When Jake and I started dating, some of the things that drew us together immediately were our interests in all things related to food and outdoor adventures. Factor in that our honeymoon will take place in November, when most places will be cold and dreary, and suddenly the Florida Keys and Key West become the perfect mix of warming sun, exciting food choices (think Cuban sandwiches mmm), outdoor adventures and romance! 

Since Jake and I both already collected many home items prior to meeting each other, our home in Avis is now stocked with a fair amount of the essentials that you would normally see on a wedding registry---in some cases, we even have two! Both Jake and I can't think of a better way to start our married lives together than with a honeymoon we both will cherish for the rest of our lives together. We hope our friends and family will be just as excited to help us make memories together that we will look back on for the rest of our lives with love, humor and nostalgia! 

We will fly into Miami so that we can take advantage of exploring the Florida Keys by car the first few days of our honeymoon. Day one will be driving down the famous Route 1, celebrated as one of the most scenic drives in America. We will stop at interesting hole-in-the-wall eateries and beautiful state parks along the way, also passing through Key Largo for some famous Key Lime pie!

We will stay in Islamorada for our first two nights at the beautiful and quaint Creekside Inn, where we hope to charter a party fishing boat so that Jake can catch something other than a wife on his honeymoon :). One of our first romantic evenings together as a married wife and husband will be enjoying the famous seafood options found in Islamorada. 

Then we will set out again by car, exploring the Middle Keys. We hear snorkeling is the best in this area of the Keys, so we hope to go on a kayaking and snorkeling adventure during this time, passing another two nights at some type of beachside lodging or maybe even on a boat!

After meandering our way through the Keys, we will arrive in our final destination of Key West.

We will check into the luxurious and historical Casa Marina Waldorf Astoria, built in 1920 by Henry Flagler, the same man who also built the NYC Metropolitan Opera House and several other famous public and government buildings in NYC and DC. Throughout history, this beauty of a structure has alternated as a playground for the famous and strategic headquarters for the US Military, being used in World War II by the US Navy and then again during the Cuban Missile Crisis. 

While our lodging will be truly marvelous, Key West also offers a whole host of exciting and romantic activities. We will partake in activities like a romantic dinner for two on the beach, an exquisite sunset sail around Key West, and an eco-tour that includes kayaking and snorkeling around mangrove islands and reef barriers, learning about the local ecosystem!

Venturing into the downtown hub of Key West, we will explore all kinds of exciting food, from fine dining to local eateries. We also hope to take a Ghost Tour of Key West, gaining some insight into local lore and legends! It wouldn't be Key West without also touring Ernest Hemingway's home! 

Every person invited to our wedding shares a special place in either Jake or I's memories. We have shared a special life lesson or time period in our lives together, from living abroad or growing up together to family holidays and reunions. Jake and I both thank you for the role you have played in our lives and development, which helped make us the inviduals we are today that just last November fell so deeply in love with one another! We can't take you all with us on our honeymoon unfortunately, but being part of our wedding celebrations as a whole means a great deal to us! Thank you!