Developing tour routes and gathering the stories that bring an experience to life is one of my favorite tasks at Dragonfly Expeditions.  This is particularly true for the Hawks Cay Kayak Adventure, especially since it involved several days of kayaking in the Florida Keys!  I have to admit that I tend to favor our water-based tours anyway, but the waters and story around Duck Key quickly proved to be tour-worthy.

Before this trip came into our development list I had never been to the island of Duck Key.  Sure, like many South Floridians, I had passed by numerous times on my way to the Lower Keys and wondered about the island with the large “Hawks Cay” sign.  The island itself has several shops, the beautiful Hawks Cay Resort, and quite a few houses all with canal access.  I drove around to gain my orientation before hitting the water, weaving in and around the island and over its unique ornamental bridges.  I later learned that Duck Key was likely named after the double-crested cormorants, a seabird that inhabits the island, that locals once called “ducks”.  The island is rumored to originally have also been home to flamingos.

We certainly haven’t seen any flamingos but our first couple of kayak excursions led us to sea turtles, nurse sharks, sting rays and a variety of tropical fish visible below the waters surface.  Great White Heron (a morph of the Great Blue Heron found only in South Florida and the Caribbean) and a variety of seabirds soared above.  While the wildlife viewing is incredible, we also got an excellent glimpse of the island via the canals that wind through it.  We passed under these prominent bridges and along the backside of vacation rentals and long time homes of keys residents.  The island was originally designed to a “West Indies” vibe.  They began with nurseries to attract native birds, and hired famed architect Morris Lapidus to design the first hotel, the Indies Inn which hosted dignitaries, film stars and presidents.  At one time the island was one connected land mass later transformed into five separate islands connected by four decorative stone bridges.  One of the unique things about this island, especially as it relates to kayaking, is that the canals were dug to be thru waterways so that they flush with the tides.  This gives us an excellent opportunity to see wildlife as larger fish and animals come to feed in the turbulent waters.  Whether you are looking for historical insight, nature watching or just a peaceful excursion on the water, join us on the Hawks Cay Kayak Adventure and discover a bit of the Keys and yourself.