Colorful Cottages Set on Private Tropical Island

With not a sound to disturb them save for the murmur of the water and the calls of seabirds swirling overhead, sunbathers laze on sandy beaches, shaded by palm trees and chiki huts set amid a lush landscape dotted with vivid hibiscus and trailing bougainvillea. Such scenes of blissful seclusion are a common sight on Conch Key Cottages’ private island resort, where tropical bungalows sit steps from the shorefront and elevated cottages perch on towering stilts to afford guests fuller ocean views.

Water sparkles almost on the doorstep of the brightly colored Beach Front cottages, which were constructed at varying times over the past several decades, imbuing each with an individual character. Inside, pinewood beamed ceilings loom over furnishings including a plush sleeper sofa and a king-size bed. Lodgers can prepare meals in a fully equipped kitchen before retiring to the great room or gathering around a teak-top table on the waterfront screen porch. The elevated Ocean View Stilt cottages, meanwhile, rest atop 12-foot-high pilings. Designed with families in mind, the cottages include separate bedrooms and a sleeper sofa to accommodate up to six people, with an eat-in gourmet kitchen facilitating quick meal preparation. Beautiful views lurk behind every window and especially on the deck, where chaise lounges provide a comfortable vantage point from which to take in starry night skies.

Every morning, friendly staffers deliver a continental breakfast and fresh juicing oranges to each lodger’s doorstep. After their morning meals, guests can grab complimentary plush towels and head for the heated pool or private beach. Hammocks facilitate suspended napping, and the resort's concierge stands by to schedule appointments for in-suite massages or to provide tips for finding the island’s best fishing spots. Resort staff can also recommend family-friendly activities, romantic sunset cruises, and scuba dives or equip guests with complimentary two-person kayaks to let paddlers skim across the surface of the Atlantic, skirting the Keys' coastline.

Walker’s Island, Florida: Secluded Paradise Hidden Amid Lively Florida Keys

A tiny tropical paradise, Walker’s Island rests in the heart of the Florida Keys between Key Largo and Key West. Conch Key Cottages occupies this hidden retreat in near-complete seclusion, maintaining a sense of peace and privacy not too far removed from the Keys’ livelier activities. Underwater coral reefs and shipwreck sites rest in the surrounding Atlantic; aqua adventurers can get a look at them under the guidance of trained scuba divers. Abundant opportunities for above-water recreation include standup paddleboarding, jet-ski riding, and interpretative parasailing.

The resort’s central location gives guests a chance to explore other Keys without venturing too far. About 3 miles west on the sleepy island of Grassy Key, families flock to the Dolphin Research Center to pet, swim, and thumb-wrestle with the resident dolphins, who show off their high-flying hoop jumps and other acrobatic tricks. Meanwhile, in Key West, about 1.5 hours away, the party never seems to cease. At bustling Mallory Square, magicians and one-man bands dazzle onlookers as the sun sets and shops display a wealth of Floridian souvenirs and chic beachwear. One of the Keys’ most citified destinations, the area hums with galleries and museums as well as nightclubs and bars electrifying the night with throbbing dance music.