Category Archives: Florida Keys

It’s A Lizard’s Life

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Large iguana perched on a tree branch, showing detailed orange, brown, and green scales with spines along its back.”

🦎 Lizard Life: Florida Edition

Wildlife comes in all shapes and sizes, but Florida’s scaly resident lizards have a special talent for showing up exactly when you least expect them.

🦎 Iguanas: My First Encounter

The very first green iguana I ever saw outside of a PBS nature special was strolling down Duval Street like it owned the place. It was wearing a tiny harness, attached to a human with big rasta hair and an even bigger vibe. I couldn’t tell who was walking whom, and I was far too shy to ask questions. I didn’t even take a picture — a tragedy, considering how gloriously photo‑worthy the moment was.

The next time, I redeemed myself. I was on an airboat returning from an Everglades tour when I spotted the biggest iguana I’d ever seen perched in the bushes along the channel. He had an orange frill and the attitude of someone who absolutely knew he was magnificent. I got a photo as we glided past, and it remains one of my favorite “Florida wildlife being dramatic” memories.

Large iguana with bright orange spines resting in dense green foliage, gripping branches with its claws.”

“Small brown lizard clinging to rough tree bark, blending into the wood above a gravel background.”🦎 Anoles: Tiny Speed Demons

Back at the condo, the local residents were anoles — tiny green and brown lizards that zipped around like they were late for a meeting. They were adorable, lightning‑fast, and endlessly entertaining. The locals didn’t seem impressed, but I loved watching them skitter across the patio like miniature athletes.

🦎 Iguanas Everywhere: Key Largo Edition

Several years later, I returned to Florida and headed for Key Largo. That’s where I truly met“Green iguana resting on the ground among dry leaves and tree roots, with blue water visible in the background.” the iguana population — and wow, did they make an impression.

I spent most of my beach time at Pennekamp Park. The sand was fine, but the water footing was pure coral punishment. Lining the beach were trees, picnic tables, and iguanas. Big ones, small ones, green ones, orange ones — a whole rainbow of reptiles just living their best lives.

No one seemed to pay them any mind, but if you weren’t careful, they’d absolutely steal your lunch. Florida wildlife doesn’t play.

🐊 Other Scaly Things: Alligators

“Beachside caution sign warning about alligators and crocodiles, with white sand and visitors near the shoreline in the background.”Of course, the biggest lizards in the area weren’t iguanas at all — they were alligators. Signs everywhere warned visitors not to swim with them, but the park still had a roped‑off swimming area, and plenty of people went in and out of the water like it was no big deal.

 

I even braved it myself to test out my new snorkeling gear. I never saw an alligator there… although I did see one while swimming with manatees. We didn’t realize it was lurking nearby until we were safely back on the boat. Since I prefer returning from vacations with all body parts intact, I’m very glad I didn’t know about that gator while I was still in the water.

“Alligator lying in tall green grass and wet vegetation, partially hidden by plants in a marshy habitat.”

🦎 Final Thoughts

I’ve heard iguanas make good pets — and I guess that’s true, considering the one I saw on a leash. But personally, I prefer the soft, furry kind of animal. Still, it’s always a thrill to see these scaly characters in the wild and learn a little more about their world.

“Two cats sitting on a carpeted floor near a window, one orange and one black, with a beige multi‑level cat tree behind them.

 

WMEO Winter Forecast 2026–2027

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“Two cats sit behind a WMEO 9 news desk delivering a winter weather forecast. The orange tabby wears a red scarf with a silver snowflake pin and has a white mug labeled ‘WMEO I ♥ Weather’ in front of him. The black cat sits beside a vintage suitcase with a ‘Key West or Bust!!’ sticker and a boarding pass sticking out. Behind them, a snowy weather map shows ‘Below‑Normal Colder’ and ‘El Niño’ regions, with snow falling outside the studio window.”

❄️ Live From the WMEO Weather Desk — We Meow, You Listen

🌨️ Winter Is Coming to New England (Whether We Want It or Not)

Banner: Good morning, New England! The 2026 Old Farmer’s Almanac has released its winter predictions, and I’m here to confirm what we all already suspected: Cold. Snowy. Miserable. But let’s see what the “experts” have to say before Balboa starts complaining about frozen whiskers.

Balboa: The Old Farmer’s Almanac has a better-than-average prediction rate, which is impressive considering weather forecasting is the only job where you get praised for being wrong more often than you’re right. So what’s the verdict? Are we bracing for another blizzard, or is this just the annual “we’re not sure, but here’s a chart” routine?

🌡️ National Overview: El Niño Takes the Blame

Banner: This year’s forecast reads like they’re trying to cover every possible outcome. Lots of “maybes,” “possibly,” and “El Niño made us do it.” Overall, they say most of the U.S. will experience temperatures near or above seasonal norms… But then come the exceptions. And guess who’s in the exceptions?

Balboa: Of course we are. We’re New England. We’re always the exception.

“Winter 2027 U.S. weather forecast map from The Old Farmer’s Almanac showing regions labeled mild, cold, snowy, wet, or dry in varying shades of blue. Alaska is marked mild and snowy, Hawaii cool and wet. A yellow Old Farmer’s Almanac 2027 cover appears on the right side of the image with snowflake graphics in the background.”

🧊 Central vs. Southern New England: Two Winters, One Region

“Close‑up of evergreen branches lightly covered in fresh snow, with green needles visible beneath the white layer. Soft autumn colors from distant trees appear blurred in the background, showing the transition from fall to early winter.”Central New England: Worcester, Prepare Thyself

Banner: Above‑average snowfall is expected across parts of the Northeast, the Appalachians, and higher elevations out west. But New England gets split into two zones:

  • Central New England: colder-than-normal temperatures
  • Southern/Coastal New England: milder breaks mixed in

The Almanac highlights a corridor from central New England down the Appalachians that will be colder than usual.

Balboa: I’m glad we don’t live in Worcester. I’m getting the shivers already.

🌧️ Southern & Coastal New England: Slush Season Incoming “Snow‑dusted forest trail winding through tall trees with patches of snow on the ground. A person in a red jacket walks in the distance, surrounded by dense green foliage and soft winter light.”

Banner: Here in Southern New England, expect frequent mild breaks interrupting the cold — keeping coastal towns hovering right around freezing. Translation: More rain, sleet, and icy mix than clean, pretty snow.

Balboa: Great. Slush. My favorite. Nothing like stepping outside and instantly regretting every life choice.

🥶 The WMEO Bottom Line: Keep Everything Within Paw’s Reach

Banner: The Almanac’s advice for New Englanders? Keep your snow shovel, rain boots, and ice scraper close at hand. Sudden flips between cold rain, flash freezes, and heavy snow‑slush will define the season.

Balboa: Honestly, I think they’re tossing everything in so no matter what happens, they can say they “called it.” Classic.

🌴 WMEO Weather Desk Closing Thoughts (and a Tiny Key West Sigh)

Banner: So there you have it, New England — another winter is on the way. Cold, wet, unpredictable… basically the usual.

Balboa: mumbles while staring south on the map Key West is looking pretty good right about now.

Banner: quiet agreement Warm breezes… no slush… chickens instead of ice storms… Yeah. Key West is definitely looking good.

Balboa: Anyway — stay tuned, New England. Winter’s coming whether we like it or not.

Two cats pose as winter weather anchors at a WMEO 9 news desk. The orange tabby on the left wears a red scarf with a silver snowflake pin and sits beside a white ‘WMEO I ❤️ Weather’ mug. The black cat on the right sits next to a vintage brown suitcase with a ‘Key West or Bust!!’ sticker and a boarding pass sticking out. A microphone sits between them, and behind them a snowy weather map shows ‘Below‑Normal Colder’ and ‘El Niño’ regions with falling snow in the background.”

This has been a WMEO 9 Wather Update. You may  resume your regular scrolling. 

HOW TO VACATION IN KEY WEST

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Sloppy Joe's Bar on Duval St Key West

🌴 What Not to Do in Key West

A Dustyroads Survival Guide for America’s Favorite Tropical Fever Dream

🌞 Key West: Where Logic Takes a Vacation and Never Comes Back

Helicopter over US1 in the Florday KeysYou’ve made it to the Keys, bless your brave little soul. You survived the iguana speed bumps of Islamorada, the deer gangs of Big Pine Key, and the “is this road drunk or am I?” experience of US‑1. At one point I even saw a helicopter hovering over the highway like it was checking on the mental stability of everyone making that drive — and honestly, fair And now, as your reward, you get to watch a sunburned housecat with emotional baggage square up against an iguana on Duval Street like it’s pay‑per‑view.

A few steps later, there’s a man painted head‑to‑toe in metallic gold, perched on a milk crate, silently judging everyone who doesn’t understand why this week’s unofficial island theme is “neon pineapple serenity.”

Key West is America’s last surreal fever dream — a tropical snow globe someone shook too hard and then decided to live inside. It clings to the bottom of Florida like a barnacle with seniority and a strong union.

Reality shows up, gets carded, and is politely escorted out by a man in unicorn pajamas who also owns three hotels and a scooter rental business.Concg Replublic flag , the flag od Key West. Blue backgrouns with sun

Keep your shoes on. Something in the sand probably bites. So before you wander too far into the Conch Republic, here are a few things to keep in mind — little survival tips to help you enjoy the island without becoming part of its folklore.

🐔 1. Don’t Start Anything with the Chickens

Key West Rooster expresses his displeasureKey West chickens are not pets. They are tiny feathered authority figures with generational confidence and zero fear of humans. Their ancestors arrived decades ago, decided the island was theirs, and never once paid rent.

The roosters strut like elected officials. The hens? The hens are the real muscle. I met a couple built like linebackers — broad‑shouldered ladies who looked ready to write me a citation.

Try to shoo one and you’ll get a stare so intense it’ll make you rethink every decision you’ve made since 1998.

Get too close to their chicks and you’ll find yourself sprinting toward a hotel lobby like you’re being chased by a very small, very angry HOA board.

Respect the chickens. They run the island. You’re just visiting.

🦎 2. Don’t Expect a Real Beachsandy beach with palm trees

You might arrive thinking, “Island, ocean, sunshine — perfect beach day,” and you may even bring an inflatable flamingo with the kind of optimism usually reserved for lottery winners. But Key West doesn’t care. None of that matters.

Key West is coral, seaweed, and sharp prehistoric things that do not care about your vacation fantasies.

If you want soft, powdery sand, grab the next boat to the Bahamas. If you want coral shards that slice through flip‑flops like warm butter, try Key Largo. I did. Once. I still have emotional scars.

Smathers? Man‑made. Higgs? Acceptable if you enjoy sea lettuce and the faint aroma of sunscreen mixed with toddler rebellion.

Key West isn’t a beach destination. It’s a vibe — and the vibe is “We tried. Sort of.”

🍹 3. Don’t Go Looking for Jimmy Buffett’s House

Colorful Margaritaville sign with Jimmy Buffet's namePeople come to Key West convinced Jimmy Buffett is still tucked away somewhere, strumming a guitar and handing out margaritas like party favors.

But Jimmy Buffett doesn’t live at an address. He lives in a mood.

If you really want to find him, you don’t need a map — you need a blender, a porch chair, and absolutely no guilt about doing nothing for the rest of the afternoon.

Where does he live?

Margaritaville. Population: anyone who’s decided they’re done with stress for the day.

Directions?Spilled salt shaker

First star to the right and straight on ’til morning. Bring sunscreen. And a salt shaker — you never know when you’ll lose it.

So pour your margarita, take a breath, and remember: It’s 5 o’clock somewhere.

🚫🚗 4. Don’t Try to Drive on Duval

Sweet heavenly biscuits, do not attempt to drive on Duval Street. It’s not a street — it’s a living organism made of tourists, glitter, questionable decisions, and humidity.

You will encounter:

  • People who forgot how sidewalks work
  • People who think Key Lime Pie grants temporary immortality
  • People spiritually, chemically, or Key‑West‑enhanced
  • Outfits that should come with warning labels

And then the performers:

  • Pirates
  • Mimes
  • Pirate‑mimes
  • Fire jugglers
  • Six chihuahuas dressed as mermaids
  • A unicyclist going the wrong way while singing ABBA

Drag Queen in red shoe. Famouse show drop for New Year's eve in Key WestMy best memory? New Year’s Eve on the gay end of Duval — wall‑to‑wall people, electric energy, and the famous drag queen shoe drop. I had a front‑row seat at a show and got dragged onstage to dance with the star. The crowd roared. The island vibrated. It was magic.

Duval is unforgettable. But it is absolutely no place for a car.

Park somewhere sane. Walk like the rest of the dehydrated pilgrims.

🐾 5. Don’t Skip Hemingway’s HouseBlack Polydactl cat looking very judgemental

If you go to Key West and don’t visit Hemingway’s house, the cats will know. They’re polydactyl — extra toes, extra judgment.

These cats are island nobility. They roam the property like tiny monarchs, lounging on furniture and accepting admiration with royal indifference. I have no idea how many there are — just a lot. Enough to suspect they’re running the estate.

The house itself is a sunlit time capsule of Hemingway’s life. You can practically feel unfinished manuscripts drifting around.

And of course, Hemingway made Sloppy Joe’s legendary — looping us right back to Duval Street.

Visit the cats. Pay your respects. They were here long before you.

📍 6. Don’t Expect the Southernmost Point to Be Empty

Southernmost point buoy, Key west FlThe Southernmost Point buoy is a celebrity. The line wraps around the block like it’s handing out concert tickets.

You’ll see:

  • Families in matching shirts
  • Couples trying to look romantic while sweating
  • People arguing about whether Cuba is visible (it’s not)

Take your photo. Smile. Pretend you’re not melting.

Pro tip: Take your picture from the side. No one will know. No one will care.

Go once. Move on. The buoy isn’t going anywhere.

🌅 7. Don’t Miss Mallory Square at SunsetFamouse trained cats of Key West in Malloery Square at sunset

Mallory Square at sunset is Key West’s heartbeat — a nightly circus of jugglers, acrobats, musicians, fire performers, and a cat who jumps through hoops like it’s auditioning for Broadway.

Locals, tourists, dreamers, wanderers — everyone stops, faces the water, and watches the sun drop into the ocean like it’s the final scene of a movie.

When it touches the horizon? The whole square cheers. Every single night.

Grab a drink. Find a railing. Let the sunset remind you why people come here and never want to leave.

🌴 And That’s Key West

Key West is a tangle of contradictions: chickens with seniority, beaches that lie about being beaches, sunsets that put on a full performance, and an island reality that wanders off whenever it feels like it. It’s the place where you danced with a drag queen, dodged coral shards, admired royal cats, and discovered that sometimes the best directions really are “first star to the right.” It lingers long after you leave — loud, strange, unforgettable.

Crowds gather in Mallorty Square, Key west to watch the sun set

Key West: America’s Most Lovably Quirky Island

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A display of decorative metal sun sculptures hanging together at a Key West market, each with a stylized face and radiating flame‑like rays in bronze, copper, and gold tones.

A Republic of Its Own

Have you been to Key West? It’s such a crazy, fun place, and the locals absolutely revel in their uniqueness. Back in 1982, the U.S. Border Patrol set up a checkpoint on the Overseas Highway, causing a 19‑mile backup and choking off tourism — the lifeblood of Key West’s economy. The islanders were furious. Their response? If Washington was going to treat them like a foreign country, they’d become one.

Key West declared independence as The Conch Republic, complete with a flag and passports. As their first act as a sovereign nation, they declared war on the United States, surrendered one minute later, and immediately applied for $1 billion in foreign aid. Feisty doesn’t even begin to cover it.

The Beaches They Built Themselves

Key West is really just a hunk of coral at the tip of Florida, 90 miles from Cuba. Those beautiful sandy beaches? Manmade. Most of the sand was imported — famously from Bermuda — because the island’s natural shoreline is sharp, crusty coral. If you swim in Key Largo, you’ll see what Key West looked like before the makeover: gorgeous water, but the kind of coral that’s anything but gentle on bare feet.

Duval Street: Two Parties, One Night

Walk along Duval Street and you’ll pass Sloppy Joe’s, Hemingway’s old haunt, a few pet iguanas, and more bars than you can count. But New Year’s Eve is when Duval truly shows off its personality.

At one end of the street, a drag queen — all dolled up — drops at midnight while seated in a giant shoe. At the other end, in front of Sloppy Joe’s, a giant conch shell drops. Two countdowns, two crowds, one unforgettable street.

Sunsets, Street Performers, and the Elusive Green Flash

Mallory Square is Key West’s nightly gathering place. Street performers juggle, musicians play, artists sell their work, and everyone drifts toward the pier to watch the sun melt into the ocean. If you’re lucky, you might catch the green flash, that rare split‑second glow as the sun disappears.

Touristy Fun or Island Wandering — Your Choice

Spend your day doing the classic Key West things: visit the small aquarium, take a glass‑bottom boat tour, snorkel, scuba, or kayak. Or skip the itinerary entirely and wander the picturesque streets, ducking into little shops and shady courtyards.

And don’t forget your selfie at the Southernmost Point Buoy. Fun fact: it doesn’t actually mark the true southernmost point of the continental U.S., but it’s been a beloved tourist landmark since 1983.

Chickens, Cats, and Cruise Ships

Chickens roam Key West like they own the place — because they do. And speaking of animals with authority, you have to visit Hemingway’s House. Dozens of polydactyl cats live there, all well cared for and famously photogenic.

Down at the waterfront, it’s fun to watch cruise ships dock while pelicans gather, hoping for snacks and attention.

A Slice of Key Lime Heaven

After a day of exploring, it’s time to relax with a slice of Key Lime pie. Blue Heaven at 729 Thomas Street is often ranked the best on the island. Close seconds include Moondog Café, Kermit’s Key West Lime Shoppe, and Pepe’s Café. Honestly, you can’t go wrong — Key West takes its pie seriously.

Getting There

By Land

Drive the Overseas Highway — 42 bridges and some of the most beautiful water views in the country. It’s the only road in and out, so traffic can get congested. Travel off‑peak if you can. (My goal is to drive it in a flashy, red convertible, well any convertible will do, It doesn’t have to be red. )

By Sea

Many cruise ships leaving Miami include Key West as a port of call on their way to places like Nassau or Cozumel.

By Air

Fly into Key West International Airport, with connections from Miami or Fort Lauderdale.

The Conch Republic Lives On

The Conch Republic didn’t last long, and you don’t need a passport to enter Key West anymore (unless you’re flying, of course). What remains is the spirit: laid‑back, charismatic, proudly eccentric, and endlessly entertaining.

Key West isn’t just a destination — it’s a mood.

 

Decadent Treat from the Sea

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Maine Lobster- photo credit Deb Neumann

Broiled Decadence

I was born in the wrong time in history. My absolute favorite treat is broiled lobster tails. Any lobster is good—but I’m addicted to the tails.

Lobster wasn’t always the elite culinary gem it is today. At one time, it was so plentiful it was considered poor man’s food—fed to prisoners and even pigs. Can you imagine tossing a $50 lobster into a pigpen? And yes, I found a website selling Maine lobster tails for $58.99, so I’m not exaggerating when I say a “trash meal” turned treasure.

Maine Lobster vs. Rock Lobster

Every trip to Florida—especially the Florida Keys—includes at least one (usually more) stop for lobster tails. Why Florida? Because they use spiny lobsters, also called Rock Lobsters. These clawless crustaceans pack all their meat in the tail. The tails are larger, firmer, and have a brinier taste than Maine lobster.

Maine lobsters are great, but just using the tail feels like a waste. Let’s boil that beauty and enjoy the delicate claw meat too. Best to use a real Lobster Pot, not just any pan.

Fun fact: When I was younger, I had a lobster license and used to scuba dive for Maine lobsters. I could enjoy a lobster meal anytime I was willing to dive—which was often!

snuba at Turtletown 2020

National Lobster Day

Today is National Lobster Day, so head to your nearest seafood restaurant or fish market for an annual treat of broiled lobster. Restaurants might make it sound like preparing tails is a mystical art, but it’s really quite simple. Just don’t overcook them—nothing worse than a dry lobster tail.

Around here, it’s easy to find Maine lobster tails. Occasionally (though rarely), you’ll spot Langostinos—small crustaceans often substituted for real lobster. They’re tasty, but more closely related to crabs than lobsters. So for today, let’s go with the real thing.

Broiled Rock Lobster tails- Key Largo 2019 photo Deb Neumann

Let’s Cook

Ingredients

  • 4 lobster tails (10 oz each, or adjust cooking time for other sizes)
  • ¼ cup salted butter, melted (½ stick)
  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 2 tsp lemon juice
  • ½ tsp smoked paprika
  • Pinch of cayenne pepper

Instructions

  1. Thaw the tails
    If frozen, thaw overnight in the fridge or in a sealed bag submerged in cold water for about 30 minutes.
  2. Preheat the oven
    Set to Broil (500°F / 260°C). Position the oven rack so the lobster tails on a baking sheet are 4–5 inches from the broiler.
  3. Butterfly the lobster tails
    Using kitchen shears, cut down the center of the shell lengthwise (top side only), stopping at the tail fin. Gently pull the meat upward, leaving the end attached. Rest the meat on top of the shell.
  4. Make the butter mixture
    In a small bowl, whisk together melted butter, garlic, lemon juice, smoked paprika, and cayenne. Brush generously over the lobster meat.
  5. Broil the tails
    Cook until the meat is opaque and lightly browned—about 1 minute per ounce. (10 oz tails = 10 minutes; 5 oz tails = 5 minutes.)
  6. Serve with melted butter
    For extra indulgence, try drawn butter—it takes a little more effort but yields a clear, golden dip with rich flavor.

How to Butterfly a Lobster Tail

Affiliate Disclosure

Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links. This means if you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I truly love—especially when they involve lobster tails!