As the year winds down and the air cools everywhere else, it's still shirt-sleeve weather here — long sleeves and jeans count as Keys winter attire come Thanksgiving.
Every year, our staff cooks Thanksgiving dinner for our guests — some of whom have been staying with us for nearly 20 years, and are exactly why we're grateful. A typical year sees four turkeys, two hams, and a wheelbarrow's worth of sides cooked up for fifty-plus guests, with each cottage chipping in a favorite side or dessert to share.
The day starts with sailing, paddling, or relaxing on the beach, before everyone gathers around two o'clock for a buffet-style dinner — a few words from Paul, a moment of thanks, and a table full of people who feel more like family than guests.