Gulf sunset views, seafood and tropical drinks, bicycle and scooter rentals, koi and turtle ponds—all this plus peace and quiet around a courtyard-garden pool—draw vacationers to this compact waterfront resort. It's located just 2 blocks from Mallory Square's famous daily Sunset Celebration and 1 block from Duval Street, with its "Duval Crawl" after-dark bar-hopping ritual.

Since 1946, the Cheeca Lodge & Spa has attracted sportfishing enthusiasts such as sportscaster Curt Gowdy, General Norman Schwarzkopf, and President George H.W. Bush, as well as families seeking active vacations. "Barefoot elegance" is the theme, and it's evident in the lobby with a wood-beamed ceiling, wood-paddle ceiling fans, plush seating, and lots of plants.

Built by Florida developer Henry Flagler on Key West's south shore in 1920, Casa Marina Resort is marked by tropical gardens and sculpted hedges. The main building has a sand-colored exterior with a Mediterranean red-tile roof, and newer buildings echo the grand resort style. Arrayed along a 1,100-foot private beach, the resort is 1.5 miles from the shopping, dining, and nightclubs of Duval Street.

The nautical-theme lobby featuring polished wood and bold colors sets the casual ambience prevailing at the resort, which attracts adults eager to enjoy the sun and Key West's renowned nightlife.

With a water-activities center to its waterside open-air shopping promenade and a Sunset Festival, this resort embodies Key West's appeal—but with a slightly more refined gloss on the island's casual fun-making. Mallory Square's Sunset Celebration (next door over a short wooden bridge), for instance, offers food carts but no alcoholic beverages and no seating. The hotel offers temporary bars, tables, and open-air seating in front of and atop its restaurant.

President Harry S. Truman and wife, Bess, visited often when the island was a private fishing retreat, and President Kennedy came when PT-109, the story of his World War II exploit, was filmed here. Today Little Palm Island attracts an international clientele of celebrating couples, lawyers, doctors, businesspeople, and celebrities seeking peace, quiet, and privacy in the Florida Keys. (Guests must be at least 16 years old.)

This Key West hotel provides moderately priced accommodations for families just 3 miles from the downtown action and across the street from a promenade running beside the Gulf of Mexico—ideal for strolling, jogging, and bicycling. The lobby includes historical Key West photographs and a catalogue to explain them.