I stepped out onto my balcony and heard waves rolling gently onto the shore. Palm trees swayed in the breeze, and a rooster strutted across the grass. Yep, I was definitely in Key West. Plenty of people travel to Florida’s southernmost point for the island city’s anything-goes vibe and the party scene on its famed Duval Street, but that’s not the only kind of vacation you can have here. It’s also a great place for a family trip or quiet couple’s getaway, and a recent visit showed me why Southernmost Beach Resort makes an ideal home base for either.
The recently renovated six-acre property features nearly 300 guest rooms spread out over eight buildings. It’s located at the quieter south end of Duval Street, making it easy to avoid the bar scene if that’s your preference, but just as easy to partake if you’re inclined. Here’s why Southernmost Beach Resort works well for families and couples, allowing everyone to have the kind of vacation they want.
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Bring the kids
A recently refreshed king guest room at the Avalon Guesthouse.
Families can opt for one of the resort’s traditional guest rooms, some of which have balconies and views of the Atlantic Ocean, and all of which are done up in fresh, modern, beachy style. They’re a relaxing retreat at the end of the day after lots of time spent outdoors.
Despite its island setting in the Florida Keys, Key West doesn’t have a traditional Florida beach scene. But guests at Southernmost Beach Resort can step right out onto the compact South Beach and get priority access to complimentary loungers and umbrellas (the beach is also open to the public). Some of the resort’s complimentary weekly activities take place here, too, activities like beach yoga and an eco-tour along the water’s edge.
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Southernmost Beach Café occupies a prime spot on the sand, overlooking the water and serving up omelets and pancakes at breakfast and plenty of fresh seafood options at lunch and dinner (plus kid-friendly eats like burgers and chicken tenders). There’s also a coffee window that’s open in the morning for lattes, smoothies, and quick bites.
Daily breakfast on the waterfront Dewey Deck is a perk of staying in one of the Guesthouses.
Two family-friendly pools with lounge chairs and umbrellas offer welcome respites in the Florida heat, and complimentary bikes are available for guest use. Both kids and adults tend to find the island’s free-roaming chickens and roosters fascinating, and you’ll see them wandering around the resort (and sometimes hear them crowing). They’re descendants of chickens brought from Cuba for food and sport that were released or escaped, and the island, with its few natural predators, has proven a happy place to live.
Southernmost Beach Resort sits within easy walking distance to restaurants, shops, and kid-friendly attractions like The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory, Key West Lighthouse & Keeper’s Quarters, and the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum (home to nearly 60 six-toed cats!). A trolley stop for the hop-on, hop-off Key West Old Town Trolley Tours is also nearby.
The resort is just steps away from this classic Key West photo spot.
The resort’s also just a short stroll away from the Southernmost Point Buoy, a legendary Key West photo op where you can often find lines of travelers waiting for their turn to pose. But when I walked over around sunset one night, there was no wait to snap a photo. A must-have family photo accomplished without grumpy kids complaining about waiting? That’s the vacation dream right there.
Just the grownups
Southernmost Beach Café sits right on Key West’s South Beach for easy access and excellent views.
For a special couples getaway, check into one of the resort’s Guesthouses. Four restored Victorian homes – Avalon, Duval Gardens, La Mer, and Dewey – offer accommodations brimming with 19th-century style, and they’re all reserved for adults only. The rooms attractively blend historic and modern touches for a truly comfortable stay.
All of the Guesthouses Southernmost Beach Resort offer complimentary daily breakfast and hors d’oeuvres on the beachfront Dewey Deck, and each home has its own small private pool. It’s a bed-and-breakfast type of experience within the resort, and guests have access to all of the resort’s amenities as well.
That includes a small but capable full-service spa, fitness center, adults-only “tranquility” pool, and activities like tequila and rum tastings and salsa lessons. The resort’s two pool bars serve up signature cocktails like a Key Lime Margarita, and restaurants within walking distance of the resort offer everything from a much-loved lobster pizza to top-notch Key lime pie.
Choose a guestroom with a balcony and ocean views and you won’t be disappointed.
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You can opt for a quiet getaway at the resort or join the action on Duval Street, home to legendary bars like Sloppy Joe’s. Other fun activities for couples include the new Key West Cooking School that combines a cooking demonstration, history lesson, and dinner into one enjoyable experience; a visit to the Harry S. Truman Little White House; and a spirited tour and mojito-making class at Key West First Legal Rum Distillery.
Key West is considered one of the most haunted cities in America, and you can experience its spooky side on ghost tours by trolley or foot or on a pub crawl (we do love all things spooky at FamilyVacationist), or visit the Fort East Martello Museum, where the collection includes items from Key West’s military and cigar manufacturing history along with the infamous Robert the Doll. Ask someone in Key West to tell you the story of the haunted plaything – you won’t be disappointed.
At Key West’s Southernmost Beach Resort, there’s more than one way to stay for families and couples originally appeared on FamilyVacationist.com.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Key West’s Southernmost Beach Resort is perfect for families