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Sunset Key-17-2.jpg

Sunset Key: Florida's private island paradise!

Zach Brose April 2, 2017

Hey guys! In our last post we shared all about our trip to Miami + Key West and our stay at Margaritaville Key West Resort & Marina. It's been an unpredictable mix of winter and spring here in NYC, so Florida was the perfect long weekend trip to catch up on some vitamin D. Most everyone has heard of Key West, but we are so excited to share with you an incredible lesser-known destination at the southern tip of Florida's Keys: Sunset Key. 

Sunset Key is a private island off of Key West's western shore. It's just 27 acres, and has no roads or cars. It's occupied by several dozen stunning homes and a luxury resort called Sunset Key Cottages. We spent a few days exploring the resort's incredible grounds and amenities, and left completely relaxed and rejuvenated! Since it's a private island, you can only gain access by private charter or the island's private ferry, and only as a resident, resort guest, or with a reservation at the restaurant or spa. We had the most incredibly romantic dinner at Latitudes, sunset ocean views and all! (Order the crabcakes, the beef carpaccio, the lobster-crusted cod, the scallops, their version of an old-fashioned and of course, the key lime pie and. You're welcome!) The beach is pristinely white and attendants are available to wait on anything you could possibly need. We spent a morning at The Spa at Sunset Key with a luxurious couples massage, and we'd head back to Florida just to experience it again! The treatment room opens up to a beautiful private garden patio, and a massage followed by champagne outside was our absolutely perfect morning. We couldn't get enough of the tall, arching palm trees and the lush, manicured tropical foliage lining every path. We could talk all day about this private island paradise, but pictures can far more adequately express the good-vibe island luxury that is Sunset Key Cottages! If you're a bucket-list type of person, add Sunset Key to your list. It's that good. 

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Here's to the adventure....

-Zach + Tara Brose

 

All photos Copyright of League Travels. This post was sponsored by Sunset Key Cottages but our opinions, as always, are our own!

In Key West Tags sunset key, Hotels
1 Comment
League Travels - Margaritaville Resort Key West

10 amazing things to do during your stay at Margaritaville Key West!

Zach Brose March 28, 2017

Cue Jimmy Buffett singing "Margaritaville..."

Last week we escaped the winter blues in NYC and went south. As far south as we could go, actually, without leaving the country. We went to Key west, the southernmost point in the Continental United States. (The "southernmost point" marker on the island is a tourist hotspot with people waiting in line to take their picture with the sign, actually). 

Just 90 miles north of Cuba, surrounded by stunning turquoise waters and tiny islands, Key West was the perfectly tropical weekend trip we wanted without busting out our passports. Key West has an international airport, but we were coming off of a few days in Miami, so we booked some crazy cheap tickets in and out of MIA for just $80! And, since it's an easy (and beautiful!) 3 hour drive through the keys, we loved the idea of a short road trip!

While we were in Key West we stayed at the stunning Margaritaville Key West Resort & Marina, and we couldn't wait to share this incredible property with you! It was the perfect Resort for a fun, relaxing weekend in the sun. From the tropical pool vibes and outdoor dining to the spacious, modern rooms and ideal island location, we found ourselves completely comfortable and relaxed from the moment we arrived. The staff is warm and welcoming, and there is SO much to do without going far. If you're the type who prefers to spend your vacations sitting poolside sipping Key Lime Margaritas, this place is for you. At the same time, though, Margaritaville's marina location and close proximity to Duval street (an easy 5-minute walk) makes it the perfect base for your island adventures. Tara and I are somewhere in the middle, so our ideal property offers both- and that's exactly what we found in Margaritaville!

So, we wanted to share our top 10 things to do during your stay at Margaritaville Key West Resort & Marina. It was challenging to narrow it down, so you'll just have to come and see the rest for yourself! 

 

1. Breakfast at Bistro 245

If you know us, you know our obsession with breakfast. When we're home in NYC, we make breakfast together every day. It's a few moments of guaranteed quality time in the midst of our chaotic schedules, and that habit has carried into our travels! We love to load up on a great healthy breakfast to kick off our day, and Bistro 245 delivered! (Not to mention how thrilled we were to get fresh pressed green + red juice! Eating healthy can be a challenge on the road, but not at Margaritaville!)

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2. Shop (and eat/drink) your way down Duval Street

Key West is a treasure trove of restaurants, bars, history and attractions, and you can find it all on Duval Street! Imagine New Orleans and the Virgin Islands combined to form one main drag... that's Duval!

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3. Chill Poolside

Ok let's be honest.... this is everyone's dream in the middle of winter. Margaritaville does it right! Work on that tan in the hot FL keys sun, or relax in the shade of a palm tree. Just sit and relax without lifting a finger and order your favorite summer cocktail from Castaways, the pool bar, and you'll find yourself singing "wasted away again in Margaritaville" in no time!

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4. Order Room service and enjoy a romantic night in

Or, like we did, follow up dinner with champagne and dessert! Chocolate covered strawberries, a bottle of bubbly and a jacuzzi for two was just what the doctor ordered. 

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5. Sunset Celebration

Every evening at Sunset, Margaritaville hosts a fun celebration on the pier next to Bistro 245 filled with music, food, vendors and street performers, and it's a great way to transition from day to night! Take in the sunset while being entertained and sipping your favorite cocktail!

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6. Wind and Wine Sunset Sail

Since Margaritaville sits right on the Marina, it's the perfect base for nautical adventures! We took a sunset "Wind and wine" sunset sail from Danger Charters, and it was everything. You sail on a 65 foot schooner out into the most stunning Caribbean sunset while a wine expert brings you through a flight of 9 different wines. A glass of bubbly to start, then 4 different whites and 4 different reds. Combined with Hors Devours and a tranquil sea, this was one of the highlights of our trip! ($85/person, Sails nightly from the Marina outside Margaritaville)

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7. Key Lime everything!!

Key lime pie, Key Lime Cooladas, Key Lime Margaritas, Key Lime everything! When you're in Key West, it's a non-negotiable!

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8. Have a drink on the Sunset Deck

Above the pool and overlooking the Ocean, the Sunset Deck is the perfect setting to take in the gorgeous Key West sunset! It's roomy and covered in strung-up lights, and it's basically the perfect way watch Nature's dazzling display. 

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9. Ride Bikes to the Southernmost point

We rode bikes from the resort and spent an afternoon exploring Key West. If you ride all the way to the very end of Duval Street, you hit Key West's Southernmost point- which is in fact the southernmost point in the continental United states!

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10. Make new friends

One of our favorite parts of Margaritaville was how friendly everyone was! The staff and the guests alike- we found a rare combination of private luxury and cordial mingling. Generally, at a resort where people are partying together, you sacrifice the peaceful romantic vibes for the fun. But, at romantic, secluded hotels you can sometimes lose the fun you find at a more upbeat property. Maybe it's the name, or maybe it's the well-thought out resort design, or maybe it's just the magical island vibes... but at Margaritaville you truly get both!

 

Here's to the adventure...

Zach + Tara

 

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*This post was sponsored by Margaritaville Key West Resort & Marina, but our opinions, as always, are our own! 

 

 

 

In Key West, Travel Guide Tags Florida, Caribbean, Hotels, Travel Guide
2 Comments
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Brooklyn Mornings 🖤 ☕️ // @wburghotel
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We stayed at the Williamsburg Hotel the first week they opened a few years ago, and at the time we were living just down the street. It was so special to back here, and the design in this hotel is so beautiful
Perspective change 🚁 NYC from above 😍
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So crazy that it’s been 2 years since we moved from New York! The day before we left for Bali we took this open-door helicopter ride over the city we promised to come back to after “just 1 year&rd
Who says New York doesn’t have wide open spaces?! 😏
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Sharing some of our favorite NYC snaps today— starting with the @oculuswtc designed by @officialsantiagocalatrava! When this amazing new transit hub opened as part of the new World Tr
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New York will forever be our favorite city in the world— it’s where we met and fell in love, where we spent the first years of our marriage and where we started dreaming of this crazy adventure. We found our pa
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Traveling changes you, and it changes the way you see the world around you. It was such a crazy feeling to stand on the Great Wall of China, seeing it extend infinitely in both dire
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We made it to THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA!! 🇨🇳
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Last week we traveled to Beijing to see our 4th Wonder of the World— the Great Wall of China! After lots of research and back and forth and advice from some local tour guides, we decided to visit a
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