Macaroni Review: Living the Dream at Hawks Cay Resort

Have you ever had a daydream where you are sitting poolside, frosty drink in hand, marveling at the spectacular ocean view and chatting it up with a couple of your best girlfriends?

It’s a lovely dream, isn’t it? One that recently became reality for me when I was treated to a dreamlike weekend at the amazing Hawks Cay Resort in the Florida Keys. Instead of a couple of girlfriends, however, I experienced THIS dream vacation alongside 34 amazing Macaroni Kid publishers from all over the country. We were visiting on a press trip to experience all of the wonderful amenities Hawks Cay has to offer.

Hawks Cay is located on Duck Key, which is about half-way between Key Largo to the north and Key West to the south. It is about 90 miles from Miami, and only about 130 miles from Fort Lauderdale, which is the airport I flew in to. The drive was about 2.5 hours, and it goes by fast with interesting scenery and good company.

Hawks Cay itself has a main hotel and seperate villas. The hotel rooms are spacious and lovely, and seemed to have been recently updated. Our room was on the 2^nd floor, with a balcony overlooking the main pool and the saltwater lagoon. It was a breathtaking view, and one I highly recommend you ask for, should you ever stay at Hawks Cay.

Hawks Cay: A Dream “Grown Up” Vacation

From the moment we arrived, it was obvious that Hawks Cay was absolutely perfect for a girlfriends’ getaway. From the mojito “shakers” by the salt water lagoon to the adults-only (but “maturity optional”) tranquility pool, we were able to put our feet up, let our hair down and have a fabulous time.

We started each morning with a breakfast buffet at Oceans Restaurant, where showing up in your swimsuit and cover up is absolutely expected. The made-to-order omelets and the salmon, capers and fresh fruit were my favorite menu items, but there was something for every taste: mounds of bacon, waffles, cereal, yogurt, and more.  I’m not a Bloody Mary drinker, but some of the ladies really enjoyed having that option! The food and drinks poolside were also delightful. My favorite poolside bite was an Ahi Tuna Poke, with the fish tacos a very close second.

A day a Hawks Cay can be spent relaxing by the lagoon or pool, visiting the Calm Waters Spa, or having one of the many amazing Hawks Cay Experiences. Excursions to go deep-sea fishing, diving, parasailing, kite boarding, snorkeling and sunset cruises are all available from the on-site marina. There is also the opportunity to participate in an experience that was truly the highlight of my trip: Interacting with dolphins at the Dolphin Connection. The Dockside Dolphins meet and greet is one of three interactive dolphin experiences offered at Dolphin Connection. We were able to touch the dolphins, use hand signals to encourage them to show off their skills, and learn a bit about the lives of these amazing animals.


Hawks Cay:  A Dream Family Vacation

After experiencing a dream grown-up trip to Hawks Cay, I now have a NEW dream…to bring my family to Hawks Cay for a dream family vacation. It was clear throughout our stay that Hawks Cay really does cater to families.  The smiling faces of the children we encountered made it clear that they were having the times of their lives. In fact, the Hawks Cay kids’ program was voted one of the best kids’ at hotel programs by Travel + Leisure magazine.

At Hawks Cay, kids can take part in daily crafts, play in the awesome pirate ship splash pool, play games, participate in nature programs and activities, and hang out at “Kids Night Out” parties, all under the supervision of caring, qualified staff. There is even a Mermaid Academy where little mermaids (or sharks) don tails and learn a whole new way to swim!

There are endless opportunities to enjoy Hawks Cay as a family. I can imagine paddle boarding in the lagoon with my daughters, challenging them to a ping pong competition, and making s’mores at one of the resort’s fire pits. And of course, I would absolutely be thrilled to see my daughters meet the Dolphin Connection dolphins.

It may be a while before I can get back to Hawks Cay with my children, but it’s amazing to have had the opportunity to live the dream for a weekend, and now have the memories as well!