img#mv-trellis-img-1::before{padding-top:66.666666666667%; }img#mv-trellis-img-1{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-2::before{padding-top:66.666666666667%; }img#mv-trellis-img-2{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-3::before{padding-top:66.666666666667%; }img#mv-trellis-img-3{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-4::before{padding-top:66.666666666667%; }img#mv-trellis-img-4{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-5::before{padding-top:66.666666666667%; }img#mv-trellis-img-5{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-6::before{padding-top:66.666666666667%; }img#mv-trellis-img-6{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-7::before{padding-top:66.666666666667%; }img#mv-trellis-img-7{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-8::before{padding-top:66.666666666667%; }img#mv-trellis-img-8{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-9::before{padding-top:66.666666666667%; }img#mv-trellis-img-9{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-10::before{padding-top:66.666666666667%; }img#mv-trellis-img-10{display:block;}img#mv-trellis-img-11::before{padding-top:66.666666666667%; }img#mv-trellis-img-11{display:block;}Who doesn’t love a tropical getaway that doesn’t require a passport?
If you haven’t been to Key West, then you’re missing out on one of the greatest places in the country. I recently went on a group trip to Southernmost Beach Resort in Key West and I’m not kidding when I say it was one of my favorite trips so far.
Not to brag, but I’ve done quite a few trips to many different places, so I’m not comparing it to your run-of-the-mill family East Coast beach vacation.
Let me walk you through my trip and tell you why I loved Southernmost Beach Resort so much. Buckle up, because there are A LOT of reasons why I fell in love with this place.
Seamless Travel to Paradise
First of all, I’ve learned to really appreciate when I can fly somewhere nonstop.
I’m not afraid of needing multiple connections to get somewhere amazing, but it’s nice when you can get there in just one flight. Thankfully, Key West has tons of direct flights making a nonstop flight that much easier. It’s a tiny, but well-connected airport that’s super easy to navigate. And it’s been freshly renovated! They have brand new gates and you no longer have to get off on the tarmac.
Breeze Airways is adding direct flights and they also have seasonal direct flights to look for!
More importantly (for me at least) is the amount of travel time to get from the destination airport to the actual destination.
There have been way too many times where I’ve been so excited to finally get to this amazing tropical destination and gotten into my transportation to then sit in a car (that often has a driver that has gone way too overboard with the scented car fresheners) and then have another TWO HOURS in the car before we finally get to the hotel.
@traveloffpath Room Tour at Southermost Beach Resort in Key West, Florida ♬ Lover – Taylor Swift
That is absolutely NOT the case with Southernmost Beach Resort. From pick up at the airport to drop off at the resort check in was maybe 10 minutes tops.
I know Key West isn’t very big, but I was still overly excited about the lightning-fast transport that immediately has stunning views of the ocean. Which is another one of my favorite things about Key West, it’s not hard to find incredible views, especially at Southernmost Beach Resort, since it’s right on the water.
A Food Lover’s Dream
If you’ve read any of my articles before, then you’ll know that I’m an amateur foodie when I travel. Key West is an amateur foodie’s dream come true for multiple reasons. First, the KEY LIME PIE.
I cannot emphasize that enough. If you’re not a Key Lime pie person, then you’re doing it wrong (just kidding, to each their own).
Southernmost Beach Resort is in the prime location to hunt down all the best Key Lime Pies. At the very top of that list was Café Sole who put an inspired twist on the traditional pie by adding marshmallow to the top (insert chef’s kiss here).
Don’t you worry, Key West has more than just key lime pie. I obviously need to talk about the fresh seafood.
For example, the Key West pink shrimp are SO GOOD. You can find the famous pink shrimp all over the island, but I loved them most at Boat House Bar and Grill. While you’re there, you ABSOLUTELY need to try the sticky toffee pudding. TRUST ME!! I love a good Key Lime pie, but this dessert rivaled my top favorite Key Lime pies (and that’s saying something coming from me).
Another great place for seafood was DJ’s Clam Shack. GET THE LOBSTER ROLL! You will thank me later. I wish I could go back right now for the lobster roll.
You don’t even need to leave the resort to get incredible seafood. The lobster at Southernmost Beach Café was delicious, and you definitely need to try the Key West Paella. I suggest sharing the paella with a few people, but it’s so worth it!
The Southernmost Beach Café also has great breakfast and lunch options to check out. They have yummy breakfast smoothies, but you should try the Florentine Benedict with added lobster. What a great way to start your day! If you want something light, refreshing, but insanely delicious you need to try the Southernmost Beach Café’s mango berry salad with shrimp added.
Do you want to have a private gourmet dinner with your feet in the sand looking out over the ocean? Yes, yes you do.
Southernmost Beach Resort set up this incredible experience for us where we had a private dinner on the beach with Chef Cheyenne Armstrong cooking everything right in front of us. 10/10 recommend!
Unforgettable Key West Experiences
If you want to learn how to make some local favorite meals, then you definitely need to try out the Key West Cooking School. This was an amazing experience with a beautifully designed classroom where they teach you how to make the food you’re eating (without you having to do any of the hard work).
The instructors were hilarious, but they also highlighted some fascinating history of Key West throughout the class.
Key West is also known for a good time with good drinks, and it did NOT disappoint.
One of my new must-do’s in Key West is the Key West Legal Rum Tour and Mojito Making Class. Paul and Crystal Menta go all out to make this an unforgettable experience.
This was one of my TOP favorite things we did. During the mojito making class, Crystal walked us through how they became the first rum runners to Havana where they learned how to make a PERFECT mojito.
They’ve, of course, put their own little Key West twist on it, and it’s literally the best mojito I’ve ever had.
Speaking of amazing experiences, one of my favorite things to do in Key West is dolphin watching and snorkeling.
So it will come as no surprise that I LOVED the Dolphin Watch and Snorkel Excursion with Fury.
@traveloffpath Magical moments with Fury Key West! ♬ Chasing Shadows – Alex Warren
We got really lucky and had several groups of dolphins come to visit us and some of them even had babies with them!
The captain and crew members were quite knowledgeable and gave us tons of fun dolphin tidbits while we watched the dolphins play around us.
My number one favorite out of everything we did (including seeing baby dolphins) was the Island Tales Golf Cart Tour with Amy Andrade.
This was HANDS DOWN the best tour I’ve ever been on. She knows just about everything and can cater the tour to what you’re most interested in. Amy’s passion for history and storytelling is contagious. We spent the entire time on the edge of our seats and hanging on to her every word she said.
You better believe that I’m booking a tour with her every single time I go back to Key West from now on. Amy books up fast though so you need to book way in advance!
The Heart of Key West: The People
Amy is also the Experience Director at Southernmost Beach Resort. She hosts a trivia night on Wednesdays at Southernmost Beach Resort and we had a blast!
Our team even took first place along with a prize and bragging rights. We had so much fun with Amy again that we begged her to squeeze in a conch blowing class with her before our flights out the next morning.
Amy also helps embody one of my other favorite things about Key West, the people and the Key West culture. As a tourist, it’s never fun to feel like a nuisance or unwanted by the locals.
Key West is small, so everyone knows everyone there, but they still love tourists and you can definitely feel it. One of the biggest sayings/slogans on the island is “One Human Family.”
Even being there for a few short days, you start to feel how much the people of Key West really believe that we’re all just one human family, no matter where we come from, what we look like, or what we believe in.
It’s a beautiful way to live.
**Travel Off Path was a guest of Southernmost Beach Resort, who helped with the creation of this itinerary by hosting some of our accommodations and attractions. Our opinions, recommendations, and suggestions remain our own.**
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