Only an hour away from the hustle and bustle of Miami, Key Largo is an oasis when it comes to relaxation, water activities and dining. I stayed at Azul del Mar, a six-suite waterfront hotel, where tranquility erases the stress of everyday life. The elegant suites invite you to wrap yourself in a long soft robe and sip cocktails with the blue horizon stretched out in front of you. Kayak right off the private beach or hang out in the tiki hut and catch up on your reading. For me, it was the lure of the deep sea. The hotel was able to connect me with local diving and snorkeling facilities.
I contacted Keys Diver in Key Largo and decided to test the waters snorkeling before penetrating the warm tropical waters on a scuba dive. Keys Diver offers three affordable snorkel tours daily. If you can swim you can snorkel, and the friendly boat crew was happy to assist. Queen angelfish and sea turtles swim among many other colorful species. At the end of the day, my mind was filled with images of live coral gardens. Ready for a new challenge, I was primed for some scuba diving.
Early the next morning I headed over to Sea Dwellers Dive Center, eager to explore the Christmas Tree Cave at French Reef and see some sunken shipwrecks. Alas, Captain Rob came out of the dive shop with a solemn look and informed me that the weather had changed, making a dive impossible. Disappointed, I was reminded that the ocean has its own rules. It is precisely that unfathomable, ever-changing environment that always entices me to explore.
After some relaxation in the sun I was more than ready for a good meal with some ambience. The Big Chill had just opened three weeks earlier and already was being recommended by the locals. They raved about the specialty drinks and the location – right on the water. I sat outside, sipping a margarita made with agave nectar. I dined on grilled salmon and sinful chocolate cake as I watched the changing colors and hues of the sunset and its reflection on the still-smooth ocean.
My too-short stay in Key Largo felt like being on a tropical island far away in the Pacific. With diverse ocean adventures, beautiful, serene lodgings and fantastic restaurants, there was no need to venture any further.
Azul del Mar: www.azulkeylargo.com
Keys Diver: www.keysdiver.com
Sea Dwellers: www.seadwellers.com
The Big Chill: (305) 453-9066
