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Just south of Key
Largo Florida is Islamorada, Florida. Here is the home of the
famous
Holiday Isle
Hotel and Tiki Bar. If you stay at Holiday Isle, you
can enjoy great food, fun and entertainment without ever having
to drive.
 Key
West Florida, the Conch Republic. Besides the attractions of
Orlando, you won't find anyplace in Florida as well known and
loved as Key West. From the historic homes of presidents and
authors, to the sunset pier nightly show at Mallory Square,
everyone has a fond memory of a trip to the southernmost point
in the United States. Key West has been a thriving community for
more than 170 years. The first settlers, who came from South
Carolina and St. Augustine, arrived in 1821 with the transfer of
Florida from Spain to the United States. In the mid-19th century
prosperity in Key West was based on the thriving maritime
salvage business.
 The
construction in the 1840s of Forts Zachary Taylor and Jefferson
and the U.S. Naval Station helped boost the economy, and
strengthened the strategic importance of Key West. It was the
only Southern port held by Union forces throughout the Civil War
and during the Spanish-American War, was one of the United
States' most significant naval bases.
 The city has also an important cigar-making center,
boosted by the large number of Cuban refugees on the island. The
arrival of Henry Flagler's railroad in 1912 promoted the
development of the Keys, and the easy access to mainland Florida
was a catalyst for the early development of the tourism
industry. Key West continued to be of importance as a strategic
naval base through the 1960s and today is a busy resort city. |
