Sunset Key in Key West, Pelican Grand Beach Resort in Fort Lauderdale, and Flagler Club at the Breakers Palm Beach.Stay?
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why don’t you Here are 3 really good reasons to book a staycation this summer: Sunset Key in Key West, Pelican Grand Beach Resort in Fort Lauderdale, and Flagler Club at The Breakers Palm Beach.stay? 2 JULY/AUGUST 2016 OPPOSITE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The Conch Cruiser makes its 3 pm ice cream run; a treatment room at the spa; inside the one-story 3-bedroom beachfront cottage. ABOVE: Partial view of the main pool. BELOW: Beachfront chaise longues line the beach; the pier in the Sunset Key distance is where the ferry picks up and drops off guests. In case you haven’t heard, there’s a bewitch- with delicious homemade cakes, muffins and or inside the intricately designed dining room, ing little island just off the tip of Key West fruit (and a newspaper) outside the door, just you’ll be in the perfect spot. called Sunset Key. Here, no cars are allowed, about as much as we look forward to the The isolation from the madding crowds of so the only sounds you’re likely to hear are bottled water and bedtime chocolates left on Key West adds to the perfection of this ro- those of the birds navigating the lush foliage, the night tables during turndown service. mantic spot, known as a favorite for weddings the water lapping up on the shore, or possibly Since the resort upgraded last year to (we see one every time we go), anniversaries, the plop of fish as they jump up and cut its spot on the Luxury Collection’s roster, or even family getaways—and just a favorite back into the surface of the water. Sunset there are some newly added pleasures to in general. Go. You’ll understand why. Key Guest Cottages, now part of Starwood savor, such as the Conch Cruiser ice cream Hotels’ Luxury Collection, is one of those cycle, which traverses the grounds delivering Sunset Key, A Luxury Collection Resort, 245 Front St., places that is every bit as magical when you’re complimentary gourmet gelato and sorbet to Key West, 305-292-5300; sunsetkeycottages.com there as it looks like it will be in photographs. guests daily at 3 pm. If your idea of a cool Accessible only by a ten-minute ferry ride treat comes in liquid form, however, you from the dock at Mallory Square in Key can always lie back on a seaside chaise and West, it consists of charming cottages—rang- let the beach concierge bring you a cocktail. Iing from one- to four-bedroom, although the Food is as much a sybaritic pleasure here as four-bedroom models, with their full granite anything else, and that includes breakfast (try and stainless-steel kitchens, second-floor the Chai Tea French Toast), lunch (the Maine balconies and private swimming pools, can Lobster Salad is fresh, plentiful and addictive) hardly be considered “cottages”—all bearing and dinner, which could be anything from a the trademark Key West architecture and cumin-dusted Yellowtail Snapper to a Grilled wrap-around verandas. Every aspect of the Wild Boar with boursin cheese and caramel- accommodations delights, from the fully ized onion bonito cake. Servers are affable stocked kitchens to the plush bathrobes in and attentive—ours remembered us from the closet to the fluffy, double pillowtop beds. our prior visit, which had been in September And we must admit, we always look forward 2014!—and whether you choose to dine at a to waking up to find a breakfast basket filled table outside on the sand among the torches inWESTON MAGAZINE 3 CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The rooftop couples massage room at PURE Spa, with its breathtaking ocean view; the living area inside the 12th-floor Sky Suite; breakfast setup on the Sky Suite terrace. BELOW: The O2K Lounge lights up at night. OPPOSITE, TOP: Rocking chairs line the beach-facing veranda. Pelican Grand OPPOSITE BOTTOM: Inside one of the Beach Resort resort’s inviting guestrooms. The Pelican Grand Beach Resort in Fort dine at the restaurant, OCEAN2000. My but not forgetting the carnivorous among us Lauderdale is in a league of its own when masseur, George, not only discussed the level with items such as Grilled Hanger Steak, Filet it comes to Fort Lauderdale hotels. There of pressure I wanted for my massage; he Mignon, Ribeye and Roast Chicken. What- are plenty of lovely ones, to be sure, but the brought me pineapple-infused coconut water ever you order, make sure to ask for the Seven entire atmosphere changes here once you to help allay the symptoms of a mild hang- Sauces—you can pick one, but why?—the walk through its lobby doors. Situated on over and took special care to massage my chef ’s special concoctions, like Salty Shallot the ocean, with a lounge at one end and a pounding head. All this in a glass-encased Caramel and Green Curry Aioli. restaurant on the other that both feature room on the roof overlooking the ocean— The hotel offers packages that include a outdoor seating (the veranda at the restau- what more is there to say? Florida Residents Promotion, 4th Night Free rant is perfection), the Pelican Grand evokes The restaurant here, OCEAN2000, ranks and Summer Celebration; you can find the a cozy, upscale yet comfortable environment among the best in Fort Lauderdale, with a details for all on the website. where you can choose to indulge in activities pretty famous Sunday brunch, but also a love- like their Lazy River (the only one of its kind ly dinner experience that’s heavily seafood- 2000 N. Ocean Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, in the city) or zone out in the serenity of the inspired and an ode to the resort’s location, 954-568-9431; pelicanbeach.com PURE Spa, which is almost indescribably Tcalming and relaxing. When it comes to catering to families, they’ve got it covered, between the pool and the Lazy River and The Emporium, set up like an old-fashioned ice cream parlor and offering up fresh-baked cookies and muffins, coffee, candy, and assorted other items for purchase you may discover you need (like earbuds, which I had left at home). Three categories of guestrooms include standard city or ocean view, suites and two premier suites, the Sky Suite penthouse on the 12th floor and the Pure Suite penthouse on the 11th floor. The Sky Suite is the ultimate in luxury, with its sprawling layout and fantastic views. It features a huge balcony (1,100 square feet) with a bathtub and outdoor shower, a separate dining room, a roomy living room, and an immense bathroom with a state-of-the-art marble shower. If it’s avail- able, grab it. Two things you absolutely need to do whether you stay here or not are book an appointment (or two) at the PURE Spa and 4 JULY/AUGUST 2016 inWESTON MAGAZINE 5 cabanas sit on a half mile of pure sandy PALM BEACH: beach for those who prefer to spend their time just chilling. Be sure to dine at the hotel’s Flagler Steakhouse located across the street, where Flagler Club at the food ranks among the best in Palm Beach. The restaurant specializes in U.S.D.A. Prime steak and chops as well as fresh seafood. The Breakers Leave room for sweet endings, like the freshly baked chocolate chip cookies and Valrhona chocolate layer cake with vanilla ice cream. The Breakers Palm Beach was founded in to chance because 19 staffers are assigned to That might sound too decadent, but you 1896 by Henry Morrison Flagler, a partner dote on guests in the 25 rooms. can always—and you should—walk off your of John D Rockefeller’s in the Standard Oil The brand new, $8 million indoor- meals on the property, an educational and Co. Originally called The Palm Beach Inn, outdoor spa is another sanctuary of quiet beautiful experience. The hotel gardens are the hotel was destroyed by fire in 1903 and elegance. Try the relaxing body scrub with filled with texture, colors and the fragrances rebuilt the following year as The Breakers, its organic, marine-based formulations. of the season. Ask to be shown the Color which was again destroyed by fire in 1925. Afterwards, relax outside overlooking the Garden Walk, Organic Herb & Vegetable It reopened the next year following a $7 mil- pool and ocean and enjoy small cupcakes, Garden and the Palm Courtyard, a quaint lion renovation. Now in its second century, apples, nuts and teas available from the spa arcaded fountain courtyard near the many the hotel has been brilliantly maintained lounge. As for activities on site, they run the retail shops. by heirs of the original ownership. In fact, gamut, from golf and tennis to a lap pool —Linda Marx the current management team has recently and water sports of every kind. If you’re completed another phase of its $25 million bringing the kids, they can enjoy Camp Flagler Club at The Breakers Palm Beach, renovation. The result is the Flagler Club, Breakers for children (ages 3-12). About 1 County Road, Palm Beach, 561-655-6611 or an understatedly elegant 25-room (21 guest 20 chic beach bungalows and ten grand 888-273-2537; www.thebreakers.com Trooms and four suites) boutique hotel experi- ence within the resort. Located on the sixth and seventh floors of the main building, The Flagler Club’s private lounge offers guests assorted seating vignettes, flat-screen TVs, beautiful art and plenty of reading material. Guests can take breakfast, light snacks, pre-dinner appetizers and delicately prepared sweets in the lounge or outside on the expansive terrace, where we relaxed often—and it’s simply awesome.