Looking for a great vacation spot not too far from Miami? Hawk's Cay Resort located on the private island of Duck Key recently underwent a $35 million facelift, updating its guest rooms spa and adding restaurants and an expanded pool. With a plethora of water-based activities available like parasailing and jet-skiing, the redesigned resort is the ideal getaway for families and honeymooning couples looking for a swanky spot in the Keys.
The resort boasts a Caribbean vibe with lush landscaping and tiki-style dining but it is the laid-back atmosphere that captures the essence of the Keys. Fulfill your Flipper fantasies with a visit to the hotel's Dolphin Discovery research facility where guests can interact with the resort's five bottlenose dolphins in the water. Or sign for a kayak eco-tour and explore the area's canals and tiny islands. Lazy vacationers have plenty of poolside chaise lounges to veg about and the resort's redesigned Calm Waters spa offers pampering options like a jasmine frangipani body scrub.
A highlight for foodies is San Francisco chef Johnny Alamilla's popular Nuevo Latino cuisine at the soon-to-open Alma. The restaurant will be similar to the restaurant of the same name Alamilla helmed in San Francisco, serving what the chef terms "West Coast Latin cuisine." Look forward to grouper ceviche marinated in lime and Florida grapefruit and mild green chili and pan seared duck breast with sweet potato flan and ancho chili sauce.
Seasoned anglers and fishing newbies can try their hand at catching their own dinner with the hotel's "hook n' cook" option where if you hook a fish on a fishing expedition, chef Tony Glitz will graciously cook it for dinner.
-Sara Liss, www.allpurposedark.com
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