There's a hammock at Lime Tree Bay

There's a hammock at Lime Tree Bay with my name on it.

It hangs on the wood deck of a cottage shaded by a huge royal Poinciana tree, and it offered one of the most relaxing afternoons of my life.

Lime Tree Bay Resort in the town of Layton on Long Key has become our family's home base for annual pilgrimages to the Florida Keys. At mile marker 68.5, it's almost halfway between Key Largo and Key West in a stretch of the keys largely untouched by chain hotels and restaurants.

We are like so many others who spend time at this "home away from home." Go a couple of times, and Louise Ernst, who has run the place for 12 years, will know your family by heart.

"Lime Tree Bay was built in the early '60s by the founder of this town, Del Layton," she said. "So many guests that come here now who have been coming here for many, many years. I've watched a bunch of their kids grow up." The resort's buildings are painted a shade of beach house green that may date back to the 1960s. A renovation last year replaced the shell rock driveway with asphalt and updated the interiors, but left the Old Florida charm.

There is a strip of motel rooms nudging huge gumbo limbos, efficiencies and suites in a two - story building overlooking the bay, and the cottages. I've stayed in them all.

This year we got a first - floor efficiency with a queen - size bed and a fold - down futon across the room from a kitchen with a ful l - size refrigerator and small stove. Its painted interior was decorated with pictures of Ernest Hemingway. Our fishing gear leaning in the corner looked like part of the decor.

It's hard to pick which porch is the most perfect. The two - room cottages are at the rear and are most quiet. But for a crowd, nothing beats the big, two - bedroom Tree House on the end of the two - story building.

The porch is huge with a palm tree growing up through it. There's a hammock chair and a built - in low table surrounded by painted Adirondack chairs. And there's enough wood railing for a week's worth of wet towels. (Hanging towels over the rail is Lime Tree Bay's style.)

And while the hammocks always hang in wait, Lime Tree is the perfect jumping - off spot for a week of snorkeling, fishing and exploring. Across the driveway from the buildings is a grassy area of chickee huts and concrete tables beneath coconut palms. And a concrete, roped walkway leads to the old dock. Sand crabs peak out of their holes as you walk out to the edge for a look at the water. Our kids are usually fishing before the car is unpacked.

There are always grunts, tiny yellowtails, cow fish and crabs ready to take your bait - or become bait for the bigger guys. If you catch any dinner, there's a little wooden hut with plastic cutting boards for you to filet your catch. We watch beautiful sunsets while fishing from the dock. But the water surrounding Lime Tree offers the best of the Keys - snorkeling among the flats just off the property is a treat. This year, we watched a pair of dolphins splashing just yards from where the kids snorkeled and saw a manatee by the dock.

If you own a boat, there's space to tie up at the dock. If not, you can rent one at Lime Tree Watersports, which operates on the property.

Lime Tree's pool and hot tub are built into an above - ground structure camouflaged by chunks of old coral. Climb the stairs to the deck for swimming or sunning. Our group brings coolers and dominoes there for a lively evening.

We've spent weekends at Lime Tree without ever leaving the property. But Lime Tree's location makes it a good spot for exploring the Keys, too. It's a 1 1/2-hour drive to Key West, not a bad day trip. Closer in, we make annual trips to "hermit crab island" better known as Curry Hammock Park. It's on the ocean side about 10 miles south, and a must for collecting hermit crabs' abandoned homes.

If you're the shopping type, this stretch of the Keys provides an interesting collection of artsy stores for that perfect hand - made Keys souvenir.

Lime Tree Bay was named for the Key lime trees growing on the property. Pluck a few to squeeze over dinner or into your drink.

For Florida keys accommodation you can visit Lime tree resort. Check out their website for more information at

http://www.limetreebayresort.com/

The Meaning Of Life: A Hammock In The Keys - By Angie Francalancia, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

DATE: 07-28-2002

Link: http://www.limetreebayresort.com/pbpost-story.html

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