By Judy Antell
Florida Keys at night
The Florida Keys are a relaxed, out-of-the-way place, ideal for a family-friendly vacation. Two
resorts that cater to adults and children are Hawks Cay
resort in Duck Key and Cheeca Lodge & Spa in Islamorada.
Kids Activities
Hawks Cay Resort's Camp Hawk, for kids ages 5 to 12, offers daily supervised programs with nature and crafts activities, sports, games and lunch. There is also Kids Night Out on Fridays and Saturdays, so adults can have evening alone time. Cheeca Lodge's Camp Cheeca, also for ages 5 to 12, has fishing, scavenger hunts and swimming in the lagoon.
Teen camp
The three-day AquaJam at Hawks Cay, for ages 12 to 17, gives teens an adventure on and under the water. There is kayaking, scuba diving, sailing and fishing, all with instruction provided.
Room for All
Standard rooms at Hawks Cay have luxury bedding and stone bathrooms, plush robes and flat screen TVs. There is also WiFi and a mini-fridge. The West Indian-themed rooms at Cheeca have premier bedding, marble baths and robes, along with flat screen TVs and WiFi.
Activities on Land
Rent a bike and cycle down the trails or hike a nature trail at Hawks Cay. Play tennis on a clay or Har-Tru court. Exercise at the state-of-the-art-fitness center and take classes in yoga, qigong or Zumba. Cheeca has a nine-hole golf course, tennis, and a huge fitness center.
Activities on the Water
Go out on a catamaran on a snorkeling expedition, have a family-friendly hands-on dolphin experience, take a fishing trip or learn how to scuba dive at Hawks Cay. There is also water skiing, jet skiing and kayaking. Except for the dolphins, Cheeca has the same activities.
Resources
About the Author:
Judy Antell was the editor of Big Apple Parent for 13 years and continues to write for the monthly publication. Antell has been published in "The New York Times," "Parents" magazine and on numerous websites. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature and a Master of Arts degree in literature and drama from Washington University.
Photo Credits:
Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Rick Flores
