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The Romantic Resort That's Miles (Literally) from Miami

Making our way down the well-traveled road to the Keys to Little Palm Island, traffic was less hectic than usual. “Deer Crossing” signs kept popping up. They made me chuckle — I’ve never heard of deer in South Florida before. Nevertheless, when my girlfriend and I arrived at the dock to meet the island’s ferry, the dockmaster informed us that there were indeed water deer and we would see them on the island.

Before boarding the Little Palm Island Ferry heading into the dark seas we were given a very tasty concoction called “Little Palm Punch.” Truth be told, I didn’t know much about Little Palm Island until my friend Nick Felding became the director of food and beverage for the resort. I had no idea what to expect other than the fact that I knew we had to take a ferry to get there. After the 10-minute boat ride through the calm waters, I was pleasantly surprised at how petite and how incredibly manicured the 5-acre island is. I felt as if I was on the other side of the world, not three hours from Miami. (Throughout my stay, I felt echoes of Asia.)

The restaurant was directly on the beach, about a two-minute walk from our room. As a former owner and someone who regularly frequents of top restaurants, I have to say the food was presented with care and love. Chef Luis Pous prepared scallops and braised short ribs like I’ve never tasted.

Walking back to our plush quarters, we were taken by surprise and ran into a water deer. It was as frightened as we were, and headed straight for the water and swam away. My girlfriend and I looked at each other, thinking, “They really do exist!” We ended the perfect evening with a bubble bath in a huge, beautiful, freestanding brass bathtub situated squarely in the middle of the bungalow.

One of my favorite parts of the weekend was breakfast. The “Breakfast in the a.m.” questionnaire allowed them to get it exactly right, and at 9:15, breakfast was served on the porch. I was hoping to see another deer, even though it was broad daylight. There was not a cloud in the sky, the breeze off the water helped create the perfect morning temperature and the lighting made for a breathless setting.

The day was super relaxing. Hotel staff set us up with two chairs by the water and anytime we would need anything, all we had to do was raise a flag and our cabana boy would run right over. Trying to feel on vacation as much as possible, we sipped rosé and read our magazines until it was time to cruise on one of their 13-foot motorboats that they offer. The seas were not as calm as they were when we arrived on the ferry, but it was great to venture out into the waters and see the clear blue ocean. We went around the island and got a good glance at how special Little Palm Island really is.

The second night we made our reservations for dinner a bit earlier so we had time to relax afterward by the bonfire. We had a lighter meal, going with a variety of appetizers and skipping the main course (my recommendation is the Florida snapper ceviche — a must have!), followed by champagne with a view of what felt like every single star in the sky.

The remainder of the evening felt like a dream. The staff must have thought we were on our honeymoon because when we came back to the room there were candles and rose petals in every square inch of the suite. They even left chocolate-covered strawberries and a bottle of some fragrance-free oil on the bed. The night was one of the most romantic evenings of my life.

Although the trip could have ended after the second night, there is one last chapter I cannot leave out. We enjoyed a couples massage, which took place in an outdoor cottage where all the doors opened up with a view of the water, which was no more than 30 feet away. We decided on the 90-minute massage and I could have easily gone for another 90 minutes had my budget allowed. At one point we both woke to sounds of deer eating grass right in front of us. I felt as if someone had “cued the deer” for us to create the most perfect scenario possible.

Vacations do not last forever and it was time to head back to Miami. Although I was sad this trip was brief and over, I was thrilled to learn and experience such an incredible place existed so close to the city. Whether planning a honeymoon or just wanting to get away, I suggest a few nights at Little Palm Island. Between the staff, the views, the food and the water deer, guests are sure to be delighted with their time out in the middle of the sea.

Plan your trip at www.littlepalmisland.com

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