World Oceans Day: How To Travel Sustainably in the Keys

World Oceans Day is on June 8th, and because we spend so much time looking at, swimming in, and playing on the water here in the Keys, it’s a special holiday. It also marks a great occasion to share with our future guests and fellow travelers some of the ways you can learn about and support local marine life. Here’s a brief guide on how to honor World Oceans Day and travel sustainably in the Keys. 

 

Discovery Center

One of the best ways to learn about the area is to visit the Florida Keys History & Discovery Center — a 7,500-square-foot museum and learning center here at Islander Resort. You can get into the spirit of World Oceans Day here by checking out exhibits on our maritime history, learning amazing stories about Henry Flagler’s overseas railway, the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, and more ocean-themed tales that helped shape the local culture to what it is today. 

 

Islander Girl Tours

Once you’ve learned about our local environment, then you’ll want to get out and enjoy it. To help facilitate your adventures, Islander Resort has partnered with Islander Girl Tours — a team of adventure guides that can take you on magnificent snorkel tours, sandbar swims, sunset cruises, private boat charters, and more. 

 

Boating

While exploring the seas with Islander Girl Tours is amazing, we also get that a lot of people want different experiences, which is why there’s a variety of boating activities possible for guests here. You can celebrate World Oceans Day by chartering directly from Islander Girls, and also by renting a gulfside slip from Bayside Villas for just $75 per night. 

 

Resort Sustainability 

Sustainability should be at the forefront of our minds heading into this year’s World Oceans Day. Since Islander’s last renovation, we’ve been committed to becoming the most earth-friendly resort we can. Since 2020, we have greatly reduced our carbon footprint. One example of many initiatives taken — there was once an old sewer treatment plant on our property that’s been repurposed to hold reclaimed water for our irrigation system. 

To help reduce travel’s impact on sustainability, we’ve outfitted our rooms with a number of progressive amenities including mini-split, energy-efficient air conditioning, energy-efficient laundry, and thermostats that regulate and save energy when rooms are empty, biodegradable products, and a lot more. 

This is all to say, if you’re looking for somewhere to celebrate World Oceans Day, or simply somewhere that loves and respects local marine life — the Islander Resort is on that wavelength.