Florida’s Best Kept Party Secret – Key West

If you’ve ever been to Key West, you know one thing is true… They party hard, they play hard and they’ve taken luxury relaxation to an entirely different level. Celebrities such as Jamie Lee Curtis and Oprah are known to escape to the tiny island, while Earnest Hemingway considered it home. Even President Harry Truman spent a considerable amount of his time in office visiting Key West. Key West is known for its natural beauty as well as an eclectic and diverse culture and fascinating nightlife.  Few cities of its size – 4 miles long and 2 miles wide- offer the joie de vivre of Key West.  

With so much natural beauty, so many luxurious amenities, and unadulterated fun a mere shot glass away – where does one begin?  Let’s start at the very beginning by celebrating the barefoot elegance of Ocean Key Resort & Spa. Optimally situated at the western tip of the island, where the placid waters of the Gulf of Mexico meet the Atlantic Ocean, Ocean Key Resort embodies everything that is sumptuous, wild and wondrous about Key West.  The decor in these beautiful resort accommodations is bright, bold, and full of vibrant energy. Private balconies off of every room offer awe inspiring panoramic water and city views with some most notably overlooking the Sunset Pier at the end of Mallory Square. The Sunset Celebration is a nightly ritual where locals and tourists alike flock to the water’s edge to experience a multicultural happening unlike any other where all gather to watch the sun sink into the Gulf of Mexico.

A gorgeous suite at Ocean Key Resort allows guests to witness the celebration, bask in the revelry or, if you choose, enjoy the beauteous solitude of your suite simply by closing the sound-insulated doors. The well-appointed accommodations feature rich textiles, eclectic furnishings and organic decor inspired by the stunning views and surrounding landscapes, and offer whirlpool tubs,  pedestal sinks , mini bars, and high speed wireless internet access. For those wanting to spoil and be spoilt, Ocean Key Resort have 2 deluxe suites with en suite spa treatments rooms where you and your other half can indulge in the incredible menu of services offered by world famous SpaTerre. They bring the spa to you, where you can indulge in the comfort of your very own suite.  

SpaTerre at Ocean Key Resort provides a waterfront haven to engage all of the senses.  Many of SpaTerre’s body treatments are designed to reflect Key West’s culture, using a blend of herbs and minerals indigenous to South Florida that also incorporate exotic Balinese treatments and Thai body rituals custom-designed to bring about the feeling of complete and utter bliss. Exotic treatments such as the Javanese Royal Spa Treatment, Tropical Essence Spa Massage, and Key Lime Margarita Spa Pedicure each offer an unparalleled luxury experience unique to the SpaTerre concept. Allow your body to surrender to the healing warmth of the ancient Hot Stone Spa Massage where heated volcanic river stones penetrate the deepest layers of your muscles to take you to a new dimension of relaxation.

Stepping out into Duval Street, the epicenter of Key West, takes you from Mallory Square to the Southern most tip of the United States – the journey, approximately 2 miles. The trip is a mind boggling joy ride through some of the best come-as you-are restaurants, raucous bars and micro-breweries of every kind.  In between every other bar, saloon and cantina, you’ll find classic architecture, world-class shopping; quaint bed & breakfasts, fine and folk art, and some of the best drag shows around. It’s perfectly acceptable to be wild, outrageous and quirky and no one will think twice. Key West offers something to fulfill every fantasy!

Speaking of fantasy… Key West’s Fantasy Fest takes place for 10 fun-filled bacchanalian days and nights every year in late October! Elaborate costumes and outrageous parties such as the “The Hot Wench & Wicked Pirate Tea Dance” or “Halos & Horns Pool Party & Wet T-shirt Contest” brings wild and eclectic, beautiful and wacky revelers from all over the globe. The celebration culminates in a huge parade down – you guessed it – Duvall Street. The streets are packed with folks in the parade or partying on the sidelines – everyone in full costume, elaborate headdress, fetish and fantasy ware, celebrating the music while dancing the night away – a magical time all around. Body paint and body shots, beads, feathers and a lot of partying – what more does one really need?

Check out our favorite hotels in Key West!