The big 4th of July weekend is coming up and EVERYONE is coming to the Keys. The fourth of July is on a Friday this year and the weekend here will be PACKED. The diversity of folks we get here in the summer is amazing. Everyone is using our natural resource for all they can to enjoy the holiday and relax.

A Locals Request…

As a local I would like to ask folks a few favors while you are here for a few days enjoying what we keep up and take care of for you the rest of the year. Contrary to what you believe this is OUR backyard and you are invited to enjoy it with us. Can you imagine how you would feel if 15,000 of your closest strangers came to your neighborhood and parked on your lawn, put trash on your street and yelled at you when you came outside?

1. Please don’t litter. Trash cans are everywhere – in your car, in your boat, on your wave runner. just carry around a bag with you for your trash its easy… Our marine critters don’t do well on plastic and most of it looks like food to a hungry critter. Did you know that turtles think a plastic bottle of water is a jelly fish and edible? Our friends at the Turtle Hospital know this oh too well. It takes just a little tiny bit of effort to secure your trash and make sure our impact on the marine environment is a little less.

2. Tip your Servers, Bar Staff and Fishing Guides – They work for tips. they make this place fun for you. Keep them happy if they show you good service. If they don’t.. Well you know what to NOT do.

3. Be patient – We are on island time down here.  You came here to relax and enjoy so do it! We get to things a little slower than the rest of the world. If it were hustle and bustle you might not like it here as much.

4. Be nice – We wave and say hi to strangers.. Say hi back. Its the Keys way. don’t be rude just because you feel like it. Yelling and screaming are a great way to get a local to dig their heels in and stop helping you. I know it sounds crazy but we see it all the time.

5. Ask for Help – If you do not know something, ask…. Local knowledge will not only save our ecosystem down here but might even save you the cost of a Lower Unit on your boat. Or a tow expenses for your illegally parked car. It might even make you a friend or help you discover a neat place to eat or stay.

 

The upper Keys

will be very busy. Folks from South Florida have come to call the Upper Keys (Key Largo and Islamorada) the long weekend hot spot. Since the boat ramps along Card Sound Road and the 18 Mile stretch were shut down due to to much violence those folks have come to the Upper Keys to enjoy their holiday weekends. The first public open boat ramp is the one at Indian Key near Robbie’s. If you are brining your own boat get there early and get in. You may want to find a place to keep you boat in the water over night as the rest of the time that ramp will be very busy. Big thing is to be patient and keep the tensions low, everyone is trying to enjoy the resource.

The fishing has been very good here in the last few weeks with the amazing weather. Check out the Deep Sea Fishing forecast for the 4th of July.

The Lower Florida Keys and Key West

We don’t get the weekend traffic that the upper Keys does due to the fact we are so far down US1. But we still get lots of folks coming here to enjoy. The lower Keys has more open water areas to get lost in. Places to stay are limited by our short term rental agreements unless you are in Key West.

Traffic Problems – Keep in mind Key West is tore up on the North side in construction for widening and fixing some roads. Good alternate routes are Flagler Avenue and South Roosevelt. Cutting folks off is rude don’t do it.

The fishing guides down there stay very busy year round. If your looking for a charter call soon to set things up call Island Genn at 1-305-292-7212.