Spring Break Road Trip 2024 – Part 2
Key Largo
April 2024
Baker’s Cay Resort Key Largo
Tarpon Feeding in Islamorada
For Spring Break 2024 our travels took us from Norfolk to NYC by train, followed by a flight to Miami and a road trip from the Florida Keys back home to Norfolk. This blog post covers the 24 hours we spent in and around Key Largo, Florida.
Follow our steps from Norfolk to NYC to Southern Florida and back home with this series of blogs:
AMTRAK & NYC
SOUTHERN FLORIDA: THE EVERGLADES & KEY BISCAYNE (coming soon)
ROAD TRIP- DELRAY BEACH TO ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA (coming soon)
ROAD TRIP- THE LOW COUNTRY: SAVANNAH, GA & BEAUFORT, SC (coming soon)
ROAD TRIP- CHARLESTON SC TO EMERALD ISLE NC (coming soon)
From Miami airport after a late arrival we drove 30 miles south, staying in Florida City. This allowed us to get a jump start early to get to our hotel destination, the Baker’s Cay Resort Key Largo. The resort is on the Bay side and is extremely popular with families. During our time there, the property was only open to guests and was sold out during our Spring Break stay.
Baker’s Cay Resort Key Largo, Curio Collection by Hilton
Waterfront Activities
The entire bayside waterfront area of the property was private for for guests, with a long stretch of mangrove-lined shady seating and another stretch of sunny, sandy “Water Sports” beach. Lounge chairs were hard to come by after 9am, with most guests rising early to “reserve” one with their beach towel and then returning later in the day. Water sports could be reserved from a kiosk, and a stay at the hotel permitted one hour of free use of a kayak or stand-up paddle board. We couldn’t venture very far on the SUPs because they lacked fins, and most of the equipment was really just for kids who wanted to play on them in the beach area. Hobie catamarans, clear-bottom kayaks and sea bikes were also for rent. .
A long pier was available for strolling and fishing. We had read reviews of manatees frequenting the area, but the only marine mammal life we saw was one lone dolphin.
Rooms & Amenities
The only accommodation available when we booked was the 2-room suite in the Hammock Wing, with a view of the courtyard. It was the furthest distance from the water sports beach, but directly across from the recreation area. A divided pool area had designated adults-only and all-ages swimming pools.
The resort offered family activities daily, including trivia and yard games. Pockets of lounge chairs were scattered throughout the resort, including shady spots for parents to watch while children played on the astroturf courtyard or sand volleyball court.
Dining
We enjoyed the complimentary champagne toast at sunset, then ate dinner Calusa, located on the second floor and the most upscale of the restaurants. Even after check-out we had full access to the property, and before leaving we had lunch in the more casual Dry Rocks with views of the water.
Islamorada
With more time we would have continued exploring all the way to Key West, but with just one night we only ventured as far as Lazy Days in Islamorada for lunch. The drive was bumper to bumper for much of it, so it took us nearly an hour to drive 17 miles. We opted for lunch on the top deck with an ocean view; additional seating was available inside and below on the beach. For three dollars we could feed the Tarpon from the dock. We didn’t purchase fish food on our fist walk to the dock and the large fish were easy to spot just below the surface. When we returned with our purchased bag of fish scraps, all of a sudden we were joined by a group of nurse sharks and additional pelicans. The experience was a highlight of our trip, and much more low-key and accessible than the very busy Robbie’s, the noted Tarpon feeding spot just a few miles south.
