What to expect: Screened from the highway by a thick mangrove forest, the gated, 60-acre Key Largo resort is a tranquil environment for family vacations. Sand-and-white buildings with blue roofs and shutters blend into a natural setting of green foliage, the blue Atlantic Ocean, and white sand. The marina, with parking lots for trailers (surcharge) and a ramp capable of handling craft up to 26 feet, attracts boaters to the resort.

Amenity highlights: A large pool with lap lanes, and a deck furnished with lounge chairs, provide swimming, sunbathing, and soaking opportunities; a poolside spa tub is available. Roughly 120 by 120 feet, a beach composed of sand and tiny pebbles slopes into a small cove. Though suitable for swimming and snorkeling, water shoes are recommended. Snorkelers from the beach often see leopard rays, lobsters, baby baracuda, cowfish, and other varieties of marine life. The beach has a volleyball net and thatched canopies. A boardwalk and marina offer additional shady resting areas.

Insider tip: On a rocky point next to the swimming cove, a 250-foot wood walkway leads to a cabana sheltering seats that provide serene contemplation of the ocean at sunrise and on moonlit nights.