We are in Monroe county. On our journey along the Overseas Highway, through the jewels that make up the archipelago of Florida Keys (or more simply Keys), we come to Islamorada, whose name dates back to the first Spanish explorers of the area, who baptized it “purple island” probably because of a luminescent purple jellyfish that can be found in these waters. We believe them but they tell us that as time goes by it is increasingly rare to see this effect.
Nature, outdoor life, white sand, sports activities, but also a great deal of tranquility and good food. All this can be found in Islamorada, a stopover not to be missed, a place where we feel the love of the inhabitants for their sea and it’s not just a matter of business for them.
Here nature is life but sometimes an enemy; namely the hurricanes. From what we have seen, we can only praise the islanders’ great strength of will and energy as they always know how to pick themselves up and carry on.
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The Islands of Islamorada
The second name of our destination is “Village of Islands” because, in reality, Islamorada is a group of small islands that we will transit along the bridge in a southerly direction. The five main ones are: Plantation Key, Windley Key, Upper Matecumbe Key, Tea Table Key, and Lower Matecumbe Key.
Upper Matacumbe Key is actually the “heart” of Islamorada, but this does not detract from the other islands that make it up. It is probably a given to say that here you can enjoy a lot of open air amidst nature, relaxation, and sports activities such as swimming, snorkeling, diving, kayaking, paddle boarding, and windsurfing. Sun, heat, palm trees, white sand, clear waters, blue skies, and lush vegetation, what more could you want?
In reality, Islamorada reserves another surprise for visitors: for those who love competitive fishing, this is the right place as the area is considered to be the sport fishing capital of the world and the recurring theme is that more records are set here than anywhere else in the world for the size of the catch. Fun fact: from 1943, and for 45 years, Ted Williams was the most famous resident of the island: a baseball player for the Boston Red Sox, he was also a skilled fisherman and his house in Islamorada was frequented by many celebrities.
Islamorada Attractions
Our exploration begins with a smile when Big Betsy, the Giant Lobster (86700 Overseas Hwy) welcomes us to Rain Barrel Village. It’s impossible for an enormous fiberglass lobster, the tallest in the world, to go unnoticed, standing 29 feet high and 39 feet long. It’s the symbol of a village in tropical gardens, open daily from 9 am to 5 pm, and features workshops on American crafts and contemporary art.
In addition to the Rain Barrel Village, for those who like to shop, we would recommend the World Wide Sportsman Bayside Marina because inside there is the large Bass Pro Shop (81576 Overseas Hwy) where you can find sporting goods, clothing, and home furnishings. This store, which belongs to a large chain, also has a restaurant. It is well worth a visit.
Founders Park
Founders Park (87000 Overseas Hwy), a sixteen-acre park, is a beautiful sports center within a green space that ends with a white sandy beach fringed by palm trees and warm, crystal-clear waters. Water sports enthusiasts enjoy kayaking, paddle boarding, and snorkeling. Basketball, tennis, baseball, volleyball, soccer, and aerobics are also played. At certain times of the year, it is possible to attend yoga classes on the shoreline, and there is also a walking/cycling trail.
Throughout the year, the atmosphere comes alive at concerts and festivals held at the amphitheater. This recreational-sports complex boasts an Olympic-size swimming pool that hosts many swimming and diving events, it also has a marina that is the starting point for ecological, fishing, and offshore diving tours. The park has public restrooms with showers and barbecue nooks with picnic tables. The entrance costs $3 but some hotels have an agreement and access is included in the rate. Definitely worth a visit.
Anne’s Beach
Anne’s Beach (about 400 yards from US-1 – mile marker 73) is a small shoreline dedicated to local environmentalist Anne Eaton. It is located at the southern end of Islamorada, practically the opposite where we began our exploration. It is the other famous beach on the island where you can swim in shallow, clear, warm water, walk along a boardwalk, watch birds, and picnic using the covered area provided.
It is equipped with facilities and parking is about four hundred yards away. It is also the ideal place for kayaking and windsurfing. This shoreline, open from dawn to dusk, is perfect for children and dogs.
Activities on the water
On the subject of water activities, the main reason why we are here, we have evaluated the offers from various agencies that operate in this area; you are spoiled for choice! We recommend A Family Fun Boat Tour Company (85500 Overseas Hwy) that organizes boat tours for up to 6 people, not only in Islamorada but also in Key Largo and Marathon. Choices range from eco-tours to sightseeing, snorkeling, and sunset cruises.
As for diving, Ocean Quest Dive Center (84801 Overseas Hwy) organizes twice-daily boat trips for diving and snorkeling, all with the possibility of taking lessons. Since our attention turns to all the signs offering tours and sports activities, when we pass Spray Watersports (84001 Overseas Hwy) we notice the sign for jet ski and jet boat rentals. We are tempted but, given our inexperience, common sense finally prevails to make a compromise; we try the thrill of the jet ski leaving someone else the pleasure of driving it and bringing us back to shore in one piece.
Easy Adventures Boat Tours (81576 Overseas Hwy) provides activities suitable for the whole family and four-legged friends: fishing (including lobster), snorkeling, sunset cruises, and eco-tours. We’re on an island, and there are bound to be inlets that welcome a marina. Bud ‘n Mary’s (79851 Overseas Hwy) is home to the oldest and largest fishing fleet in the Florida Keys. We’re told this is a great area to fish, and given the number of boats, we believe it. But it’s not just boats that are rented here to go fishing, boats also leave for tours and diving and there is an office that rents out rooms, waterfront homes, and houseboats.
Almost at the end of Islamorada, Robbie‘s Marina (77522 Overseas Hwy) is another favorite spot for locals and visitors alike. Here we feed huge snappers and rent equipment to indulge in water sports. We go shopping and stroll around the marina area with its various stores. In general, bear in mind that renting non-motorized equipment is very affordable, for example, for half a day the cost is around $45-70; the cost of a half-hour of jet skiing can vary from $50 to $60, but that still seemed fair.
Museums and natural attractions
Following the continuation of Islamorada from north to south through its component islands, we encounter other points of interest. Theater of the Sea (84721 Overseas Hwy) is a marine park open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. where you can swim with bottle-nosed dolphins, sea lions and watch shows featuring them. Admission is $35.95 for ages 11 and up and $22.95 for ages 3 to 10. Parking is free.
Dogs are welcome on a lead. With self-guided tours along nature-appreciating trails, Fossil Reef Geological State Park (84900 Overseas Hwy) gives non-diving visitors a chance to admire fossilized coral. In a former quarry, you’ll walk along eight-foot-high walls, notice cross-sections of ancient coral, learn what work was like inside the quarry, and look at specimens of old machinery. In this park, the island’s nature can be enjoyed along with five, short self-guided trails and for a pleasant stop, picnic tables are available.
Another place of interest is the History of Diving Musem (82990 Overseas Hwy), a concentration of information about diving, one of the main activities on the island and throughout the area. Admission is $12 for adults, $11 for seniors, $9 for college students, and $6 for ages 6 to 11. The museum is open from 10 am to 5 pm.
Since 2013, local history and ecology, art exhibits, and ancient artifacts have been the themes of the Florida Keys History & Discovery Center (82100 Overseas Hwy), a cultural corner run by the foundation of the same name as a nonprofit organization. It also features a model showing the island as it probably was around 1840. The museum operates Thursday through Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, and admission is free for children under 13.
The Florida National High Adventure Sea Base (73800 Overseas Hwy) arranges Boy Scout-run experiences and adventures with weekly programs such as reef boat tours, sailing trips, diving, snorkeling, and fishing. On the nearby tiny island of Tea Table Key (Overseas Hwy. mile marker 75), we reach a small public beach surrounded by crystal clear waters, an oasis of peace.
Indian Key
We decided to visit two islands not far from Islamorada, that can only be reached by private boat or tour. Indian Key is a lush, uninhabited island just over 0.6 miles off the north shore of Lower Matecumbe Key. Indians have lived here since prehistoric times. When Spanish ships began their voyages to and from the old continent, they often sank because of the reef, and the natives, particularly the Calusa tribe, took advantage of the situation.
Later, this became a business for pirates. Now, however, visitors can swim, snorkel and enjoy the sun. The islet is home to the eponymous Historic State Park where there are ruins of a town dating back to the early 1800s. The park is open from 8 a.m. until sundown and admission is $2.50.
Lignumvitae Key
On the opposite side of the highway and slightly further offshore, the island of Lignumvitae Key can be reached in about 30 minutes by boat from Robbie’s Marina. It is home to the eponymous Botanical State Park, once owned by a wealthy Miami chemist who in 1919 bought the entire island on which he then built a small house and mill. The restored building contains the park’s visitor center. Hammock trees, hardy tropical trees with towering branches, grow here and white-crowned pigeons live here.
On Fridays and Saturdays, you can take an hour-long ranger-led walking tour. Fishing and swimming are not available. The park is open every day except Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and admission costs $2.50 for visitors not taking the tour and $2 for visitors taking the tour. In our opinion, it’s worth taking it because you get to visit the house and get a better understanding of what the Keys used to be like.
Islamorada Events
When planning a visit around here you may want to consider having it coincide with an event. In January at Founders Park (87000 Overseas Hwy), the Baygrass Bluegrass Festival takes place, featuring the best in country and bluegrass music. Paid admission also includes local craft beer tasting, a village where you learn about sustainable living, and booths from local vendors.
In March, Thursday through Sunday, members of the Art Guild of the Purple Island present The Member’s Judged Art Show at the Keys History & Discovery Center (82100 Overseas Hwy) with the intention of promoting art as a prominent community activity. During the event, competing entries are voted on and the winner takes home an original piece of art. The event is open to all.
The Holiday Festival takes place in December in various city locations. It consists of a holiday parade, a snow mountain to play on, and a stage with entertainment at Founders Park. At various times of the day, “magical” snow falls from the branches of the Christmas tree (35 feet tall). Those on vacation with a four-legged friend can have them participate in the Santa Paws Competition, an event where dogs perform and are judged for best costume. Local artists create original ornaments, especially for them.
Places to Eat in Islamorada
Also on this trip, as always, we do not fail to taste the local cuisine. In Islamorada, fishing is an area of excellence that should be appreciated and the interesting thing is that customers can bring their catch to the restaurants that will be cooked to perfection (mahi-mahi, tuna, snapper). Since 1967, Marker 88 (88000 Overseas Hwy) has been serving up beachfront meals with “sides” of beautiful sunsets in a casual-elegant location on Florida Bay. The restaurant is open for lunch, dinner, and for Sunday brunch. The menu features macaroni and cheese, filet mignon, crab cake, coconut shrimp, burger, Caesar salad, ice cream, the famous (not to be missed) Key Lime Pie, and there is also a good wine list.
For breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Lorelai Restaurant & Cabana Bar (96 Madera Rd) serves omelets, coconut shrimp or fried shrimp, mozzarella sticks with marinara sauce, bacon and cheddar cheese burger, New York Strip steak, Cesar salad, and the delicious Key Lime Pie. The restaurant is located on the waterfront, has a casual style, and has been voted as the best place to watch the sunset, which is why we recommend dining outside. The restaurant is popular for its 4-6 pm happy hour and evening entertainment with local bands.
At Pierre’s (81600 Overseas Hwy) you can enjoy cocktails in the lounge and taste French cuisine in a refined atmosphere, also on the veranda. The colonial-style building is on two floors on a palm-fringed beach overlooking Florida Bay near walkways with tropical plants, also a great location to enjoy beautiful sunsets. The menu features yellowfin tuna tartare, grilled filet mignon carpaccio, mixed fish curry, cream of polenta, and onion soup gratin. Reservations are recommended. Casual-elegant attire is recommended without the need to wear a jacket or tie.
The restaurant that we found inside the Bass Pro Shop is the Zane Grey Lounge (81576 Overseas Hwy) where you can enjoy the food on a veranda overlooking Bayside Marina and watch the sunset over the bay. Dishes include coconut shrimp, crab cake, and Cesar salad; you can also decide how to make your own burger.
Places to Stay in Islamorada
As is the case with all popular places, staying overnight in Islamorada isn’t always cheap, but you can find interesting compromises in terms of value for money. Sands of Islamorada (80051 Overseas Hwy), is a particularly attractive option near points of interest, with an outdoor pool and hot tub in addition to a dock with an access ramp. Wi-fi, microwaves, and mini-fridges are some of the amenities in all rooms; other rooms have balconies, kitchenettes, and sofa beds.
La Siesta Resort & Marina (80241 Overseas Hwy) is an oceanfront property with a marina, outdoor pool, hot tub, and wi-fi. Boat trips, fishing trips, water skiing, and snorkeling are arranged; bikes and water sports equipment can be rented. Please note that there may be an extra charge for some services.
Casa Thorn (114 Palm Ln) is a B&B that has five rooms in a quiet, lush area. Each room has its own uniqueness and is decorated differently than the others. Breakfast included in the price is served on the private patio. The property, equipped with a pool, wi-fi, parking, and barbeque grills, welcomes guests ages eight and up and four-legged friends.
Nestled in a lush tropical forest is Islander Bayside Townhomes and Boat Slips (81450 Overseas Hwy). Clients enjoy charming contemporary cottages with kitchens, living rooms, and private balconies overlooking the gulf. The hotel has a swimming pool and boat dock.
At Pelican Cove Resort & Marina (84457 Overseas Hwy) rooms and suites have balconies with ocean views. Rooms are decorated in light wood, accessories have classic tropical hues, and there’s no shortage of artwork. The palm-fringed garden overlooks the sea. The hotel offers entertainment opportunities for its guests; in addition to the swimming pool, there are tennis courts, a saltwater lagoon, a marina, and opportunities for sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, snorkeling, and diving. The hotel also provides boats with experienced captains at the helm that depart from in front of the hotel pier.
Among the solutions that we suggest, the boutique hotel Casa Morada (136 Madeira Rd) is the most expensive but for special occasions, it may be the right choice. It has suites with sea views located directly on the shoreline. The private terrace is an added value. The property is casual in style, with a Caribbean character and a quiet atmosphere. Kayaks, paddle boards, bicycles, and snorkeling equipment are available to guests. Yoga classes are available. A private island accessible via a footbridge belongs to the property. The hotel, which accommodates guests 16 and older and four-legged friends, can also be reached by water.
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To reach Islamorada by air, the nearest airport is Miami Airport (2100 NW 42nd Ave), which has direct flights from many locations. It is then about 1 hour and 40 minutes to reach your destination.
