Resorts

Marathon’s Faro Blanco Resort May Return in 2012

Caribbee Colony on Matecumbe Key

At the height of the Roaring 20’s, wealthy visitors who escaped to Miami for the winter had discovered a new playground – an exclusive island resort in the Florida Keys known fondly as “Caribee Colony.”

Created by railroad tycoon Henry Flagler and real estate magnate George Merrick for their millionaire friends, it was an oceanfront hideaway reached by a daily train from Miami called the “South Seas Special.” Here at “Caribee Colony”, guests enjoyed the escape of balmy breezes and champagne waters of America’s only tropical islands, but the luxuries included docks for yachts, a rail spur for private train cars and even an offshore casino. Alas, the “millionaires’ beach club,” as it was known, passed into legend in less than a decade.

Today, the worthy successor to the Caribee – The Colony, Islamorada – introduces a new level of luxury and sophistication to the Florida Keys.

Spanning the Overseas Highway on more than six acres Oceanside and five acres Gulfside at Mile Marker 80.2 on Upper Matecumbe Key, The Colony features perhaps the preeminent waterfront setting in the entire Keys. Certainly, there are advantages to being on the Atlantic – immediate access to the Gulfstream and its deep water, sunrises over the ocean and gentle ocean breezes. There are advantages to being Gulfside as well – immediate access to the islands of Florida Bay, Flamingo and Everglades National Park, great back country fishing for tarpon, snook, redfish and bonefish, and memorable sunsets when the shining ball disappears with a flash into the Gulf.

The Wacky Sports Challenge (It’s a Keys Thing)

February 13 Mariners Hospital employees will host the Wacky Sports Challenge (It’s a Keys Thing)from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Coconut Cove Resort Marina. Proceeds from the event will be given to the National Kidney Foundation.

The event is co-sponsored by Coconut Cove and Clear Channel Radio. The highlight of the day will be the sports challenge in which teams compete in four events. Teams will navigate a unique kayak course, paddle across the raft lagoon, try to avoid the water balloon burst and comb through scavenger hunt territory.

Each team will have four or five members. Trophies will be awarded to the top three teams. The entry fee is $100. “you don’t need a team to come out to the challenge,” said Fran Glick, the day’s organizer. There will be entertainment, food and drinks, plus there is a beach and a pool on the property. They have planned the day so that everyone who comes will have a a great time.

Throughout the day, Clear channel will sponsor Cast for KIDneys, a chance for everyone to win a little Valentine’s Day Bling. Do not miss this fun day!

Contact: frang@baptisthealth.net or call 305-434-1601

Key West Casa Marina Resort Tops List of Best U.S.Budget Resorts

Forget everything you thought you knew about resorts. These 10 escapes deliver thrilling activities, plush amenities, and sweeping views, from $119 a night.

Casa Marina Resort

The 311-room beachfront Casa Marina is in tropical, laid-back Key West, Fla., where Ernest Hemingway bummed around in the 1930s (The Old Man and the Sea is based on his experiences here).The historic resort, built in the 1920s, hosts the largest private beach on Key West, a sinewy strand of white sand over 1,000 feet long. Book a day of water sports—which range from snorkeling with dolphins at a nearby coral reef to jetting around on WaveRunners—or relax in a cabana by one of the two oceanfront pools. On-site Spa al Mare offers treatments like the full-body Sun Soother Water Lily Mask, which soothes sunburned or windburned skin with naturally hydrating water lily oil. The Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum (admission $12) is a 10-minute walk—see the house & original furnishings from Paris, the $20,000 pool, and 60 cats, some with six toes on one paw, descendants of Hemingway’s beloved litter.

All-inclusive? No.
On the beach? Yes.
Price From $149.

via Best U.S.Budget Resorts.

5 Great Florida Keys Hotels You Don’t Want to Miss

By Gail Nettles

Florida Keys hotels rank among the worlds finest when it comes to style, design, value for money. The quality customer service welcomes you and attends to your every need during your stay. There is something for everyone here, whether you are after glitz and glamor or just quality at affordable prices.

So, where to stay in this tropical paradise? Here is a hand-picked selection of what is available for you to enjoy.

Ocean Pointe Suites at Key Largo
This resort sits in the middle of 60 acres of mangrove forest and it has some lovely nature trails in the grounds, which appeal to both children and adults. It has its own small private beach, perfect if you want to keep a close on the little ones. The suites are of a high standard and generous size.

The Mariner’s Resort Villas & Marina, Key Largo
The Mariner’s has an oceanfront position and offers gated security. It is close to some of the award winning restaurants on the island, but you can also cook up your own tasty barbecue on one of the many grills that are located around the resort for you to use. The lagoon style swimming pool here is the largest in the Florida Keys.

Banana Bay Resort & Marina, Marathon
The Banana Bay hotel is located on the sunset gulf side of Marathon. It is situated amid beautifully maintained tropical gardens, which are home to a great variety of birds. You can see and hear these colourful birds singing during the day. They offer a delicious complimentary breakfast, every morning by the pool.

The Southernmost in Key West
The Southernmost is a lovely small quite hotel, but is located slap bang in the middle of Key West old town on Duval Street. You could not be more immersed in Key West life. The hotel is a great base to explore the old town. Even though it is centre town, the hotel does have two small pools. If you really want to get down with locals then staying here will give you a genuine Key experience.

Casa Marina Resort & Beach Club, Key West
The Casa Marina is one of the original Florida Keys hotels and one of the greats. It is listed on the Register for Historic Places and offers something special and different. There isn’t anything that this hotel does not have. A fine grand dining room, bars overlooking the ocean and the rooms are simply stunning.

You Know Where to Stay — Here’s What to Do! Now that you know some places you can stay in the Florida Keys, what about finding things to do? There are beaches, parks, attractions and diving, to name just a few. Did you know that scuba diving Key Largo is totally awesome? And what about those Key West beaches! And shopping! And more!

There lots and lots to do in the Florida Keys, and here’s some free information (not to mention neat photos) to get you started on your Florida Keys vacation. Come on down! We’d love to have you visit.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gail_Nettles

Click Here for More Florida Keys Resorts

Cheeca Burns…Part II

The main building at Cheeca Lodge Resort and Spa in Islamorada caught fire for the second time this year around 11 a.m. on Wednesday, according to Keys fire officials. Islamorada Fire Chief William Wagner, who was in Key West but was monitoring the situation by radio, said three firefighters were transported to Mariners Hospital in Tavernier during the response – one for a sprained ankle, one for a cardiac issue and another for possible smoke inhalation. All were reported to be OK later that day.

The cause of the fire appeared to be accidental, according to assistant Islamorada Fire Chief Bruce Stoll. He reported that the fire started on the outside of the building and spread into a stairwell. Key Largo Volunteer Fire Department Chief Sergio Garcia said firefighters had the fire under control by 1 p.m. but were checking the building for flare-ups and were removing part of a stairwell. Fire and rescue crews from Key Largo to Big Pine Key responded.

Jim Costello, resort manager at Cheeca, said a demolition crew accidentally started the fire while cutting into a metal roof with a cutting torch. Sparks from the torch flew and accidentally caught the old thatch roof on fire, Costello said. Costello said the fire was contained quickly and won’t impact the resort’s plans to reopen by the end of the year.

Zirkelbach said the fire started somewhere along the northeast corner of the building opposite the starting point of the New Year’s Eve fire that severely damaged the structure and closed the resort. Zirkelbach said he heard reports that a welder’s torch ignited the fire somewhere on the fourth floor, but fire officials would not confirm it. Wagner said it appeared the fire could have started on a long thatch roof overhanging what used to be an outside dining area on the side of the building facing the ocean.

A thatched overhang on the north side of the building was the source of the first fire that is believed to have been sparked by an ember. The main building housed administrative offices, a lobby, two restaurants, bars, a conference center and 49 guest rooms.

“I’m just really distraught, how it could catch fire again,” said Wagner, who since the first fire has worked with other Keys fire officials to push for more stringent permit requirements for fire retardant on thatched structures. Wagner said his department hadn’t pushed for Cheeca to check its retardant on the ocean-side thatch, which was partially burned in the first fire, because Cheeca had planned to demolish and rebuild the structure. “They were going to demolish the building, so there was no reason to push the issue,” he said. “Now it’s just a matter of a big mess and drama.”

Islamorada’s Holiday Isle in Foreclosure

Holiday Isle Resort and Marina, a major hotel resort in Islamorada, is in foreclosure after lenders filed to recover $77 million loaned on an aborted condotel conversion. VII Holiday Isle Funding LLC, a subsidiary of Connecticut-based Starwood Capital Group, filed against several companies affiliated with West Palm Beach developer Adam Schlesinger, and his company, Ceebraid Signal.

It’s unclear how the filing will impact operations at the property, located at mile marker 84.5. But news of the legal action brought reaction from Islamorada’s Mayor Cathi Hill. “In conjunction with the events at Cheeca, this could not have come at a worse time,” Hill said. A New Year’s eve fire closed down Cheeca Resort and Islamorada officials and business leaders are still are unsure when the tony oceanfront resort will reopen.

Holiday Isle is also well-know for its charter boat row, where deep sea fishing boats line up for guests drawn from Holiday Isle and other resort properties throughout the Upper Keys. Charter captains, already on edge over an uncertain future for the resort and marina, talked Friday about their concerns with a weak economy and fewer people willing to shell out hundreds of dollars for a day of fishing. “I don’t know what our future is right now,” said Capt. J.R. Rudzin of the Captain JR charter boat. Read more…

Cheeca Lodge Burns in Islamorada

A New Year’s Eve fire has heavily damaged part of a landmark Florida Keys hotel but there were no reports of injuries. The fire happened at the Cheeca Lodge & Spa in Islamorada. The hotel was popular with President George H.W. Bush who visited on bonefishing trips.

Monroe County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Becky Herrin says a caller reported seeing flames burning through the roof of the main lodge building just before 10 p.m. Wednesday and that the fire was under control before midnight. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but it apparently started in palm thatching that was attached to the main building.

The resort has nearly 200 guestrooms and was fully occupied. Some rooms during the winter start at around $269 a night. Damage to the hotel is still being assessed. Guests in the main building were relocated to other nearby hotels.