WANDERLUST
Goodbye, Worries.
Hello, Islamorada! This month, our intrepid travel columnist goes south to paradise.
EXIT THE FLORIDA Turnpike onto the Overseas Highway to the Florida Keys, and it’s like throwing a switch. Your shoulders lower. You exhale. Suddenly the stress of everyday life recedes in your rearview mirror. That was the feeling my wife Pamela and I had as we headed for Cheeca Lodge and Spa in Islamorada, located almost exactly halfway to Key West. Set amid lush, tropical vegetation on 27 oceanfront acres, it has a long history as a luxury retreat for the rich and famous, beginning in 1919, when the Matecumbe Club—so named for Upper Matecumbe Key—served as an exclusive private lodge for the millionaires who came down for the sport fishing on Henry Flagler’s railroad.
Alas, the Club fell victim to the catastrophic Labor Day hurricane in 1935, but re-opened as the Olney Inn in 1946. It hosted presidents before it was destroyed by Hurricane Donna in 1960. At that point, the property was purchased by A&P heiress Cynthia “Che-Che” Twitchell, who rebuilt it, combining her name with her husband Carl’s to call it Cheeca Lodge. A LIFE OF LUXURY As you approach the property on driveways flanked by tropical foliage, the building exudes the atmosphere of a luxurious hideaway. Upon entering their open-air lobby to check in, a staffer greets you with a glass of champagne. And while you do feel special,
this is luxury Keys-style: Laid back, not stuffy. With a full range of amenities, your biggest decision is where to begin: You might head for the 1,200-foot private white sand beach. Or book a treatment at the spa. Golfers can enjoy the Jack Nicklaus-designed, 9-hole course. There are tennis and pickleball courts as well as a full range of water sports including sailing, jet skiing and fishing off their 525-foot pier. Finding a lounge chair or cabana at one of their pools is always a good option—there’s both an oceanfront family pool and one for adults near the spa. The resort features 243 rooms that range from oceanfront suites with private lanais and balcony soaking tubs to bungalows and private one- and two-bedroom casitas with
PHOTOGRAPHS BY GERRY BARKER AND COURTESY OF CHEECA LODGE AND SPA
BY GERRY BARKER
36 / AQUA PINECREST
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