Originally designed by acclaimed architect Morris Lapidus (don't expect his Fontainebleau glitz), the 177-room property has a variety of low-key but luxurious & spacious accommodations, & lots of of them have water views. Popular with boaters, Hawks Cay has an 85-slip marina.Visitors can sip a frozen mojito barefoot on their huge patio (huge to host an intimate cocktail hour) while the ocean stretches out before them.
Set on 60 acres of the small island of Duck Key halfway down the Florida Keys, Hawks Cay Resort feels like a self-contained universe. With an 85-slip marina, swimming pools, a private saltwater lagoon & activities galore - kiteboarding, kayaking, fishing & exclusive swimming with dolphins - guests can park themselves for days & seldom do the same thing two times.
The resort is kid-friendly, with separate programs for kids, tweens & teenagers. There's miniature golf, a dedicated kids' eatery & a pool adorned with a pirate ship, tunnels & slides.
A $45 million renovation, done in 2008, added luxe touches like dark mahogany furnishings, Bose sound systems, huge flat-screen TVs & decadently soft beds.
While the kids are off frolicking, parents can lounge at the pool or the lagoon or have a casual meal at the Beach Grill, where crispy mahi-mahi sandwiches are washed down with concoctions like the Hawks Cay Sunshine Bucket, made with pineapple & mango Malibu rums.
When the sun goes down, head to the sexy & stylish Alma restaurant for to-die-for dishes like creamy calabaza & Florida lobster risotto with shaved Manchego cheese. & there's no better place to finish the night than by the roaring firepit with a hand-rolled cigar & a glass of vintage rum from Alma's collection.
