This post was written in collaboration with the Florida Keys. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A few weeks ago, I boarded a flight from Nashville to Miami to meet up with the Babes That Wander. We spent five days exploring the Florida Keys and I’m excited to share with you all that we did in today’s post.
Once all six of us landed in Miami, we got two rental cars and drove an hour and a half to Duck Key, our first stop in the Florida Keys journey. Read more on what to do below!
What to Do in Islamorada
Where to Stay
Hawks Cay Resort – Hawks Cay is a lovely resort located in Duck Key. We were about 20 minutes from most of our Islamorada activities and this resort had something for everyone. Hawks Cay has 250 villas that have 2-3 bedrooms and 177 guest rooms. We split two 3-bedroom villas that each had their own bathrooms and a kitchen and living room. The best part was the water view, perfect for sunset and sunrise watchers! The resort also has six restaurants, a saltwater lagoon, an adults-only pool, and an onsite dolphin experience!
We spent most of our time running around Islamorada but got to get in some time at the adults-only pool with a refreshing beverage in hand.
Where to Eat
Angler & Ale – Located onsite at Hawks Cay, Angle & Ale overlooks the marina and has some of the yummiest seafood. The menu offers locally sourced ingredients and includes Whole Food Snapper, Grouper Cheeks, ceviche of the day, and Tuna Nachos. You can also bring in your catch of the day if you fish and have the chef prepare it for you,
Robbie’s at Islamorada – Before our parasailing adventure, we stopped at Robbie’s for breakfast. Robbie’s is a mix of outdoor shops, food, and feeding animals like Tarpon. We had pancakes, breakfast sandwiches, bloody mary’s, and even decorated a dollar bill to staple to the wall in case we ever come back.
Tour & Tasting at Islamorada Brewery & Distillery – Whenever I travel, I always love trying local brews and spirits. Islamorada is a brightly colored building with a great backyard space to enjoy a drink or two with friends. The company has an onsite distillery and they make gin, vodka, and rum. We also tried flights of their beer, cocktails and canned drinks.
Dinner at Morada Bay Beach Café – Down the road from the Islamorada Brewery & Distillery is the Morada Bay Beach Café. This restaurant had the most stunning views and felt like you were on a tropical island. Half of the beach was a colorful, more casual look and then the other side was more formal with fine dining in the plantation style house. We enjoyed fresh seafood, yummy cocktails, and local produce. I recommend everyone make a reservation here to enjoy dinner and the view!
What to Do
Parasailing at Robbie’s – Fun fact, I can’t swim. But luckily when you’re parasailing you don’t even have to touch the water if you don’t want to! My anxiety was at a 10 leading up to our turn but once we got in the air it was so calm and quiet. You could look down and see fish in the water and look up with views as far as the eye can see. I would do this again in a heartbeat and was such a fun activity to do on our trip.
What to Do in Key West
After checking out of Hawks Cay Resort, we packed up and drove an hour and a half to Key West.
Where to Stay
Southernmost Beach Resort – Once we finished the drive to Key West, we checked into the Southernmost Beach Resort. The Southernmost Beach Resort is in the best location, right in the heart of Ket West. Amenities include four bars, three heated pools, two beaches, fitness center, spa, and the Southernmost Beach Cafe. We enjoyed drinks at the Pineapple Pool and also the serenity at the Tranquility Pool.
We stayed in spacious rooms that had balconies facing the ocean. The perfect place to drink your coffee in the morning!
Where to Eat
Southernmost Beach Café – As I said above, the Southernmost Beach Resort has one restaurant, the Southernmost Beach Café. This place offers locally inspired Key West cuisine and fresh seafood. It’s right off the beach and you can enjoy the ocean as you enjoy your meal. We had lunch and breakfast here and always enjoyed the food!
Half Shell Raw Bar – In the historic Seaport area, this casual restaurant offers fresh seafood in a picnic-style environment. You can enjoy your meal over the water and watch boats come and go while you enjoy your pink shrimp, fish and chips of Half Shell conch ceviche.
The Docks Stock Island – One of the newest restaurants in Key West is the Docks. This was the most phenomenal meal and they serve up sustainably sourced seafood with views overlooking Stock Island’s working marina. Make this one of the top places to eat on your Key West getaway!
What to Do
Commotion on the Ocean with Fury Key West – We originally were going to do a sunset sail with Fury Key West but they didn’t have enough people book the cruise so we rebooked on Commotion on the Ocean. This was a larger boat with three levels. One level was the bar area where you could get appetizers and drinks, the second was with the live band and dance area, and the top area was the place to be to catch the killer view. We camped out at the top level to take in every moment of the sunset. I also recommend wearing action bands if you get seasick like me.
Morning Yoga with Salute to the Sol – There’s nothing like being present and being centered with nature when you’re on a beach trip. The teacher, Rebecca, teaches virtual and in-person sessions and we had a personal session at the Truman Waterfront. Yoga is for all levels and the goal is to get the most out of your practice while achieving fitness goals. Definitely see where they’re going when you’re in town.
Ernest Hemingway Home – I visited Hemingway’s Home and Museum when I was in Key West with my mom and loved visiting again. Hemingway lived in Key West for 10 years and was inspired by the city. You can wander the rooms and gardens where Hemingway spent one of this prolific period of his writing career. You can also find the six toes cats that wander the property freely. It’s something you have to see for yourself!
Jet Ski’s With Barefoot Billy’s – I have a need for speed! Again, I can’t swim but love to jet ski. Something about being on the water and going as fast as you can with the wind in your hair is so freeing. We had to take a test before, don’t worry it’s open book, before you ride the jetski but we did a 90 minute session with a guide who took us for a great ride around the island.
What are your favorite things to do on a Florida Keys Getaway? Share with me in a comment below!
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