Keys Getaway: Tranquility Bay Beach Resort

It was nearing the end of summer break for the kids and we wanted a quick trip to the Keys for some relaxation and fun. We have been to several places in the Keys and this trip we chose to stay at Tranquility Bay Beach Resort. We were travelling with another family, 6 kids in all, and needed roomier accommodations. Regular hotel rooms were not going to cut it! Tranquility’s beach houses, both 2 and 3 bedrooms, sold us!

Paradise


What to expect at Tranquility Bay –

  • Roomy Beach Houses – We chose the water view over beach front beach houses and were very happy. The resort is small and all of the beach houses have wonderful back porches and we had a nice view of the ocean from the upstairs balcony. We were easily able to run back and forth from the pool to beach to grab snacks or drinks from our beach house. It felt like we were in a vacation home. I recommend the three bedroom house over the two bedroom house if you want a much larger family room area.

Anchor

  • Pack your own snacks and drinks – Tranquility Bay is not for you if you want drinks brought to you at the pool and servers at the beach. We barely saw any resort employees while on property unless we walked to the front desk or the Tiki Bar. The Tiki Bar at the beach has a full lunch menu and plenty of drinks. However, we chose to bring snacks and drinks with us to the pool. We even made sandwiches for lunch in the well equipped kitchen. It was so easy to walk out our back porch and bring a plate of sandwiches to the kids at the beach. If you are looking for poolside service, this is not the place for you!

EnjoySummer

  • A beach in the Keys? – Beaches are hard to find in the Keys (even at resorts). We liked the beach at Tranquility. It had a nice snorkeling area for the kids. You could relax on chairs in the white sand. We took in the sunset at the beachside gazebo each night.

Sunset

  • Watersports – On site at Tranquility they rent boats, jet skis, kayaks and paddleboards. We rented jet skis one day and did a guided tour out to the 7-mile bridge to a deserted island. It was a great adventure and the kids loved it! We also rented a paddleboard and let the kids take turns. Although it was not included in the resort fee, it was still nice to have onsite.
  • Putting greens – Our beach houses looked right onto the putting greens and it was fun before or after dinner to play around on the course. The front desk gave you clubs and balls and the kids and adults alike enjoyed this activity.

Golf

  • Holy Iguanas! – At first, the large iguana population on the grounds of the resort was interesting. However, they quickly got too close for comfort at the pool area and became a nuisance. They have cats on site to help control the iguana population, but I have never seen so many at a resort. Unfortunately, one of the iguanas ran towards our kids while they were eating lunch by the pool. The iguana stepped on my daughter’s foot with it’s sharp claws and cut her foot. While her injury was minor, I would have appreciated more first aid and a better response from the resort after this incident.

Right next door to Tranquility is The Turtle Hospital and this was #nottobemissed. The kids and adults loved learning about the turtles and the rescue work of the Turtle Hospital.

Would I return to Tranquility Bay? I am not sure. If I was travelling with a group and wanted larger accommodations, yes, but with so many options in the Keys I might choose one of the other full-service resorts in the area next time. What is right for you? If you are seeking larger, vacation home-type accommodations, than the beach houses at Tranquility Bay might be right for your next stay.

Shell

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Michelle Donaghue
Michelle Donaghue

Michelle is the proud working mother of two children, a sweet 8 year old girl and an energetic 5 year old boy. Living in South Florida with her husband Todd, they are always looking for places to vacation well with their family. They love being on the water and beach activities, from boating to jet skiing to snorkeling. As the kids get older it is important to find the balance between working hard and showing their kids the experiences of traveling to new places. This summer they started a United States map project where they can track all of the places they have visited as a family.

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