Hawks Cay Resort With Kids (Florida Keys)

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Why Hawk's Cay Resort?

Hawk’s Cay Resort is located in Duck Key, FL, part of the Florida Keys. My husband and I had stayed at Hawk’s Cay one time prior to having kids with my sister and brother-in-law and we all loved it so much! We talked about one day bringing our kids here because it seemed so family friendly. So in April 2023, when the time came to pick what our family trip would be this year, I thought about Hawk’s Cay and got excited. But then my practical mom side set in and I thought, do I really want to drive 5.5 hours (without traffic) with a 4 month old, 2 year old, and 4 year old? The answer was no so I came up with a few different options. But in the end, I canceled those and went with Hawks Cay for a number of reasons.

Yes, it would be a long drive for us from Orlando with 3 little kids but we were able to reserve a villa (basically a townhouse). This provided me with a full kitchen and separate bedrooms (both requirements for me with a 4 month old). The separate bedrooms helped so that when the baby woke up at night it would not disrupt my older two. It also had multiple pools, a kids area, and a beach. I felt like I was getting resort amenities while staying in a vacation home rental type of property. The more I thought about it, the more I thought it’s the perfect location…if I can get through the drive 😊

Related Posts: Resort Must Have Items with Kids

Jump ahead to overall feedback and FAQs

Road Trip Strategy & Essentials

Bright and early on Monday morning with our Expedition completely full, we hit the road for our first family trip as a family of 5! My strategy was to start out with a bunch of activities for my older two that they could do in their car seats, have a LOT of snacks, and then when things start going south, break out the iPads. Here were my go to activities for the kids:

  • No mess coloring book
  • Busy board
  • Drawing board
  • Mirror for Aiden

This strategy worked well. It was not perfect, we certainly had our moments, but we got through it.

Stops Along the Way

To help break up the road trip, we stopped at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Miami and I’m so glad we did! This allowed the kids to run around and get a lot of energy out. My husband loves tropical plants so this was a fun adventure for all of us and we were able to grab lunch while we were there too.

We wanted to stay at Fairchild longer as there is so much to see but knew we needed to get back on the road.

Once we got in the car all of the kids fell asleep!! It was short lived for about 30 minutes but it was something. We did activities again followed by iPad once it was needed. We drove until we got to Robbie’s of Islamorada. It was getting to be dinner time and although we were so close to getting there, I knew we would not have groceries yet so it would be best to stop and eat dinner. Plus Robbie’s is a Florida Keys staple that I highly recommend stopping at. You are able to eat dinner, feed the Tarpon (be careful, the Pelicans are quick to snatch that food), and get some ice cream. The kids had a great time.

Our Villa in Sunset Village

We finally arrived at Hawk’s Cay Resort and checked in. Our villa was in Sunset village and I liked that location. It was the furthest walk to the main resort but I didn’t mind it. Additional options for getting around the resort are to rent a golf cart or use the resort provided shuttle.

The downstairs of the villa was the kitchen, living room, and back patio. Our particular villa had a pool which some may be happy with but I was nervous at first. I intentionally like resorts at this age vs vacation rental houses with pools because I worry about the kids (none of them could swim by themselves yet). But this villa had a security latch at the top of the sliding door that none of the kids could reach and it put my mind at ease.

When I booked the villa, I also thought it would be nice to have a space downstairs or on the patio to be able to hang out if any of the kids were sleeping. The second floor had two bedrooms and two bathrooms. I was happy with them and they worked but I wished they were bigger, at least the bedroom that had the en suite. Our room was a queen size bed and fitting the pack n play in there as well took up a lot of the room. The older boys room had two twin beds, which worked great for them. The bathrooms were pedestal sinks which again is fine normally, but with all the stuff I had for the kids (especially a baby) I wish I had more counterspace. But I could certainly work with it.

Dolphin Connection Activity

On our first day, we did the dolphin connection that the resort has. Our kids were not old enough to swim with the dolphins, but we were still able to have a dock visit with them. During a dock visit, you get to pet them, play with them, and have one on one time. It was a lot of fun and the kids loved it! You get photos included with the price too so that worked perfect. It meant I could be focused on the interaction instead of trying to get pictures. 

Pools, Lagoon, & Kids Club

During our visit, our favorite spot was under one of the palm leaf umbrellas by the Saltwater Lagoon. It was PERFECT! It provided us plenty of shade, the boys could play with sand toys, they could play in the water since it was a lagoon and calm water, and you can rent a paddleboard or kayak to go around the lagoon. It is right next to the main pool and the bar so you are able to order food/drinks close by.

We also spent time at the main pool and the pool at Coral Cay, the kids activity area. Coral Cay had so much to do! There was a pirate ship splash pool with very shallow water and a slide. It was perfect for my 2 and 4 year old. The pool at Coral Cay is really big so there’s plenty of room for families to spread out there. There was a sports field, putting course, and scheduled activities that the kids could do.

Groceries & Dining

convenient. This allowed us to have the snacks on hand that our kids like and have some meal options at the villa in case we weren’t up for dinner or needed to come back for a mid-day lunch.

For breakfast each morning we either got breakfast at HC Marketplace at the main resort or cooked at the villa. For coffee (because that is essential for me) you could get coffee and specialty coffee drinks at HC Marketplace. Or with the villa, since you have a full kitchen, you could also brew your coffee there.

For lunch we ate at the Tiki Grill, which is the restaurant and bar that is right by the main pool and the lagoon. We spent most of our time at the lagoon so that worked best for us.

For dinner one night we went to Angler & Ale and loved it! It was kid friendly and was nice to be able to walk there. Afterwards we walked around the marina and looked at the different boats.

We did not check out any of the restaurants at the main resort. They looked really nice and I would have loved them if it was just me and my husband, but I wasn’t up for bringing the 3 littles.

My favorite night for dinner was when we got pizzas to go from HC Marketplace and then brought them back to Sunset village and had a picnic by the water while the sun set. My husband fished and the kids ran around. It was the best.

If you’re up for going off property, one of our favorite places in the keys that you are able to get to by boat as well as car is Sunset Grill & Raw Bar in Marathon. We did not go this trip or explore anywhere else off property because I wanted to stay on property to make it as easy as possible for us. But there are so many great restaurants in the keys, it is not hard to find an option that will work for you.   

Marina

We have a boat but did not bring it with us this trip because with having a little baby, I didn’t think we would get enough use out of it to make it worth hauling down plus docking it. But I love that the marina is there and you have that option. When we visited Hawks Cay previously with my sister, we rented stand up paddle boards one day from the marina and then a boat the next day. It was great! We also did a sunset cruise and loved that as well. There are so many options at the marina that allow you to get out on the water and enjoy all that the Florida Keys has to offer!

Family Pictures

One thing we did that I’m so happy we ended up doing was family pictures! I almost didn’t just because I didn’t want to put that pressure on myself during our trip plus the kids weren’t quite thrilled about it. But they turned out beautiful and I love that we have those memories. We used Folland Photography who has taken lots of family pictures at Hawks Cay so they were familiar with the area. If you are interested in family photos while you’re there, I would recommend them. 

Spa

Hawks Cay also has a spa that looked really nice. I did not get to use it this trip but stopped in there briefly to see if they had nail polish (they did) and the staff was very friendly. I would love to be able to try out the spa next time.

Off Property Activity Ideas

  • Turtle Hospital – This is on our list for next time, I have heard great things about it
  • Charter a boat with a local captain or rent one from the Marina
  • Dry Tortugas – I really want to go to the Dry Tortugas! It is one of our 63 National Parks we have in the U.S. If you are interested in a ferry to get you to the Dry Tortugas, check out Yankee Freedom. It is about an hour and a half drive from Hawks Cay to where you would leave from Key West with Yankee Freedom so be prepared for that. But I think it would be well worth it! And if you are going with kids, make sure to check out the Junior Ranger program so your child can earn their badge.

Pricing

The pricing will depend on what accomodation option you are choosing and what time of year you are going. 

Seasonality is a very big factor in resort pricing. Prices here (and really all of Florida) will be more expensive in March and April due to spring break. Also, if you go over a major holiday like 4th of July or New Year’s Eve, that will impact pricing as well. 

For accommodations, there are hotel rooms at the resort and then there are villas with multiple bedrooms. The standard hotel room will be less expensive than a villa. 

When looking at a 2 queen guest room at the resort, prices range from just under $300 to over $800 per night. The week of New Year’s Even can even go over $1,000 per night. 

A two bedroom villa can range from $400 to $1,200 per night. 

You will find the best deals August – November but that is also hurricane season. And months like August and September, even if there is not a hurricane, it is a rainy time of year in Florida. If you can swing it though with the kids schedules, you can find great deals and it is not likely that a hurricane will hit. But make sure you know the cancellation policy, just in case. 

I personally think April is the most beautiful time of the year in Florida. So depending on whether it works for your family, if you can do end of April, you will find better rates than the beginning of the month. When we went, I wanted to go over my birthday (April 1st) but we ended up going mid-April because it was $1,000 cheaper to go two weeks later. 

Florida and Georgia residents, be sure to look for what offers they have going on. They usually have discounted rates. 

Kids Essentials We Packed

I should note that because we drove, I did not pack light. But that’s exactly why I wanted to go somewhere driving distance.

  • Stroller – We have the UPPAbaby Vista stroller which has a huge basket and that turned out to be the real MVP of our trip. Since we walked from our villa to the main resort each day, we were able to put all of our gear in the basket versus carrying a bunch of stuff plus our kids. It was also nice to have the kickboard option for our older two if (ok when) they got tired of walking
  • Scooters – We brought our scooters for our older two boys and it worked perfect for getting around the property
  • Bottles & Bottle Parts
  • My dish soap from home and bottle brush
  • Sterilizer – Since we were driving I wanted to bring this with me
  • Fold up bouncer – Again, since we were driving I could bring this with me
  • Pack n Play
  • Bumpers for the twin beds
  • Changing pad
  • Beach toys
  • Pool float for the baby
  • Water proof shoes – I love these
  • Hats
  • Goggles
  • Instax Mini – Not an essential for the kids really but I loved how all of these pictures turned out

Overall Feedback and FAQs

I loved this place and would recommend it! My older boys still talk about it and I can’t wait to go back one day!! Next time I would consider either staying in a 3 bedroom in sanctuary village just to have extra space or staying in the family suite at the main resort. The family suite has a king bed and bunk beds that has either a queen or full on the bottom so it can sleep 5. That is a big plus for us and nice that they have an option for a family of 5.  I did not do the family suite this time because of my youngest not sleeping through the night yet.  

  • What village do you recommend? We stayed in sunset village and would stay there again. If we went back, I would stay there or sanctuary village. 
  • Is it family friendly? Absolutely. For accommodations, you have the option of staying in a regular hotel room or you can stay in a villa that has a full kitchen. With families, it is nice to have both options. There are on site restaurants to choose from or if you have a villa, you can stock your fridge with food items as well. The resort has Coral Cay Kids Club with kid friendly pools, pirate splash pad, fields for sports, and on site activities. There are also activities nearby to help keep kids entertained. 
  • How do you get around? We personally walked everywhere. We brought a stroller for our baby that had a basket big enough to hold all of our things. And we brought scooters for our older two. Other options are to rent a golf cart or use the shuttle provided by the resort.
  • What was the setup like in your villa? On the first floor was the kitchen, living room, and sliding door out to the patio (our villa included in a pool). On the second floor was one bedroom with a queen size bed and connecting bathroom, a hallway bathroom, and a second bedroom with two twin beds.
  • What time of year do you recommend? In the keys, I really don’t think you can go wrong when you choose to go. Keep in mind though, there may be cool days in the winter. And the summer will be very hot so you will want to be in the water. Which is not a problem in the Keys!
  • What is the cost? At this property, that will completely depend on what accommodation option you are choosing and what time of year you are going. A standard room with two queens can range from just under $300 to over $800. A two bedroom villa can range from $400 to $1,200. And prices can be even higher for New Year’s week. See my section above that discusses pricing further.
  • Is there an additional fee for parking? As a villa guest, parking is complimentary. For resort guests, there is an additional fee for self-parking and valet parking.
  • What is the closest airport? The closest major international airport is Miami (MIA). But there are smaller airports in the keys you can fly into like Key West International Airport (EYW).