“My favorite place to go is the Florida Keys,” my husband told me early in our relationship. I had never been so my immediate response was that I wouldn’t know. He vowed to rectify that pretty quickly.
When we were planning our wedding, we decided to do a short honeymoon a few months later followed by a longer one later on in the year. He and I decided that Key Largo would be a perfect destination for our “mini moon” as I called it. We were long overdue for some sun, relaxation, and a little exploration.
It didn’t take long to find a hotel along the water that offered everything we wanted. While I’m sure there are great short-term rental options available in Key Largo, we decided to splurge a little and stay at the Playa Largo resort.
Getting there was super easy for us. We flew to Fort Lauderdale and spent the night at a hotel near the beach. The next day, we drove to Key Largo via the turnpike and made it to the resort in less than 2 hours.
I’ve always heard horror stories about traffic. Getting through Miami and more as you make your way to the Keys is legendary for delays and a longer than planned drive. This was exactly the opposite experience for us. My husband was surprised at how easy it was compared to the last few times he’d driven there.
Not to be a salesperson for the resort, but it was even better than what we imagined. Spending part of the day alternating between the pool and beach was on our daily agenda. We absolutely made the most of the beach bar and restaurant, even meeting a New Orleans native who was the head bartender!
The area around the beach was fantastic, with chairs and hammocks available for however you like to relax along the water. It had plenty of shade for those of us who want to be there without baking in the sun all day.
No trip with my husband is complete without a stop or two at the local breweries. There was one day where rain was forecast for the afternoon, so we decided to use the day to hit some breweries down the road in Islamorada.
Our first stop was the Florida Keys Brewing Company. This place was fantastic, with a cute and bright outdoor patio and plenty of indoor seating. They also had a ton of board games available if that’s your thing. We just enjoyed sitting at the brightly colored tables, enjoying the very interesting beer selection, and having a great conversation with the few locals who were there.
Next, we made our way a mile north to Islamorada Brewery and Distillery. This taproom was a little larger but still had a very homey feel to it. We sat at the bar and ordered a flight to split between the two of us so we could try several options.
It was such a fun day and we love learning about the beers, the people behind the beers, and why they brew what they do.
By far, my favorite part of the Keys is having the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Florida Bay on the other. This opens up a realm of possibilities for awesome views of sunrises, sunsets, and boating.
We definitely made a point to get off the resort and drive around or bike our way to a few local beach bars to experience the relaxed beach life that the Keys are known for. From fabulous food and locally caught fish to unique cocktails, each place we stopped was exactly what I expected.
One of the coolest things offered at Playa Largo was the lounge areas with fire pits set up around the pool and beach areas. I love a good fire pit!
While there is so much more to do in Key Largo than we had time for, I didn’t feel like I missed out on anything. The next trip will definitely include some time on a boat, and possibly more driving around to see the sights. Overall, it was a perfect place to relax, eat some great food and take in the beautiful and endless water views.
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