Torchview - Florida Keys Secluded Paradise on Water

• Tranquility Base is Torchview - not somewhere on the moon!

  Tranquility Base is Torchview - not somewhere on the moon!

  • Guest jfredinsc
  • Date of stay 04/13/13
  • Review Submitted 04/24/13
  A trip to The Keys was on our bucket list, so it needed to be perfect. Thanks to Steve and Kathy, opening their beautiful home to us, it was. Everything you see on-line, is what you get. Clean rooms, fully equipped kitchen, spectacular views, proximity to tourist attractions, peace and quiet. Our activities included fishing from the 240 foot dock, snorkling around 'our' dock and the neighbors' where we saw lobster, lion fish, spade fish and enough other marine creatures to fill an aquarium. We also brought our Jet-Ski and what a rush, skimming over the crystal clear water! To the readers of this review, if you are fortunate enough to visit Torchview while Steve and Kathy are on site, you will find two engaging, inobtrusive individuals dedicated to ensuring your experience is one you will forever remember! Oh, and no commentary would be complete without a mention of Cheyenne - the Keyes' friendliest dog. Would we recommend Torchview? Absolutely!

  Recommended for: Age 55+, romantic getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Florida Keys Home Rental

  Florida Keys Home Rental

  • Guest Robo
  • Date of stay 03/23/13
  • Review Submitted 04/15/13
  This was my second visit to this property. I stayed for 2 weeks last year and 2 weeks this year. The experience at Torchview was exceptional. The home is awesome. There is a small beach, great areas to paddle board, swim, fish etc. I particularly like to bike ride around the area on the Torch Keys as well as paddle board and walk. The wild life is great for viewing a big draw for me as well as the privacy. The owners are great to be around and very helpful as well as genuinely friendly. I am in the process of renting the home again for two weeks for 2014. Next year will be my 10th year of visits to the Florida Keys. This property meets my needs well.

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, pet owners, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway.

  Owner response: It's great having our guests become "friends". Robin and family have introduced us to paddle boarding, what fun! We are already looking forward to their visit in 2014.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Beautiful spot, beautiful home

  Beautiful spot, beautiful home

  • Guest Ellen
  • Date of stay 02/23/13
  • Review Submitted 03/19/13
  Kathy and Steve are superb hosts. Both are very helpful and good humored. Steve's stories are interesting and fun. Ask him about the talking dog or Fat Albert or the family home in Michigan. The Torchview house layout with the deck all around is great, the rooms spacious, and all is very well-maintained. After plowing through Miami and the Upper Keys Saturday traffic, Big Torch Key provided a relaxing refuge. We had most of our meals at Torchview. The kitchen is very well equipped and even has a good selection of spices. One evening we enjoyed some freshly caught fish from Steve. Our best restaurant meal was at The Square Grouper on Cudjoe Key. The No Name Pub on Big Pine is fun. If you are there in the early evening you should cross the bridge onto No Name Key to see the very tame Key Deer (no feeding them though). Don't miss Bahia Honda State Park. We were there on a very hot and crowded day and a cool, uncrowded day. It was beautiful both times. We spent one day touring Key West and had an excellent guide at the Hemingway home. Even if you're not a Hemingway fan, he was such a colorful character that the stories told are fascinating. One day we took the boat to the Dry Tortugas. It took the whole day but since we enjoy birdwatching and snorkeling it was worth it. The only people we would not recommend Torchview to are people for whom the 22 stairs might be an issue. They are interior stairs and have a handrail but if you have mobility problems they could be difficult. We shared the house with long time friends. We would love to go back to Torchview with our kids and grandchildren.

  Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Totally Relaxing

  Totally Relaxing

  • Guest Sue
  • Date of stay 01/19/13
  • Review Submitted 02/10/13
  My husband and I have vacationed many times in Key West with our family. This time we wanted a more secluded spot with easy access to other keys. Torchview is perfect. We spent many happy hours there, enjoying the wonderful accomdations, the view from the wrap-around porch as well as the water activities. Our grandchildren visited and had wonderful times kayaking and fishing. On quiet evenings we enjoyed the videos from the extensive library. Although Torchview is secluded, its location provides easy access to Key West, Marathon and other Lower Keys. The owners are more than helpful, full of wonderful local knowledge, and are ready to help with anything. We look forward to another stay at Torchview.

  Recommended for: Age 55+, families with teenagers, pet owners, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Paradise Found!!

  Paradise Found!!

  • Guest Torchview Fan For Life!
  • Date of stay 12/29/12
  • Review Submitted 01/26/13
  Folks, if you have spent hours on VRBO or other sites (as did I) looking for the PERFECT place to unwind in the Keys . . . look no further! Torchview is THE one. From the moment you walk out onto the 360 degree wrap-around deck you will be mesmerized and know that you have chosen wisely. Days were spent exploring all that the Keys have to offer, or just kicking back and taking it easy at Torchview. We used the sea kayaks every day, biked a little, snorkeled right off the dock, but mostly just relaxed as a family. At night we would cook something up on the gas grill while watching the sun sink into water, then select a movie from Torchview's ample collection and unwind (since you will be in the Keys, we recommend "Captin Ron!"). I dubbed the long dock the "Octopus's Garden (sorry Ringo) because, aside from lobsters, sponges, anemones and all kinds of fish, I encountered not one, but two small octopi! Very cool! The highlight of our trip, though, was our boat excursion with "Cap'n Steve" on our final day, where we snorkeled some reefs, and then got "chased" home by a pod of playful dolphins. They splashed in the wake of the boat for a good 15 minutes. We just received a "thank you" postcard from Kathy and Steve with a beautiful picture of a Torchview sunset. What a memory. Kathy and Steve-- thank you for everything, and we will be back!

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, tourists without a car, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Torchview...a memory waiting to happen to you!!!

  Torchview...a memory waiting to happen to you!!!

  • Guest Cynthia R.
  • Date of stay 01/05/13
  • Review Submitted 01/21/13
  Staying at Torchview was such a lovely experience! The pictures show you the nuts and bolts of the house(which were quite comfortable and beautifully decorated)...the owners, and their sea life creatures made every day an event! Steve and Kathy were not only friendly, but interesting and entertaining...and knowledgeable. Their sea creatures made every day a surprise: hundreds of fish, and crabs, lobsters, stingrays, anemones, and a nurse shark! All seen from their extensive dock! The reef was just the most amazing touch to accent a very special place! Our fishing trip with Steve was so much fun. We caught an amazing array of fish! We also saw two dolphins swimming alongside our boat. Our escorts made it very special! If you are looking for a central location, this is it. Key West is 25 minutes west, and Bahia Honda, Pine Key(Winn Dixie and No Name Pub) is just 10 minutes, and the Turtle Hospital(do not miss) and the Dolphin Research Center(swim with the dolphins) are about 25 minutes. So, if you are looking for a Keys experience, with large rooms and very clean surroundings and hosts who make it their business to give you the BEST vacation ever, LOOK NO FURTHER!!!

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• best place i've ever stayed in the keys.

  best place i've ever stayed in the keys.

  • Guest boatman
  • Date of stay 10/27/12
  • Review Submitted 12/03/12
  a memory i will have forever...........strengthened by more visits! magnificent view, immaculate house, very private,....... congenial hosts.......i do not think it could get any better!

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, pet owners, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

• Tropical Paradise in the Lower Keys

  Tropical Paradise in the Lower Keys

  • Guest Anne & BT
  • Date of stay 11/03/12
  • Review Submitted 11/23/12
  A wonderful, magical place to stay in the Florida Keys! The house is well laid out, very well furnished, and truly situated in Paradise! The location is fantastic – the house faces west towards Niles Channel with mangroves and other pretty vegetation towards the water, with a small sandy beach area fronted by a low seawall with steps to the water (great for launching a kayak!). There is a porch which wraps all the way around the house – there are fantastic views of the Awesome sunsets from the porch and the dock; at night, you can see so many stars – it’s beautiful! Towards Niles Channel, a pier goes through the trees and by the sandy area out to a dock with good depth – we kept a 21 foot boat tied there for part of our stay. The pier and dock are way cool to hang out at – we saw lots of sea life – all kinds of fish, a few nurse sharks, rays, a turtle, and lots of spiny lobsters! Watching sea critters in the mangroves and under the dock and snorkeling off the dock were some of our favorite activities at Torchview! We saw key deer grazing in the yard many mornings and evenings and birds and butterflies all times of day – really cool! The house is set back enough from the street that it is very private. The photos of the house are beautiful, but it is even more beautiful in person! We had a wonderful time watching sea creatures around the dock, watching gorgeous sunsets and night skies so clear and full of stars it felt like you could dive up into them, boating and snorkeling at Looe Key and Newfound Harbor Marine Sanctuaries (we highly recommend boat rental through Maya at Big Pine Key Boat Rentals – way cool, well-equipped boats and Maya is awesome!!!), visiting the Blue Hole on Big Pine Key, and just relaxing and enjoying Torchview! For eating out, we really enjoyed and highly recommend The Wharf on Summerland Key (Bacon, Lobster and Tomato sandwich and red conch chowder are awesome!) and Square Grouper on Cudjoe Key. The Torchview house is well equipped for cooking up great seafood or whatever you want – we really enjoyed cooking there and relaxing watching satellite TV after being out playing all day. Torchview is truly an awesome special place – Thank You, Steve and Kathy, for sharing your wonderful Keys home so that we could have such a wonderful, fun, and relaxing vacation! It was magical, and very hard to leave! We hope to visit Torchview again (and again, and again…). :)

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 5/5

• Tropical Paradise in the Lower Florida Keys

  Tropical Paradise in the Lower Florida Keys

  • Guest Anne & BT
  • Date of stay 11/03/12
  • Review Submitted 11/23/12
  A wonderful, magical place to stay in the Florida Keys! The house is well laid out, very well furnished, and truly situated in Paradise! The location is fantastic – the house faces west towards Niles Channel with mangroves and other pretty vegetation towards the water, with a small sandy beach area fronted by a low seawall with steps to the water (great for launching a kayak!). There is a porch which wraps all the way around the house – there are fantastic views of the Awesome sunsets from the porch and the dock; at night, you can see so many stars – it’s beautiful! Towards Niles Channel, a pier goes through the trees and by the sandy area out to a dock with good depth – we kept a 21 foot boat tied there for part of our stay. The pier and dock are way cool to hang out at – we saw lots of sea life – all kinds of fish, a few nurse sharks, rays, a turtle, and lots of spiny lobsters! Watching sea critters in the mangroves and under the dock and snorkeling off the dock were some of our favorite activities at Torchview! We saw key deer grazing in the yard many mornings and evenings and birds and butterflies all times of day – really cool! The house is set back enough from the street that it is very private. The photos of the house are beautiful, but it is even more beautiful in person! We had a wonderful time watching sea creatures around the dock, watching gorgeous sunsets and night skies so clear and full of stars it felt like you could dive up into them, boating and snorkeling at Looe Key and Newfound Harbor Marine Sanctuaries (we highly recommend boat rental through Maya at Big Pine Key Boat Rentals – way cool, well-equipped boats and Maya is awesome!!!), visiting the Blue Hole on Big Pine Key, and just relaxing and enjoying Torchview! For eating out, we really enjoyed and highly recommend The Wharf on Summerland Key (Bacon, Lobster and Tomato sandwich and red conch chowder are awesome!) and Square Grouper on Cudjoe Key. The Torchview house is well equipped for cooking up great seafood or whatever you want – we really enjoyed cooking there and relaxing watching satellite TV after being out playing all day. Torchview is truly an awesome special place – Thank You, Steve and Kathy, for sharing your wonderful Keys home so that we could have such a wonderful, fun, and relaxing vacation! It was magical, and very hard to leave! We hope to visit Torchview again (and again, and again…). :)

  Recommended for: Sightseeing, adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, pet owners, romantic getaway, families with young children, girls getaway.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 0/0

• Fantastic Time

  Fantastic Time

  • Guest Andrew and Jane
  • Date of stay 10/28/12
  • Review Submitted 11/17/12
  We had 5 nights at Torchview in october 2012.It was absolutely fantastic.The home is lovely inside with plenty of amenties.The best bit though is the dock.It is great for fishing and snorkelling.Lots of fish,lobsters etc around the dock and two Dolphins came up about 15 feet away from it. The location is very quiet but within easy reach of the shops,restaurants and other Keys sights. The owner was very friendly and helpful. We were on a Family holiday with our two teenage children from England.It was perfect and we can't recommend it highly enough. Holiday memories that we will treasure.Thankyou so much. We are sure that other guests will love it as much.

  Recommended for: Families with teenagers, families with young children.

  Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 1/1

Base Rates........$1800/week .. $7200/month
Holiday rates .................................... $2000/week
2013 Holidays:New Year,Christmas,Easter, week of mini lobster opening(July 21-28)
Opening Lobster Season..$2000/wk(Aug 3-10)....Fantasy Fest(special$1500)Oct.19-20
Discounts available Sept.7, 2013- Dec.7, 2013
$750 Security deposit due within 7 days of booking

Note: Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice.