10best.com: Ibis Bay Resort Regains
What’s Being Lost In Key West

“There’s no doubt that Key West is changing with the times, and so much of the 1950s era and Cuban influence is being lost. Ibis Bay Resort is working overtime to maintain the spirit of “old Key West” without sacrificing modern amenities… Little ones will love the giant tortoises, which — as the story goes — were barter for past due rent that was “paid in turtles.” Beachfront rooms spill out into the sand… and on Wednesday evenings narrated “dive-in” movies under the stars are featured on the big screen.

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7th Annual Midsummer’s Night Dream
and Spectacle

Midsummer’s Night Dream and Spectacle is a night of artistic expression, music, feasting, dancing, singing, and theatrical antics celebrating the art and artists of the Keys. Co-produced by Michael Shields’ Java Studios and The Key West Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden, the event benefits the Tropical Forest and Botanical Garden. Admission is $15 for adults; children under age 12 are admitted free. From 5 to 11 p.m., all ages welcome. For more info, contact Michael Shields at 305-394-3804 or javastudios@gmail.com

Viva 500: The Hidden History of the Dry Tortugas

On June 21, 1513, explorer Ponce de Leon and his shipmates discovered a group of islands they named Las Tortugas (The Turtles) for the scores of sea turtles there. On the 500th anniversary of that discovery, visit the seven tiny coral-and-sand islands now known as Dry Tortugas National Park, lying 68 miles west of Key West in the Gulf of Mexico, and learn about the archaeology and history of the remarkable spot during this special quincentennial event. Boat reservations to the Dry Tortugas can be made with Yankee Freedom. Admission to the park is included in ferry cost.

Contact the Ibis Bay FunDesk at 305-296-0616 to reserve your spot on the Yankee Freedom ferry.

Discovery Saturday Educational Series:
Guard the Fort

Presented by the Florida Keys Eco Discovery Center, this family-friendly and educational series invites kids in kindergarten through fifth grade from 10-11 a.m. to play games and make crafts while learning about a new topic of interest and the marine ecosystems of the Keys. Discovery Saturday is held the third Saturday of every month. Pre-registration is recommended. The Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center is located at 35 East Quay Road on the Truman Annex waterfront in Key West. Admission is free and free parking is available. For more information, call 305-809-4750.

Key West ART Garden

Come enjoy large outdoor masterpieces made by local artists, located at the Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden. Each piece is crafted from recycled materials and fits into the natural beauty and backdrop of the Gardens. The special exhibit runs through July 31st. Located at 5210 College Road. For more info, visit kwbgs.org.

Key West Fishing Tournament

The Key West Fishing Tournament (KWFT) is an eight-month-long competition that runs from April through November 2013 and is open to the general public. Visiting and resident anglers are encouraged to enter their catches, at no charge, at a tournament weigh station during the eight-month event. All entries receive a certificate noting their catch, and qualify for prizes.

Men, women, juniors and “Pee Wees” compete to catch more than 30 species of fish. The junior division is for anglers age 10 to 14, and the Pee Wees are under 10 years old. Tackle classifications range from 8-pound test through unlimited, and spin, plug and fly. For more info, visit keywestfishingtournament.com.

NEW YORK MAGAZINE:
Be a Grown-up in Key West

“Experience the island’s quirky side two miles away from historic Old Town at the fifties-era Ibis Bay Waterfront Resort (from $139), which was renovated and reopened last year. Enjoy the 600-foot stretch of sand (in the process of being extended) with jet-ski and kiteboard rentals (from $25 per hour) from the “fun” desk, or do something new and get a lesson in sand sculpture ($49 for two-and-a-half hours) from local artists Marianne van den Broek and Chris Guinto.”

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USA TODAY:
Places to Stay With Kids in Key West, FL

“A bit farther up the coast, the funky Ibis Bay Waterfront Resort (ibisbayresort.com) offers large rooms with flat-screen televisions and a beachfront lined with hammocks. The resort’s amenities include a spacious pool and water sports such as parasailing, snorkeling and kiteboarding, as well as family activities such as sand-sculpture classes.”

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