Florida Keys: The name has come to reflect a state of mind, an almost ethereal oasis that frees the mind of troubled thoughts and calls out to the child in all of us. If you have actual children who will accompany you and your inner child to the Keys, consider these 5 resorts that have made a name for themselves in pleasing the entire family – yes, even the teenager.
THE SANTA MARIA SUITES
Should you be a fan of Ernest Hemingway, you will recognize the above photo of his home during his time in Florida Keys, where you can take a peak of his recipe for the humble hamburger, titled as “Papa’s Favourite Hamburger” in a volume named “Variations on the theme of ground beef…” And what, you may ask, does this have to do with The Santa Maria Suites?
Well, should you stroll down Louisa Street just as you leave said resort, you will, in a scant 12 minutes, be standing in front of this historical home: The Santa Maria Suites vibrate with historic charm and sit just one block from Duval Street, which connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico.
The Trip Advisor ranks this outstanding resort as number 14 of the top 25 hotels in America: You can enjoy healthful smoothies at the poolside, get Zen in the garden sanctuary, put your wicked knife skills to work in your gourmet kitchen and sink into the Keys way of living for a while.
Link: The Santa Maria Suites
HAWKS CAY RESORT
Should your family wish for no-holds-barred fun in a remote location where the historic Keys takes a backseat to the lets-go-to-the-pirate-ship-pool Keys, the Hawks Cay Resort is just the thing.
Your teenager will be intrigued by the Teen Lounge where she will find new friends from places scattered across the globe, while your 7-year-old will want to spend considerable time getting to know his new friends the adorable dolphins. You will revel in the luxury of the 5,000 square feet spa, where you can rejuvenate after a family game of hoops at the basketball court.
The Hawks Cay Resort is really a village that has been built for the pleasure of young families: You can sip on a key lime cooler at the Beach Grill while watching iguanas play in nearby foliage – or while watching your teenager try kite boarding for the first time. You really cannot help but lose yourself in the myriad ways to enjoy the ocean at this celebrated resort.
Link: Hawk Cay Resort
TRANQUILITY BAY
Tranquility Bay offers your family the simplicity of luxury and the seduction of privacy. Imagine waking up in a beach house on the Gulf of Mexico, where the brilliant white sand of a 2.5-kilometer beach reaches out to meet alluring turquoise water. A gourmet kitchen provides you will everything you need to feed your family a healthful breakfast before heading out for the first swim of the day.
The world slows down at Tranquility Bay, whether you are sea kayaking as the sun dances on the water’s surface, learning about how environmentalism and the Keys intersect on an eco tour, sitting on your balcony with a chilled glass of sauvignon blanc or enjoying an excellent dining experience at the Butterfly Café.
Link: Tranquillity Bay
THE CASA MARINA RESORT
The Casa Marina Resort is the kind of place where you can say, “Meet me at the octopus at the beach, the one made of sand that is wearing a tiny hat and glasses.”
This resort brings you the best of frolicking in the Gulf of Mexico as well as all that Duval Street offers, its atmosphere of historic Key’s culture blending with a hip vibe not unlike that of Bourbon Street in New Orleans.
Located on the largest private beach in the Florida Keys, 1,100 feet of which is reserved for resort guests, the Casa Marina Resort offers diving on America’s only living barrier reef, imaginative sand sculpting workshops and simplicity of elegance in its amenities and accommodations.
Link: Casa Marina Resort
CHEEKA LODGE AND SPA
At Cheeka Lodge and Spa, your children just might want to spend the afternoon at the delightful Camp Cheeka, perhaps casting a line off the docks, exploring the beach or fleshing out their scavenger-hunting skills, while you stretch out on a lounge chair on the beach with that book that you have wanted to read for a year – sans a moment of guilt.
You might begin the day as a family doing yoga as the sun rises on the beach, before cycling around the island. Or perhaps you’ll allow your teenager an hour at the X-box arcade while you explore a folk art gallery.
This is a resort – nay, oasis – where the designers and staff get kids and knows just how important your time with your family is to you.
Link: Cheeka Lodge and Spa
They say if you put your ear to a seashell anywhere on this planet, and listen ever so carefully, you will hear the sounds of Florida Keys. Stay at one of the above resorts and experience the sounds – without the seashell.