Casa Marina Resort

The 311-room beachfront Casa Marina is in tropical, laid-back Key West, Fla., where Ernest Hemingway bummed around in the 1930s (The Old Man and the Sea is based on his experiences here).The historic resort, built in the 1920s, hosts the largest private beach on Key West, a sinewy strand of white sand over 1,000 feet long. Book a day of water sports—which range from snorkeling with dolphins at a nearby coral reef to jetting around on WaveRunners—or relax in a cabana by one of the two oceanfront pools. On-site Spa al Mare offers treatments like the full-body Sun Soother Water Lily Mask, which soothes sunburned or windburned skin with naturally hydrating water lily oil. The Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum (admission $12) is a 10-minute walk—see the house & original furnishings from Paris, the $20,000 pool, and 60 cats, some with six toes on one paw, descendants of Hemingway’s beloved litter.

All-inclusive? No.
On the beach? Yes.
Price From $149.

via Best U.S.Budget Resorts.

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The remote, open-air chickees are accessible via open water to boaters, canoers and kayakers.

The Shark Point site is 7.5 miles east of Flamingo and the Johnson Key site is 6.25 miles south of Flamingo.

Camping is limited to one night and two parties with six or fewer people in each.

Required backcountry permits are available at Flamingo Visitor Center or the Gulf Coast Visitor Center in Everglades City no more than one day in advance of a trip’s departure. The basic permit fee is $10, plus $2 per person per night.

For more information, go to http://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/camping.htm.

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Florida Keys hotels rank among the worlds finest when it comes to style, design, value for money. The quality customer service welcomes you and attends to your every need during your stay. There is something for everyone here, whether you are after glitz and glamor or just quality at affordable prices.

So, where to stay in this tropical paradise? Here is a hand-picked selection of what is available for you to enjoy.

Ocean Pointe Suites at Key Largo
This resort sits in the middle of 60 acres of mangrove forest and it has some lovely nature trails in the grounds, which appeal to both children and adults. It has its own small private beach, perfect if you want to keep a close on the little ones. The suites are of a high standard and generous size.

The Mariner’s Resort Villas & Marina, Key Largo
The Mariner’s has an oceanfront position and offers gated security. It is close to some of the award winning restaurants on the island, but you can also cook up your own tasty barbecue on one of the many grills that are located around the resort for you to use. The lagoon style swimming pool here is the largest in the Florida Keys.

Banana Bay Resort & Marina, Marathon
The Banana Bay hotel is located on the sunset gulf side of Marathon. It is situated amid beautifully maintained tropical gardens, which are home to a great variety of birds. You can see and hear these colourful birds singing during the day. They offer a delicious complimentary breakfast, every morning by the pool.

The Southernmost in Key West
The Southernmost is a lovely small quite hotel, but is located slap bang in the middle of Key West old town on Duval Street. You could not be more immersed in Key West life. The hotel is a great base to explore the old town. Even though it is centre town, the hotel does have two small pools. If you really want to get down with locals then staying here will give you a genuine Key experience.

Casa Marina Resort & Beach Club, Key West
The Casa Marina is one of the original Florida Keys hotels and one of the greats. It is listed on the Register for Historic Places and offers something special and different. There isn’t anything that this hotel does not have. A fine grand dining room, bars overlooking the ocean and the rooms are simply stunning.

You Know Where to Stay — Here’s What to Do! Now that you know some places you can stay in the Florida Keys, what about finding things to do? There are beaches, parks, attractions and diving, to name just a few. Did you know that scuba diving Key Largo is totally awesome? And what about those Key West beaches! And shopping! And more!

There lots and lots to do in the Florida Keys, and here’s some free information (not to mention neat photos) to get you started on your Florida Keys vacation. Come on down! We’d love to have you visit.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gail_Nettles

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It’s unclear how the filing will impact operations at the property, located at mile marker 84.5. But news of the legal action brought reaction from Islamorada’s Mayor Cathi Hill. “In conjunction with the events at Cheeca, this could not have come at a worse time,” Hill said. A New Year’s eve fire closed down Cheeca Resort and Islamorada officials and business leaders are still are unsure when the tony oceanfront resort will reopen.

Holiday Isle is also well-know for its charter boat row, where deep sea fishing boats line up for guests drawn from Holiday Isle and other resort properties throughout the Upper Keys. Charter captains, already on edge over an uncertain future for the resort and marina, talked Friday about their concerns with a weak economy and fewer people willing to shell out hundreds of dollars for a day of fishing. “I don’t know what our future is right now,” said Capt. J.R. Rudzin of the Captain JR charter boat.

Ceebraid paid $98 million for Holiday Isle in 2006 with plans to raze the famous party spot and its numerous onsite bars and erect an ancient-Greek-themed, 151-unit ultra-luxury resort called Ocanos. Starting prices were advertised at $1.2 million for a one-bedroom unit. That was in March 2007 and within months of buying the oceanfront property at mile marker 84.5, Schlesinger issued a press release saying 25 percent of the units were under contract to be sold. But under Florida law, buyers have 15 days to back out of pre-sale contracts, and that’s exactly what most of Ocanos’ initial investors did.

Schlesinger, who, along with other Holiday Isle representatives, did not return phone calls for this report, moved on to plan B. In April 2007, he announced plans to knock down Holiday Isle and replace it with a “five-star” hotel. That never happened either and on Jan. 28 a company that lent money for Ocanos to Schlesinger, his partners and up to six limited-liability corporations filed the foreclosure notice. VII Holiday Isle Funding, LLC, is the plaintiff in the foreclosure filing. It’s a subsidiary of the global investment firm Starwood Capital. James Robinson, the plaintiff’s attorney, said he isn’t authorized by his client to comment on the case.

It’s not clear how many people work at the Holiday Isle complex on Windley Key, but the resort’s bars, restaurants and hotels form a major business hub in the village of Islamorada. Capt. Rudzin has been renting a slip at the marina for 11 years. He pays about $875 a month, which he says is a good price, and a rate he’s not sure he’ll be offered if he has to move to another marina. “I don’t know where we turn from here,” Rudzin said.

Mayor Hill said she remains optimistic someone else may come along when the economy gets better to not only preserve the resort, which is said to have originated the iconic Rum Runner cocktail, but also to improve it. “Economic conditions are cyclical, and I have no doubt Holiday Isle and Cheeca will come back better than ever,” Hill said.

When Schlesinger first announced his plans for Ocanos, condotels were the hot real estate investment. The concept was that resort hotels would sell condominium units, purchased by investors, and then rent those out to paying guests. The hotel management company and the investor owners would share the rental income.

In the Keys, many landmark properties were sold to deep-pocket developers who hoped to redevelop dated hotels and motels into condotels. One of the most ambitious projects targeted Holiday Isle, and the $98 million paid set a record at the time.

The foreclosure notice lists VII Holiday Isle Funding as owed “$77 million in principal and other sums due, plus accrued interest, reasonable attorney fees, costs and other expenses.”

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Monroe County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Becky Herrin says a caller reported seeing flames burning through the roof of the main lodge building just before 10 p.m. Wednesday and that the fire was under control before midnight. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but it apparently started in palm thatching that was attached to the main building.

The resort has nearly 200 guestrooms and was fully occupied. Some rooms during the winter start at around $269 a night. Damage to the hotel is still being assessed. Guests in the main building were relocated to other nearby hotels.

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Entering through an opening in the bottom of the habitat, the feeling is much like discovering a secret underwater clubhouse. The cottage sized building isn’t short on creature comforts: hot showers, a well stocked kitchen (complete with refrigerator and microwave), books, music, and video movies. And of course there are cozy beds, where guests snuggle up and watch the fish visit the windows of their favorite underwater “terrarium”. Jules’ Undersea Lodge manages to reach a perfect balance of relaxation and adventure.

Guests sometimes describe their visit to inner space as the most incredible experience of their lives. One couple decided on a career change after visiting Jules’ Undersea Lodge, and they now operate Aquanauts’ Dive Shop. Another couple named their baby after Jules’, when they later discovered their recently conceived child had accompanied them in their wonderful adventure in undersea living.

Although the underwater hotel may sound like the latest tourist fun spot, Jules’ Undersea Lodge, actually began its existence as La Chalupa research laboratory, an underwater habitat used to explore the continental shelf off the coast of Puerto Rico. The authenticity of the underwater habitat is what really sets it apart from amusement parks and other similar attractions. The mangrove lagoon in which Jules’ is located is a natural nursery area for many reef fish. Tropical angelfish, parrotfish, barracuda, and snappers peek in the windows of the habitat, while anemones, sponges, oysters and feather duster worms seem to cover every inch of this underwater world. Guests of the Lodge explore their marine environment with scuba gear provided by Jules’ Undersea Lodge and are given an unlimited supply of tanks. Jules’ Undersea Lodge may have a comfortable futuristic decor, but its sense of history is inescapable. It is the first and only underwater hotel, but is also the first underwater research lab to have ever been made accessible to the average person.

“Marine life is actually enhanced by the presence of an underwater structure”, explains Ian Koblick, owner and co-developer of the Lodge. “Jules’ Undersea Lodge serves as an artificial reef, providing shelter and substrate for marine animals. And the flow of air to the Lodge constantly adds oxygen to the entire surrounding body of water, creating a symbiotic relationship between the technology of man and the beauty of nature.”

The entire structure of Jules’ Undersea Lodge is underwater, sitting up on legs approximately five feet off the bottom of the protected lagoon. The Lodge is filled with compressed air, which prevents the water from rising and flooding the rooms. A five by seven foot “moon pool” entrance in the floor of the building makes entering the hotel much like surfacing through a small swimming pool. Divers find themselves in the wet room, the center of three compartments that make up the underwater living quarters. The wet room, as the name implies, is where divers leave their gear, enjoy a quick hot shower and towel-off before entering the rest of the living area. Designed for comfort, the air conditioned living space has two private bed rooms and a common room. The eight by twenty foot common room is a multi-purpose room providing the galley, dining and entertainment areas. Each of the bedrooms and the common room is equipped with telephone, intercom, VCR/DVD and a stereo sound system. But the main focus of attention is the big 42 inch round window that graces each room. “Waking up to view a pair of angelfish looking in your bedroom window is a moment you’ll never forget”, states Koblick.

Habitat operations are monitored by the Mission Director from the land-based “Command Center”, located at the edge of the Emerald Lagoon. The control center is connected to Jules’ Undersea Lodge by an umbilical cable which delivers fresh air, water, power, and communications. “The entire facility is monitored 24 hours a day by our staff”, says Koblick, “the Lodge has independent support systems as well as redundant backup systems. We’ve taken every step to ensure a safe yet exciting adventure for our guests”.

Credit for developing this venture must go to both Neil Monney and Ian Koblick. With over 50 years of combined ocean research and industry experience the two principal developers named their undersea retreat in honor of Jules Verne, author of “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea”. Jules’ Undersea Lodge is a tribute to the human quest for exploration and adventure. In the Early 70’s, lan Koblick, president of Marine Resources Development Foundation, developed and operated La Chalupa research laboratory, which was the largest and most technologically advanced underwater habitat of its time. Koblick , who has continued his work as a pioneer in developing advanced undersea programs for ocean science and education, as the co-author of the book “Living and Working in the Sea”, is considered one of the foremost authorities on undersea habitation. Co-developer Neil Monney formerly served as Professor and Director of Ocean Engineering at the US Naval Academy. Monney has extensive experience as a research scientist, aquanaut, and designer of underwater habitats. Together, the two men have developed and managed undersea habitats that have produced more aquanauts than all of the other undersea habitats in the world combined. Their combined expertise is evident in the careful attention to detail in Jules’ Undersea Lodge.

Jules’ Undersea Lodge is a dream come true for dive enthusiasts who are looking to log a seemingly limitless dive. Guests who complete one of the luxury packages can log 22 hours in one night, and there is no limit to the number of nights they can stay. Even at 21 feet, dive times like these are not covered by the dive tables. Guests actually complete a “saturation” dive, which permits divers to spend extended time underwater as long as proper surfacing intervals are followed. For the shallow water saturation dives of Jules’ Undersea Lodge, guests are required to abstain from flying and must adhere to restrictions on further diving for 24 hours after they surface. Some packages at Jules’ offer the opportunity to earn an Aquanaut Certificate, which qualifies certified divers for an optional Underwater Habitat / Aquanaut dive specialty certification.

Although the experience of a habitat saturation dive is definitely high tech diving, even guests who have never scuba dived before can stay in Jules’ Undersea Lodge. A pleasant three hour class acquaints non-certified divers with the equipment and simple procedures necessary to comfortably dive in the company of the Lodge’s dive instructors. The Lodge also offers complete dive certification in just three days, as well as a full complement of advanced and specialty dive training. Both certified and non-certified divers enjoy their exploration of the Emerald Lagoon. Since the mangrove habitat is a nursery area for many reef fish, divers see juvenile fish and invertebrate animals that are not normally seen on the reef. It is an excellent opportunity for divers to explore the diversity and inter-relationship of habitats and to gain an understanding of why it is important to protect our natural mangrove shorelines. Divers also see some amazing technology in the lagoon, including Marine Lab, an underwater laboratory devoted exclusively to research and education. A recreation of a Spanish galleon wreck provides a wonderful opportunity to study the techniques of marine archaeology. The wreck site is a replica of the San Pedro, set up by world renowned archaeologist R. Duncan Matthewson, III, who was instrumental in locating the famous wreck of the Atocha.

On an average evening Jules’ Undersea Lodge is shared by two different couples, but it can accommodate a group of six friends in the gracious living quarters designed by the award winning firm of Richard F. Geary Interior Designers. Exclusive use of the hotel can also be arranged for couples who want to be the only lovers in the world spending the night alone in inner space – a pretty romantic thought. The Lodge is even available for underwater weddings, with a wedding package that includes flowers and the world’s only underwater wedding cake. The unique setting is perfect for couples who plan to start their married life with a touch of the outrageous, but still enjoy traditional sentiments.

Guests of the Lodge have included many celebrities, including former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau; rock stars Steve Tyler of “Aerosmith” and Jon Fishman of Phish.

The staff of Jules’ Undersea Lodge remains on duty 24 hours a day to provide whatever services the quests may need. The Lodge’s luxury packages include the services of a “mer-chef” who scuba dives down to the hotel to prepare and serve a gourmet dinner for the guests. Birthday or anniversary celebrations often include surprise bouquets of flowers and cakes. Late night snacks can even include the underwater delivery of a pizza from a local shop.

Larger underwater lodges are on the drawing board for the future. “We have been approached by developers from around the world. The basic design has been completed– future hotels will feature an original design using concrete and acrylic–they will be substantially larger and provide even more gracious comfort with spectacular views through six-foot diameter windows”, says Dr. Monney. “To live beneath the sea was once just the dream of science fiction writers…Now it is a reality. Here is a new step for mankind, the advent of undersea living, the taming of the last frontier on Earth…Inner Space”.

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What if I could guaranty you the chance to hand feed fish in the 100 pound range, and have your picture taken while shaking hands with the fishes mouth. All you need to do is find your way to Islamorada’s Robbie’s Marina in the Florida Keys.

Robbie and his wife Mona started feeding a tarpon they named Scarface 18 years ago. Scarface appeared floundering in the shallow waters near the dock; Robbie saw the struggling tarpon and, thinking it had swum too shallow and gotten stuck on the bank, went out into the water to free it. He lifted the fish and saw that the right side of its jaw was torn open. Hoping to revive the tarpon, Robbie placed it in the oxygen-rich shrimp tank and called old Doc Roach. The doctor showed up with his wife’s mattress needles and some twine, and Scarface became the first known tarpon with stitches. After several days of force-feeding, Scarface showed good recovery and weight gain; six months later he was released into the waters off the dock. Afterwards, Scarface continued to frequent the docks; sometimes bringing a friend. Soon more and more of the fish began to appear.

Today, the tradition continues, with visitors from all across the world coming to marvel at the spectacle and offer these magnificent creatures a snack.

More on Islamorada.

Here is Rays experience.

I traveled here with my brother while on vacation. We rode for two hours, one way, and it was totally worth it. I paid a dollar for admission and $2.95 for a bucket of dead fish. (Robbie’s can supply you with buckets of bait to feed them right from the docks.) I walked out on the pier and hand fed GIGANTIC, ENORMOUS tarpons which swarmed all around the dock. Hungry pelicans floated with anticipation on the water, hoping to swoop in and steal a fish or two.

The place was swarming with tourists like me, all having a great time. One time, I left my hand out there a little too long and almost had it bit off! Those pesky tarpons will jump right out of the water and remove your hand if you are not careful. They have rough, sand paper-like teeth. Yuck.

This attraction is located in the Florida Keys on Lower Matecumbe Key, about mile marker 77.5 bayside. Park at the Hungry Tarpon or Robbie’s Marina parking lots. This tradition of feeding the tarpons began about 18 years ago. Today, the tradition continues, with visitors from all across the world coming to marvel at the spectacle and offer these magnificent creatures a snack.

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Key Largo is known as the scuba diving capital of the world, but it also offers a way to experience North America’s only living coral reef without getting wet. Sail aboard the Key Largo Princess, a 70-foot, glass-bottom, 129-passenger yacht to view the exciting underwater world of John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, the only undersea park in the United States. The Key Largo Princess is located at the Holiday Inn Docks off U.S. Highway 1 at mile marker (MM) 100.

Islamorada, just down U.S. 1 from Key Largo, offers a wide variety of fine restaurants and day spas for sybaritic pampering. For women seeking an all-over tan, the tanning bed can be the large forward couch on Two Chicks Charters’ 26-foot Leisure Cat. The smooth-riding boat accommodates up to six people for an eco-tour to experience the natural beauty of the mangrove islands, an underwater treasure hunt, or a sunset on Florida Bay. Catch the boat at Worldwide Sportsman Bayside Marina, MM 81.5 in Islamorada.

Play by your own rules, don’t just order lobster off the menu — catch it yourself in the waters off Marathon. Captains Szandra Der and Kim Crosby of Starfish Charters provide all the equipment and give passengers the thrill of catching their own fish or lobster from the wide and stable 40-passenger catamaran out of Seadog Marina, MM 47.5 bayside in Marathon. For another on-the-water adventure, form a mom-and-daughter angling team and make reservations for the Ladies Tarpon Tournament, held Mother’s Day weekend out of World Class Angler, 5050 Overseas Highway. The kick-off party starts with wine and champagne and the awards ceremony is a brunch. Captain Donna VanKirk, who has fished the tournament with her own daughter, fell in love with tarpon fishing 20 years ago and made it her career. “Tarpon fishing during the four-hour afternoon tide is perfect for inexperienced anglers,” said VanKirk.

Respecting Individuality Live and let live is the mantra of many Big Pine and Lower Keys residents, whose homes adjoin a preserve protecting the petite Key deer. Come hike trails in the sprawling National Key Deer Refuge and take the opportunity to photograph 22 federally listed endangered and threatened species of plants and animals — five of them found nowhere else in the world. Start at the refuge’s visitor center in the Big Pine Key Shopping Plaza, just off U.S. 1 at MM 30.3 bayside in the Lower Florida Keys.

Nowhere else in the world is it possible to find an elegant escape where free-roaming Key deer sometimes observe diners in a luxurious white-linen-tablecloth habitat. Take a cruise out to the internationally acclaimed private island paradise of Little Palm Island Resort & Spa to stay in a thatched-roof oceanfront bungalow suite, or enjoy a reservations-only brunch and game of life-size chess. The ferry to Little Palm departs from MM 28.5 oceanside on Little Torch Key.

Relax, Reconnect and Rediscover Creativity In Key West, the picturesque southernmost island in the continental U.S., the arts community comes alive. Performers offer year-round billings of live music, dance, drama and even an acclaimed symphony. The buzz is offset by tranquil accommodations at charming bed and breakfasts and resorts. On the Old Town Trolley tour, passengers learn about the island’s unique architecture and quirky history. As for making new friends, try swimming respectfully with wild dolphins in the Atlantic Ocean on one of several tours operated by women.

For a land-based adventure, rediscover the artist within at the Studios of Key West. The facility offers a packed schedule of workshops in writing, visual arts, mixed media, photography, jewelry making and book arts, as well as a free lecture series. The campus is located at the historic Key West Armory in the island city’s Old Town district, 600 White St. Learn, Enrich, Empower Indoors or outdoors, a girls’ getaway vacation can be an enriching experience. Girls don’t just ride on the back of a motorcycle anymore and they don’t have to sit in the back of the boat either. These three programs teach skills and build confidence.

The She’s at Sea series of two-day seminars in Islamorada teaches women how to handle a powerboat. Female instructors provide a non-threatening atmosphere for women to enjoy being in charge of the vessel. She’s at Sea sessions are held in June, November, and December. E-mail info@shesatsea.com for more information.

Ladies Let’s Go Fishing!, billed as the “no-yelling school of fishing” is set for September in Islamorada. Classes teach conservation techniques and skill stations provide practice. Call (954) 475-9068 or e-mail billfishbetty@hotmail.com. Women in the Outdoors is targeting May for the first-ever event held in the Keys. Classes are to include making nature jewelry, Dutch oven cooking, bird watching, fishing, kayaking, outdoor photography and self-defense.

Whether women are traveling solo or with a group, the Florida Keys and Key West offer safe, unique experiences that rejuvenate body, mind and soul.

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What to Do: Vacationing during the offseason can cut lodging and air-fare costs significantly. Hotels in Key West, and the rest of the Florida Keys, have their lowest occupancy from September to November, and are likely to offer lower rates. September is the softest travel month in many Caribbean countries. Airlines generally run sales on such flights in late August extending through December. Check out the sales pages on major airlines such as American and Delta. One major caveat, hurricane season extends from August to October, so prepare for the possibility that your trip gets rained out or you face delays at the airport. You should look into travel insurance.

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