Ideal Keys Boating Vacation
 

Ok,
Guys, looking for ideas/recommendations for a family boating vacation in the Keys, (No particular Key....) that would have the following most of the following amenities/things to do:

1. A hotel, that has dockage for a slingshot 388, hopefully with a ramp, or 1 close by...

2. A boating location/sandbar that we could pull-up and drop anchore and spend some time in the water and just hanging out.

3. Decent restrurants that within reasonable driving distance, or better yet, walking distance

4. Need 91 octane fuel on the water, (Preferred), or off the water, (Pain in the a$$ putting the boat back on the trailer)

I guess those are the big things folks.... This ought be interesting, the different opinions.
Thanks,
Dean:)

Hawks cay resort @ Duck Key..

when are you going ? Hawks Cay is nice but once you leave the resort there's nothing to do.

Boatnt,
Is there alot of things for 13teen old girls to do?
thanks,
Dean

2nd or 3rd week of july?

Hawks is the best place to go. Its cheaper when you book in advance. Try and get one of the townhouses (closer to main hotel) this way the boat is in your back yard. Islamorada/Marathon has plenty to knock around and do. rest in hotel are good. Lots of pretty blue water around Alligator point bring your masks and snorkel. Run the boat over to Islamorade fish co for din or lunch. As for 13 yo daughters (I have one) ...good luck bro. HC has internet so she can txt her friends how much your killer vacation sux and wishes she was at the mall. lol. Note; bring your own rum cause drinks will sink you.

Can't have a bad time at Hawk's Cay. We love the place, but bring your piggy bank.

There are paddle boards you can rent, canoe trips, etc. etc. There is also a place to swim with the dolphins.

Get on their email list. They email out discounts and deals about once a week.

Hawks Cay...they have a bus that goes to Key West round trip every day. I'm staying there a week in October myself.

good info! might go in this area too july 15th or 22... but no boats...

Gonna be at the "Bayview Inn & Marina" on Conch Key July 7th through the 12th. Rooms with docks right behind, pool, ramp, trailer storage, BBQ's and access to either the open ocean or Florida Bay. We'll have two 28' outboard powered Checkmates at the docks!

Thanks for the input guys, I don't know if we can get in to Hawk's on the dates we are looking at right now, this kinda a spur of the moment vacation.....

A little money saver (like 50%) is to book a villa through VRBO.com instead of directly from Hawk's Cay. Now renting from the owner prevents you from using the hotel amenities but putting your boat in the marina/renting the slip behind the villa from them gets all the hotel privileges back! :D

Check out Lorelei's on the "north side of Islamorada" excellent food and first rate entertainment every time I've been there. You can get to it by water, although we had to use a tender .................................................. ................Rjr............................... ........................

They have a marina right next to it with some 30-40 ft boats so there has to be a way in other than a tender.

you know your right, forgot about the marina near by, never made it over to the marina, most of the trip was a blur, .................................................. .rjr............................................

yup she'll be fine and have a blast...Good waters to boat in and not far to the tiki bar or Burdines by water.

Not true,,been going there the last 10 years,,(daughters are now 21 and 23 and they dont want to go with us any more..lol)
you can drive anywhere from there,,lots of nice restaurants ,,KW is 60 miles away,,bohia beach is not too far,,

Look into Hawks Key(CAY) that is on Marathon key I beleive. Also look into Holidy Isle which is on Isle Morada http://holidayisle.com/

I have stayed in the keys for about 15 years visiting my grand parents, personally the better areas to be is in the middle of the chain to key West. not much to see in the northern keys.

thanks guys, still trying to decide where to go?