Conch Republic Retreat - Key West, FL | Tranquil 2 Bedroom Vacation Rental

This historic conch home, circa 1890, is your dream vacation spot. The welcoming property has been completely renovated and refurbished to contemporary standards and expectations: two bedrooms, two baths, an impressive great room, outstanding pool area, and one of the best geographic locations on the island. This lodging is named the Conch Republic Retreat in reference to Key West's laid-back attitude and, more specifically, to its Meadows neighborhood, which is noted for tranquil environs, tree-lined streets, and iconic Key's architecture. Yet the location is within easy access to endless vacation activities-the ocean and water sports, the gulf and tall ships, shops, restaurants, and bars, with the world-famous Duval Street connecting it all.

The impressive balance between indoor and outdoor living space at the Conch Republic Retreat begins as you step through the archway of the white picket fence ringing the property. Inside is a bricked-in patio that has been landscaped to provide lush greenery and privacy. Up a few stairs is a sun-dappled porch with chairs and a cocktail table, perfect seating to watch neighbors walking their dogs or riding by on bikes.

Through the front door are the first bedroom and ensuite bath. Multiple windows here and throughout provide ambient light and a lovely sense of connection to the outside.

The walls are a monochrome paneling and, underfoot, terra cotta tile flooring embellished with area rugs. The bed is a very comfortable queen dressed in neutral colors for a calming and relaxing effect. The room includes a chest of drawers for your folded items and a rack for your hanging items. A stackable washer-dryer is hidden out of sight in one corner should you need to do laundry. A flat-screen TV offers access to onscreen entertainment. The ensuite full bath is a clean white with gracious tile accents by a local tile artisan.

Through the next door is the second bedroom, also with a comfy queen bed dressed in neutral colors and featuring tile flooring, an area rug, a chest of drawers, and a flat-screen TV. The ensuite bath again displays artisan tile work with an even more sculptural flair than in the first. For a textural touch, shelves are piled with fluffy white towels that await your shower needs.

(The front bedroom and bath can be closed off from the back bedroom, bathroom, and rest of the home for privacy for 2 couples. The rear portion of the house can then be entered from the side/back of the home and the front suite Guests can use the front door.)

Next comes the eye-pleasing great room-an open, airy floor plan encompassing kitchen, dining, and living areas. The great room is on the same axis as the pool, meaning you can see from anywhere out glass doors right onto the deck and pool and palm trees that ring the back of the property. Central AC, WIFI, cable, and a stereo sound system are among the amenities catering to vacation needs.

The kitchen provides every amenity you need to prepare a sumptuous meal or to make a simple sandwich-refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, and glass-top stove, to mention a few. There's plenty of attractive cabinet space above and below.

The living area features a deep couch with decorative pillows. In front of it is a coffee table suitable for holding your morning coffee or book you brought along for vacation reading. Across the room is a flat-screen TV ideally situated for viewing from the couch. And below that, a dining table ample for four. As in the bedrooms, the great room is loaded with windows and glass doors to boot.

At the Conch Republic Retreat, the designers have taken the outside as seriously as the inside. The focal point of the deck area is the 8x12 private, climate-controlled pool. Float in its sparkling blue water or swim laps as the sun and puffy white clouds float above. Or perhaps you'd prefer to stretch out on one of the chaise loungers to get some sun. Another option is sitting on the couch under the ceiling fan at one end of the pool. The coffee table in front of it provides a place to rest your beverage or board game. It's also a good spot for reading or chatting or watching a brief cloud burst under the protection of the roof delineating the area. Or maybe you'd prefer to sit still and do nothing. The tiled, pool-side wet bar is under the same weather and shade protection. Sit in one of the bar chairs to enjoy a cocktail and noshes, or formal appetizers. Maybe you enjoy grilling. If so, there's a gas BBQ for your use. Whatever you choose, you will want to hang out in the pool and on the deck often during your stay.

As if Conch Republic Retreat by itself doesn't provide enough pleasure, there's still the rest of Key West to explore. At one end of the Meadows neighborhood is the White Street corridor with art galleries, food, and Key West Cakes bakery with the best cupcakes in town. Maybe you want to try Oasis restaurant with seating in their charming outdoor courtyard. Nearby is the Faustos Grocery. To the left, White Street is a straight path to the Atlantic Ocean. And to the right, White Street takes you to the Historic Seaport on the Gulf of Mexico. The harbor offers all kinds of water sports: diving, fishing, parasailing, snorkeling, and jet skiing, to name a few. Don't miss the nightly sunset celebration at Mallory Square on the Gulf, where visitors and locals gather to applaud as the sun slips below the horizon. Afterward, stick around for the festivities that follow.

Maybe your taste runs more towards the arts. If so, Key West is the right place for music, movies, plays, art galleries, lectures, and more. If you like beaches, one favorite is Fort Zachery Taylor, where you can rent chairs, umbrellas, and snorkeling equipment. Bathrooms, showers, a snack bar, and picnic tables are also available. Or maybe you'll decide to skip the beach to explore the adjacent Civil War-era fort, designated a National Historic Landmark in 1973.

If this is your first trip to the Conch Republic, a guidebook from Books & Books on Eaton Street or a stop at the Chamber of Commerce Information Center on Greene Street will help make sure you don't miss anything. To know what's going on from day to day, you can check out Historic Hideaways' informative Area Guide/Events page at http://www.historichideaways.com/key-west-events/. Other info on the current music scene, movies, plays, gallery openings, and charitable events can be found at milezerokeywest.com (calendar section).