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Marathon Running Event at Sombrero Beach

Start planning for the Sombrero Beach Run, it makes for good motivation throughout the year. We want everyone to come back and bring another new person to join in the fun. Take your pick between the 15K Challenge, 10K, or 5K Walk/Run. You cannot beat vibe and it is one of the most popular fitness focused Middle Florida Keys Events. Music, dance, eat, run, get fit and drink cold brews too! The bonus is the spectacular setting of Sombrero Beach. Bring your snorkel, the swimming area is awesome.

Friends and Volunteers of Refuges

Our group is seeking volunteers to help us move forward with many incredible happenings as part of the protection of the Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges. It is such a pleasure to be on the team and tackle the challenging issues that face the Key Deer and the rest of the animals that live on the islands. Our primary focus is supporting the National Wildlife Refuge mission. It takes a coordinated team to help conserve fish, marine life, land based wildlife, and plant resources too. We aim to keep their habitats for the benefit of all present and future generations to enjoy. What a super cause!

Suggestions for Bicycle Riding in the Florida Keys?

The big fancy name for our bicycle trail pathways is the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail. It provides opportunities for really long ride bicycling, walking, and any other running or rolling object that a person can cruise down the scenic pathways on. FKOHT users get to see plenty of neat things along the way, plus some very scenic views. However, you need to know that not all pathways are equal and it can get a bit tricky when you have to cross some of the bridges. I would not ever bike ride long on the shoulders of US1 Highway. It is just too dangerous, and that is only an issue in certain locations (for instance the Seven Mile Bridge). Many parts have separate safety zones for bikes and walkers to cross the bridge, plus the sidewalks are far from the road traffic. This is true for both the northbound and southbound directions. In my personal opinion, I would not travel on the road or any places that there is not an existing bicycle trail. Remember, use extreme caution on the bridges. The trails are great, just wanted to make sure visitors have a basic understanding and can read more, plus view the pathway maps online. (Add website link please.)

Scuba Diving to the Spiegel Grove Shipwreck

During our two week vacation, we learned the history behind the Spiegel Grove. We had schedule a dive trip out and it was a great story, a true blessing to Key Largo and the Florida Keys Dive Industry. First, this massive ship is the third-largest ship (500+ feet) to be made as an artificial reef. It started back in the late 1950's, and the ship did its job for the Navy until it was decommissioned in 1989. It took years and years to finally get the approval to tow the Spiegel Grove to Key Largo. It was sunk to be the key element of giant reef six miles offshore (Key Largo), at a depth of between 60 and 125 feet (top deck to hull). Now, it is hugely popular and you will see both scuba charter and private boats on the mooring buoys every day that weather permits. It is a great story, and we were privileged to see it up close.