I met these two flamingos at The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory. Rhett and Scarlett were rescued from a flamingo farm in Canada and now live with the butterflies and birds on the island!
This six-toed cat, Joe DiMaggio, is a descendent of Ernest Hemingway’s over 80 six-toed cats and is free to roam the property with 60 other cats. Hemingway wrote more of his books in this house than in any other house, including For Whom the Bell Tolls.
These polydactyl cats have an extra thumb and are highly territorial, staying in the same spot in the Hemingway house for their whole lives. They are all named after famous artists, writers, actors and athletes.
Harry S. Truman spent over six months on Key West in this building. It is now a museum and open as a guesthouse for any current or past US president and their family.
Bahia Honda State Park is home to one of the best beaches in the Keys and has a long and shallow sand bar with warm water and fascinating marine life.
“Lucky” the sea turtle was rescued after a collision with a boat. Sea turtles are endangered and key to marine ecosystem health. This sea turtle hospital on Marathon key provides care to turtles harmed by boats and releases them back to their ocean homes.
Key Deer would walk right up to me when I was camping on Big Pine Key. They are endangered and only live on the Florida Keys. They are so curious and are about the size of an adult goat.
I came upon this sunken jeep while hiking in the Keys! Now it is sanctuary for fish!