By Joyce Hadley Copeland
It was zero degrees with over three feet of snow on the ground the morning Kevin and Cathy DuMond left from their home in the town of Hurley in New York's Hudson River Valley bound for Key West.
When they arrived at
Elegant Key West Tree House, booked for the entire month of March, "it was like a sigh of relief," Kevin remembers. "Out of 31 days, we had one day that was overcast. Every other day was sunny."
Relaxed rhythm
The DuMonds quickly settled into the island's relaxed rhythm. Because their two-bedroom flat was so centrally located on the south side of Old Town, the DuMonds left their car parked and explored every inch of Key West on foot and rented bikes. Most mornings, Cathy biked through Old Town admiring the period homes and moss-draped trees, while Kevin did his 5-mile run.
After lunch they packed a cooler and beach chairs and biked to Ft. Zachary State Park to swim and relax under the palms. Stepping out again in the evening, they would stroll to Smathers Beach and watch the sunset or bike to Mallory Square for a beer and some live music.
"That was my first time ever in Key West and I fell in love with the place," Cathy says.
Tucked into a tropical canopy
Both insist their Tree House, which overlooked a lush tropical palm tree garden from the second story of a beautifully renovated 1930s home was one of the sweetest surprises of their stay.
The garden was created in the 1930s by Molly Parker, credited with planting most of the old Grandfather Mahogany trees and tropical fruit trees on the island. Every window of Elegant Key West Tree House frames a gorgeous view of palm trees and tropical flowers, but the covered dining porch, which runs the length of house, was the couple's favorite place to retreat in the early evening. It felt like being tucked into a tropical canopy, Kevin says.
Landing here was a happy accident. By the time the newly retired couple started researching monthly rentals in January, everything on the island was booked. After calling the Key West Chamber of Commerce, Cathy received an email from Vacation Homes of Key West saying Elegant Key West Tree House was available. They checked it out on the VHKW website and booked immediately.
Going back every year
"We both were saying, 'If this place is as nice as it looks, we're really going to make out!'" Kevin says, adding, "It was even nicer than it looked online."
The first week of their stay they booked Elegant Key West Tree House for the following March. "Key West is a really great escape when you're coming from New England," Kevin says. "We've decided we're going back every year!"
Favorite Things
Hogfish Bar & Grill, Stock Island
"Our groundskeeper said, 'You have to try this place!'. It's outside dining, all local, fresh-caught seafood. Reasonably priced. We'd go there once a week. Cathy loved the Shrimp Poor Boy" (made with Key West Pink Shrimp)."
The Webcam at Mile Marker 0
"We biked over one night and called our three nieces. We said, 'Hey, go to Key West webcams and click on the southernmost cam. Can you see me and Aunt Cathy dancing around?' We did a little TV show live from Mile Marker 0."
Live Music Everywhere
"Key West has a lot of open-air bars with live music jazz, rock and roll, reggae every night. At Rotary Pier, we saw a reggae concert with Bob Marley's son playing."
Joyce Hadley Copeland is a travel writer and yoga practitioner, whose passion for authentic experiences and unique accommodations has led her all over the world, reviewing hundreds vacation rental homes, boutique hotels, and resorts. She enjoys interviewing guests who have stayed with VHKW, and notes that every time she shares the stories of Key West vacationers she has vivid dreams of conch fritters and Cuban coffee.
