Story and photos by Scott Kendall (unless otherwise indicated)
The Florida Keys make up the southernmost part of the continental United States off the southern tip of Florida. With miles of beaches surrounded by pristine waters, this string of picturesque islands makes for the perfect getaway. Main islands include Key Largo, Islamorado, Marathon, Big Pine Key, and Key West.
Map of The Florida Keys
We flew into Miami from Houston, rented a car, and drove south. We reached the southern tip of Florida, left the mainland, and hit Key Largo, the first large island in The Keys. Following Highway 1, with clear blue waters on both sides of us, we reached Hawks Cay after a couple of hours. Turning left into the main entrance of Hawks Cay, we quickly realized we had left the rest of our world behind.
Hawks Cay Resort
At Hawks Cay Resort we were surrounded by palm trees, lush landscaping, condominiums, swimming pool, and tennis courts. We found the main building, unloaded our luggage, and were greeted by the friendly staff. Thirty minutes later, we were resting on beach chairs in the private lagoon, sipping cold beers, relaxing while watching boats slide through the channel. Seagulls flew overhead, children splashed in the lagoon and the nearby pool, and life was good.
Angler and Ale Restaurant at Hawks Cay
After flying and driving for half of the day and moving into our room at Hawks Cay Resort, we were famished. Lucky for us, the fabulous Angler and Ale Restaurant was just a short walk from our room. We were seated at a table on the outside deck, with a beautiful view overlooking the water and one of the many bridges spanning the length of The Keys.
We started with a tasty wedge salad, with just the right amount of bacon and crumbled blue cheese. For entrees, my wife had the delicious snapper and I enjoyed the crab cakes with rice and black beans. I had a citrusy local wheat beer that was a perfect complement to my dinner. Make sure you save room for the fantastic Key Lime Pie – a smooth combination of sweet and tart with a tasty, flavorful crust and topped with a plop of perfectly browned meringue.
Dolphin Connection at Hawks Cay
Ever since watching the television series Flipper as a kid, I’ve been fascinated by dolphins. Now approaching my golden years, I finally had the chance to play up close and personal with these magnificent creatures. At the Dolphin Connection at Hawks Cay (co-located with Hawks Cay but a separate organization), my wife and I had so much fun swimming and playing with the dolphins.
The outstanding trainers introduced us to our new friends, allowing us to touch them, hug them, shake hands (fins), and talk to them. We even got to ride a dolphin by holding on to his fins while he was lying on his back and towing us to shore. Such a memorable experience!
Key West, Continental US Southernmost Point
We left Hawks Cay after the dolphin encounter and headed west to Key West. More picturesque bridges, water, and palm trees lay ahead of us, and we were soon in storied Key West. Well known for the home of Ernest Hemingway, Harry Truman’s vacation home, Jimmy Buffet music, Sloppy Joe’s Bar, and beautiful sunsets, Key West is the ultimate getaway.
Barefoot Billy’s Water Sports
One of the best ways to see the waters and coastal area of Key West is by jet ski. We went straight to Barefoot Billy’s, where we joined about a dozen folks excited to explore Key West. After a brief safety review and operating instructions, we jumped aboard our jet ski to start our 27 mile tour around the island of Key West.
We were a mix of beginners and veteran jet skiers, and we all managed to stay afloat as we traversed the turquoise waters. Overall, the waters were calm, but every now and then passing boats would create waves from their wakes, and the water were a bit choppy and a bit more challenging. Dakota, our wonderful guide, made us all feel safe as he led us on a fun-filled trip around the island.
Classic Harbor Sunset Cruises
One of the quintessential activities in Key West is the sunset cruise. We chose to sail on Classic Harbor’s America 2.0. Leaving from the wharf on the north side of the island, the captain of the America took us on the perfect cruise. Smooth, straight and true, we sailed out of the harbor along with dozens of other sailboats, yachts, and catamarans. During the cruise, we were served a variety of Hors d’oeuvres and drinks, including fresh peeled shrimp, veggies, beer, wine, and champagne.
Our knowledgeable captain added to the beautiful cruise with his narration and answers to our many questions. We had plenty of time to witness the slowly setting sun, and were able to capture photos and memories of the beautiful sunset. One of my favorite photos shows the setting sun as a deep orange orb next to the silhouette of a passing sailboat.
Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory
One of the highlights of our visit was the outstanding Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory. We were welcomed inside the main building and gift shop by a dazzling display of butterflies, artwork, birds, photos, and other samples of indoor and outdoor décor.
The real fun started when we entered the enclosed butterfly habitat. Within seconds, we were surrounded by dozens of flying blue, red, black, and green butterflies flitting to and fro. The lush landscaping was the perfect background for our flying friends, a mix of vivid greens, reds, oranges and other colors. Sophie, our friendly and knowledgeable guide, entertained and educated us with her extensive knowledge of the butterflies, birds, and plants at the conservatory.
Rhett and Scarlett
And then we saw pink.
Turning the first corner, we came face to face with two large pink bodies. Rhett and Scarlet.
Rhett and Scarlet are the two flamingos who call the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory home. The flamboyant pair treated us to an insight into their dramatic mating ritual. With heads bobbing in unison, each then opened their wings and bowed to the other, all the while cackling sweet nothings to the other.
Snorkeling with Sebago Watersports
Snorkeling is a very popular water activity in The Keys. We took a three hour round trip ride on the popular Sebago Watersports catamaran off the coast of Key West for an afternoon of sightseeing and snorkeling. The captain and crew took us several miles out to the coral reef, where most of the group climbed down the ladder into the clear blue waters. The crew was great about reviewing all the safety precautions and ensuring everyone was taken care of.
While snorkeling above the reef, we could see several fish swimming among the sea plants and coral. The water was crystal clear, and I felt a sense of peace as I floated above the aquatic world off the coast of Key West.
Duffy’s Restaurant
Duffy’s Steak and Lobster House on Simonton and Truman was right on the mark for dinner one night. I ordered the delicious sautéed Yellowtail Snapper Maison, a fresh fillet with Shrimp, Capers, Mushrooms, White Wine and Butter. So good! The tender, moist fish was perfectly complemented with the flavorful shrimp, mushrooms, and wine sauce.
For dessert, we shared the decadent chocolate cake with whipped cream and drizzled with chocolate – a fitting finale to a wonderful meal. Duffy’s earned a spot as one of our go to restaurants in Key West.
La Grignote Artisan French Bakery and Cafe
Imagine growing up in the south of France, and then leaving it all behind to settle in Key West. This is the story of the lovely couple who own La Grignote French Bakery and Cafe. Joel and Babeth moved from France and opened La Grignote in September of 2016, and have quickly been recognized as one of the top restaurants in Key West. Their authentic French croissants, muffins, quiche, frittattas, and other menu items are exceptional. In addition to the top quality food, Joel and Babeth are very friendly and are involved with their neighbors and community. Do yourself a favor, and visit this fabulous café and bakery at 1211 Duval Street.
Key West and Hawks Cay are the Perfect Getaway
This was our first trip to The Florida Keys, but it won’t be our last. Now that there are direct flights from Houston to the Key West Airport, I expect we will be visiting again sometime soon!
