We are scheduled to travel to Islamorada in Florida and are staying at the Cheeca Lodge (late June) We are two families with teenaged children. Any comments about the place, the beach, the surroundings. I am a little wary... hear that you need water shoes in ocean, the coral is so sharp. I would appreciate comments. THANK YOU.

My husband and I spent a night at Cheeca Lodge a couple of years ago, but as we were on our way to Key West we didn't really get a good introduction to it. All the keys are on coral, though, so if you want to swim, it's easy to wear some kind of protective footing. I'm sure you'll have a great time!

The Keys are great. I haven't stayed at Cheeca Lodge, but I have spent a lot of time in the Upper Keys.

There is really no beach. Some sandy shoreline areas on the gulf side - probably man made. Lots of jet ski places, hobie cat sailing, wind surfing. Snorkeling at Pennycamp State Park in Key Largo. Great sea food. Lots for teenagers to do.

I have stayed there a few years ago and I love it. It is a favorite place. You made a good choice. I sometimes wear water shoes in the ocean. The beaches are not th emost wonderful in the keys..not the beautiful sandy places like the gulf coast of fl. Go snorkeling and yes, wear water shoes..

Cheeca is an island treasure! My wife and I have stayed there three times in the past 5 years and we absolutely love it. I think your teens will enjoy the pools, snorkeling, catamarans, windssurfing, etc. and the par-3 golf course is not bad. I heard that local officials outlawed the jetskis (thank God). Make sure you catch the sunset at Lor-e-lei's Restaurant right across the main highway. Great food and good live music. Chris

Cheeca is great! Just a note on the jetski/waverunners. Indeed a law has been past but enforcement has been spotty at best- I've been to the Keys the last three weekends and have not noticed any less personal watercraft.

I'm not picking on the Cheeca, mind you. The place IS an institution. BUT -- it's loud, crowded, and chock-full of drunk people on Friday and Saturday nights. Law or no law -- there are way too many jet-skis there, and everywhere there's water. Talk about noise, and pollution. Yes, there is coral, but there's also a lot of sand. The trick is - don't walk on the coral, which is against the law anyway. Sorry to sound like a curmudgeon (sp?) but I love the Keys and I've seen them come to near ruin in the last 10 years -- all in the pursuit of the almighty tourist dollar. Anyway, the Keys are a great place to visit, but it's at it's best when there's a little bit of solitude to really soak it in.

David,
I love the Keys also and totally agree with you about the jet skis and the ruination of the reefs. I saw a program on PBS a couple of months ago and it said that if something drastic is not done soon the reefs will be gone in 10 years. As for jet skis, not only are they loud but they dump tons of gas into the waterways. I heard Lake Tahoe has completely banned them for this reason.

My family used to vacation on Marathon Key at Hawk's. The resort is very nice with spacious large rooms, great food and other activities. Swimming in the ocean on the keys is vitually impossible - no beaches or waves. The Keys are fun and funky but no beaches. Cheeka Lodge is supposedly very nice.