The Faraway Inn



THE FARAWAY INN
CEDAR KEY, FLORIDA

The Faraway Inn is, and has been my favorite place anywhere since I first heard about it and met the owners, Doreen and Oliver Bauer, in 2003.

I first met Doreen by phone when I began my search on information about Cedar Key.  I was in search of a place to stay for awhile and she found a place for me almost immediately.  Doreen and I became friends and she and Oliver were super in showing me around, including me in their holiday cookouts, etc.  It was a blast to jump in Doreen's golf cart with Taco, Doreen's Cheyenne, another friend of Doreen's, and a few more dogs and off we would go cruising the island, showing me places I had never seen.  Sometimes Doreen and I would take off for nearby Chiefland, Florida to shop, have lunch, browse, and run errands.  It is a short 30 minute or so drive off the island. Taco and Cheyenne were friends and Taco made friends with Baxter, who stayed with his family next door, who owned and operated the Beach Motel.  Taco and I walked down every street from the apartment, one block from the Gulf, all around downtown and up and down streets near Highway 24 all the way to the Cedar Key School and back.  We were on a mission and we did this daily.

The Faraway is just across First Street from the Gulf , 3rd and G Streets, and they have their own private beach.  Doreen and Oliver rolled their sleeves up and went to work on the Faraway, restoring, renovating, and making it a wonderful place to stay and enjoy Cedar Key.  When they opened for guests, they designated it pet friendly.  It is also a designated  Green Lodging.  They offer their guests free canoes bikes, kayaks, movies, with a complete list offered to guests on their website. There are several options to choose from in planning a stay at the Faraway Inn, from rooms to cottages and efficiencies, and the Inn's decor and colors, inside and out, are quite in step with Florida's unique style.  I've stayed at the Faraway and know from experience (and by seeing Doreen in action) that the rooms are sparkling clean, appropriate and tasteful decor, and inviting to have a really good time.  There are swings facing the Gulf for guests to enjoy sunrise or sunset from a perfect viewpoint.   Their website is:  http://www.farawayinn.com/; email: info@farawayinn.com; and phone: 1-(888) 543-5330. They are activists in their community, and for animals.  Doreen is very active in various animal groups around this area, and has been instrumental in aid for feral cats.

 There is a large assortment of places to stay in Cedar Key, and I do not know of any that would not be a pleasant, fun, relaxing stay, depending on what you are looking for.  Their are condos, motels, homes, including historic ones, and cottages for rent and something for every one's individual tastes.  Restaurants are all within walking distance around the downtown area, including the docks, and they are all excellent.  My favorites include Alice's Cafe on Highway 24 a few blocks from town, the Seabreeze, Ken's Cedar Key Diner, The Pickled Pelican, Desert Cafe on Highway 24, Island Pizza. and the Island Room.  You have many to choose from and I have yet to have a bad meal or bad experience in the cafes, restaurants, and rentals of Cedar Key.