A Tropical Getaway
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (124439)
Gainesville, Florida
May 24, 2025 8:05pm CST
A week ago I took off to the Florida Keys for a little rest and relaxation. For those that don't know, the Florida Keys are a chain of islands at the southern tip of Florida that stretch southward in the Atlantic Ocean toward Cuba. A key is a type of island defined by its small size, low elevation, and sandy terrain. The word "key" is derived from the Spanish word "Cayo," which means small island. Most keys are near or on coral reefs.
The main purpose of my trip was to attend a wedding of a family member, but that was only a small part of the trip, while the remainder was losing myself in the sea, so to speak.
Just as much as we need the letter vitamins for our health--Vitamins A, B, C, etc--we also need some Vitamin Sea every now and then, and that's exactly what I got.
Do you ever just sit somewhere peaceful and just turn your brain off for a while? Yeah, that's what I did for the three days I was in Windley Key in Islamorada (one of the islands in the upper Keys). Other than the wedding, I had no agenda other than to soak up the tropical vibes.
My hotel room had a nice balcony overlooking the serene waters of the Atlantic Ocean (see photo). Gentle tropical breezes and cool white sand under gently swaying palm trees greeted me on the beach. Facing east, each morning presented an amazing sunrise that rivaled that of the previous day.
It was just what my soul needed. Some downtime. Some relaxation. Some recharging. And a few pina coladas in between! lol
How do you like to relax and recharge? A trip to the beach? The mountains? A beautiful forest? Even though I live in Florida and am surrounded by beaches and ocean, I will never turn down an opportunity to road trip for a tropical getaway.
16 people like this
16 responses
@dfollin (26194)
• United States
25 May
@moffittjc I haven't been there but I have heard of this one that is about 20 minutes away, but it's small and I don't have a car.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124439)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 May
@dfollin Small wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing if it's secluded, or if it's not crowded. But, I guess without a car to get there, it doesn't matter, now does it! lol
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124439)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 May
How far is the closest beach to where you live?
From my house, if I drive west to the Gulf, it would take me about 45 minutes. If I drive east to the Atlantic Ocean, it would take an hour and a half. I do get to the beach quite often, but nothing compares to being on a tropical island, even if it is still part of Florida!
2 people like this
@dfollin (26194)
• United States
25 May
My sister gave me this shirt a few years ago! I love it!
I just recently looked it up and found out the meaning for “ keys”. That’s pretty cool! Never been there, but would love to go!
I am Vitamin D deficient and would love to go to Florida and get free Vitamin D D from the sun.
I would love to have a room near the ocean, can’t swim. But love the calming breeze and smell of the water. Get in bed and it will help my Insomnia for sure with the window open!
I would love to have a room near the ocean, can’t swim. But love the calming breeze and smell of the water. Get in bed and it will help my Insomnia for sure with the window open!2 people like this
@moffittjc (124439)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 May
That's such a cool shirt! I need me one like that.
One of the great things about living in a tropical climate is that I can get free Vitamin D every day!
If you can't swim, I wouldn't recommend many of our beaches, at least the ones on the Atlantic Ocean side, but down in the Keys, the water is so serene and shallow it wouldn't matter that you couldn't swim. You can just wade out into the water. It stays shallow for what seems like miles!
1 person likes this
@dfollin (26194)
• United States
25 May
@moffittjc I live in Virginia and I have only been to Florida once and I can't get anyone to move there with me. 
We went to central Florida at Disneyworld. I fell in love with the area!
I'am not sure where she got this shirt. I will ask her.
We went to central Florida at Disneyworld. I fell in love with the area!
I'am not sure where she got this shirt. I will ask her.1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124439)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 May
@dfollin I'm in Gainesville, about an hour and a half north of Orlando. I'm an annual pass holder to Disney and we go at least once a month, if not more. It seems like this year we've been going about every other weekend.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (149114)
• United States
25 May
Did you force your son or daughter to marry somebody just so you had an excuse for a nice vacation? 
For SHAME, Jeff! 
I hope you enjoyed yourself... and they survive getting married. 
For SHAME, Jeff!
I hope you enjoyed yourself... and they survive getting married. 1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (149114)
• United States
25 May
@moffittjc 
It's easy... I went on a tropical vacation once and ended up in the hospital. I burned through the sunscreen and I didn't enjoy myself!
It's easy... I went on a tropical vacation once and ended up in the hospital. I burned through the sunscreen and I didn't enjoy myself!1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124439)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 May
Haha, no it was not either of my kids. It was a cousin. But your comment does give me ideas for future beach vacations! haha
And how can you not enjoy this view for three days?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124439)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 May
@DaddyEvil But you were in a hospital on a tropical vacation! What more could you have asked for? lol. If I'm going to be in a hospital, I'd want it to be on a tropical island, where I could be surrounded by beautiful sun-kissed nurses!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124439)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 May
@wolfgirl569 Do you have more than an acre of property?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124439)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 May
Haha, I should have known you would say something like that!
Do you ever get the chance to travel to a place of rest and relaxation, whether its and extended vacation or just a short little staycation?
1 person likes this
@xFiacre (13646)
• Ireland
25 May
@moffittjc I do beach or forest most days when I’m at home. Looking forward to getting that up and running as soon as I’m back.
2 people like this
@xFiacre (13646)
• Ireland
25 May
@moffittjc Five minutes drive away and it’s not tropical. We don’t do tropical in Ireland!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124439)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 May
@xFiacre It's still beautiful nonetheless, even if it's not tropical! And at only 5 minutes away, I can see why you go there so frequently! I would do the same.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124439)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 May
Do you live close to a beach? I grew up living right on the beach. I could get up in the morning, walk out my door and be on the beach! So the ocean and the beach and all the tropical vibes have always been an important part of my life.
@lovebuglena (46395)
• Staten Island, New York
25 May
I don’t like beach vacations, especially when you spend all day at the beach. It’s exhausting for me. Plus I hate being under the hot sun. But the beaches are beautiful, especially in the Caribbean.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124439)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 May
When it's hot, I can't stand being out in the sun all day, even at the beach. But I spent almost the entire vacation under the shade of beautiful palm tress with a cold drink in my hand.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124439)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 May
@lovebuglena The correct word is "lying," but so many people interchange laying and lying so much that I think both are acceptable now.
And like you, if I lie in a lounge chair too long, I fall asleep (as I did in the Keys). And especially if I'm drinking adult beverages.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (46395)
• Staten Island, New York
25 May
@moffittjc I love the shade and the breeze. And palm trees. But laying (or is it lying?) on a beach chair for hours and hours just tires me out and makes me sleepy lol.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (163707)
• United States
26 May
It sounds lovely and the colors in your picture are gorgeous. I do not unwind often enough. Sometimes it is great just to go out in my yard and chill, though. Hear the birds. Sometimes the lake is a good place to go.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124439)
• Gainesville, Florida
47m
I don't think any of us unwind enough. It's the unfortunate side effect of our ever-busy world we live in. We're always on the go, and even on our "vacations" we never take the time to slow down. I made a specific point to check out mentally on this trip and just unwind. Even if it was only for a few days. It still did wonders for my soul.
@moffittjc (124439)
• Gainesville, Florida
48m
Me too. I would love to do a 2-week vacation in the Keys. But I'll take what I can get.
I've had many, many great vacations there in the past. Many years ago when I worked for Motorola, they would send our team down to the Keys for a week-long "team-building retreat" every year. Completely paid for by the company. The only team-building we did was drinking adult beverages together. LOL
@snowy22315 (190070)
• United States
25 May
The keys are beautiful. I am glad you got a chance to go.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124439)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 May
I live so close, yet I never take advantage of the serenity and peace that the islands have to offer. I really should make it more of a priority in my life. Other than a long drive, the tropical paradise is right there in front of me beckoning me to come.
Where do you like to go to getaway and recharge yourself? Anything local to you?
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (190070)
• United States
25 May
@moffittjc Lots of little trips here and there, lots to do within a couple of hundred miles and some much closer like Shenadoah for instance.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124439)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 May
@snowy22315 That's nice that you have multiple options close to where you live. It's the same for me. I'm pretty much within 2 hours of being able to do anything I want here in Florida.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (95214)
• Arvada, Colorado
25 May
I understand this..ever since moving inland, I hate it. I miss the sea so much. But circumstances prevail.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124439)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 May
I'm with you on that! Even though I'm surrounded by ocean and beaches, it's still a little bit of a drive to get to them (I live inland as well). It was much different when I lived in south Florida. I literally lived right by the ocean, and spent just about every day on the beautiful sandy beaches. I really miss that.
So, given where you are now, where do you go to give yourself a little getaway for rest and relaxation?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124439)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 May
You live on an island! You should be able to get some Vitamin Sea anytime you like. haha
1 person likes this
@rakski (137094)
• Philippines
25 May
@moffittjc true and I will be getting one next week
We haven't done much travel after covid
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124439)
• Gainesville, Florida
37m
@rakski It's funny about the Covid years, I'm pretty sure I did more traveling during that period than I ever did before and after! Of course, there were a lot of restrictions, but it seemed like I was traveling somewhere every month during the Covid years.
@moffittjc (124439)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 May
If I didn't have access to any beach paradises, heading out into the wilderness to a remote location would be my next choice.
How far are you from your local beaches?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (354158)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 May
@moffittjc Maybe half-an-hour but I'm not really a beach person. Damn sand gets into everything!
@LindaOHio (189426)
• United States
25 May
You know how I feel about the Keys. It's my Heaven on Earth. That picture brings back so many memories. I love the different colors of the water. I'm glad you had an opportunity to go there and relax and recharge. I'm so jealous.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124439)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 May
I thought of you when I was down there. That's why on a different discussion thread I had asked you if you still viewed the live web cams. It truly is therapeutic, whether there live or viewing through a camera. I wish I could afford to live in the Keys, I would be there in a heartbeat.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (189426)
• United States
26 May
@moffittjc The one in front of Sloppy Joe's is good during Fantasy Fest. You get to see the hordes of people in costume and just barely in costume. Hubby and I used to like to people watch; and we would watch Sloppy Joe's webcam and Robbie's in Islamorada. At Robbie's they feed tarpon by hand. Are you going to Disney for your birthday?
@MarieCoyle (44142)
•
25 May
It sounds so special and wonderful. I would absolutely soak up every single moment of a vacation like that!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (124439)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 May
Because of the wedding, everyone else was running around like crazy in preparation, and I was like, "Uh, I'll just be lying here on the beach. Come get me when it's time for the wedding."
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (44142)
•
26 May
@moffittjc
Some weddings are simple, and some are way over the top. Unfortunately, a person never knows until they get there, which it will be.
@allknowing (146234)
• India
25 May
Now that I cannot travel I sit in my favourite corner and look at the birds frolicking in the bird bath with greenery surrounding it
@moffittjc (124439)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 May
I do remember how much you love the beach! And Mexican vacations! lol
1 person likes this
