This page from left: Peaceful, unplugged amenities include a dreamy bungalow; casual and
fun water activities; dinner served with a spectacular view; and rose petals to personalize
any stay. Opposite page: Enjoy your meal at a table for two on the beach.
heelectricwinechillercradlingNicolasFeuillattechampagnepurrsgently in the
Zen-likepeaceof theKingfisherSuite.Mykindofwhitenoise. Igazeout thewin-
dowsofmy thatched-roofbungalow. Icouldbeanywhere… looks likeBaliorsome-
wheredeep in theCaribbean,with thick, lush, tropicalgrowtheverywhere.But I’mat
LittlePalm IslandResort&Spa, luckyme, afteraneasyflight throughMiami toKey
West.Thisfive-acreprivate-islandparadisesits justoffLittleTorchKey— just far
enoughoff thatprivilegedguestsboardabeautifulwoodenyacht tobe transported to
what feels likeanother timeandplace.
Itremindsmeabitof
Gilligan’s Island
,and Iarrive feeling likeastressed-out,high-
strungMrs.ThurstonB.Howell III,hoping theGumbySlumberrumdrink Iwas justservedkicks inquickly.
Iunwindalmost immediatelyduringa thorough tourofdreamyLittlePalm Island.Oneof thefirst things I
notice isafilmcrew. “Oh, that’s theTravelChannel,workingonanupcomingdocumentary,”myguidesays
nonchalantly. I’m impressedalready.
Hidden in theshady trailsare30exquisite thatched-roof suites—eachaminimumof 550square feetand
furnished inBritishColonial fashionwith traditionalWest Indies touches, completewithanettedbedso
plushanddeep that therearesteps toease theclimbup.Keydeergraze freelyandareadorablysmall.
A lagoon-stylepool,ZenGarden, and theSpaTerre lureguests in for furtherrelaxation.
There’salsoplentyofactivityonPalm Island, just incaseyouwant todosomethingwild— likemove.
Watersportsareplentifulandupscale:ComplimentaryTriumphboatsandBostonWhalers,kayaks, small
sailboats, snorkelinggear,waterbikes, andfishinggearareallavailableatamoment’snotice.Excursions
fordiving, deep-seafishing, orsnorkelingareeasilyarranged, asarenature toursbycanoeandsailboat.
TheLooeKeyNationalMarineSanctuary— the last livingcoral reef inNorthAmerica— isanearbyhigh-
light fordivers.
DiningonLittlePalm Island isawonderfulpastimeof itsown, and there’snotabad table in theplace—
everything looksout to theocean, and it’samatterof choosing tokeepyourshoesonorburyyour toes in
thesandanddinerightat thewater’sedge.ChefLuisPouscreatesspecialties likeshort-ribdumplingswith
a lemongrasscornbroth;Pekingduck foiegras; and—my favorite—KeyWest lobsterrisottowithcoconut
and lime inaredbasilbroth.
Doexpectpeace, quiet, andprivacyonLittlePalm Island, as theyareplentiful.Manyroomshaveno
stereo,no television—notevenaclock.Whocareswhat time it iswhenyou’reonLittlePalm Island?There
isone televisionon the islandand it is in the“GreatRoom,”a lovelysmall library, andarrangementsmust
bemade tohave thepower turnedonbyastaffmember.Most folks like it thatway, and Ineveroncesaw the
thingonduringmyvisit,whichsuitedmeperfectly.Whetherheresoloorromanticallycoupledup, the
unanimousgoal is tounplug.
Rememberwhen Isaid Iarrived feeling likeahigh-strungMrs.ThurstonB.Howell III?Well, I left
relaxed, refreshed, and thespitting imageofGinger.
Suitesbeginat $590pernight in lowseason. (800) 343-8567, littlepalmisland.com —
JanetThomas
LittlePalm
Island
Resort&Spa
Florida
31
celebratedliving.com
WINTER 2011
