New And Improved

Whether you’ve lived in Florida a few years or your whole life, you understand the immense destructive power of hurricanes.

But, sometimes, a storm cloud has a silver lining – as communities rebuild and new projects are born.

Such is the case with Baker’s Cay, a 13-acre resort on a former Key Largo pineapple plantation, just a 110-mile drive from Boca Raton.

Everything you’d want in an island getaway can be found at this lush, beachside retreat: 200 guest rooms with private balconies overlooking the Gulf of Mexico or tropical gardens, nature trails, two swimming pools separated by a waterfall grotto, a restaurant with breathtaking water views, a tiki bar, a fitness center and even a 21-slip dock.

If you’re an aquaphile, Baker’s Cay, which is part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, will be nirvana. With snorkeling, parasailing, fishing and jet skiing available onsite, you can be in or on the water from sunrise to sunset.

Additional activities can be found outside the resort, too, from swimming with dolphins to taking an airboat ride or scuba diving at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Key Largo is the Dive Capital of the World, after all. Don’t miss the famous Christ of the Abyss underwater statue, which can be seen while diving, snorkeling or taking a glass-bottom boat ride. 

Through the resort’s partnership with the Key Largo-based Coral Restoration Foundation, guests can help restore sections of the Florida Reef Tract, the largest in the continental states. 

The Florida Keys Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center in Tavernier is three miles away and offers close encounters with ospreys, herons, hawks and other birds, some of which have become permanent guests. 

In addition to all the water sports, Baker’s Cay, through its partnership with Salt Island Seaplanes of Naples, offers charter day trips to Key West. A four-passenger Cessna 206 amphibious seaplane lands in the bay, where it picks up and drops off guests at the Baker’s Cay private beach.

After a scenic 35-minute flight, the plane lands at Key West International Airport, a 15-minute drive from the always entertaining Duval Street and Mallory Square, known for sunset celebrations and cruise ship arrivals and departures.

But let’s get back to Baker’s Cay.

Previously known as the Hilton Key Largo, which originally opened in 1985, the resort had closed for renovations and rebranding before Hurricane Irma heavily damaged the Florida Keys in 2017. The property, at Mile Marker 97, opened with its new name and look in fall 2018.

Hand-carved wood furnishings, metalwork and textured finishes can be found throughout the hotel. Private hot tubs are available in some suites, but all rooms have glass-enclosed showers, 50-inch flat-screen TVs, Illy coffeemakers and custom bath amenities with locally sourced Keez Beez Honey. Nightly turn-down service is available upon request.

Perched high above the island’s lush swath of hardwood hammocks, the resort’s Creole-Caribbean restaurant, Calusa, makes the most of the bay views. For a beachside dining option, try Dry Rocks, which has a large outdoor deck. At the pool bar, enjoy snacks, fresh-fruit-infused frozen drinks and beer; or wander down to the beach to check out the food truck and tiki bar.

Other onsite amenities include a greenhouse, a boutique and an Aveda salon. (Who doesn’t love a pampering massage by the pool?) Parents will appreciate the kids camp, which keeps children ages 5-12 happily occupied. 

An eco-friendly resort, Baker’s Cay does its part by providing guests with green options, including boxed water, biodegradable straws and an eco-conscious boutique with everything from sustainable fashions to reef-safe sunscreen.

And last, but not least, Baker’s Cay wins two enthusiastic paws up for its Cay-9 program, offering special doggie-sized tiki huts, customized collar charms and treats. Dog-loving guests (and their pets) enjoy meeting Maya, the Cay-9 director of pet relations with a fondness for tummy rubs.

With so much to do and see, you’ll want to work some quiet time into your schedule – and a hammock on the beach is the perfect spot for just that. Partially shaded by mangrove trees and close enough to enjoy sea breezes, the hammock has become a happy place for countless guests.

Now, it’s your turn. O

Baker’s Cay Resort is located at 97000 Overseas Highway, Key Largo. For more information, call 305-852-5553 or visit bakerscay.com.