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Hawks Cay Resort presents so many issues to do, the place will we even start? This unbelievable lodge on Duck Key makes a fantastic possibility for multigenerational teams and vacationers of all ages, regardless of how energetic or relaxed they need to be. Don’t waste valuable trip time in paradise deciding what to do. Instead, use our Hawks Cay assessment and record of 21 family-friendly issues to do on the resort to plan forward and benefit from your Florida Keys trip!
1. Explore Duck Key by boat.
Hawks Cay is a ship lover’s paradise. To really recognize the great thing about the Florida Keys, you will need to take to the water.
Hawks Cay Marina
Boat house owners particularly recognize Hawks Cay. That’s as a result of you possibly can even dock your personal vessel (as much as 110-feet lengthy) in one in all 85 slips at this resort. Learn extra in regards to the Hawks Cay Marina providers and expertise.
Solé Watersports
Those of us who do not personal our personal boat (or who do not need to sail it to Duck Key), ought to ebook an tour with Solé Watersports. On the group Sunset Cruise boat journey, my household ventured by way of wee inlets on the resort after which out to the Atlantic ocean.
Included in all their boat journeys are drinks like beer, wine, and fruit-flavored spiked seltzers. Meanwhile, teetotalers and youngsters can sip sodas and water. You’ll need to toast your luck when you watch nature’s fiery present shimmer throughout the water because the solar dips beneath the horizon.
Solé Watersports presents personal charters, too. The captain will take as much as six company for a one-hour personal island tour, two-hour sandbar tour, half-day journey, or night cruise.
2. Splash within the personal Saltwater Lagoon.
Although Hawks Cay doesn’t supply an enormous seashore, the resort is dwelling to a stupendous artifical lagoon.
The aquamarine waters are heat and surrounded by comfortable, pale sand and chaise lounges galore. The small zero-entry seashore is successful with all ages. In reality, Hawks Cay made our record of the greatest seashore resorts for households.
You simply may see an iguana or two hanging out by the Saltwater Lagoon. There’s one thing magical about sharing an ocean view with iguanas. They’re wild however shy. And tremendous quick after they need to be!
3. Swim in Hawks Cay Pools.
Hawks Cay presents 5 totally different swimming pools on your swimming pleasure. Additionally, 18 of the resort’s villas supply your personal personal plunge pool.
Main Resort Pool for all ages
The large Main Resort Pool is full of over 65,000 gallons of water and boasts beautiful ocean views. You can order meals served proper to your lounge chairs from the close by Tiki Grill. There are loads of palm bushes and solar umbrellas encircling this pool however arrive early within the day to say shaded loungers.
Expect a festive vibe right here with upbeat pop music performed on audio system. Throughout the day, select to take part (or not) in organized household video games and actions.
This pool presents zero entry, good for younger swimmers. It does have a deep finish, although, so hold that in thoughts if swimming with little children.
In the evenings, collect round a hearth pit on the Main Resort Pool. Check the resort schedule for s’mores nights with campfires and candy treats with nice views.
Oasis Cay Tranquility Pool for adults-only
For a extra tranquil surroundings, Hawks Cay’s guests aged 21+ can chill on the Oasis Cay Tranquility Pool, simply across the nook from the Main Resort Pool.
For the last word in leisure at this adults-only pool, reserve a daytime personal cabana. You’ll get upscale facilities like a ceiling fan, chilled bottled waters, a recent fruit tray, and a concierge server for an à la carte menu.
Coral Cay Pool for households
Coral Cay Pool is a superb area for households to splash and swim collectively. Family swimming pools, Coral Cay and Pirate Ship, are positioned subsequent door to one another on the Coral Cay Activities & Adventure Center.
Pirate Ship Pool for teenagers
Arg, mateys! Kids can fake to be buccaneers crusing the excessive seas on the Pirate Ship Pool. It has water cannons, small water slides, and a giant pirate ship good for make-believe adventures.
Sunset Pool, a small oasis for the entire household
If your loved ones is craving a extra mellow surroundings than you may discover on the Main Resort Pool or Coral Cay Pool, then head to the Sunset Pool. This smaller swimming gap is tucked far-off from the foyer and all of the motion.
Personal plunge swimming pools
The villas in Sanctuary Village at Hawks Cay Resort supply private plunge swimming pools. These present a refreshing approach to cool off whereas having fun with the privateness of your personal giant furnished patio.
4. Go deep-sea fishing.
The Middle Keys is a primary fishing vacation spot. Grouper, mahi-mahi, snapper, and billfish are among the many species you is likely to be fortunate to reel in throughout a fishing journey at Duck Key. Hawks Cay will hook you up with a plethora of quick access to beneficial fishing charters.
If you catch ’em, then Hawks Cay will prepare dinner ’em. The cooks on the resort’s Angler and Ale Restaurant are completely satisfied to serve your freshly caught fish fried, grilled, or blackened — your selection!
5. Embark on a snorkeling or diving tour.
The Florida Keys are dwelling to the Great Florida Reef, the third-largest barrier reef on this planet and the biggest in North America. That makes Hawks Cay a primary spot for water sports activities like snorkeling, SNUBA, or SCUBA diving.
My household launched into a gaggle snorkeling and sandbar tour with Solé Watersports, which included an hour of snorkeling within the shallow waters and coral reefs of the Coffins Patch Sanctuary Preservation Area. We noticed all types of colourful tropical fish and had our eyes peeled for moray eels and nurse sharks.
Motion illness victims (like me) ought to pack some Dramamine for this tour. Although I felt completely tremendous on our Sunset Cruise, I did begin to really feel queasy after bobbing about within the saltwater whereas snorkeling on this tour.
Thankfully, I used to be feeling tremendous by the point we reached the subsequent portion of our journey: the sandbar. We spent some time standing in the course of the ocean on a reasonably sandbar, sipping chilly drinkies whereas surrounded by startlingly clear water.
6. Interact with dolphins.
Hawks Cay Resort presents a Dolphin Connection program, which permits company to interface with these superb ocean mammals. In reality, Hawks Cay is the one lodge within the mainland U.S. that options on-site dolphin encounter applications for all ages.
All of the dolphins at Hawks Cay had been both rescued or born underneath human care. The dolphins reside and swim of their pure surroundings in an ocean-fed saltwater lagoon. Since their habitat is adjoining to a canal, the dolphins can safely observe quite a lot of marine life that continuously cross by together with manatees, sharks, sea turtles, stingrays, and tarpon.
The Dolphin Connection program presents loads of choices like their 45-minute Dockside Dolphins for the entire enjoyable and schooling from a dolphin deck with out swimming. Or, go all out with the three-hour personal Dolphin Trainer for a Day, which gives an up-close and private expertise with the non-migratory Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. My household didn’t take part in a dolphin expertise.
7. Rent kayaks or stand-up paddle boards.
Are you beginning to get the sense that Hawks Cay is all about water play? That’s as a result of water is the star at this resort! For one other approach to recognize the resort’s island location, hire a kayak or stand-up paddleboard. You’ll get a pleasant exercise whereas taking in the great thing about the calm, turquoise water that surrounds Duck Key.
8. Play miniature golf.
The onsite Coral Cay Activities & Adventures is the place to go for all types of play. Available at no further cost, company can borrow golf equipment and balls for a spherical or two of mini-golf on the Hawks Cay 18-hole placing course.
9. Join group actions and sports activities.
Swing by the Coral Cay Activities & Adventures workplace for an inventory of each day occasions. All ages will get pleasure from mid-day crafts, a playground, sports activities fields, and board video games. Even teenagers like to affix the enjoyable with organized basketball, kickball, and sand volleyball tournaments on a sports activities courtroom.
10. Explore by bicycle.
Hawks Cay is large. In reality, the 60-acre island resort occupies over 10 p.c of the island of Duck Key. Why not discover the resort on two wheels? Rent bicycles from Coral Cay Adventures & Activities for the day.
11. Drop the youngsters off at Camp Hawk.
Kids aged 5 to 12 are in for a deal with at Camp Hawk (previously Camp Adventure) at Coral Cay. Trained counselors lead kids in crafting, outside actions, and splash time on the Pirate Pool. Themed afternoon choices embrace Mermaid & Pirate Academy, Superhero, Magical Mayhem, and extra.
Hours differ relying on the season and day of the week. Typically, dad and mom can duck out for date evening on weekends when Camp Hawk extends into the evenings. Inquire with the resort to safe babysitting providers for younger kids or children of all ages who want one-on-one consideration.
12. Relax at Calm Waters Spa.
After you’ve got dropped the youngsters at Camp Hawk, saunter on over to Calm Waters Spa for leisure and pampering. Choose from a tempting array of facials, massages, and physique scrubs at this full-service spa. Salon providers are additionally accessible together with manicures, pedicures, and waxing, plus hairstyling, cuts, and highlights.
If you actually need to indulge at this full spa, although, ebook a Calm Waters Signature Buff and Massage. The 100-minute therapy features a rejuvenating exfoliation therapy adopted by a therapeutic massage that includes warmed Himalayan salt stones and aromatherapy. Swoon!
13. Pirate Activities.
Until March 2022, households might collect across the Pirate Ship Pool at Coral Cay to look at Priscilla the Pirate Queen and her crew sing, dance, and seek for treasure. The 30-minute interactive Swashbuckling Pirate Show was geared towards children ages 3 to 11.
The present has since been changed by pirate characters main actions corresponding to scavenger hunts and sword-fighting lessons periodically all through the week. Interact with characters like Koral the Mermaid, Captain Hawk, Clarence the First Mate, or the Pirate Queen.
14. Play tennis or pickleball.
Learn from a tennis professional throughout your Florida Keys trip or problem your journey mates to a match as a part of the Cliff Drysdale Tennis program at Hawk Cay Resort. Tennis courtroom utilization is included for lodge company.
For a payment, search for group clinics for adults and juniors, together with pickleball matches in summer time. Private classes with a USPTA-certified coach can be found, too. Rent (or buy) balls and rackets or carry your personal.
15. Feed fish at Hawks Cay Marina.
Buy a bag of frozen shrimp from the Dockside Store at Hawks Cay Marina to feed tarpons. These fish are nicknamed “silver king” due to their spectacular measurement and silver shade. Be certain to maintain your eyes peeled for appearances by the swish cows of the ocean, manatees!
16. Watch a dive-in film.
Gather at Coral Cay Activities & Adventures for a family-friendly film. Watch whereas floating within the pool or settle right into a lounge chair to benefit from the flick.
17. Enjoy reside music.
Do you like to hearken to reside music? Gather with different company aged 17+ on the adults-only Oasis Cay Tranquility Pool each Saturday night to hearken to an area band. Grown-ups may also get pleasure from drinks and dialog round a blazing firepit right here.
18. Dine out at Hawks Cay Resort.
When you are hungry or thirsty you’ve got acquired six restaurant and bar choices at Hawks Cay. You’ll additionally discover scrumptious eating choices not removed from the resort within the nearest city, Marathon. Plus, room service is accessible.
Sixty-One Prime
Connected to the foyer, Sixty-One Prime is the resort’s fine-dining possibility within the night, specializing in steaks and seafood. Be certain to get the scrumptious key lime pie for dessert!
Go right here for a buffet within the morning full with recent fruits, scrambled eggs, meat like sausage or bacon, an array of pastries, and a breakfast deal with like pancakes, waffles, or French toast.
Hawks Cay Marketplace
For one thing fast within the morning, seize a Starbucks espresso drink from Hawks Cay Marketplace. You may also decide up restricted, easy fare right here like boxed sandwiches and chips for lunch, or pizza for dinner.
Angler and Ale
My favourite restaurant at Hawks Cay Resort was Angler and Ale. In addition to spectacular marina views, you may discover seafood dishes like lobster macaroni and cheese, Caribbean conch fritters, and coconut almond shrimp. Landlubbers can persist with gadgets like ribs, hen, or steak as a substitute.
Get your order to go to carry alongside in your Solé Watersports journey, which units sail from the Hawks Cay Marina out again.
Coral Grill
Families taking part in at Coral Cay Activities & Adventures can take a lunch break on the Coral Grill. Open seasonally, this snack bar options sizzling sandwiches, wraps, burgers, and PB&Js. Top it off with ice cream for dessert. Mom and pa might be happy to search out grownup drinks on the market right here, too.
Oasis Cay Bar & Grill
If you need to escape the youngsters and quench your thirst, then stomach as much as the Oasis Cay Bar. This adult-only watering gap is positioned between the Main Resort Pool and the adults-only Oasis Pool.
Cool down with a Corona, frozé, or one in all Hawks Cay’s signature cocktails. Or how a couple of Lime within the Coconut made with coconut rum, Coco Lopez, recent lime juice, and coconut water?
Tiki Grill
Under a palapa by the Main Resort Pool is the place you may discover Tiki Grill. Think burgers, canine, salads, and wings for lunch. Besides mojitos, margaritas, piña coladas, and different tropical drinks — search for each day drink specials.
You may also order meals from the Tiki Grill servers, who flow into by way of the Main Pool space.
19. Dine in at Hawks Cay Resort.
In addition to the resort’s restaurant choices, company who ebook a villa can dine-in at Hawks Cay. The villas’ full kitchens come geared up with a full-sized fridge, oven, range, microwave, dishwasher, and all of the cooking and eating utensils wanted for a home-cooked meal. Your villa might actually have a blender to make your personal tropical drinks. Note: there aren’t any grills at Hawks Cay Resort.
Grocery Delivery
Make your trip simple as pie by ordering groceries to be delivered straight to your villa from Publix Super Markets. Order all of the meals and requirements you need on-line from native grocery shops after which an expert shopper will collect your gadgets from the shop when you calm down in your lanai. You should be current to just accept the supply. Place your order right here. Hawks Cay Resort’s tackle is: 61 Hawks Cay Blvd, Duck Key, FL 33050. Be certain to provide your villa quantity!
20. Exercise on the Calm Waters Fitness Center.
After all that good meals, your bathing swimsuit could also be feeling a bit tight. Work off your trip energy on the Calm Waters Fitness Center, positioned throughout the similar constructing because the Calm Waters Spa.
In addition to seven strength-training machines, you’ll really feel the burn on cardio gear like stationary bikes, treadmills, and elliptical machines. Free weights, yoga mats, and train balls spherical out the expertise. After your exercise, benefit from the sizzling tub, sauna, and eucalyptus steam room.
21. Commemorate your journey with skilled photographs.
Make certain your great trip reminiscences final a lifetime with a images session. Leave it to the professionals to seize the sweetness and pleasure of your expertise at Hawks Cay so you possibly can deal with residing within the current second.
As a mother and the unofficial household photographer, I’m usually solely current in trip selfies. (Can you relate?) I want I had booked a session with the resort’s accomplice, Folland Photography, throughout my household’s Hawks Cay trip! Learn extra and ebook your photograph session.
Where is Hawks Cay Resort?
This family-friendly resort is positioned in Duck Key, one in all over 800 keys that make up the Florida Keys archipelago. A secret is a small island, or cay, fashioned on the floor of a coral reef. Thirty of those islands are inhabited.
Key West is the southernmost spot in the entire United States, and doubtless probably the most well-known trip vacation spot within the Keys. One of the explanations to decide on Duck Key within the Middle Keys over Key West is its nearer proximity to Mainland Florida.
For these flying in on constitution flights, Hawks Cay Resort is simply quarter-hour or so from the Marathon International Airport. The street journey from South Miami by way of Key Largo alongside the Overseas Highway to Hawks Cay will take about two hours with out heavy site visitors. Meanwhile, it would require a minimum of one other two hours to succeed in Key West.
Plan to spend much more time on the street if touring from North Miami or throughout rush hour, peak tourism season (winter and spring), on weekends, or throughout heavy rains. It took my household 4 hours to succeed in Hawks Cay from Miami on a wet summer time weekend day!
Is Hawks Cay Resort all-inclusive?
Hawks Cay Resort doesn’t supply an all-inclusive possibility. You can, nonetheless, go for a mattress and breakfast package deal, which features a buffet breakfast each morning at Sixty-One Prime.
A each day resort payment covers self and valet parking, and entry to the Calm Waters Fitness Center and Hawks Cay tennis courts. Transportation is supplied freed from cost all through the resort by way of golf carts when you do not thoughts ready for a raise, however most company simply hoof it.
Guests have use of the swimming pools, the saltwater lagoon, and lounge chairs on the resort grounds. Resort actions like garden video games and scavenger hunts are included for company, too. Plus, complimentary web entry is supplied.
Coral Cay Activities & Adventures choices like miniature golf, board video games, basketball courts, and volleyball are included, as are group actions like sports activities tournaments. Drop-off Camp Hawk children’ membership, nonetheless, requires an extra cost.
Housekeeping each different day is supplied as nicely however by request solely. Call 24 hours upfront to request cleansing providers. This amenity shouldn’t be accessible on weekends.
Guests should pay further for spa providers, meals and drinks, Solé Watersports actions, fishing charters, bicycle leases, slip leases, tennis classes and tournaments, and dolphin interactions.
What lodging choices are there at Hawks Cay Resort?
This resort presents quite a lot of lodging to swimsuit all types of vacationers, regardless of which room kind you search. The predominant lodge comprises 177 prime quality lodge rooms and suites. Plus, the villas comprise a group of 250 two-, three-, and four-bedroom models.
Main lodge choices begin with normal visitor rooms with a king-sized mattress or two queens. You may also select a Family Guest Room with a king mattress for the dad and mom and bunk beds for the youngsters. Large households will recognize a Fifth Sleeper room class, which presents households of 5 an extra mattress to comfortably sleep the entire clan. Suites supply much more area to unfold out.
For an much more spacious expertise, reserve a villa at Hawks Cay Resort. Villas come geared up with a kitchen, front room with a flat-screen TV, patio, and in-room laundry services. My household stayed in a darling two-story, two-bedroom, two-bath villa and we cherished the beachy décor and homey really feel.
Book your Hawks Cay trip.
Hawks Cay is a lot greater than a spot to sleep whereas vacationing within the Florida Keys. This really is a vacation spot resort, full of tons of thrilling issues to do. You might (and will!) spend a complete week or extra right here and by no means get bored.
The array of room varieties, personal location, Hawks Cay options, and approachable upscale vibe make this the most effective Florida Key resorts. It makes a superb possibility for household reunions, {couples} retreats, and girlfriend getaways.
Read extra Hawks Cay opinions by way of TripAdvisor and Hotels.com. Ready to ebook a Hawks Cay trip? Take a have a look at their particular presents and ebook your keep right this moment!
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A Note from The Travel Mama: My household was hosted by Hawks Cay Resort in 2021, together with some meals and our Sunset Cruise with Solé Watersports. This story was up to date in 2023 to mirror present actions at Hawks Cay Resort. I didn’t obtain any financial compensation from Hawks Cay associated to this story.