For travelers who bring their dogs along, Hawks Cay Resort on Duck Key in the Florida Keys is an ideal destination. The Keys’ largest resort has launched a Vacay Pup program that delivers pet-friendly amenities and experiences designed to make stays easier and more enjoyable for guests and their dogs. The program includes a Pup Planner, select dining options, specialized activities and additional services tailored to canine companions.
Guests are asked to register pets at check-in and will receive a Pup Pass bandana to display on the pet or attach to the leash. To help maintain a healthy environment, the resort requires pets’ vaccinations to be current. For up to two pets staying up to seven nights, a nonrefundable fee of $150 per night applies; stays longer than five nights also incur a $200 nonrefundable cleaning fee. Part of these fees is donated to a local animal shelter in the pet’s name.
© Hawks Cay Resort
The Vacay Pup package includes in-room and on-property touches such as a Pup Nap Time door sign, an in-room dog bowl, pup-paradise relief bags, a special Vacay Pup play ball and dog beds available on request. The resort has also opened Pup Paradise Park, a dedicated outdoor play area with pet-safe artificial turf and native shade trees where dogs can run and socialize.
Pups can enjoy a pet-friendly dining menu created by the resort’s culinary team, available at participating food outlets. The menu features fun options such as roasted pig ears, a “quarter hounder” burger and a dog-friendly “beer.” These items are offered at Marketplace, Angler & Ale and Tiki Beach, each of which welcomes leashed pets in their outdoor seating areas.
© Hawks Cay Resort
Per Monroe County rules, dogs must remain on leash throughout the property, and owners should supervise their pets at all times. The Pup Pass grants access to pet-friendly areas including Marketplace’s outdoor seating, Pup Paradise Park, Tiki Beach and the outdoor section of Angler & Ale. On-site amenities include Pup Cabanas, where dogs can relax with a dog-friendly Bottom Sniffer Dog Beer, and the option for families to bring their pet on select boat charters. A dedicated Pup Planner helps arrange travel details, recommends pup-friendly spots in the Keys, delivers pet supplies and coordinates local services.
Located roughly halfway between Key Largo and Key West at mile marker 61, Hawks Cay Resort occupies 60 acres in the middle Keys and is reachable by car, boat or plane. The resort offers a wide range of activities: offshore, flats and backcountry fishing; diving; kayaking and standup paddleboarding; a Cliff Drysdale tennis program; and the only resort-based Dolphin Connection program in the continental United States that provides complimentary daily viewings.
© Hawks Cay Resort
The property features 177 guestrooms and 210 two- and three-bedroom villas, a full-service marina, six restaurants, a saltwater lagoon, five swimming pools, a kids club and Calm Waters Spa. Current promotions include a 40th anniversary offer with 20 percent off stays of two nights or more through June 30, plus 50 percent off per person on a Sunset Cruise with Solé Watersports.