and president of the nonprofit Save Our Key Deer Inc., works to save the diminutive, indigenous and federally protected herd...

Spencer Slate: A Steward Diving into Adventure

“To a diver, there’s nothing more important than a crystal-clear sea bottom,” said Spencer Slate. “Every diver is an ecologist. We love the ocean.”

Steve Friedman: A ‘Blue Star’ Steward of Keys Waters

Islamorada fishing guide and captain Steve Friedman loves water: salt water, fresh water, white water, blue water and particularly clean water.

David Burke: Deputy Steward of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

David Burke, recently named deputy superintendent of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, has flown more than 3,500 Navy helicopter flight...

Allison Delashmit: Steward of the Lower Keys Guides Association

Allison Delashmit, who became the executive director of the Lower Keys (Fishing) Guides Association last fall, is a natural-born storyteller.

Bill Keogh: Steward of the Lower Keys’ Natural World

Naturalist, eco-guide, photographer-writer and paddling guidebook author Bill Keogh, a 44-year resident of Big Pine Key, operates Big Pine Kayak...

Steward of the Keys: Frank Betz Spins Fish Tales

Captain Frank Betz, a native of Tampa, Florida, began fishing the Florida Straits in 2005 while working as a captain for the Boy Scouts of America at...

Steward of the Keys: Dan Dawson Dives

Dan Dawson, co-owner with wife Mollie of Key Largo’s Horizon Divers, certified by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary as an environmentally...

Michelle Nicole Lowe: Steward of the Keys Through Art

Erin Allison: Steward of the Keys’ Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center

Erin Allison has been executive director of the Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center Inc. since June 2023. Though just 26 years old, she is a...