A great place to escape the cold weather up in the northern states is down south in Key West, Florida. Not only is Key West weather warm year-round, but you can save hundreds of dollars on your holiday accommodations by picking up some great Key West discounts, including dolphin watch trips, Dry Tortugas trips, scuba diving, and parasailing.

For about $20, you can pick up a discount Gold Card for Key West accommodations and restaurants that can save a family on holiday a lot of money–potentially over a thousand Euros if you share the card with a group (it can be used for up to 6 people in your party).

Can you really spend less than $20 to save $200 or more? Absolutely, and it's very simple to do. Here's how. The company that issues the Key West discount card has pre-arranged some huge discounts with local shops and tours in return for being a member of the program. These have been negotiated with Key West fishing charters, kayak tours, snorkeling adventures, scuba diving expeditions, and Jet Ski rentals, to name a few.

The list of businesses participating in the program is actually much larger, and includes restaurants, parasailing, and more. But the question is, does it really pay for itself? Absolutely!Yes, and fast! In fact, you can get discounts on Key West accommodations that will pay for the price of the card on the first night.

For more information, we suggest checking out this Key West discount card for big savings on Key West activities. You will enjoy Key West a lot more when you stretch your dollar for the maximum amount of enjoyment!

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So where is Dry Tortugas anyway, and how did such a spectactular national treasure get such a bizarre name? About 70 statute miles off the coast of Key West, Dry Tortugas is a group of tiny islands known for the abundant sea life, including sea turtles. A portion of its unique name is explained by the fact that the Spanish word for turtles is tortugas.

But what makes it dry, given that Dry Tortugas National Park is surrounded by the waters of the crystal clear blue Caribbean? It turns out that the name comes from when the Spaniards occupied the islands, and they quickly discovered there was no fresh water available. So the islands eventually became known as the Dry Tortugas, or "dry turtles." To this day, as a major tourist attraction, boaters and tour operators must bring in their own water for visitors.

First named a National Monument in 1935 by FDR, Dry Tortugas was designated a national park in 1992 at the end of George H. W. Bush's term right before Clinton won the November election. As the home of the unfinished Civil War era Ft Jefferson (a brick structure which came to be used as a prison housing accused conspirators in Lincoln's assassination), the strip of sandy beaches and colorful reefs is now a destination for the 80,000 tourists who visit each year. Everyone leaves in amazement at the fascinating history of the former fort originally thought of as a defense against the real pirates of the Caribbean.

Visitors to Dry Tortugas can enjoy a large array of activities, from educational tours of Ft. Jefferson, to lazy days on the beach, to spectacular wildlife snorkel tours of the corral reef.

Of course, the only access to the island is by boat of sea plan. So if you want to book a trip, a Dry Tortugas charter will be necessary. There are some great discounts available on Dry Tortugas charters, Key West hotels, Key West snorkeling, and other recreation packages at Gold Card Key West.

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