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Fun in Key West Podcast

Fun in Key West Podcast

By: Michele O'Connor
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🌴 Welcome to the Fun in Key West Podcast! 🌴 Get ready to dive into all things Key West—the southernmost island where the sunsets are breathtaking, the food is unforgettable, and the drinks are always cold! 🍹 In this podcast, we bring you insider tips on: ✅ The best places to eat (yes, there will be conch fritters 🥥). ✅ Where to drink and enjoy the island's famous cocktails 🍸. ✅ The coolest spots to stay, from cozy inns to luxury getaways 🏝️. ✅ And so much more—from quirky local events to can't-miss festivals! 🎉 We'll also keep you up to date on the latest happenings around the island and occasionally chat with special guests who know Key West like the back of their sandy hand. 🐚 Whether you're planning your first trip, a frequent visitor, or just daydreaming about island life, this podcast is your ultimate guide to enjoying paradise. 🎙️ New episodes every wek—so don't forget to subscribe! Hit the like button if you're as obsessed with Key West as we are, and share the island love with your friends! 💌 Connect with us! 👉 Website: www.FunInKeyWest.com 👉 Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for even more island vibes. 🌊 So grab your flip-flops, pour yourself a cold drink, and escape to the island state of mind with the Fun in Key West Podcast! #FunInKeyWest #KeyWestPodcast #IslandLifeVibesFun In Key West 2026 Social Sciences Travel Writing & Commentary
Episodes
  • Key West in October: Weather, Water Activities, and What to Expect for Fantasy Fest
    11 Oct 2026
    Key West in October: Weather, Water Activities, and What to Expect for Fantasy Fest Michele hosts the "Fun in Key West" live show focused on visiting Key West in October, explaining three distinct periods: before Fantasy Fest, during the 10-day Fantasy Fest (Oct 16–25, 2026), and the quieter days after. She covers typical October weather (mid-80s highs, mid-70s lows), warm water around 80–82°F, potential wind and passing storms, and the need for flexible travel plans and insurance due to hurricane season. She highlights water activities (snorkeling, sunset cruises, sandbar trips, kayaking, paddleboarding, glass-bottom boats) and notes sunshine doesn't mean calm seas. Events discussed include the Lower Keys Rotary Fall Festival, Burgers and Buffett Tunes, Reef Fest (Key Largo), Southernmost Half Marathon, Walk on White, and Fantasy Fest features like Goombay Festival, Artisan Market, Zombie Bike Ride, Pet Masquerade, street fair, Grand Parade, and Children's Day, stressing public nudity is illegal though body painting and revealing costumes occur in designated areas. 00:00 October in Key West 03:49 Weather and Hurricanes 07:13 Best Water Excursions 11:09 Before Fantasy Fest 12:04 Early October Events 14:54 Fantasy Fest Explained 16:45 Nudity and Family Tips 18:26 Fantasy Fest Highlights 24:03 First Timer Survival Guide 26:44 After Fantasy Fest 27:38 Shows and Cooking Classes 31:23 Markets and Weekly Fun 35:02 Rapid Fire October FAQs 37:42 Wrap Up and Trip Timing 39:22 Final Thanks and Sign Off www.funinkeywest.com/conch https://funinkeywest.com/key-west-in-october/
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    40 min
  • Mikki Bennett on Writing the Florida Keys Romance Series
    26 Sep 2026
    Miki Bennett on Writing the Florida Keys Romance Series as Therapy and the Inspiration Behind Runaway to the Keys On the Fun in Key West podcast, Michele O'Connor interviews Charleston-based author and artist Miki Bennett, September book club pick author of Runaway to the Keys. Bennett explains she never planned to write until a doctor urged her to share her and her daughter's medical experiences; unable to write a memoir, she turned it into fiction, launching the Keys to Love series. She describes why the Florida Keys inspire her (Caribbean feel, clear water, relaxed, friendly culture) and how characters often earn their own books after she finishes each story; she wrote her first novel in 30 days and ultimately created five novels and two novellas. They discuss Skylar's theme of choosing your own path, her writing routine, travel's impact, her Camping in High Heels series, a brain injury that paused her writing, future books, favorite Keys spots, and where to find her online. 00:00 From Nonwriter to Fiction 00:40 Meet Miki Bennett 02:50 Why the Florida Keys 04:10 Water Island Vibes 05:18 African Queen Spotlight 06:04 Keys to Love Origin Story 08:50 Building a Book Series 09:44 Writing as Therapy 12:34 Skylar Choosing Her Path 14:55 Garrett and Love Themes 16:10 Real Keys in Fiction 17:28 Rapid Fire Favorites 19:40 Camping in High Heels 21:16 Key West Series Tease 21:33 Wild Travel Mishaps 23:06 Writing From Real Life 23:52 Art After Injury 25:30 Next Books In The Keys 26:25 How Travel Changes You 28:14 Family Vacation Planning 30:04 Keys Rapid Fire Favorites 33:51 Mallory Square Must Do 35:44 Mosaic Sea Turtle Brand 36:38 Where To Find Miki 37:47 Final Thanks And Wrap www.funinkeywest.com/africanqueen
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    42 min
  • Key West's Old Coca-Cola Bottling Court and the Rumor of Rainwater Coke
    20 Sep 2026
    Historic Marker #65: Key West's Old Coca-Cola Bottling Court and the Rumor of Rainwater Coke Michele O'Connor explores Key West Historic Marker #65 at 103 Simonton Street, tracing one site's many lives and how they reflect Key West history. The original building was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1886, which burned about 12 hours, destroyed over 200 buildings across 50 acres, devastated the cigar industry, and may have been linked to tensions around the Cuban Independence Movement. A hardware store rose on the lot by 1892, followed by Jack and Rosa Williams' Jack's Saloon in 1914. In 1923 the building became a Coca-Cola bottling plant, with a local rumor that the Coke may have used cistern-collected rainwater, reflecting Key West's historic freshwater scarcity. The episode also notes reusable deposit glass bottles, the contour bottle, and how the 1938 Overseas Highway made local bottling unnecessary; later uses included offices, clothing stores, liquor distribution, and a key lime pie factory. 00:00 Key West Coke Legend 00:43 Welcome and Setup 02:15 Great Fire of 1886 03:42 Rebuilding and Hardware Era 04:49 Jacks Saloon Days 05:29 Coca Cola Arrives 07:16 Rainwater Cistern Rumor 08:32 Bottles Reuse and Design 09:54 Overseas Highway Changes 11:09 Many Lives of One Building 12:15 Marker Wrap Up and Question 12:58 Final Sign Off
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    13 min
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