Sunshine Key RV Resort and Marina welcome new arrivals!
By Joan Rykal
Sunshine Key RV Resort and Marina, Encore’s fabulous location in the Florida Keys is bursting with pride at the arrival of their five new tiny homes. The resort’s Tiny House Village welcomed five new tiny homes this past fall. Come on down and get a look at these adorable bundles of vacation joy, or as they are affectionately known at SSK, Pearl, Isla, Hemingway, Lucy, and Kai.
Of course, as with any new arrival in a family, we just can’t say enough about them. Each has its own unique personality, and each is perfectly appointed with everything you need for a perfect stay.
Pearl is pretty in pink and features a sleeper sofa on the first floor and a queen bed in the lofted sleeping area (accessible by stairs), as well as a full bathroom with standing shower, and a kitchen complete with refrigerator, stove top, coffeemaker, microwave, toaster, dinnerware and cookware.
Isla shines in her tropical green exterior with a fully appointed interior that includes a first-floor sleeper sofa and a lofted sleeping area with two queen-sized beds and a twin bed. The full bathroom has a tub and shower and the kitchen is complete with stove top, refrigerator, coffeemaker, microwave, toaster and dinnerware and cookware.
Lucy is friendly with a sunny personality and an exterior color to match! Life with Lucy includes a first-floor sleeper sofa and two lofted queen beds as well as a lofted twin bed! The kitchen matches those of her counterparts
and the full bathroom features both a shower and tub.
Kai gives off a water loving vibe thanks to the aqua exterior that mimics the waters of the Keys. Inside, Kai is just as easy-going with a first-floor sleeper sofa and a lofted queen bed. Kai’s kitchen has all the amenities including a refrigerator, stovetop, microwave, coffeemaker, toaster cookware and dinnerware.
Hemingway and the Keys are pretty much synonymous, so to have an authentic Keys trip, consider a stay in Hemingway, the tiny home! The first level/basement features a full bed and the loft area, accessible by ladder, has a queen bed. The kitchen has the same features as the other tiny homes and the full bath features a standing shower. All the tiny homes have AC/heat, TV with basic cable, linens, outdoor seating, and grills.
The new tinies are the perfect complement to an already fabulous resort that in addition to its great Keys location, offers guests wonderful amenities including a swimming pool, tennis and pickleball courts, and laundry facilities. The resort also offers on-site fishing opportunities, a marina and dock, and a beach area! Factor in the Gulf’s free of charge amazing sunrises and sunsets and the abundance of activities available in the Gulf’s warm waters, a visit to Sunshine Key is a must-do!
Speaking of water activities, Keys Boat Tours, an outfitter who rents kayaks, stand up paddle boards, and bikes as well as provides snorkeling, and fishing tours, is located on-site at Sunshine Key. Keys Boat Tours has the distinction of being named a Blue Star Operator. The Blue Star program, which was established by the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, recognizes tour operators who are committed to promoting responsible and sustainable diving, snorkeling, and fishing practices to reduce the impact of these activities on the ecosystems in the Keys. So not only do you have the opportunity to take advantage of their tours and rentals directly on-site, but you have the satisfaction in knowing that your water adventures are a sound choice for both you and the marine world you’ll explore! Learn more at keysboattours.com
If you need any more reasons to book a stay at Sunshine Key (although we think the afore-mentioned are plenty), take a look at what you can do in the Keys, while making SSK your home away from home for a wonderful island adventure.
Explore the land of Ernest Hemingway and visit Key West. Just 30 miles from the resort, Key West is a world unto itself. The main thoroughfare, Duval Street, has shops, boutiques, galleries, eateries, cigar stores, coffee shops and architecture that highlights the area’s Spanish history. At night, Duval Street comes alive thanks to the many bars, which include Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville and Sloppy Joe’s, famous for its Hemingway look-alike contests.
For a deeper look around Key West, take the Conch Train. One of the island’s most popular attractions, the Conch Train loops Old Town Key West during an informative, and fun, 75-minute tour of the city. And to get up close and personal with Hemingway himself, tour the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum (hemingwayhome.com), where the author lived, and wrote, for 10 years. Around the grounds, as well as throughout the city, you will find an abundance of cats, which are said to all be descended from a six-toe cat gifted to Hemingway by a sea captain.
There are plenty of beaches to enjoy in the Keys, with Bahia Honda State Park being one of the more popular. Another is the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park on Key Largo. A snorkeler’s dream, there is a shipwreck not far from shore. The Dry Tortugas features several features and is also home to historic Fort Jefferson, one of the nation’s largest 19th century forts.
Theater of the Seas, located on Islamorada, offers dolphin and sea lion shows and you can take a swim with both. Movie buffs might enjoy a cruise on the African Queen that offers several cruises each day, including a dinner cruise, around the waters of Key largo (africanqueenflkeys.com). Just the drive from island to island itself is an experience, as the Overseas Highway is the main way to do this. Enjoy the 11-mile ride with fabulous views from all sides.
The Keys also are known for their many festivals. Some popular festivals include the Marathon Seafood festival each March, Hemingway Days each July and the Key West Fantasy Fest, held every year in October.