I didn’t get around to posting this on Tuesday as I’ve been playing catch up since I got home Sunday evening, but I couldn’t wait to share pictures of my girls trip to Sunset Key.

Let me back up…last Thursday I headed to Sunset Key (adjacent to Key West…flew into Key West airport) with a few girlfriends for our annual long weekend of R and R.  Admittedly, I am not a huge fan on the Keys (I know, I know) because I prefer big, sugar sand beaches over their small, rocky shores.  However, Sunset Key is a spectacular spot for a girls trip or couples weekend. 

A bit of background on Sunset Key:

Sunset Key is a 27-acre residential neighborhood and resort island in the city of Key West, Florida, United States. It is located about 500 yards off the coast of the island of Key West. The island is privately held among its residents, one of which is OPAL Properties which operates a small number of guest cottages.

In true Florida Keys fashion, the waters of Sunset Key are stunning, but the beach is rough.  Many guests at our resort wore water shoes to wade into the surf and I can’t say that I blame them.  I’ll definitely pack my Chacos next time.  Thankfully, the rocks didn’t interfere with my ability to drink IPAs from under my beach umbrella. 

I failed to take any pictures of our beach setup, but I can assure that we thoroughly enjoyed it.  Each day we had an umbrella, a server, plenty of towels and comfy chairs.  Because the resort is small, there’s no need to get up at the crack of dawn and stake out chairs.  We rolled in whenever we wanted and had a delightful experience. 

Beach views

 

I went for a run several mornings and couldn’t get enough of the charming beach houses.  I’d never be able to choose a favorite!  The landscaping was also top notch and very tropical.

Scenes from my Run

Key West is famous for their sunsets, and I’d have to say that our little spot provided even better views than Key West. We did venture into Key West one evening to watch the sunset from the pier and to check out Duval Street, but Sunset Key is definitely more our speed. Key West is just as wild and crazy as I remember from college. However, we enjoyed our beers and the live music at Hogs Breath. Truly an amazing band. I wish I knew the name of the group!

We were fortunate to have amazing weather during our entire trip. 80s and sunny each day, comfortable evenings and not super humid.

Latitudes Restaurant

I will 100% go back to Sunset Key, but I do think it’s a destination best suited for adults. For starters, although the water is stunning, my kids would be sad if they couldn’t play in the surf without suffering scrapes and cuts. Also, only one restaurant, Latitudes, is on property. The menu is excellent and our meals were delicious, but I think my children would tire of it quickly. Going into Key West on the ferry is always an option as the boat runs reliably every half hour….except that Key West is not very family friendly. That being said, the flights from Greenville to Key West are quick and easy (but allow plenty of time to get through security in Key West), the resort is beautiful and the food and drinks are tasty. So plan a weekend with your significant other, couples or girls and head down there! http://www.sunsetkeycottages.com