Vacation rentals in Sunset Key

Sunset Key’s origins are inglorious: the United States Navy built it as a fuel tank depot during the Cold War. Today it's a very different place. This privately owned island community of multimillion-dollar homes is ringed by waving palm trees, white sand, and bright blue waters accessible only via ferry. Those lucky enough to stay in one of the house rentals here can avail themselves of a swimming pool, tennis courts, spa treatments, and yoga on the beach. It would be easy to play luxury island castaway for your entire vacation, but Sunset Key is located just off the coast of the island of Key West, whose serene beaches and bustling saloons have tempted artists and writers to its shores for decades. Go island hopping to get the best of both worlds.

There’s a reason many visitors to the Keys have made themselves permanent residents — the tropical climate is enchanting. The difference in temperature between January and July is slight. Warm, balmy days tempered by cool sea breezes are the norm. However, June through October is the wet season, marked by rain, thunderstorms, and occasional hurricanes. Look to neighboring Key West for events all year round, including Fantasy Fest in October, a weeklong party during which revelers don extravagant costumes and attend street fairs, balls, and a parade.

Key West Museum of Art & History at the Custom House

Housed in a grand circa-1891 four-story brick building, this museum chronicles the last two centuries of art and history in Key West through two floors of exhibits. The collection includes displays devoted to notable locals and the sinking of the battleship USS Maine in Cuba’s Havana Harbor in 1898.

Key West Cemetery

The residents of Key West have as relaxed an attitude about memorials as they do about life. Dotted among the grand monuments and crypts of Key West Cemetery are cheeky tombstone messages such as “I told you I was sick” and “I’m just resting my eyes.” Established in 1847, this is an active cemetery with an estimated 100,000 people buried within. Self-guided tour maps are available at the cemetery entrance.

Fort Zachary Taylor State Park

It took 21 years to build the circa-1866 fort that lends this park its name. Used by the Union during the Civil War, and later in the Spanish-American War, the fort included then-state-of-the-art features such as a desalination plant and toilets flushed by the tide. After you’ve had your fill of history, head to the park’s gorgeous beach, where tropical fish put on a show for snorkelers. Head underwater and you may catch a glimpse of parrotfish, yellowtail snapper, lobster, and brilliant coral. Speaking of coral, there’s a lot of it at this beach, so wear water shoes (sold in the gift shop if you didn’t pack your own).