Reviews for Big Torch Key Vacation Rental - VRBO 286968 - 3 BR Lower Keys Area House in FL, Torchview

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.

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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: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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.

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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, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway.

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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, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway.

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

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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: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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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…). :)

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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: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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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.

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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: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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Relax...Recharge

Guest Blow_N_Bubbles
Date of stay 10/13/12
Review Submitted 11/11/12

This was our 2nd year booking Torchview for our fall vacation week...we looked forward to it from the moment we left last year, and once again we were not disappointed! This property will please all types of vacationers - from those wanting to rest and de-stress, to history lovers, to water sports enthusiasts, to Key West Conch wannabes - because it is perfectly located to meet all of these expectations. From the moment you turn off of Hwy 1 and wind over the causeways to Big Torch Key, you will feel like you are going "far, far away from it all." You aren't...but you are. The house is spacious, bright (views from no matter where you stand), clean (no dirty smudges on the walls), and provides all the amenities of home. As a matter of fact, it feels like home. The large concrete deck surrounds the house, so no matter what time of day, there is either sun or shade, depending on your pleasure. Sunsets are spectacular. Take the time to spend a late night out on the dock and look up at the stars - you may be surprised that they are countless (a rarity if you are from the city)! The reef under and around the dock has developed into a beautiful nursery with many schools of fry, mangrove snapper, parrot fish, grunts and pinfish. The resident barracuda aren't very big, and will follow you around while you snorkel, much like a trained puppy. Take your time and you will also see sponges, anemones, various crab species, lobster (of course!). If you are a diver, Looe Key (not to be missed, and also great for shallow & deep water snorkeling) and the Duane are less than a 30-min ride away. We bring our own offshore boat & it is nice to dock it and not worry about any of our gear going missing due to the seclusion of the property! Since the weather gods kept us off the water for most of our trip this year, we visited Key West twice (once for a yummy dinner at the Rusty Anchor & a walking ghost tour, and once for the sunset - don't miss the Catman!), found the Perky Bat Tower and a secluded recreation area on Sugarloaf Key, visited Bahia Honda for some spectacular photos from the old bridge, counted more Key Deer than we have ever seen before, and drank lots of Baby's Coffee (for those of you who like frozen and fruity tropical drinks, the blender at the house will crush up some sweet pina coladas!). There is always something to explore, and a new favorite place waiting to be found in the Keys. Once again, a truly wonderful week!

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

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Total Relaxation

Guest Mike
Date of stay 07/07/12
Review Submitted 07/17/12

If you're looking for a place to totally unwind and relax, Torchview is just the place. The home is on a less populated Key and on a large lot facing west for beautiful sunsets. We thoroughly enjoyed the peace and quiet and the serenity here. The dock quickly became our favorite hangout offering snorkeling, fishing, stand-up paddleboarding (we rented a board), kayaking, and just plain lounging around. The artificial reef the owners have constructed practically makes you feel like you're at an aquarium. We saw many types of fish including numerous lobster, a stingray, a small nurse shark, and a few ornery barracudas. Although you feel remote, only a few miles away are Big Pine Key and Summerland Key with numerous restaurants and other services. The key deer roaming all over Big Pine Key are lots of fun to watch. And the big green iguanas that hang out in the front yard and along the roads are certainly interesting too. The house itself is very well equipped and offers all the amenities you'll need for an enjoyable vacation away from it all. My only suggestion would be to add a recycling bin since most people would use that. We had a great time and can highly recommend Torchview. Book a week with Kathy (who is great to work with), pack up your stuff, and head on down. You won't be dissapointed!

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

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Great, Relaxing vacation site!

Guest Marci P.
Date of stay 06/02/12
Review Submitted 06/11/12

My husband, two children, and my parents, just returned from the Torchview Vacation Rental Home. We had a wonderful time! My children, 14 (girl) and 19 (boy) thoroughly enjoyed fishing, snorkelling, kayaking, and relaxing at Torchview. Having three generations in one spot, you never know if everyone will be satisfied, but we absolutely were! The home is nicer than the pictures represent. It is large and open. It allows for privacy with the bedroom/bathroom layout. It is the CLEANEST rental we have ever encountered. It actually seemed like the place had been repainted before we arrived, it was that clean. The water is crystal clear, you can snorkel and see tons of fish right at the dock. There is not a real "beach" at the water, but there is a small "beach type" spot just at the water's edge. There are steps to get into the water at the beach, off the dock, etc., making access very easy. We were able to dock a large (32') boat at the property, which we rented, that made it very convenient for fishing. The owner was responsive and easy to reach. There is wifi which helped the teens stay connected during downtime. There were also many VHS movies for nighttime viewing, as well as, satellite TV stations. Everything we needed for meal preparation and comfort was provided. Again, I would recommend this rental for anyone wanting a beautiful, secluded, all-inclusive type oceanfront vacation rental.

Owner response: Your review is 'over the top' it certainly makes us feel all our efforts and hard work is appreciated. THANK YOU......THANK YOU......... THANK YOU!!!!

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Boaters Pardise as Well!

Guest Amory S.
Date of stay 05/23/12
Review Submitted 06/03/12

My wife and I have visited Torchview for two years in a row and are looking forward to our third. As boaters we love that we do not have to travel though canals to get to our favorites spots both in the Atlantic and the 'Back Country'! It is also nice that there has always been at least 4 feet of water under our boat at the dock. We love the open feeling of the house due to the open floor plan and all the windows! It is great to wake up to a view of the wide open channel instead of the back of another house. We particularly like the 'remote' location and the privacy it offers. It can get buggy outside. But no worries. Bring a can of flying insect spay with you and empy it upon arrival before you go inside. You will have a very comfortable stay!

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Our Home Away From Home in the Lower Keys

Guest Gary F.
Date of stay 04/07/12
Review Submitted 04/26/12

Torchview is a wonderful home away from home in the lower keys! Steve and Kathy are great hosts and have a way of being readily available while still allowing you as much privacy as you desire. Our 11 year old daughter adopted Cheyenne as her "dog away from home." The location is awesome with spectacular sunsets every night of our stay! The fish surrounding the dock are amazingly diverse. If Steve is around during your stay be sure to try and spend at least one day out on the boat fishing and snorkeling the reef. The experience is much better than a typical charter and Steve's knowledge, experience and colorful manner is certain to delight young and old. Can't wait to return again! The Falcetano's Stockton, NJ

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The 3 Amigos

Guest Anonymous
Date of stay 03/18/12
Review Submitted 04/06/12

Torchview was the perfect place to spend our annual vacation in the Keys. It is very remote which lends itself to total relaxation and yet is not too far from all the amenities one may want such as groceries, restaurants and the various activities the Keys have to offer. I was training for the Boston Marathon and really appreciated having a fabulous place to run with almost know traffic and lots of wildlife to interest me on my long runs. The dock is a great place to sit in the evening to watch the stunning sunsets, to fish from or to simply watch the fish any time of the day. Although we did not snorkel, the fish were plentiful for our viewing from the dock. The house amenities were the best of all the rentals in which we I have stayed. I really appreciated things like the blender, ice machine, TV and iPod docking station. The owners were extremely nice and most helpful with any questions we may have had. We also went out fishing with Steve which was our favorite day of our 2 week stay. Due to Steve's expertise, we caught Spanish Mackerel, Porgie, Mangrove Snapper, Grouper, Yellowtail Snapper and TWO Hogfish. We then had our fish prepared at various local restaurants throughout the remainder of our stay...YUM! We also rented paddle boards and went out right from the house. It was beautiful, convenient, and we saw lots of sea life in the water. I would highly recommend Torchview for anyone interested in visiting the Keys. It was the perfect oasis with access to the Marathon area in one direction and Key West in the other direction. Thank you Kathy and Steve for a most fabulous 2 weeks in your most beautiful home! Rich, Marge and Robin

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

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/4

Awsome Keys Vacation

Guest Kent H.
Date of stay 02/18/12
Review Submitted 03/13/12

We had a great time at your lovely home in the Keys. The home was equipped with all anyone would need to have a great vacation. The sunsets are awsome, fishing great and views were spectacular. We loved seeing all the fish from the dock and Steves expertise and fishing hints. Kathy and Steve couldn't be more helpful and accomodating. We would highly recommend Torchview for anyone who wants awsome views, peaceful evenings, and a great spot for touring the lower Keys. Thank you again for making our vacation memorable.

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Great vacation at Torchview

Guest Kent H.
Date of stay 02/18/12
Review Submitted 03/13/12

We had a great time at your lovely home in the Keys. The home was equipped with all anyone would need to have a great vacation. The sunsets are awsome, fishing great and views were spectacular. We loved seeing all the fish from the dock and Steves expertise and fishing hints. Kathy and Steve couldn't be more helpful and accomodating. We would highly recommend Torchview for anyone who wants awsome views, peaceful evenings, and a great spot for touring the lower Keys. Thank you again for making our vacation memorable.

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

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Big Torch Key Serenity

Guest Carla J.
Date of stay 02/04/12
Review Submitted 02/14/12

My husband and I just returned from spending a week at this lovely property. If you are looking for you little piece of serenity this is the place. This property has everything you could want or need during your stay. It is so peaceful and the stars and moon at night are so bright. From the dock you can see all kinds see fish, stingrays in the crystal clear water. Fishing is not bad either. We traveled up and down the keys sightseeing. The sunsets are so beautiful. Thanks Kathy and Steve

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

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The Tippings

Guest nic
Date of stay 12/27/11
Review Submitted 01/11/12

Couldn't have asked for a better location. So beautiful and relaxing. Views of the water from many vantage points inside the home. A big thanks to Steve for helping the boys figure out how to fish off the pier! Truly a place to get away from it all.

Recommended for: Families with teenagers, families with young children, pet owners, sightseeing.

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Vacation Paradise

Guest Wynn M.
Date of stay 11/02/11
Review Submitted 11/10/11

We will never forget our stay at Torchview! This was our first visit here and certainly will not be our last! The location is prefect! It was very easy to find, even in the dark. On our way to the house just after the sun went down, we got to see a key deer. That was just the start of a most rememberable 40th birthday. The house was equipped with everything we needed. We did go out to eat once at the restaurant (which was delicious) right down the street on us1. The best thing that happened while we were out on our boat, was some Dolphin swimming near us!! Which was not to far from the house. The water is prefect for snorkeling. It was so clear you could see all the fish and everything in the water from the dock. We would deffinetly recommend Torchview to anyone who is looking for a piece of paradise! Thank you Kathy and Steve for sharing your beautiful home!!! Wynn&Carl

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Wonderful Vacation

Guest Sydney
Date of stay 10/15/11
Review Submitted 11/07/11

We had one of the best trips ever! We went to the Keys to get married, and rented this house for the week. It was such a fantastic house. Rarely do you rent a home from the internet, and it is even better than the reviews and photos - but this house was just that. The dock and artificial reef were amazing, as well as the house and yard. There was beautiful landscaping throughout the very private yard - we even took some wedding photos there. The house was very clean and the deck has great views of the water and sunsets. Kathy was wonderful to work with, and went above and beyond to make this wedding/honeymoon trip fabulous. We will be back as soon as we can get there, and would not hesitate to recommend this vacation spot.

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

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Great Family Vacation at Torchview

Guest Chris
Date of stay 09/24/11
Review Submitted 10/04/11

Our family had a wonderful time at Torchview. The set-up was perfect; shallow, clear, calm water with a large dock. The kids could fish and snorkel around the dock by themselves all day, leaving plenty of relaxation time for us parents. We also enjoyed watching movies at night from the house collection. It was a very relaxing week.

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

Owner response: Taking a vacation with the kids AND mom and dad "really" being able to relax. Now that is PARADISE!

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My Torchview experience.

Guest Brandon S.
Date of stay 09/17/11
Review Submitted 09/25/11

Our Torchview experience was fantastic. All week long we enjoyed our own secluded part of the Florida Keys, enjoyed great sunset views, and a perfect swimming location. We really enjoyed the reef under the dock, where we were able to snorkel and observe all kinds of things. The landscape around the house is immaculate, which was a very pleasant surprise upon our arrival. I would recommend this home to anyone, any age, kids or adults. I look forward to getting an opportunity to stay there again in the future. Thank you Cathy and Wendy.

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

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My Torchview experience.

Guest Brandon S.
Date of stay 09/17/11
Review Submitted 09/24/11

Our Torchview experience was fantastic. All week long we enjoyed our own secluded part of the Florida Keys, enjoyed great sunset views, and a perfect swimming location. We really enjoyed the reef under the dock, where we were able to snorkel and observe all kinds of things. The landscape around the house is immaculate, which was a very pleasant surprise upon our arrival. I would recommend this home to anyone, any age, kids or adults. I look forward to getting an opportunity to stay there again in the future. Thank you Cathy and Wendy.

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

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Awesome vacation......as always!

Guest Kathryn & Bruce
Date of stay 04/23/11
Review Submitted 05/07/11

This has been our third year staying at Torchview and each vacation has been absolutely outstanding. It's great to be able to snorkel right off the dock; lots of fish, lobsters and even nurse and lemon sharks to check out! Snorkeling and fishing trips with Steve are always an adventure and provide great stories to bring back home. Kathy and Steve are the best hosts and we just love seeing them each year. The location is secluded, quiet and gorgeous with simply amazing views. Long walks down Middle and Big Torch Keys are so relaxing that you forget you even have another home. This is the best vacation destination and Kathy and Steve make sure that everything is perfect. The house is beautiful and we do not want for anything. We will definitely be back for a fourth year. Thanks for all the adventures! Bruce and Kathryn

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

Owner response: Nothing like a review that reassures us we have achieved our goal, "THE BEST VACATION EVER" for our guests. Shouldn't 'your' next vacation be an adventure to remember!!!!

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Fantastic Keys Vacation

Guest L & A and the Swabs
Date of stay 04/17/11
Review Submitted 04/24/11

Torchview was perfect for our family of five - plenty of space, great deck - but even better was the outdoors with our own dock and snorkeling and fishing right on-site. Steve and Kathy are great hosts, too. Snorkeling at Looe Key and fishing out among the smaller Keys in the Gulf were also great memories, so be sure to avoid the hassle of charter trips and have Steve take you out on your own boat trip, it was amazing. Our kids learned at least 20 types of fish and basically had personalized fishing and snorkeling lessons. Also close by is Bahia Honda State Park for a nice beach experience, and the Deer Refuge/Blue Hole. But you really won't want to leave Torchview while you're there. We hope to be back!

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, families with young children, sightseeing.

Owner response: FYI: We are in the Florida Keys from Dec.-May. We want all our guests to have the "best vacation ever".

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

A great vacation site.

Guest worldTraveler
Date of stay 04/09/11
Review Submitted 05/05/11

We stayed a week in mid-April 2011, and were so happy with our stay that we made a reservation for August before we left! With slight qualms--knowing the Key West area was known for scams--we drove up to the place--and found it be the same as described on VRBO. Though it seemed even better: very spacious rooms, everything neat and clean, attractive decor, and a deck surrounding all sides. Our dogs loved to be free on the deck or outside, and had a great time. We could swim off the dock, where we saw mostly lobsters, but we really liked snorkeling trips with the nearby "Innerspace" outfit. The owners and their dog were wonderful--as unobtrusive or as friendly as one could wish.

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, people with disabilities, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, pet owners, romantic getaway.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

Great Place

Guest Ann
Date of stay 04/09/11
Review Submitted 04/17/11

We--two 70ish women, a miniature poodle and a Havanese--just spent a week at TorchView. You walk up a flight of stairs and enter a large wonderful room, with views of the ocean in every direction. The rooms are spacious, nicely furnished and beautifully kept up. Outside there's a little beach with shade and chairs, a long pier which you can walk out on, lots of space for the dogs to explore and a ladder to enter the ocean where you can snorkel and see lobster and silver fish of all sizes. It's very quiet and relaxing, with a wrap-around deck. We drove down to Key West one day--about 45 minutes--and took two snorkel boat trips with an outfit called Innerspace in Big Pine Key. We have made reservations to return with our dogs in August and expect to vacation often at this real find.

Recommended for: Age 55+, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

Amazing Sunsets

Guest Art
Date of stay 04/02/11
Review Submitted 04/11/11

We just returned from Torchview, and it was wonderful. The sunsets over the water and dock were the best I've seen. The main room and the two main bedrooms are large, with large bathrooms. The setting is off the beaten path, but just what we were looking for. The owners, Kathy and Steve, live downstairs from Dec. to April.....they were friendly and helpful. I would definitely recommend Torchview for a quiet, serene, nature-oriented vacation.

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, pet owners.

Owner response: Each of our 'guests' come to Torchview with thier own "idea" of what the perfect vacation is. We want to help put things in place to see our guests go home with the thought that they had that "perfect vacation".

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

Excellent, better than advertised

Guest Bruce
Date of stay 03/26/11
Review Submitted 04/16/11

We had a wonderful week at Torchview. Steve and Kathy are awesome hosts. The location is quiet and peaceful, and the sunsets were spectacular. We had a great time fishing with Steve and his advice was very helpful when we fished on our own. The house was nice and clean and comfortable. Overall we were very pleased with our stay and I would not hesitate recommending this place to family or friends.

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, sightseeing.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 2/2

Perfect vacation

Guest Jim
Date of stay 02/26/11
Review Submitted 03/14/11

WOW...TERRIFIC VACATION. Location, location, location and gracious, knowledgeable hosts all in one spot. Week 1; we were joined by 3 adult women, (family and friend), week 2; four friends, (two adult couples). There was something for everyone each week. Amazing sunsets, snorkeling, fishing, relaxing, walks with the dog, trips to Marathon and of course Key West. We caught fish, bought fish and cooked in some days. Other days, we ate at local restaurants. Did not have a bad meal in or out. Steve and Kathy are great folks who will point you in the right direction and do as little or as much to make your stay a fantastic experience. Do not be concerned about booking on the internet. Photos and video are good but real time even better. Well maintained house and property. Kathy is very responsive to questions (even dumb ones) and easy to do business with. Definitely a repeat location for future vacations without the anxiety of the unknown and searching. HIGHLY recommended.

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

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

Sunset Heaven

Guest glenn
Date of stay 01/29/11
Review Submitted 02/24/11

We had the opportunity to stay at Torchview for 3 weeks. We didn't want to leave! Kathy and Steve were the most gracious of hosts who made us feel truly at home. Days were filled with fishing, eating delicilous seafood, sunning and relaxation. The best holiday ever!!

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 3/3

Paradise Found!

Guest Doug and Dee
Date of stay 12/21/10
Review Submitted 01/02/11

What a beautiful setting, carved into a quiet tropical island. The best part is you can drive up to the door. The reef under the dock is amazing, especially at night. Lobster,crab and all types of fish as well as the antics of all the birds who also like the setting. A rare Key deer joined us for breakfast one morning out on the lawn. The only thing that would be better, would be to stay longer... and maybe bring a boat.

Recommended for: Age 55+, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Owner response: We love reading our guests responses to their stay at TORCHVIEW. It's a 'feel good' experience knowing we have done our job .

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 4/4

Torch View vacation

Guest Robert
Date of stay 10/04/10
Review Submitted 10/28/10

I vacationed at Big Torch for the entire month of October 2010. That being said it was the most relaxing vacation I have ever been on and the owners Cathy and Steve could not have been nicer to help you with anything about the area including fishing, eating out etc. I would highly recommend this property to any one and I will be back.

Recommended for: Age 55+

Owner response: Our goal has been reached when our guests leave relaxed and look forward to returning to TORCHVIEW!

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

A definite winner

Guest Monkey Boy
Date of stay 03/28/10
Review Submitted 04/06/10

We, had a wonderful time as Steve and Kathy's guests, It is truely a home away from home. If you love old style Keys holidays this is the place to be, A great house, better than the photos, with great hosts, Kathy and Steve are kind and gracious and so knowledgeable about Keys life. We had two young boys and they loved the freedom to roam around the property and explore; we also brought our dog who was welcomed as much as we were. Boating from their dock is a pleasure, there are so many places to go and Steve will point you in the right direction. You get to launch your boat 3 mins from there house. Close to shops, Winn Dixie, bait shop on Big Pine We did not go out to many restaurants preferring to stay and enjoy the fab views and peace of Big Torch View We are definitely returning and highly recommend a visit-stay a while

Recommended for: Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, pet owners, sightseeing.

Owner response: We LOVED having you!!!! What a treat to have such a fun family.

Did you find this review helpful? Yes | No Helpful votes: 10/10

Vacation Rentals by Owner

Torchview - Florida Keys Secluded Paradise on Water [#286968] | View Property

Traveler Reviews (36)

Tranquility Base is Torchview - not somewhere on the moon!

Tranquility Base is Torchview - not somewhere on the moon!

Florida Keys Home Rental

Florida Keys Home Rental

Beautiful spot, beautiful home

Beautiful spot, beautiful home

Totally Relaxing

Totally Relaxing

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

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

Paradise Found!!

Paradise Found!!

Tropical Paradise in the Lower Keys

Tropical Paradise in the Lower Keys

Tropical Paradise in the Lower Florida Keys

Tropical Paradise in the Lower Florida Keys

Fantastic Time

Fantastic Time

best place i've ever stayed in the keys.

best place i've ever stayed in the keys.

Relax...Recharge

Relax...Recharge

Total Relaxation

Total Relaxation

Great, Relaxing vacation site!

Great, Relaxing vacation site!

Boaters Pardise as Well!

Boaters Pardise as Well!

Our Home Away From Home in the Lower Keys

Our Home Away From Home in the Lower Keys

The 3 Amigos

The 3 Amigos

Awsome Keys Vacation

Awsome Keys Vacation

Great vacation at Torchview

Great vacation at Torchview

Big Torch Key Serenity

Big Torch Key Serenity

The Tippings

The Tippings

Vacation Paradise

Vacation Paradise

Wonderful Vacation

Wonderful Vacation

Great Family Vacation at Torchview

Great Family Vacation at Torchview

My Torchview experience.

My Torchview experience.

My Torchview experience.

My Torchview experience.

Awesome vacation......as always!

Awesome vacation......as always!

Fantastic Keys Vacation

Fantastic Keys Vacation

A great vacation site.

A great vacation site.

Great Place

Great Place

Amazing Sunsets

Amazing Sunsets

Excellent, better than advertised

Excellent, better than advertised

Perfect vacation

Perfect vacation

Sunset Heaven

Sunset Heaven

Paradise Found!

Paradise Found!

Torch View vacation

Torch View vacation

A definite winner

A definite winner