Discover the Sunshine State: Top 15 Fun Facts About the Florida Keys You Didn't Know!

1. Key Lime Pie's Tall Tale

Granny Sally's Tall Lime Tales: Contrary to popular belief, the story of "Aunt Sally" inventing the famous Key lime pie in the 1890s in the Florida Keys is more fiction than fact – a crusty myth with a tangy twist! In reality, the recipe likely originated from New York City's Borden condensed milk company and was later modified by Floridian bakers who cleverly replaced lemons with local Key West limes.
Source => southernliving.com

2. Imported Key Limes

Lime down for what? The illustrious Key lime's got an ironic twist in its modern-day pies: Contrary to popular belief, Key limes are no longer grown in Key West. Instead, these zesty globes of deliciousness are imported from countries like Mexico, India, and the West Indies to flavour the iconic Key lime pies that continue to tantalize taste buds in the Florida Keys.
Source => trolleytours.com

Did you know Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip were avid fans of Bermuda? Discover their frequent island adventures and royal connections to the infamous Bermuda Triangle! 🏝👑

=> Fun Facts about Bermuda

3. Conch Republic Secession

Talk about conch-sequences: Facing a blockade and a tourist drought, the Florida Keys seceded from the US on April 23, 1982, dubbing itself the Conch Republic and demanding a cool million to restore its economy.
Source => defactoborders.org

4. Birth of the Rum Runner

For the love of rum and all fruity things: The Rum Runner cocktail - a tantalizing marriage of rum and fruit juices - was born in Key West during the Prohibition era in a desperate attempt to put the smuggled Caribbean rum to good use. Who knew this forbidden love would bloom into a timeless classic, blessing taste buds eternally on every trip to the Florida Keys?
Source => vacationkw.com

5. Pennekamp Underwater Park

Think finding Nemo was tough? Try exploring 70 nautical square miles of technicolor dreamscape under the sea: Welcome to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo, Florida, the first underwater park in the United States, hosting a dizzying array of vibrant coral reefs and flourishing marine life. With offerings like scuba diving, snorkeling, and kayaking, land-bound activities like hiking and picnicking, and even saltwater aquariums, there's never a dull moment to be had in this watery wonderland.
Source => floridastateparks.org

6. Tiny Key Deer Island

Who needs Bambi when you've got an entire island of miniature doppelgängers?: The Florida Keys are home to the endangered Key deer, a subspecies of white-tailed deer that's not only the smallest in the world, but has also made an impressive comeback after their population dropped to a mere few dozen in the 1950s, thanks to conservation efforts like the National Key Deer Refuge on Big Pine and No Name Keys.
Source => fws.gov

7. Mystical Coral Castle

Who needs an architect, fancy machines or even a high school education when you're a tenacious Latvian immigrant with a chisel and a dream?: Edward Leedskalnin, armed with just picks, winches, ropes, and pulleys, managed to single-handedly craft the Coral Castle in Homestead, Florida over a span of 28 years, carving out over 1,000 tons of sedimentary rock into majestic tableaus – including an intricately balanced stone gate that befuddled scientists until 1986 when it was revealed to be rotating on a truck bearing.
Source => livescience.com

8. Ancient Keys' Forest

Once upon a time in a sea level far, far away, the Florida Keys put on its best Tarzan impression as a thriving, dare I say, swinging forest: The earthly origins of the Keys trace back to 100,000 years ago, when they were bedecked with foliage and pre-flood glamour, all thanks to remnants of ancient coral reefs and sand bars from the Pleistocene Epoch, made predominantly of Key Largo Limestone and Miami Oolite.
Source => floridakeys.noaa.gov

9. Grimal's Tropical Fruit Paradise

Who needs Willy Wonka when you've got Adolf Grimal's fruit paradise? Picture it: tropical fruits so exotic, you'll wonder if they've come straight out of a fantastical film! The true story: Grimal Grove, nestled on Big Pine Key, FL, is a stunning two-acre garden that's home to rare and unique tropical fruits like mangosteen, durian, and Nuaga Sapote. Originally created by Adolf Grimal, and resurrected by Patrick Garvey, this edible playground is open to the public and sources an array of local restaurants, with ambitions of becoming an educational hub and community park for sustainability.
Source => ediblesouthflorida.ediblecommunities.com

10. Hemingway's Six-toed Cats

In a furreal game of "toe-tal" domination, a clowder of polydactyl felines rule the roost in the sunny Key West: around 60 cats, all descendants of Ernest Hemingway's original extra-toed pet Snow White, call the legendary author's former abode their home. These special kitties, lounging around the property at the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum, not only sport a whimsical array of famous-namesake titles but also hold the key to a six-toed dynasty, with feline DNA that can produce multi-digited offspring even if both parents possess fewer digits themselves!
Source => themarkerkeywest.com

11. Black Caesar's Hidden Booty

Attention treasure hunters and enthusiasts of buried booty: Avast ye, for the legend of the Florida Keys' own Black Caesar has ye covered! This notorious pirate is said to have stashed his precious loot on several islands, including Marco Island, Sanibel, Pine Island, and Elliot Key. Though many have scoured the lands, none have found his elusive buried treasure, leaving us wondering if X really marks the spot.
Source => floridarambler.com

12. Almost 7-Mile Bridge

Feeling a little "bridged out" in the Florida Keys? Fret not, for the 7-Mile Bridge is here to keep things interesting, even though it falls a teeny bit short of its name: Boasting a length of 6.79 miles, this stunning landmark not only basks in the beauty of the Atlantic Ocean's turquoise waters but also makes for an excellent topic to bring up at your next Floridian soirée.
Source => tripadvisor.com

13. Garden Key Stargazing

If you're tired of city lights hogging the limelight, there's a campsite in Florida willing to flip the "switch" on your stargazing experience: Nestled in Dry Tortugas National Park, Garden Key offers a serene escape from urban light pollution, granting stargazers spectacular views of the night sky and ensuring our cosmic marvels remain in the spotlight for generations to come.
Source => nps.gov

14. Southernmost Point Deception

Have you ever been dupe-keyed? Turns out, the famous Southernmost Point Buoy in Key West isn't quite as south as it claims to be: The true southernmost point of the continental United States can be found on the sly, privately owned Ballast Key. As iconic as the buoy selfie may be, it actually stands 90 miles from Cuba and harkens back to a time when its residents would sail to Havana for a night of shopping and revelry – putting the "key" in "cheeky."
Source => 24northhotel.com

15. Protecting Coral Reefs

Don't be a "coral-mudgeon" while exploring the Florida Keys, as your ocean frolicking could really put the reefs in a bad mood: Studies demonstrate that careless diving and snorkeling habits can cause significant harm to the delicate coral ecosystem, so make sure to practice safe buoyancy control, avoid rapid movements, and consider supporting Blue Star recognized charter operators for a sustainable and enjoyable aquatic adventure.
Source => floridascoralreef.org