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Key Largo and the Florida Key rental home
Even the name of Key Largo sparks thoughts of classic movies, black-and-white adventures and Humphrey
Bogart. In fact, you can ride the actual African Queen while you're there; it is docked in Key Largo.
Key Largo is known as the Diving Capital of the World, and it is an ideal romantic
Florida Key rental home destination for diving couples. The
Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park was the first underwater preserve in the United States. Combined with
the adjacent Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary, the dive spots are home to 55 types of coral and 500
varieties of fish.
Key Largo hosts many underwater weddings, and several dive charter companies can arrange the ceremony for
you. One popular spot for getting married while you stay at a Florida Key rental home is near Christ of
the Deep. The statue of Christ lifting his arms to the heavens from beneath the waves was a gift from
Italy.
You can also honeymoon underwater. Couples looking for an unusual romantic weekend stay can check in at
the Jules Vern Undersea Hotel, the world's only underwater hotel.
Islamorada and the Florida Key rental home
One boat captain told me Islamorada was "a little drinking town with a big fishing problem." I'm not sure
about the drinking, but I can tell you Islamorada is world-renowned for its fishing. The "Sportsfishing
Capital of the World," so named because it holds more sport fishing world records than any other fishing
destination in the world, is naturally packed with charter boats. The Atlantic side of the island is
brimming with marlin, dolphin, tuna, lobster, snapper and grouper. In the shallow backcountry waters,
anglers can find tarpon, bonefish and redfish.
If fishing is not your thing, Islamorada offers many other activities. Reef and wreck diving and
snorkeling is popular; charter companies like Lady Cyana Divers offer all the equipment you need for a
few hours or a whole day on the reef (just bring your C-Card).
If you're not certified, sign up for a class and get into the water right away. For antique shopping,
try Treasure Village and Rain Barrel, and for fragrant foliage head to Lignumvitae Botanical Site. Cheeca
Lodge and Spa offers tennis, golf, swimming pools, beaches, and a full-service spa. Cheeca Lodge also
features private beachside Florida Key rental home villas, hammocks that swing under thatched roofs, and
a pier with picture-perfect views, perfect for sunset strolls.
Fine dining, tropical drinks and dancing are popular activities after dark in the Florida Key rental home
communities. The Morada Beach Café, set in a charming old house on the beach, features a broad front porch
where couples can dine al fresco by candlelight. The sound of the waves lapping the shore a few short
yards away provides a rhythm for the soft guitar music playing live most nights. After dinner, order a
drink at the bar (they'll put a glowing light stick in your glass) and claim a beach chair for two on the
sand outside the café. The setting is so romantic; many couples choose it for their wedding ceremony.
Contact the café for arrangements.
For fine dining indoors, try the recently opened Kaiyo. The former chef of Cheeca Lodge conceived of this
unique experience, a fusion of Keys cuisine and Asian-inspired delicacies. Think conch, key lime, and
Florida lobsters alongside more traditional sushi combinations. And all of that just steps away from a
Florida Key rental home in Islamorada.
For a really unique experience in the Florida Key rental home area of Islamorada, catch a ride on the
Nautilimo. Chauffeured by its creator, Captain Joe Fox, this is the only nautical stretch limousine in
the Keys (and perhaps the world). It's a boat outfitted with parts from a 1987 Cadillac limousine, and
the effect is amazing. To observers, it appears to be an actual stretch limo cruising just on the surface
of the water. For $75 per couple, you can sip a bottle of champagne and wave to amazed people on shore,
or just settle back and enjoy the view from the "car" windows.
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