Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
THE CONCH REPUBLIC: ONE HUMAN FAMILY
Conchs (pronounced 'conk' as in 'bonk,' not 'contsh' as in 'bunch') are people who were
born and raised in the Keys. It's a rare title to achieve. Even transplants can only rise to
the rank of 'freshwater Conch.' You will hear reference to, and see the flag of, the Conch
Republic everywhere in the islands, which brings us to an interesting tale.
In 1982 US border patrol and customs agents erected a roadblock at Key Largo to
catch drug smugglers and illegal aliens. As traffic jams and anger mounted, many tourists
disappeared. They decided they'd rather take the Shark Valley Tram in the Everglades,
thank you very much. To voice their outrage, a bunch of fiery Conchs decided to secede
from the USA. After forming the Conch Republic, they made three declarations (in this
order): secede from the USA; declare war on the USA and surrender; and request $1 milli-
on in foreign aid. The roadblock was eventually lifted, and every February, Conchs celeb-
rate the anniversary of those heady days with nonstop parties, and the slogan 'We Se-
ceded Where Others Failed.'
Today the whole Conch Republic thing is largely a marketing gimmick, but that doesn't
detract from its official motto: 'One Human Family.' This emphasis on tolerance and mu-
tual respect has kept the Keys' head and heart in the right place, accepting gays,
straights, and peoples of all colors and religions.
Activities
Beaches
Key West is
not
about beach going. In fact, for true sun 'n' surf, locals go to Bahia Honda
whenever possible. Still, the three city beaches on the southern side of the island are lovely
and narrow, with calm and clear water.
South Beach
is at the end of Simonton St.
Higgs
Beach
, at the end of Reynolds St and Casa Marina Ct, has barbecue grills, picnic tables
and a big crowd of gay sunbathers.
Smathers Beach
, further east off S Roosevelt Blvd, is
more popular with jet-skiers, parasailers, teens and college students. The best local beach,
though, is at Fort Zachary Taylor; it's worth the admission to enjoy the white sand and rel-
ative calm.
Boating
