Sunset Cove Beach Resort and The Pelican Waterfront Cottages
Kym and I return to Key Largo again and again because it gives us the feeling we love most about the Florida Keys: tropical, informal, friendly, and close to the water. Two places in particular have become favorites—Sunset Cove Beach Resort and The Pelican Waterfront Cottages. They are not anonymous high-rise hotels. They are old-style Keys properties with cottages, palms, docks, hammocks, sand, kayaks, and spectacular views across Florida Bay.
Key Largo is close enough to reach without turning the trip into a major expedition, yet the moment we arrive it feels like we have entered another world. The highway narrows, the palms thicken, the air smells different, and Florida Bay is never far away. We love the unhurried rhythm of the Upper Keys: small marinas, local restaurants, colorful cottages, fishing boats, kayaks, and sunsets that seem to stop everyone in place.
We are not looking for a giant resort where every room and walkway feels the same. We love places with personality—older cottages, sandy paths, hammocks under palms, small docks, tiki huts, and neighbors who actually say hello. Sunset Cove and The Pelican feel personal and relaxed. Each room or cottage has its own character, and the best part of the property is not a marble lobby; it is the shared waterfront where people gather at the end of the day.
A day here can be as active or as quiet as we choose. We can launch a kayak, sit beside the water, explore Key Largo, stop for fresh seafood, or simply read in a hammock. The bay side is especially appealing because the water often feels protected and intimate, with docks, boats, mangroves, and broad western views. It is the kind of place where doing very little can still feel like a full day.
Late afternoon is when everyone begins drifting toward the shore. Chairs turn west, drinks appear on picnic tables, and people wander out onto the docks. Then the sky changes by the minute—gold, orange, pink, purple, and finally deep blue. Watching the sun disappear across Florida Bay is not an extra attraction here. It is part of the daily routine, and one of the main reasons we return so often.
These motels fit the way Kym and I like to travel. They are casual, friendly, close to the water, and connected to the older character of the Florida Keys. We can spend time outdoors, meet other travelers, walk to nearby places, and end the day without needing a complicated plan. It is a simple formula, but it works: a cottage, a hammock, a few kayaks, good local food, and a sunset over the bay.
This part of Key Largo offers the best of the Upper Keys within a short drive: marinas and dive boats, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, snorkeling and paddling opportunities, local seafood restaurants, small shops, and easy access to both the Atlantic and Florida Bay sides of the island. We enjoy exploring, but we also appreciate that the waterfront at the motel can be the destination itself.
Visit the official websites for current room information, policies, availability, and reservations.
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