Cheeca Lodge, Florida Keys

by Lisa Matte

The palm-lined beach where a group of boys played an impromptu game of touch football and couples lounged in the sun just hours earlier becomes a romantic oasis where dreams of lasting love come true when you select Cheeca Lodge as the setting for your sunset nuptials.

Located at the 82-mile marker on the Atlantic Ocean side of the Florida Keys about half-way between Miami and Key West, Cheeca Lodge is an oceanfront resort consisting of 203 guest rooms (including 63 one- and two-bedroom suites) set amid 27 landscaped acres including an 1,100-foot stretch of palm-shaded beachfront. Established in 1946 as the Islamorada Olney Inn, Cheeca Lodge was originally maintained as a retreat for wealthy sportsmen interested in testing their skills in a region dubbed the "Sport Fishing Capital of the World." A $33 million renovation completed in 1987 transformed the property into a full-service year-round resort destination.

While it's has retained its reputation as a haven for sportsfishermen -- a fact much appreciated by sporting couples -- Cheeca Lodge has evolved through the years so that romance and recreation are equally balanced. On-site watersports include snorkeling, fishing, and parasailing. Charter fishing trips are easily arranged. And nearby Enviro-Tours offers kayaking and windsurfing excursions. But the newest amenity at Cheeca Lodge may well be its most indulgent. The resort's Avanyu Health Spa opened last year to wide acclaim. Surrounded by landscaped gardens, the spa offers an assortment of body treatments sure to enhance the romantic experience at Cheeca Lodge.

While it's earned membership in Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Cheeca Lodge is anything but stuffy. The resort is by-and-large a casual place boasting an atmosphere suitable to its location off kitschy Route 1 smack-dab in the middle of the Florida Keys. In other words, no shoes required for that beachfront wedding.

For More Information:

For more information, call 800/327-2888 or 305/664-4651. Or log on to www.cheeca.com.

Boston-based travel writer Lisa Matte is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers. Author of City-Smart Boston (Avalon), Lisa's work has appeared in numerous national and regional publications including American Way, Skylights, AAA Journey, Bridal Guide, Coastal Living, Outbound Traveler, and Travel Weekly.