FLORIDA KEYS — The Florida Keys & Key West are open to visitors, with tourism infrastructure fully intact throughout the 125-mile-long island chain after Hurricane Milton’s outer bands brushed the Keys last week.
The Florida Keys Overseas Highway, including all 42 bridges, is open as usual.
Key West and Florida Keys Marathon international airports are open and operational as is the Port of Key West, which is receiving cruise ships.
No emergency protective actions, including visitor or resident evacuations, were taken during Hurricane Milton by Monroe County Emergency Management officials as the storm’s dangerous core remained far from the Keys island chain.
Throughout the Keys, accommodations, attractions, museums, restaurants and other businesses of interest to visitors are open.
Dive, snorkel and fishing charters are operating with normal schedules.
Florida state parks throughout the Keys are open.
Everglades National Park and its Guy Bradley Visitor Center at Flamingo are open in mainland Monroe County. Dry Tortugas National Park, located 68 miles west of Key West, is open with the Yankee Freedom III and Key West Seaplane Adventures resuming ferry and seaplane trips.
All activities for Key West’s upcoming Fantasy Fest 2024 — scheduled Friday, Oct. 18, through Sunday, Oct. 27, and themed “It’s a 90s Neon Cosmic Carnival” — are to take place. The internationally renowned costuming and masking festival features masquerade parties, costume competitions, street fairs, performance art, glamorous galas and a glittering grand parade.
Live Florida Keys webcams: fla-keys.com/webcams/
A flock of ibis swoops in for a landing at sunrise in mangrove trees at Garden Cove in north Key Largo on Tuesday, Oct. 15. Photo: JoNell Modys
Sunrise near Islamorada on Monday, Oct. 14 with a view of the Channel 5 bridge. Photo: Andy Newman
With sunny skies and calm conditions returning just after Milton bypassed the Florida Keys, visitors were back in line for photos of the famed Southernmost Point marker in Key West. Photo: Southernmost Point webcam
This article was updated on October 15, 2024 at 8:18 AM