The Florida Keys are home to America's only living coral reef and much work goes on year round to protect this fragile ecosystem. It attracts many people throughout the year, but most of that attraction comes during the summer, when the warm climate brings out the more beautiful wildlife underwater.

While many people think of Florida and Key West as having summer all year, the locals of this tiny island know that its waters gently settle into a mirror-like calm; it's an irrepressible invitation to the many snorkelers and divers who travel here seeking the wonders of the living reef.

Summer tends to bring out all of the travel clothes for women. Of course, it's out of necessity, but no one seems to mind at all.  Afternoon tropical thunderstorms come and go, leaving a golden twilight behind; it doesn't take long to get attention to wander.  Of course, summer in the Florida Keys is the main component to have a luxury travel trip.

Summer in the Florida Keys is a prime Caribbean vacation with all the tropical foliage growing and even the water can rise to a perfect 80 degrees. And the sport of diving is at its height in the summertime.

 One of the most popular Summer Diving events is the Mini Lobster Season.  This event consists of 2 days of lobster madness, when amateurs are invited to catch their own lobster before the official beginning of Lobster Season, when it's left to the "pros." This annual summer event is especially popular with Europeans, who seem to crowd the island, adding their own exotic flavor to the hot island mix.  If someone is not interested in fishing on their resort vacation, they could simply get their share of fresh lobster in any of the friendly restaurants in Key West .

There's also plenty going on in Key West for "literary" types, like the Hemingway Days in Key West.  Ernest Hemingway is a favorite local historical figure, and the people are very proud that he lived, wrote and partied in Key West. The Hemingway Days Festival is a weeklong homage to the "party side" of Hemingway.  He was a character larger than life, and Key West keeps his legacy alive with a series of outrageous events.

As proud as the island is of its literary past, Key West is also proud of its gay-friendly heritage. For many years, an important segment of the island population has been gay. Gay women and men have been largely responsible for the restoration of the many Victorian buildings and homes in Old Town and led a renaissance for the island during the 1970's. It was a renaissance that brought a renewed vitality to the island and one which remains to this day. This gay pride is celebrated during Pridefest Week each summer.  Thousands of participants flock to the island from all over the world, celebrating the diversity of mankind and alternative lifestyles.