As we see a new year begin, our PR team have taken the time to look back and choose one of our highlights of 2014. Whether this be through work, or personal highlights, we decided we wanted to give you a little insight into our lives and tell you about the great years we had.
Our first blog is from Jo – our Account Director who had the pleasure of attending Fantasy Fest in Key West last year!
KBC has had tremendous fun working for the Florida Keys & Key West over the last nine years, but one of the things we have always wanted to do is to take media to the biggest annual extravaganza to hit the sub-tropical island chain, Fantasy Fest!
I was lucky enough to take five European journalists to experience the last few days of Fantasy Fest at the end of October. This 10-day flamboyant Key West festival, sometimes compared to New Orleans’ Mardi Gras or Rio de Janiero’s Carnival, was even better than I was hoping it would be!
The timing of the trip meant we were there to join 60,000 visitors at the biggest events of the festival – the Pirate Bash at the Rum Barrel, The Masquerade March and the Fantasy Fest Parade.
The Fantasy Fest Parade was incredible; even after four hours I really did not want it to end! The group was hosted by La Concha Key West and we watched the parade from their balcony – the views were spectacular! The theme was “Animeted Dreams & Adventures” and the variety and sizes of the floats were unbelievable!
During the day, we enjoyed talking to random people in costumes (or just painted people), strolled the Duval Street Promenade, visited Hemingway House and had a tour of Key West’s First Legal Rum Distillery.
After two full on days and nights at Fantasy Fest, we headed up the Keys to Cheeca Lodge & Spa in Islamorada for some R&R. We kayaked at Big Pine Key, snorkelled at John Pennekamp State Park, visited the Turtle Hospital, enjoyed delicious freshly caught seafood, and chilled out in our own private outdoor Jacuzzis at the hotel.
The Florida Keys amaze me every time; there is always something new and exciting to experience. I am already planning on attending Fantasy Fest again next year – I just need to see if I can get holiday approved the week before WTM #nevergoingtohappen
