Poolside in Key West

[grimace98]

Going to Key West in Dec. I've heard the beaches aren't great here. Wondering if anyone can recommend a hotel or restuarant that also has poolside access? :)

[southernmost]

Key West is a coral island, meaning the substrate of the land is made of oolite limestone...a former reef. When the oceans were deeper, the Keys were under water and a huge reef extended from the peninsula that we today call Florida. Polar caps refroze, ocean levels dropped, and out of the water popped the coral, which after tens of thousands of years, have become the Florida Keys. There is a barrier reef that runs along the Keys about 6 miles offshore. This keeps wave action to nearly zero. Without wave action, you are not going to create a lot of beaches since the sand isn't being deposited on the shores.

You have a couple options though. Smathers beach is over a mile long and runs along the south shorewest shore of Key West. The city has replenished the sand there and is a very nice beach. But first choice of the locals is Fort Zachery Taylor state park.

If you have a car, I highly recommend you make a day trip out of visiting Bahia Honda State Park at mile marker 36. This is a beautiful beach and well worth the visit. The beaches on the south side past the campsites (sandspur) are the nicest.

If you want to hang out poolside, stay at the Reach Resort. They have poolside service, their own beach (a rarity in Key West resorts) and a restaurant overlooking the water (it's a Shula's Steakhouse).

Have fun!

[grimace98]

Wow Southermost,

Thanks for the lesson on the development of the Keys, as well as the beach info. It's very helpful!