"It's going to give not just those who live here, but the many thousands of visitors to Key West, the luxury of space and amenities," said Monroe County Director of Airports Peter Horton. "It really has brought this airport into the 21st century."
Parking for 300 vehicles is located at ground level beneath the new building -- 150 spaces for rental cars and 150 for the public.
Among the departing passengers Wednesday morning were Stanley Kovak of Wilton, Conn., and his 7-year-old English springer spaniel Parker, both regular winter visitors to Key West.
"Using this airport is so much more comfortable -- a lot more spacious than the other terminal," said Kovak.
Construction crews are expected to begin renovating the existing 1957 airport building soon. When that project is complete, the 24,000-square-foot building will feature a passenger arrival and baggage claim area with rental car counters, restrooms and a baggage service office. It will also house a 200-seat departure lounge with restrooms and a 160-seat restaurant and tavern.
Renovation to the existing terminal is scheduled for completion in early June. The airport remains fully operational throughout the construction project.
About 450,000 passengers arrive and depart Key West International Airport annually. Up to 60 commercial flights operated by five commercial carriers -- including arrivals and departures -- are scheduled daily.
Naples, Fla. (February 18, 2009) – As Americans grow increasingly conscious of their ecological responsibilities and consume more locally-grown produce, wild seafood, dairy, and meats, Naples, Marco Island and Everglades City restaurants serve up mouth-watering fare with ingredients found less than 150 miles away.
Florida stone crab, which begins its season October 15 and runs through May 15 each year, is a typical ingredient chefs are using locally. These delectable claws find their way to area restaurants and also are shipped to other Florida and national locations. One claw is harvested from each crab, and the crab is then placed alive back in the Gulf of Mexico . Stone crabs typically regenerate new claws within one to three years. Favorite places to savor a serving of stone crab claws, served cold with a mustard dipping sauce, include the waterfront seafood markets in Everglades City , known as the Stone Crab Capital of the World. Try unique culinary creations such as the mahi mahi dish with Florida stone crab, papaya and Vidalia onion relish served at Handsome Harry’s Third Street Bistro in Naples. Or savor the stone crab ravioli at Naples Tomato, which pairs perfectly with Perrier Jouet champagne.
]]> Tickle your seafood taste buds with the local snapper or grouper de Marco, broiled with shallots, mushrooms and garlic, and topped with toasted breadcrumbs at Café de Marco on Marco Island. Or savor the grouper Julietta, a signature entrée at Noodles Italian Cafe & Sushi Bar in Naples , featuring fresh black Gulf grouper, Gulf shrimp and tomatoes from a local tomato grower. Adventurous types will discover the swordfish with crusted crab meat as well as several types of crudo and carpaccio, showcasing Chef/Owner Fabrizio Aielli’s Venetian roots and devotion to local products, at Naples ’ newest restaurant, Sea Salt.Thanks to farms in Immokalee located in eastern Collier County , garden-fresh produce makes its way from field to table in the shortest amount of time. Visitors can enjoy the freshest of sweet peppers, zucchini and squash found in the Panzanella Salad at Olio’s Restaurant in Naples . Some chefs, like Patrick Fevrier of Escargot 41 in Naples , own their own plot of land and harvest produce. Fevrier grows 40 varieties each of eggplant and basil, plus okra, fennel and cinnamon for his signature dishes. Executive Chef Brian Roland of M Waterfront Grille maintains his own herb garden on the restaurant’s terrace. One of his favorite uses of local product on his cutting-edge global menu is a red and yellow watermelon salad with shaved fennel, goat cheese and micro basils.
Local residents and visitors to the Paradise Coast support this trend for local foods and regional cuisine by frequenting members of Naples Originals, an association consisting of 46 independent and locally-owned restaurants that each offer innovative recipes using local ingredients – resulting in culinary masterpieces that can only be found in Naples and Collier County. The Naples Originals restaurateurs believe that a vibrant, independent local restaurant community increases a city’s culinary and cultural strength. The chefs are committed to delivering unique flavors which infuse local culture, traditions and celebrate the destination’s culinary roots.
Visitors staying in suites with kitchens or vacation rental homes or condos may wish to take advantage of the growing number of local farmer’s market locations. Shop for fresh produce at the several market locations in downtown Immokalee on daily basis or visit the Third Street Stouth Plaza in downtown Naples on Saturdays and on Marco Island at Mackle Park on Wednesdays in season November through April. There is also a new organic market next door to the organic Food & Thought restaurant at the corner of Tamiami Trail and Golden Gate Parkway near the Coastland Mall in Naples .
For more information on visiting Naples , Marco Island and the Everglades – The Paradise Coast , call 1-800-688-3600 for a free visitors guide or go at the area’s official visitor information Web site, www.ParadiseCoast.com.
It took him two years. He poured over the results of a nationwide survey he had conducted for a Presidential panel in 1980 that document the condition of all U.S. beaches. Yes, all of them. Using that information and updating it as needed, Leatherman wrote a 20-page paper evaluating the best beaches in America. He gave the paper to the public relations officer at the University, then went on a trip to Venice. Unknown to Dr. Leatherman, the PR officer discarded the 20-page paper and instead wrote a short press release announcing the top ten beaches. The list was released just before Memorial Day weekend, the traditional kickoff of the summer beach season. The media pounced on it.
“I got these frantic phone calls from the University saying I had to come back and deal with the media frenzy,” said Leatherman. “I wasn’t able to get back for three or four more days. When I did, the Today Show, Regis and Cathy Lee, even the British journal ‘The Economist’ wanted an interview. Here I had spent years doing important scientific research and what grabs the public attention? Beach rankings.”
Now in its 18th year, Dr. Leatherman’s list of America’s Best Beaches is going strong. He has created 50 different criteria on which he evaluated each beach. Which ones are the most important? “You have to begin with clean sand and clean water. There must be some amenities. This is a ranking of swimming beaches so you need some amenities to be able to enjoy a day at the beach. Safety is vitally important also. A beach can’t be too cold and can’t have dangerous rip currents. And it can’t be overdeveloped.”
This year’s winner is Caladesi Island State Park, off the coast of Dunedin/Clearwater, Florida. What vaulted Caladesi to the top spot in 2008? Dr. Beach explained, “The sand is fine white quartz crystal, and the water is crystalline clear. It is an island; you can only get there by a pedestrian ferry or by private boat. It is never overcrowded and has a good restaurant. And ice cream (a personal favorite). It’s a great getaway beach, only 30 miles from the Tampa/St. Pete area. It has great birding. There’s good fishing and swimming. And they have tunnels through the mangroves. You can rent a kayak and follow the mangrove tunnels. The ferry ride on the way over has some old salts on it who tell great stories.”
How seriously do people take his annual beach rankings? “I got a call from a city representative in the upper Florida Gulf coast. The city was considering granting a permit to build a multistory building along the beach, and they were wondering if that would affect their beach ranking. I told I would consider that over-development and would have to remove them from my rankings. They didn’t approve the permit.”
In addition to his annual beach ranking, Dr. Leatherman, now the director of the International Hurricane Research Center & Laboratory for Coastal Research at Florida International University in Miami, has started the National Healthy Beaches Campaign. This project is dedicated to promoting balance between recreational use of the nation's beaches and maintaining their environmental quality and safety. “The U.S. is blessed with hundreds of great beaches,” said Leatherman, “and only a few can appear on the Best Beach list, so this encourages people to take care of and promote their own beaches.” You can nominate your beach online, and Dr. Leatherman and his staff will evaluate it. If it meets the criteria, it will be certified as a National Healthy Beach.
Dr. Beach also does some consulting work. Very interesting consulting work. He was contacted to help solve The Mystery of the Missing Cognac. A cargo ship arrived in Tampa and was supposed to have a container full of French Cognac. Instead, the container was full of sand. Dr. Beach was called in to investigate and quickly determined the sand wasn’t from Florida. The ship had left from France, but an analysis of French sand from the port area also didn’t match that in the container. It turns out the ship made a stop in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Sands from that area proved to be a match, and law enforcement was able to catch the thieves. Dr. Beach, CSI.
The doctor also has been consulted to help determine the location of the Delaware River. Not the current location, but its location in 1776, when George Washington made his famous crossing on Christmas. The boats used by The Father of Our Country had been intentionally sunk to keep them from British hands and had never been found. Around 15 years ago, when a construction project in Trenton, New Jersey started to excavate the area, Dr. Leatherman was called in to help find the boats so they wouldn’t be destroyed by the work. Dr. Leatherman was able to calculate the rivers position during that time period and one of the boats was recovered.
“I also get called by people who want to buy property on the beach, to either find a beach to their liking or to help them evaluate their beach. I refer to this as Dr. Beach on Assignment.”
First and foremost, Dr. Leatherman is a scientist. He’s studied the aftereffects of the devastating 2004 and 2005 hurricane season, which wrought havoc with the Gulf coast. “In 2004, Hurricane Charlie picked up the beach and moved it into the parking lots in Ft. Meyers, Florida. It was a narrow, but intense storm. It cut North Captiva Island in half. Hurricane Ivan battered Orange Beach, Alabama and Pensacola. Through beach renourishing projects and natural recovery, those beaches have gotten back to normal. Hurricane Katrina, in 2005, left damage that is still a problem. Mississippi Sound was hit by the largest storm surge ever seen in the U.S., and they are still sifting through the sand there to get debris removed. The casinos seem to have recovered, though.”
Even Dr. Beach, whose job takes him to the prettiest beaches in the country, needs a vacation every now and then. So where does Dr. Beach go on vacation? “My wife and I go visit our relatives in North Carolina, and we go to the Hamptons (he recommends visiting the beaches there in September). This summer we’re going to Europe. We’re visiting Romania and the Black Sea area, and we’ll go see Dracula’s Castle.”
Will we soon be seeing Dr. Beach’s Best Romanian Beaches? “I am working on an idea about covering the World’s Best Beaches. I will have a television special on America’s Best Beaches coming out for July 4th weekend, and my producer and I have talked about a series where I would search for a new beach each episode.”
Let’s see. Dr. Leatherman’s job has required him to visit beautiful beaches in the U.S. and rank them. Now, his “job duties” may expand to visiting the most beautiful beaches in the world. As I sit here in consuming envy, I wonder…what would have happened if he hadn’t answered that call in 1989. I’m glad he did. At least we can live through him vicariously.
Dr. Stephen Leatherman has authored numerous books, including “America’s Best Beaches”, “Dr. Beach’s Survival Guide: What you Need to Know about Sharks, Rip Currents, & More Before Going into the Water” and “AAA’s Beach Vacation Travel Journal”. You can visit his web site at www.drbeach.org.
At Caladesi Island, recreational opportunities are endless! A mangrove-covered kayak trail winds from the marina to the St. Joseph Sound and back. Kayaks are available for rental through the Cafe Caladesi. The nature trail is a great place to find Osprey in old pine snags or cross paths with a gopher tortoise.
Caladesi Island is accessible only by private boat or via the Caladesi Connection ferry service. Cost for the ferry is $10 for adults and $6 for children ages 4-12. Trips depart hourly beginning at 10 a.m. Ferry passengers are allotted a four-hour stay on the island. No pets are allowed on the ferry. Contact the ferry office at 727-734-1501 for more information. For further information about about Caladesi Island State Park, call the park office at 727-469-5918.
TOP 10 BEACHES 2008
1. Caladesi Island State Park
Clearwater/Dunedin, Florida
2. Hanalei Beach
Kauai, Hawaii
3. Siesta Beach
Sarasota, Florida
4. Coopers Beach
Southampton, New York
5. Coronado Beach
San Diego, California
6. Main Beach
East Hampton, New York
7. Hamoa Beach
Maui, Hawaii
8. Cape Hatteras
Outer Banks of North Carolina
9. Cape Florida State Park
Key Biscayne, Florida
10. Beachwalker Park
Kiawah Island, South Carolina
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The answer, of course, is all the above. Who wouldn’t enjoy a city with the best sand beach in the world, a circus museum, and over thirty art galleries? Add to that a beach full of prehistoric sharks teeth and you’ve got an irresistibly fun oasis.
Start with Siesta Key, the eight-mile long barrier island off the coast of Sarasota that is home to numerous artists and writers. It has long been one of the Gulf coast’s most popular vacation destinations with a wide variety of cozy, family-owned accommodations. Siesta Key’s beach has the finest, whitest sand in the world. And they can prove it! In 1987, tourism professionals in the Sarasota and Bradenton area persuaded scientists from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, to judge the "Great International White Sand Beach Challenge." The judges, after analyzing more than 30 entries from beaches around the world, named Siesta Key the winner and bestowed the title of “World’s Greatest White Sand Beach”, which it still holds to this day. To take advantage of those great beaches, there are many recreational opportunities at Siesta Key including beach walking, fishing, boating, kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving and sail boarding.
Adding to Sarasota’s allure is Venice Beach, where you’ll find troves of pre-historic sharks teeth waiting to be scooped up from the Gulf surf. There are more shark teeth in the waters here than anywhere else in the world. Does anyone get too old to enjoy finding a real sharks tooth?
Need something a little ritzier? Try St. Armands Key and Longboat Key, situated just offshore and bordered by the Gulf on the west and Sarasota Bay on the east. Upscale shopping, dining and living are the dominant traits in these tropical paradise inspired isles. Beautiful St. Armands Circle has over 150 shops, galleries and restaurants that are so inspiring that they lure international visitors.
Just after 1900, John Ringling moved to Sarasota. In 1927, he made it the winter home of his famous traveling circus, The Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Ringling left a grand legacy in Sarasota, including the Ringling Museum, which blends the zeal of the 1920’s with an artistic elegance typically reserved for royalty. Housing the best baroque artwork in the United States, the Museum of Art features 21 galleries, each adorned with unique décor, from a glittering gold room providing shelter to Flemish cabinets with scenes from the Old Testament to muted burgundy walls that cradle a portrait of St. Jerome.
After the museum, visit the seashell-shaped Van Wezel Performing Hall, designed by William Wesley Peters of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. The Hall hosts both local artistic endeavors such as the Jazz Club of Sarasota, as well as grandiose productions. Constructed to achieve acoustical excellence, Van Wezel entertains residents and guests alike with masterpieces from the internationally acclaimed Broadway show Riverdance to intimate performances by Itzhak Perlman, the reigning virtuoso of the violin.
A different kind of entertainment awaits at Myakka River State Park, host to North America’s first canopy trail. The canopy trail is a walkway system erected to let visitors explore the treetops by walking high above the ground among the arms of ancient oaks and gazing out more than three miles to Upper Myakka Lake. You can also travel among the tree limbs a little closer to sea level at Lido Key, where in the 1950’s the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers created tunnels in the mangrove forest bordering Lido Key. The tunnels were created to rid the island of mosquitoes by encouraging inhospitable salt water to mix in with fresh water, preventing a nesting habitat. More than 50 years later, nature-seekers visiting South Lido Park can still navigate the tunnels by kayak and see the mangrove forests from a whole new perspective.
Perfect sand and beaches, sharks teeth, museums, performing halls, nature trails . . . with its unique blend of attractions, it’s easy to see why Sarasota is so alluring.