Saturday, July 4, 2009

Well, local and national political issues continue to heat up, even as the temperature and humidity also slide up the scale. Summer has arrived in Key West, and hurricanes cannot be far behind. Al Franken has finally been declared the newly elected senator from Minnesota, shortly after Tegan Slaton was declared winner on the circuit court bench, where he has served since shortly after the election. Democracy works, but sometimes very slowly.

Congress is frantically meeting on health care reform in an effort to follow President Obama's lead, and at the same time put its own stamp on the developing bills. Obama is schmoozing with gays and lesbians in an effort to convince them they have not been forgotten. Mark Sanford, and God knows who may be next, is pouring out his heart and mind about the latest sex scandal as if anyone really cared.

So there's a lot to think about and write about, but shucks, the grandkids are here for a week and it's time to visit and relax, sit back and enjoy the simple things in life.

Key West has a wide array of attractions to both inform and entertain not only adults, but also three grandkids ages 5, 7 and 9. Shortly after their arrival by car from Kings Mountain, N.C., we had a quick lunch and headed for Astro Park. Having been confined in the car for two days, the kids were ready for some rough and tumble physical activity. The colorful slides, ladders, tubes, swings and other contraptions at the park got a real workout as all three kids, along with some newfound friends, worked off lots of bottled up energy. Thanks to the efforts of City Commissioner Teri Johnston and County Commissioner Heather Carruthers, Astro Park and Higgs Beach are now safe and clean family venues.

Our first full day began with a quick trip to the Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center. The center, which is free, is all about the Keys ecosystem and contains numerous interactive displays that are very user-friendly for children. They learn about the mangroves, fish, birds, reefs, sunken ships, ocean currents and much more. A small theater shows a 30-minute movie about the Keys ecosystem from the eyes of a small child, and later as an adult.

Close by the Eco-Center is the USS Mohawk, a 165-foot "A" class cutter that was commissioned in 1935. The Mohawk served as an North Atlantic escort and ice patrol ship, followed by a 30-year stint as a pilot boat on the Delaware River before being decommissioned and berthed in Key West. The tiny compartments for officers and the hammocks for crew generated many questions. Of special interest were the vintage typewriters, the "enigma machine" used for encoding and decoding messages and the "mess" that also served as an operating room.

The Aquarium, another kids-friendly, hands-on type attraction, was a hit with my grandkids. They delighted in touching the hermit crabs and other live displays. A simple touch seems to answer so many questions and, of course, kids love dipping their hands in water. The "no hands" tank with its several sharks and manta rays captivated the little ones.

Across from the Aquarium is the Shipwreck Historeum, one of my favorite Key West attractions and also a favorite for the kids. The actors are engaging and kids focused their attention on every word as the history of Key West, built on the booty taken from shipwrecks, unfolds. Here, too, there are films that hold the attention of adults and kids alike. The literal height of a visit to the Historeum is the climb to the top of the 65-foot tower, which offers spectacular island views.

A day on the beach at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park was a pleasant respite from the active sightseeing. Kids built castles in the sand as adults read and dozed under the Australian pines, a special gift from Helen Harrison and friends. A picnic was followed by more surf jumping and walking along the beach, before heading home to get ready for dinner at Turtle Kraals and a walk along the docks to look at all the boats.

Sunday featured church service at Metropolitan Community Church, brunch at Harpoon Harry's and a visit to the petting zoo at the jail on Stock Island. Dinner was barbecue at Geiger Key. Monday featured a walk through the gardens at West Martello, a few hours in the sun and water at Higgs Beach and a visit to the Butterfly Conservatory, a must for the kids. Dinner was at Hogfish on Stock Island and a walk along the docks.

To those who complain about the lack of activities for kids in Key West, I suggest you look around you. Many of the family oriented activities are free or charge a small fee. Our beaches are the original and remain the most satisfying "water feature" anywhere, period. Key West is a fun-filled playground for kids as well as adults. Got kids? Bring 'em on.

John Andola, a Key West resident, is a retired educator and gay rights activist. His column appears in The Citizen on Saturdays. He can be contacted at jandola@keysnews.com.