




http://c1.tacdn.com/cds/media/photo-s/02/76/05/c6/filename-p5031421-jpg.jpghttp://c1.tacdn.com/cds/media/photo-s/02/76/05/c4/filename-p5031415-jpg.jpghttp://c1.tacdn.com/cds/media/photo-s/02/76/05/c1/filename-p5031412-jpg.jpghttp://c1.tacdn.com/cds/media/photo-s/02/76/05/bf/filename-p5031409-jpg.jpghttp://c1.tacdn.com/cds/media/photo-s/02/76/05/bd/filename-p5031405-jpg.jpghttp://c1.tacdn.com/cds/media/photo-s/02/76/05/bc/filename-img-0740-jpg.jpghttp://c1.tacdn.com/cds/media/photo-s/02/76/05/b8/filename-img-0732-jpg.jpghttp://c1.tacdn.com/cds/media/photo-s/02/76/05/b6/filename-img-0731-jpg.jpghttp://c1.tacdn.com/cds/media/photo-s/02/76/05/b5/filename-img-0727-jpg.jpghttp://c1.tacdn.com/cds/media/photo-s/02/76/05/b3/filename-img-0724-jpg.jpg 
- Snorkeling lagoon where kids can spot hermit crabs and lobsters
- Newly renovated accommodations including one- and two-bedroom suites
- Camp Cheeca, offering half-day and full-day outdoor nature programs for kids
About Cheeca Lodge & Spa
Islamorada, FL
After a fire devastated the main lodge of this historic Florida property that dates to 1946, Cheeca Lodge & Spa re-opened in Dec. 2009 as a more contemporary version of its original self. Located in Islamorada, the self-dubbed "sport fishing capital of the world" (and most definitely of the Florida Keys), resort sits on 27 acres of palms, bougainvillea and golf course-style, perfectly-green grass that imparts a very tropical feeling. And while the Florida Keys aren't known for beaches, there's a smallish sandy stretch where the water stays shallow (and in the summer months, extremely warm) a long way out. Don't expect Caribbean-style waters, however. While the water is clear, there's lots of sea grass and floating seaweed -- an ideal habitat for the many fish and crustaceans that live here, but perhaps not the vision of paradise that some vacationers have.
The resort's 214 rooms are spread between the fully-renovated main lodge, where you'll find some of the swankier options (including rooms with deep outdoor tubs facing the ocean on private balconies), older two-story buildings scattered throughout the property and nine beachfront bungalows (housed in three buildings) which are for adults-only and sit directly on the sandy beach.
The resort's overall decor is very Tommy Bahama, with paddle fans and upholstery with large floral prints, palm tree motifs o'plenty, and a maroon and green color scheme. Dark wood furnishings prevail in the common areas and guestrooms, and bathrooms are decadent with glassed-in showers and over-sized tubs.
There are a few onsite restaurants, including a sushi restaurant, an Italian bistro and the main oceanfront restaurant, where buffet breakfasts segue into lazy oceanfront lunches alfresco and sophisticated dinners surrounded by flickering tiki torches.
Families tend to hang out at the oceanfront family pool, and there's a separate pool for adults-only located near the spa. A snorkeling lagoon fronting the beach is backed by a fake waterfall. And while the water is often murky, it's circulated in and out from the ocean, and home to fish, hermit crabs and lobsters that kids delight in seeing when they slip on a mask and snorkel.
Your daily resort fee covers bicycle, fishing rod and kayak use in addition to Internet and golf on the small three-hole course. For an additional fee, you can rent stand-up paddle boards and kite boards, go parasailing right out front, or organize a fishing trip or scuba-diving trip through the hotel's concierge.
Cheeca's favorite family-photo backdrop is the resort's 525-foot-long, wooden fish pier. You can sign out fishing rods from the watersports' desk and toss a line off the end of the pier to see what you pull up (perhaps a yellow tail snapper). And even though the sun sets on the opposite side of Islamorada, many folks would argue there's no better place to be hanging out at the end of a Florida Keys' day than this hotel's scenic waterfront.
Written by Terry Ward
Best Other Florida Family Hotels
- Kids (7-9)
- Tweens (10-12)
- Beach
- Bicycling
- Golf
- Theme Parks
- Water Sports
- Sailing
- Babysitting
- Children's Program
- Connecting Rooms
- Cribs
- Family Room 5+
- Kids'/Theme Meals
- Kitchenettes
- Laundry Service
- Onsite Dining
- Refrigerator
- Pool
| Family Ratings | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
| Editor's Rating: | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
| Accommodations: | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
| Dining: | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
| Kid Activities: | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
| Kids Play Area: | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
| Money Value: | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
| Pool & Water Fun: | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
| Staff: | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
All rights reserved. This file may be downloaded for personal
use only. Other copying or reproduction is expressly prohibited.
- Independent Traveler independenttraveler.com
- Cruise Critic cruisecritic.com
-
FREE Family Travel Newsletter -
Family Travel Tips (10 New)
– Family Planning and Tips
Sure, free drinks and complimentary Wi-Fi rank high on the lists of most desirable hotel perks among travelers in general, but when it comes to visiting with kids in tow, which hotel amenities are most revered by families? From onsite airline check-in to in-room babysitting and kid concierges, con...
Favorite family biking locales in North America combine stunning scenery with a relatively easy grid of bike trails and uncongested backcountry roads. All of these locales offer exhilarating rides, guaranteed to inspire all ages to travel on two wheels. Many of the cities on the list, like San Anton...
1. Celebrate a Historic Anniversary. Boston's historic Fenway Park celebrates its 100th anniversary this year -- the perfect time to take in a ballgame while enjoying the history of America throughout the city. Give your school-aged children an up-close and personal history lesson by visiting some ...
The unofficial start to summer is nearly here, and this May 25 to 28 weekend is filled with enticing deals for families. Get out there and start your summer!
Broadmoor Resort, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Escape to the Colorado mountains for a two-night Memorial Day Family Escape at the Broadmoor. ...
There are few rites of passage as exciting as taking a child on his or her first camping trip. Families bond while roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, making shadow animals on the tent wall, chasing after fireflies and inhaling fragrant whiffs of pine. Whether you are an experienced camper from pre-...
1. The National Mall
There's no question that the National Mall, the two-mile strip of wide-open green stretching between the Lincoln Memorial and the U.S. Capitol and surrounded by Smithsonian museums and national monuments, is a must-see destination for kids. "The Mall," chock full of our nation'...
1. gogo Kidz Travelmate
If you're traveling with a child weighing less than 50 pounds, you won't want to leave home without this ingenious contraption that in seconds lets parents convert most car seats into a stroller. With the gogo Kidz Travelmate, there's no more lugging both a heavy car seat ...
On a recent ski vacation, my family of five traveled with five cellphones, three laptops, three iPads, two iPods and just for good measure, a GPS! Given the prevalence of electronic devices in our daily lives and our somewhat compulsive reliance upon them, taking a true vacation feels almost imposs...
The 1969 film, "If It's Tuesday, This Must be Belgium," depicted a funny, but sometimes all too true, look at a tour group of Americans traveling through Europe so quickly they barely knew where they were and what they were seeing.
Today, tour groups are quickly becoming an attractive option for ...
When you think of an all-inclusive vacation, your mind goes straight to the Caribbean, doesn't it? But you don't need to leave the country to get an all-in-one vacation -- resorts in the U.S. also provide all-inclusive getaways with accommodations, meals, and activities all packaged in one easy pric...




Share




