Alright, let’s be honest… there are very few things better than a girls’ trip. Girl talk, great wine, delicious food, and relaxation are the main ingredients for a great time with your girlfriends. These were all key factors in making my weekend in the Florida Keys last month one of the best ever.

Weekend In The Florida Keys

I headed to the Keys with some of my best blogger friends – Aggie (@travel_inhershoes), Lisa (@lisahomsy), Ashley (@travellushes), and Dianna (@followdee). There, we had an incredible four days full of sunshine, relaxation, good food, and even better conversation.

If you want to re-create a girls’ trip like mine, here’s everything you need to know about our weekend…

Where We Stayed

We spent the weekend at Hawks Cay Resort, a luxurious property located in Duck Key in the Florida Keys. Though the entire length of the Keys stretches 113 miles, the island of Duck Key is located about halfway to Key West at mile marker 61.

(can I say “Key” one more time?)

The resort has absolutely everything you could need for a relaxing weekend – a spa, multiple restaurants, pools, and gorgeous beaches. It’s the perfect place for a family vacation, a couple’s getaway, or a trip with friends.

My oceanview room was spacious with a king-size bed, living room, and sprawling outdoor patio:

Hawks Cay also has numerous dining options that cater to all tastes and budgets. Alma is wonderful for a more high-end gourmet experience, while Angler & Ale is great for casual dining by the docks and The Beach Grill is a perfect option for poolside snacking.

What We Did

The Florida Keys offers travelers a wide array of activities. In this post, I’ll be breaking down what we did on our girls’ trip. Additionally, I’ll be diving into all the other activities that the Florida Keys has to offer so you can customize and create the perfect trip for you and your girlfriends. So without further ado, here’s what we got up to:

Water Sports

Hawks Cay has absolutely everything you could ask for when it comes to water sports. Jet skiing, banana boating, parasailing, scuba diving, snorkeling tours – you name it, they’ve got it.

Relax by the water

You’re in a tropical destination, after all! The Florida Keys are such a unique American destination because you get the feeling of vacationing in the Caribbean without actually having to leave the states. The temperature is as warm and the water is as turquoise as if you were in the Dominican Republic or Cuba. Therefore, you absolutely need to spend some time relaxing at Hawks Cay‘s pools and beaches.

Order some drinks and food with your friends at a pool cabana! I recommend the tuna poké that comes served with cucumber slices and pita bread.

dress: Tiare Hawaii

Enjoy the spa

Hawks Cay has a gorgeous spa that absolutely warrants an afternoon. I had a Custom Aromatherapy Massage, meaning I was able to select the oils and lotions used during my treatment. Go for the guava scent 😉

Take a mixology class

The mixology class in Hawks Cay’s Alma restaurant was one of the highlights of our weekend. We learned how to make all kinds of martinis, but the Raspberry Lemon Drop Martini was my absolute favorite!

Dylan supervising my obvious lack of expertise 😉

Explore outside of the resort

Hawks Cay Resort is the perfect place for your next girls trip not only because of the sheer amount of activities the hotel itself has to offer, but because there is also so much to do in the area around it.

These are my best suggestions:

Miami: Miami is about two hours away, making it the perfect day trip from Duck Key. Or you could tack on a night or two to your Florida trip and spend the extra time in Miami enjoying the day & night clubs. You have to fly in and out of Miami-Dade International Airport anyway, so might as well!

(go here for a guide to Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood)

Key West: Only an hour and a half drive in the opposite direction, Key West is world renowned for its daily sunset celebrations and (of course!) delicious key lime pie. It would also make for a great day trip and photo opportunity by the “Southernmost Point in the Continental U.S.” landmark.

Seven-Mile Bridge: The Seven-Mile Bridge is one of the most well-known aspects of the Florida Keys and can’t be missed. To get to it, turn West out of Hawks Cay Resort and head toward Key West. You’ll hit the bridge in about 25 minutes and know immediately when you’re there! As the name suggests, it’s a seven-mile-long bridge that is surrounded on both sides by some of the most turquoise blue water you’ve ever seen.

Marathon Turtle Hospital: Located only 20 minutes away in Marathon, The Marathon Turtle Hospital is the perfect place to spend half a day! Learn all about the non-profit’s efforts to save sea turtles and even get the chance to feed some of the animals.

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park: This park has the only living coral reef in the continental United States, meaning that if you’re an avid snorkeler or diver, you need to spend a day here! It’s located in Key Largo, which is about 50 minutes toward mainland Florida.

More To Do in the Florida Keys

There’s so much to do in the Florida Keys, a single girls’ trip could not cover it all. And just in case you’d like to add a thing or two to our itinerary, here are some other options of places to visit and things to do!

Big Pine Key

If you and your girlfriends are looking for something a little more low-key, head over to Big Pine Key. Located just 30-miles north of Key West, Big Pine Key offers the same range of water activities with crowds of smaller sizes. But if snorkeling and scuba diving aren’t your thing, check out the Bahia Honda State Park, where you and your girls can soak in the sun on fine, white sand. This particular part of the keys is home to the Key deer. To catch these cute, wild deers which are the size of a large dog, visit the National Key Deer Refuge.

Mallory Square

Considered the hub of Key West’s social scene, Mallory Square is a must-visit for first-time visitors. This is where the famous Key West Sunset Celebration takes place every night. The rules are simple — sit and enjoy the glowing pink sunset as it sinks into the Gulf of Mexico horizon. But the festivities don’t end there. Once the sun sets,  Mallory Square comes to life with street performers from local musicians, magicians, to artists.

Hemingway House and Museum

This gorgeous house on the island of Key West was once the home of the American literary legend, Ernest Hemingway. The Hemingway House and Museum happen to be Key West’s most popular tourist attraction. Conveniently situated across from the Key West Lighthouse, the Hemingway House and Museum is definitely worth the visit.

Considering the Keys?

Part of the appeal of the Florida Keys is the abundance of activities that cater to every traveler. If you’re planning on traveling with a group of girls with different travel styles, Key West will have you all covered. So, who would you bring to the Florida Keys with you? Tell me where your favorite girls’ trip was to!

xo,

(Disclaimer: This post was written in collaboration with Hawks Cay Resort. As always, all opinions remain my own).

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