Sculptures Made of Sand

On the corner of White Street in Key West, you'll find something very odd: two gossipers sitting in front of a giant head. Of course, it's less odd when you consider that these objects are made completely out of sand and water. The sand sculptures are crafted by hand using any tool you can possibly think of; small brushes, towels, spoons, forks knives, etc. The 6 month project is very conveniently called The Sandbox and is owned and operated by Sand-Isle, LLC, which holds 3 hour workshops to teach the public how to build these beautiful works of art.

The artists who created the giant head were featured on the show Sand Blasters on the Travel Channel and this is the piece that won! The piece is called "Close-Minded, and if you look closely at the photo you can see a zipper across the top of the head, eyes sewn shut, and corks plugging up the ears and nose. The sculpture is so meticulously built, it's hard to believe it's not made of cement! If left alone without touching, the sculptures can last up to 6 months. The sun and wind do the most damage, while rain is simply absorbed into the sand.

Programs offered by Sand Isle are sculpting courses; school workshops; team building events; sculptures on location; and coming soon, a sand sculpting competition for both professionals and amateurs!

Make your island dreams come true! The Florida Keys has beautiful weather year-round and many outdoor activities to enjoy. Now is an excellent time to buy property in the Florida Keys! There are also some great deals on homes and your little piece of paradise awaits you. Visit our website at www.PlaceInParadise.com or drop me a line at teammullins@bellsouth.net. I would love to hear from you!

Want to change your life? Just add WATER!

Information obtained from: Southernmost Radio Network and http://www.sandisle.com

30 Fantastic Years

Fantasy Fest celebrates its 30th birthday this year! Contrary to popular belief, the festival is not just about crazy "Keys" people being...well crazy. It began in 1979 as a way to increase tourism to the Florida Keys at a typically slow time of year. It is just one of the many things that make our Florida Keys paradise special and fun!

Fantasy Fest, for those of you who are unfamiliar, is a 10-day event with a different central theme each year. During the 10 days, there are many (MANY!) ways to get in trouble all over the island of Key West. The bars of Key West host wild theme parties every night of the week. This October, the festival should prove to be a truly creep-tacular event as the theme is "Villains, Vixens, & Vampires".

The best part of Fantasy Fest is getting to dress up in your most outrageous costume! Glitter, feather boas, false eyelashes, colorful makeup, extreme hairdos...nothing is too taboo. And don't feel like you have to spend tons of money to have a great costume. The most creative and original costumes are usually the best, so many people make their own costumes at home. Fantasy Fest is a great way to "let your freak flag fly"!

The event begins Friday, October 23 and while Fantasy Fest is considered to be an adult entertainment event for the first 9 days, the last day (Sunday, November 1) is children's day which will feature costume contests, games, and arts & crafts- all for the kids!

Make your island dreams come true! The Florida Keys has beautiful weather year-round and many outdoor activities to enjoy. Now is an excellent time to buy property in the Florida Keys! There are also some great deals on homes and your little piece of paradise awaits you. Visit our website at http://www.placeinparadise.com/ or drop me a line at teammullins@bellsouth.net. I would love to hear from you!

Want to change your life? Just add WATER!

2009 Lobster Fest, Key West!

Lobster lovers of all ages came out to sample this tasty Florida crustacean during the 13th annual Key West Lobster Fest last month. Street vendors from 20 local restaurants cooked up a variety of lobster dishes from appetizers to full entrees. The festival takes place once a year on Key West's infamous Duval Street and celebrates the Florida Keys lobster season that runs from August 6 to March 31. All lobster is caught by Keys lobster fishermen.

Participating restaurant chefs compete for bragging rights in an unofficial lobster cook-off. Live music from local and regional bands enhances the festive nature of the event. In addition to showcasing the delicious Florida lobster and drawing visitors to the Florida Keys, Lobster Fest benefits a scholarship fund for Key West High School students. Come on down and join in the fun next year!

Make your island dreams come true! The Florida Keys has beautiful weather year-round and many outdoor activities to enjoy. Now is an excellent time to buy property in the Florida Keys! There are also some great deals on homes and your little piece of paradise awaits you. Visit our website at www.PlaceInParadise.com or drop me a line at teammullins@bellsouth.net. I would love to hear from you!

Want to change your life? Just add WATER!

Up Close And Personal

Yes, I was really this close! This large, gentle creature was actually seen in a canal on Summerland Key. Manatees swim in warm water areas and need fresh water for survival. They have been known to drink from an unattended water hose in the warm canal waters of neighborhoods in the Florida Keys.

This slow moving creature is actually a decedant of the elephant and hundreds are injured each year by boaters causing their near extinction. Fossil remains of manatee ancestors show they have inhabited Florida for about 45 million years.

It is a rare treat to see one of these beautiful creatures up close and personal. If you see a Manatee in the wild, remember it is illigal to feed or touch them. Just marvel that these beautiful animals have been around a long time and hopefully for a long time to come.

Make your island dreams come true! The Florida Keys has beautiful weather year-round and many outdoor activities to enjoy. Now is an excellent time to buy property in the Florida Keys! There are also some great deals on homes and your little piece of paradise awaits you. Visit our website at http://www.placeinparadise.com/ or drop me a line at teammullins@bellsouth.net. I would love to hear from you!

Want to change your life? Just add WATER!

Information obtained from: http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=q9xw97cab.0.0.aqtrvncab.0&ts=S0413&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.seaworld.org%2Finfobooks%2FEndangered%2FesvI.html&id=preview

The Vandenberg Swims with the Fishes

Wednesday, May 27, 2009, the USS Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg was scuttled seven miles off Key West. The ship will now be used as an artificial reef. This will help marine life by creating new underwater habitat where fish populations can thrive.

The event brought many boaters who were eager to see the pre-rigged explosive charges detonate. Then to watch the ship sink into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean. My friends and I were among them.

We loaded up our boat with food and headed out to the open water bright and early Wednesday morning. The boat ride out to Key West was amazing. The sky was brilliant-blue and the water was (mostly) smooth.

We were allowed to anchor 1 mile out from the ship. As we waited for the explosive charges to be detonated, we were entertained by the captains on the marine radio playing and talking about what they could see.

Finally, around 10 am, the explosive charges were detonated, the ship was covered in smoke, and then it was gone. In the span of about 2 minutes, the USS Vandenberg was sunk. One of these days I plan to take my dive gear out to visit the ship in its new home.

Make your island dreams come true! The Florida Keys has beautiful weather year-round and many outdoor activities to enjoy. Now is an excellent time to buy property in the Florida Keys! There are also some great deals on homes and your little piece of paradise awaits you. Visit our website at http://www.placeinparadise.com/ or drop me a line at teammullins@bellsouth.net. I would love to hear from you!

Want to change your life? Just add WATER!

Information obtained from: The Key West Weekend Keynoter

Bird's Eye View of Paradise

I can't wait to go on another Seaplane ride! It's incredible to think that you begin in the water and end up in the air! At first, it is a little unnerving because you're basically sitting out in the open with no enclosure- the plane is completely open. But once you get used to it, you feel like a bird (albeit, a really large bird). You can smell the salty sea air, feel the wind in your face, and see so many fish and snorklers swimming around in the crystal-clear Florida Keys water.

We landed in the water near a coral head and pulled out our snorkel gear that we stored in the floats of the plane. We were mostly looking for good spots to catch lobster (as lobster season is quickly approaching...) and we found a couple of spots we could come back to during season. But we also saw many amazing tropical fish.

When we finished our snorkeling excursion, we took off in the plane again and just as we lifted off the water, we saw a school of porpoise swimming right next to our air/water craft. Apparently, they thought we were one of them!

As we celebrate Memorial Day, we would like to thank and recognize all the men and women of our military who have sacraficed to make our country safe.

Make your island dreams come true! The Florida Keys has beautiful weather year-round and many outdoor activities to enjoy. Now is an excellent time to buy property in the Florida Keys! There are also some great deals on homes and your little piece of paradise awaits you. Visit our website at http://www.placeinparadise.com/ or drop me a line at teammullins@bellsouth.net. I would love to hear from you!

Want to change your life? Just add WATER!

Roughin' It

One beautiful Saturday afternoon, my friends and I made plans to go to Bahia Honda State Park and relax on the beach. One friend thought it would be a good idea to bring along a tent and some camping gear, just in case we were having too much fun to leave. This plan turned out to be ingenius as we were, in fact, having way too much fun to leave.

We drove over to the campgrounds (our site was directly across from the water) where we grilled food (including s'mores!!), listened to music, told hilarious stories, and laughed all evening long.

In the morning, we awakened early to a stunning sunrise, crystal clear glassy waters and went for an early morning sunrise swim in the warm waters of the Caribbean. The water was perfect! I hadn't been on a camping trip since I was a kid and can't remember ever having this much fun. In our highly technical world, it's easy to forget how much fun you can have sitting around a campfire, enjoying the company of friends, and the beautiful Florida Keys.

Make your island dreams come true! The Florida Keys has beautiful weather year-round and many outdoor activities to enjoy. Now is an excellent time to buy property in the Florida Keys! There are also some great deals on homes and your little piece of paradise awaits you. Visit our website at http://www.placeinparadise.com/ or drop me a line at teammullins@bellsouth.net . I would love to hear from you!

Want to change your life? Just add WATER!

Eat! Eat!

Plan to make Mangia Mangia Pasta Cafe in Key West. I recommend any kind of pasta dish, since the pasta is homemade and amazingly fresh; the seafood is cooked to perfection; and every dish is made to order.

You have the choice of sitting outdoors in the garden area surrounded by twinkling lights, or the warm, cozy indoors to enjoy beautiful artwork on the walls made of Dade County pine.

Mangia Mangia is located in the heart of Old Town Key West, on the corner of Southard and Margaret- perfect if you want a more private meal away from the festivities of Duval Street.

Make your island dreams come true! The Florida Keys has beautiful weather year-round and many outdoor activities to enjoy. Now is an excellent time to buy property in the Florida Keys! There are also some great deals on homes and your little piece of paradise awaits you. Visit our website at http://www.placeinparadise.com/ or drop me a line at teammullins@bellsouth.net . I would love to hear from you!

Want to change your life? Just add WATER!

TGIF: Thank Goodness It's Florida!

For the past 2 months when I awaken and listen to the weather report, it's been all about blizzards and ice and freezing temperatures. I think about the people who have to wake up every morning and shovel their driveways and scrape the ice and snow off of their cars so they can go to work.

So imagine my relief when I look out my window and see the sunny blue sky, people in the neighborhood out walking in shorts, and nothing more than a cooler-than-usual breeze. It is then that I truly appreciate how lucky I am to live here on this beautiful island.

We're not kidding when we say "forever summer". Most locals don't own shoes that aren't flip-flops and some don't even own long pants! Florida Keys weather really is that nice.

Here are a couple of questions for you folks up in the freezing north: When was the last time you sat outside to watch the sun set into the glistening blue ocean? Or took a boat ride to an island to have a fabulous brunch? Or experienced underwater scenery you've only ever seen in photos? Believe me, the photos don't do it justice. Isn't it time you changed all that?

Make your island dreams come true! The Florida Keys has beautiful weather year-round and many outdoor activities to enjoy. Now is an excellent time to buy property in the Florida Keys! There are also some great deals on homes and your little piece of paradise awaits you. Visit our website at http://www.placeinparadise.com/ or drop me a line at teammullins@bellsouth.net. I would love to hear from you!

Want to change your life? Just add WATER!

Little Palm: The REAL Paradise Island

I want to share with you all possibly the most beautiful and relaxing experiences I've had in the Keys thus far-it was my day at Little Palm Island. Little Palm Island is a resort and spa just off of Little Torch Key that you can only reach by boat or seaplane. My friends and I decided to go for brunch on Sunday, so we hopped aboard the boat on Little Torch Key and took a scenic ride to the island. The boat ride takes about 20-30 minutes, but we hardly noticed because the view of the water from the boat is so breathtakingly beautiful.

A hostess was at the dock to greet us when we arrived and showed us to our table. We elected to sit outdoors so we could enjoy the beautiful tropical landscaping and wildlife that surrounds the island (a Key Deer actually strolled by our table!).

Now on to my favorite part-THE FOOD! Brunch is served "buffet style"- you can eat all you want and everything is all inclusive! There were tables and tables of cold salads, fruits, and shrimp cocktail, as well as bagels, muffins and coffee cakes. There was also an entire menu of hot entres that were made to order. The hot options change periodically, but usually include eggs benedict, french toast, and pancakes, to name only a few.

A mimosa and bloody mary bar was set up inside. The bartender made the classic versions of these cocktails, but he also got creative and made something called a Kir Royale. If you're unfamiliar with this drink, it is made with champagne and raspberries and is unbelievably refreshing!

After we had had enough to eat and drink, we took our time on the island just relaxing and chatting. The boat heads back to Little Torch Key every hour on the hour so there was plenty of time to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere.

I absolutely insist that everyone visiting the Florida Keys experience Little Palm Island, but especially those of you who are locals! You do need reservations and there is a dress code. Visit the Little Palm website for details. This is the ultimate Florida Keys experience!

Make your island dreams come true! The Florida Keys has beautiful weather year-round and many outdoor activities to enjoy. Now is an excellent time to buy property in the Florida Keys! There are also some great deals on homes and your little piece of paradise awaits you. Visit our website at http://www.placeinparadise.com/ or drop me a line at teammullins@bellsouth.net. I would love to hear from you!

Island Fortress

Since moving to the Keys, I've wanted to visit the Dry Tortugas- a group of islands about 70 miles west of Key West. So imagine my excitement when one of my good friends started working on the Yankee Freedom which is one of the ferries that makes trips to Fort Jefferson and Dry Tortugas National Park.

My day started bright and early. I was at the boat by 7 am to check in and get a seat before the boat departed at 8 am. A buffet-style breakfast with cereal, bagels, fruit, and an assortment of juices was served as people were boarding the boat.

The boat ride takes about 45 minutes so there was plenty of time to decide what I was going to do once I got to the island. I decided to take the tour of the Fort first. I learned all about Dr. Samuel Mudd who was imprisoned at the fort for aiding John Wilkes Booth in the assassination of President Lincoln. Mudd was eventually pardoned by President Johnson after he helped stop the spread of yellow fever that had broken out at the fort in 1867.

After the tour it was time for a quick lunch back on the boat and then... snorkeling! My goal was to swim all around the fort. I also swam pretty far out and found many beautiful coral heads and tropical fish. The water was warm and clear and it was a great experience!

Live the adventure! The Florida Keys has beautiful weather year-round and many outdoor activities to enjoy. Now is an excellent time to buy property in the Florida Keys! There are also some great deals on homes in the Florida Keys and your little piece of paradise awaits you. Visit our website at http://www.placeinparadise.com/ or drop me a line at teammullins@bellsouth.net. I would love to hear from you!

Want to change your life? Just add WATER!