Whether Key West is a new destination or you’re returning as a tried-and-true fan of this fabulous island, Poinciana House will help make the most of your vacation. This one-bedroom conch cottage can sleep up to 4 (2 comfortably), has 2 full baths, an outdoor shower, heated lagoon pool, second story sun deck, and majestic Royal Poinciana trees that seasonally bloom bright red/orange. Its location—a half block from the Ernest Hemingway house and a half block from Duval—is ideal for all the fun stuff you came to Key West to take advantage of.
Poinciana House is demarcated from a quiet, shady street by an off-street parking area and a white picket fence. Upon entry, the first room inside the front door is a bedroom suite which allows the back of the house and its outside oasis to function as the home’s social center. The room has a comfy queen bed, closet space, sitting area with couch, TV, full bath, and French doors leading to an outside deck with table and chairs. This outside space is made private by wood lattice fencing and tropical foliage. Lattice doors then open to a view of the spectacular pool.
The back of the home great room offers a second full bath, kitchen, dining table, TV, and a platform bed. The efficient galley kitchen is bright with windows and has all the appliances you’ll need to cook a meal or just microwave some yummy leftovers. There’s plenty of counter space at every turn. One arm of the counter does double duty as an eat-at bar with stools. Conveniently located to the right of the kitchen is a dining table and chairs. Just a little beyond is a sitting area including a couch. Wireless high-speed internet, cable, and stereo system serve your entertainment needs.
The back wall of this great room have French doors that open to the tropical outside oasis. The cottage architecture takes full advantage of the sundrenched weather with a rear covered patio, private heated pool, outdoor shower, gas BBQ grill, side patio, and 2nd floor sun deck. The patio is generous and defined by wood planking underfoot and a roof overhead. It’s dotted with patio furniture including the perfect alfresco dinner spot, a wicker dining table, and matching chairs.
But the real centerpieces out here are the tree and the pool. You can almost hear tones of the great jazz pianist Admad Jamal playing Poinciana in tribute. It’s that inspiring! The lavish L-shaped lagoon pool runs across the back of the property and up one side ending at the hidden conversation area off the front bedroom suite. You’ll want to photograph the fabulous Poinciana, then linger near the pool, swim laps, or just paddle around to refresh. A fourth option is ascending the spiral staircase to the sun deck overlooking the pool where you’ll find chaise lounges and plenty of tanning space.
Eventually it’ll be time to venture out into the neighborhood on Whitehead and Duval streets. Whitehead is where you’ll find captivating places like the Hemingway House, the Lighthouse and Tower, the Southernmost Point Marker, and Moondog restaurant, to name a few. Or walk a block in the other direction to find Duval which runs the width of the island from the Gulf of Mexico to a pier jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean. If you want to buy a T-shirt, eat a five-star meal, have your picture taken with an Elvis-look-alike, or pet a shark, Duval is the street.
It’s also the place where you can enjoy tours, museums, galleries, shopping, bars, and over four hundred restaurants, many with open-air seating, some right on the water. Maybe book some water sports like diving, fishing, parasailing, snorkeling, jet-skiing, etc. Or maybe your taste runs more towards the arts. If so, Key West is the right place for music, movies, plays, art galleries, lectures, and more. Perhaps catch a movie on one of the three screens at the Tropic Cinema then go across the street for an exotic drink at The Saint. Or stop in at Books & Books to catch a glimpse of the author Judy Blume stocking the shelves.
Don’t miss the daily sunset celebration at Mallory Square, where locals and visitors alike gather daily to applaud as the sun sinks into the horizon. Then hang around for the party as artists and street performers entertain the crowd with dancing circus cats, fire jugglers, fortune tellers, musicians, and vendors selling handmade items.
If you like beaches, the locals’ favorite is Fort Zachery Taylor, where you can rent chairs, umbrellas, and snorkeling equipment. Bathrooms, showers, a snack bar, and picnic tables are also available. Or maybe you’ll decide to skip the beach to explore the adjacent Civil War-era fort, designated a National Historic Landmark in 1973.
If this is your first trip to the Conch Republic, a guidebook from Books & Books on Eaton Street or a stop at the Chamber of Commerce Information Center on Greene Street will help make sure you don’t miss anything. Other info on the current music scene, movies, plays, gallery openings, and charitable events can be found at milezerokeywest.com (calendar section). Enjoy!
**For Pet Friendly (dog) homes there are restrictions that include, but may not be limited to, the following: pet friendly means dogs, no other animal is permitted. Dogs are restricted to one (1) large dog or two (2) small dogs per stay. Due to Homeowner Insurance restrictions we are unable to accommodate the following breeds: Pit Bull Terriers, Staffordshire Terriers, Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Presa Canarios, Chows Chows, Doberman Pinschers, Akitas, Wolf-hybrids, Mastiffs, Cane Corsos, Great Danes, Alaskan Malamutes, Siberian Huskies nor any mixed breed that contain one of the preceding as part of that mix. Guest is responsible for an additional pet fee of $200.
