PART 4: SUNSET KEY: KEY WEST’S HIDDEN GEM
BY JANET STEINBERG
Sailing
some 172 nautical miles from the port of Ft. Lauderdale on the first day of my
8-day Caribbean cruise aboard Silversea’s Silver Spirit, we arrived at Key
West, Florida at eight o’clock in the morning.
some 172 nautical miles from the port of Ft. Lauderdale on the first day of my
8-day Caribbean cruise aboard Silversea’s Silver Spirit, we arrived at Key
West, Florida at eight o’clock in the morning.
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| SILVER SPIRIT DOCKED IN KEY WEST |
This
was it! This was the day…the only day on the cruise that I was going to
leave the ship. And that was because I wanted to have lunch at Latitudes,
a divine waterfront restaurant on nearby Sunset Key. Years ago I had
enjoyed a sunset dinner at Latitudes, but never had time to explore the island.
This time I would both look and lunch.
was it! This was the day…the only day on the cruise that I was going to
leave the ship. And that was because I wanted to have lunch at Latitudes,
a divine waterfront restaurant on nearby Sunset Key. Years ago I had
enjoyed a sunset dinner at Latitudes, but never had time to explore the island.
This time I would both look and lunch.
Sunset
Key is a secluded island escape just minutes from the activities and vibrant
energy of Key West. This 27-acre island is just 500 yards off the coast
of Florida’s cool and eclectic Key West. Transportation to and from Sunset
Key is aboard Lil Princess, the resort’s 24-hour launch that docks at
Sunset Key’s sister property The Westin Key West Resort &
Marina. Guests with cars can arrive and park at The Westin Key West
Resort & Marina, which is just across the waterway from Sunset Key. Then
they are escorted to the resort boat launch for the seven-minute ferry ride to
Sunset Key.
Key is a secluded island escape just minutes from the activities and vibrant
energy of Key West. This 27-acre island is just 500 yards off the coast
of Florida’s cool and eclectic Key West. Transportation to and from Sunset
Key is aboard Lil Princess, the resort’s 24-hour launch that docks at
Sunset Key’s sister property The Westin Key West Resort &
Marina. Guests with cars can arrive and park at The Westin Key West
Resort & Marina, which is just across the waterway from Sunset Key. Then
they are escorted to the resort boat launch for the seven-minute ferry ride to
Sunset Key.
 |
| LIL PRINCESS SHUTTLES GUESTS FROM KEY WEST IN SEVEN MINUTES |
Upon
arriving at Sunset Key, guests who are vacationing on the island are greeted by
an island ambassador and escorted to their cottage. Since we were just off our
Silver Shadow cruise for the day, we headed straight to Latitudes for lunch.
arriving at Sunset Key, guests who are vacationing on the island are greeted by
an island ambassador and escorted to their cottage. Since we were just off our
Silver Shadow cruise for the day, we headed straight to Latitudes for lunch.
Perched
on Sunset Key’s sandy shoreline, Latitudes restaurant and lounge offers casual
island fare with a Caribbean flair. You can dine in the Ernest Hemingway Room, where photos of the author, fisherman and
former Key West resident adorn the walls or you can choose outdoor dining
overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.
on Sunset Key’s sandy shoreline, Latitudes restaurant and lounge offers casual
island fare with a Caribbean flair. You can dine in the Ernest Hemingway Room, where photos of the author, fisherman and
former Key West resident adorn the walls or you can choose outdoor dining
overlooking the Gulf of Mexico.
 |
| THE ERNEST HEMINGWAY ROOM |
Included
in the price of every meal are sweeping views of the Gulf of
Mexico. If you choose to dine there in
the evening, as I did on a previous visit, you’ll enjoy the tiki torches that
illuminate the night sky magnifying the glorious Sunset Key sunsets.
in the price of every meal are sweeping views of the Gulf of
Mexico. If you choose to dine there in
the evening, as I did on a previous visit, you’ll enjoy the tiki torches that
illuminate the night sky magnifying the glorious Sunset Key sunsets.
 |
| LATITUDES’ TIKI TORCHES AND MOTHER NATURES SUNSET ILLUMINATE THE SKY |
Seated at a round café-style table overlooking the Gulf
of Mexico, we sipped a Key Lime Colada. Latitudes’ secret recipe for the
drink is blended with Bacardi Superior Rum and Keke Beach Key Lime
Liqueur. The glass is topped with a Graham Cracker Rim. It tasted
as good as it looked.
of Mexico, we sipped a Key Lime Colada. Latitudes’ secret recipe for the
drink is blended with Bacardi Superior Rum and Keke Beach Key Lime
Liqueur. The glass is topped with a Graham Cracker Rim. It tasted
as good as it looked.
 |
| KEY LME COLADAS |
Latitude’s
innovative, yet unintimidating, seasonal menu features local fish, fresh
produce, and a variety of island classics. One of the fresh features when I was
there was the Stone Crab Claws.
innovative, yet unintimidating, seasonal menu features local fish, fresh
produce, and a variety of island classics. One of the fresh features when I was
there was the Stone Crab Claws.
 |
|
BEST
STONE CRAB CLAWS EVER |
Also
seeming to scream out “taste me ” were the Lobster Quesadillas, an irresistible
combo of sweet lobster, jack cheese, caramelized onions, basil fresh tomatoes,
sautéed mushrooms, salsa, guacamole, and chipotle crème. Unable to decide
what I wanted to try, I did the only sensible thing I could think of. I
ordered both items and divided them between my husband and me.
seeming to scream out “taste me ” were the Lobster Quesadillas, an irresistible
combo of sweet lobster, jack cheese, caramelized onions, basil fresh tomatoes,
sautéed mushrooms, salsa, guacamole, and chipotle crème. Unable to decide
what I wanted to try, I did the only sensible thing I could think of. I
ordered both items and divided them between my husband and me.
 |
| LOBSTER QUESADILLAS SCREAMED “TASTE ME” |
If you suffer from a sweet tooth, as I do, at 3 PM you
can satiate your craving at the resort’s newest complimentary service:
the Conch Cruiser ice cream cycle that delivers free frozen treats
daily. Listen for Carnagie Lee ringing his bell as he pedals his bright
blue Eaton icicle tricycle equipped with a custom icebox full of gourmet
gelato and sorbet along the resort’s footpaths. (There are no motor
vehicles allowed on the island). Flag down the Conch Cruiser and
choose your favorite flavor. It makes for a sweet day on Sunset Key.
can satiate your craving at the resort’s newest complimentary service:
the Conch Cruiser ice cream cycle that delivers free frozen treats
daily. Listen for Carnagie Lee ringing his bell as he pedals his bright
blue Eaton icicle tricycle equipped with a custom icebox full of gourmet
gelato and sorbet along the resort’s footpaths. (There are no motor
vehicles allowed on the island). Flag down the Conch Cruiser and
choose your favorite flavor. It makes for a sweet day on Sunset Key.
 |
|
CARNEGIE
LEE ON THE CONCH CRUISER |
And that’s not all. If you are a guest staying on
the island, there are more daily treats in store! Every afternoon between
4:30-5:00 P.M. guests revive the Royal Navy sailors’ long-ago tradition of savoring
a daily ration of rum at the outside bar known as Up Spirits! This
ritual is a complimentary tasting of Latitudes’ own white or golden raw
rum…straight up like the sailors did, or mixed in the Up Spirits
cocktail du jour. Up Spirits daily ration will often read
like this: Monday: Flavored Mojito; Tuesday: Rum Runner; Wednesday: Havana
Daiquiri; Thursday: Hurricane; Friday: Dark & Stormy; Saturday: Planter’s
Punch; Sunday: Key Lime Colada.
the island, there are more daily treats in store! Every afternoon between
4:30-5:00 P.M. guests revive the Royal Navy sailors’ long-ago tradition of savoring
a daily ration of rum at the outside bar known as Up Spirits! This
ritual is a complimentary tasting of Latitudes’ own white or golden raw
rum…straight up like the sailors did, or mixed in the Up Spirits
cocktail du jour. Up Spirits daily ration will often read
like this: Monday: Flavored Mojito; Tuesday: Rum Runner; Wednesday: Havana
Daiquiri; Thursday: Hurricane; Friday: Dark & Stormy; Saturday: Planter’s
Punch; Sunday: Key Lime Colada.
In
addition to the waterfront dining, drinking and ice-creaming I mentioned above,
Sunset Key (named the #1 resort in the Continental U.S. according to Travel +
Leisure magazine’s 2015 World’s Best awards) features 40 custom-designed
cottages, a boutique spa with private treatment suites, an exclusive manicured
beach, two Har-Tru, lighted tennis courts, and a heated
outdoor saltwater swimming pool.
addition to the waterfront dining, drinking and ice-creaming I mentioned above,
Sunset Key (named the #1 resort in the Continental U.S. according to Travel +
Leisure magazine’s 2015 World’s Best awards) features 40 custom-designed
cottages, a boutique spa with private treatment suites, an exclusive manicured
beach, two Har-Tru, lighted tennis courts, and a heated
outdoor saltwater swimming pool.
 |
| HEATED SALTWATER SWIMMING POOL |
Shhh!
Now that I’ve let you in on Key West’s best little secret tucked away on
a paradisiacal islet in the stunning Gulf of Mexico, keep the name Sunset Key
under your hat.
Now that I’ve let you in on Key West’s best little secret tucked away on
a paradisiacal islet in the stunning Gulf of Mexico, keep the name Sunset Key
under your hat.
 |
| KEEP OUR LITTLE SECRET UNDER YOUR HAT |
JANET STEINBERG
is the winner of 41 national Travel Writer Awards and a Travel Consultant
with The Travel Authority in Cincinnati/Mariemont Ohio.
is the winner of 41 national Travel Writer Awards and a Travel Consultant
with The Travel Authority in Cincinnati/Mariemont Ohio.