A Tropical Runaway with a Dolphin Ride? An Escape to Hawks Cay Has it All

Hawks cay resort and marina. Photo courtesy of the resort.

This family-friendly Florida Keys resort has everything you need for a total reset.

By Susan Able | Edible DC

The trip was an easy one from the DMV, and better yet, it was car-free for me. I hopped a flight to Miami and easily grabbed a Florida Keys Shuttle, which dropped me right at the door of my destination, the Hawks Cay Resort. I started my decompression by looking out the window at the ocean and passing funky Florida Keys scene on our hour and a half ride down Florida’s famous A1A. We pulled onto Duck Key and the resort’s manicured grounds. I had arrived at a AAA 4-star resort that I soon found has literally has something for everyone. And, best of all, a unique offering that I couldn’t wait to try—Hawks Cay is the only resort in the continental U.S. with a Dolphin Connection program—and I would be meeting my first dolphin the next day.

Hawks Cay Resort is a large, full-service resort with a marina, carefully planned to provide the total reboot we all need, whether you want to read a book in the sun, play tennis all day, take your children to the Pirate Ship park while you grab a glass of wine (how smart to serve adult beverages in a children’s playground!), or sport fish. It’s a 60-acre resort that is a a well-manicured vision of tropical bliss without being stuffy. Friendly valets greet you at the entrance, and as you go into the lobby, I found in front of me a giant saltwater tank that really set up my whole vibe up for a sunny stay.

The staff were welcoming and eager to make sure we had a great experience.

The food program was impressive, emphasizing seasonal produce and local fish and Protein. Clockwise from Top: seriously fantastic key lime pie with a torched meringue topper, one of the yellow snapper we caught served whole, fancy (and delicioius) version of a wedge salad.

Let’s review the resort. Five restaurants (from casual to fancy), three bars and a market within walking distance of your room? Check. Activities for families, a playground for children with a pirate ship, a dedicated pool for families and a club for teens? Check again. (Hawks Cay was named the #1 Family Resort by USA Today’s 10Best.) An adults-only pool with cabanas and options for pool-side rum tastings? (The resort has five pools and a really cool saltwater lagoon.) Bikes, tennis, pickle ball? A full service spa? Check to all of those. Deep sea fishing, boat rides and the completely unique experience with trained dolphins? Boxes checked for all.

My Sunny patio from my king guestroom which lead to the gardens and adult pool.

My room was one of the property’s guestrooms, spacious and freshly redecorated with its own patio and sunning deck, with steps down to the gardens and adult pool. The decor of the property was fresh and modern, the entire property was reopened after a $50 million dollar renovation in 2018.

I started my trip with a golf-cart tour around the property, and got an overview of the resort campus, including the full-service marina. This is clearly a paradise for people who love salt-water action, the marina staff told me they or the hotel staff can arrange offshore, flats and backcountry fishing, diving, kayaking, kiteboarding and standup paddleboarding.

Executive chef patrick cleary brings top experience to the resort, Under his supervision, hawks cays dining has just been awarded Open Table’s diner’s Choice. clockwise: chef patrick, the marina restaurant, angler and ale, and ahi tuna nachos that were very very good.

My first act was a swim and a refresh, followed by a welcome drink at the bar and a great dinner of Florida-grown veggies and local fish at Sixty-One Prime, Hawks Cay’s upscale steak and seafood restaurant located just off the lobby in the resort. After dinner drinks were poolside at the Pilar Bar. Early to bed, because the next morning would dawn with my Dolphin Experience.

The Dolphin Connection is located on the property at a series of salt-water lagoons where Atlantic bottleneck dolphins live and play. You can watch them from the deck anytime of the day, they careen through the water and do dolphin jumps in the air (like Flipper!), but the chance to get in the water with them was exciting. The Dolphin Connection program is based on conservation, many of the dolphins are retired (from actual jobs with the U.S. Navy), or rescued dolphins that needed ongoing support or as they were unable to live on their own in the wild. It is a professional program, staffed by marine experts and accredited by the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums.

The dolphin connection is a unique offering at hawks cay. It helps program participants learn about Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, understand their challenges in the wild and gives guests a chance to meet dolphins “in Person.” The Top right photo is the author coming in hot courtesy a ride from two dolphins.

My program was called Dolphin Discovery, an hour ($249 per guest) which started off in a classroom with instructions on how to interact with dolphin, what to expect and detailed background on the life of these amazing mammals. My group of six adults donned life vests and via a ladder, entered our pool platform, waiting our turn to splash and play with our dolphins. The highlight for me was swimming to the far end of the lagoon and catching a ride first with one dolphin, then a second time, where I held fins from two dolphins for a speedy ride back. Highly recommend this for everyone (though you have to be 4’6” to participate) and a great respect for how large, strong and smart these creatures are. Trip highlight!

Wonderful Barkeep and mixologist Jason led me through a tasting of Papa’s Pilar Rum distilled in the keys.

After a light lunch in a cabana, I did a tasting of Papa’s Pilar Rum, which is distilled in the Keys. Feeling fabulous and relaxed after my flights of rum, I headed to the resort’s Calm Waters Spa, a 7,000 square foot facility that has eight treatment rooms and group exercise classrooms. I had an incredible facial, the Elemis Pro-Collagen Age Defy Facial which was most excellent, kudos to the staff. Did I fall asleep? Yes, but I was now glowing, and ready for my Sunset Cruise where we meandered up and down the coast of Duck Key and through the canals and inlets lined with beautiful homes. Dinner was at Angler & Ale, out on the open air deck, a Florida-Keys style restaurant at the marina which was fish-centric (obvi) and so much fun. I fell into bed to get ready for an early wake up call for charter fishing.

Clockwise from TOp: Yellow snapper, caught by our group; sunset cruise gave a chance to “wine down”; a first time angler in my group.

We met Captain Dave Jensen at 7:00 a.m. at the Hawks Cay Marina, and motored out into the ocean where everyone had their hand on a rod. We caught many yellow perch and of course, threw the little ones back. My highlight? Meeting the manatees at the dock when I returned. I’d never seen a manatee in person, and they are incredible interesting creatures.

A manatee grabbing a drink of fresh water from a hose at the marina dock.

Sadly, after some wonderful pool time, I had to head back to reality in the later afternoon. And even more bittersweet, my Florida Keys Shuttle was right on time to head back to the airport.