Islamorada
Get in
Hop in a car and drive from Miami. It will take you about an hour and a half.
Fly into Fort Lauderdale/West Palm Beach/Miami and drive south for two hours.
Fly into Miami and drive south for one hour and forty-five minutes.
Short cut: If driving from FLL: make left onto Card Sound Road ($1 toll), it will bring you back to Key Largo on Route 1, a nice scenic road with a waterfront casual restaurant- Alabama Jack's very popular for bikers traveling to Key West offers great fresh food. (This route is a few miles longer than traveling the "18 mile stretch" on US1, but it's often possible to make better time due to less traffic.
Get around
See
- The sunset! Many of the restaurants are catered especially to see the beautiful sunset. The Islamorada fish company has Tarpon/shark feeding every night at sunset. You can watch right from your seats or from the bar.
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address: 36850 Overseas Highway Big Pine KeyA beautiful state park about an hour drive south from Islamorada. There is a small fee to get into the park going by how many people are entering. Bahia Honda is perfect to spend the day and enjoy swimming, kayaking, exploring, fishing, bike riding, walking, relaxing. There are picnic tables all through out the park, public restrooms, snack bar, kayak rentals, snorkel tours. Overnight ocean and bay side camping available for motor homes and tents
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Anne's beach
address: MM 73Public beach, great to relax, water is shallow so great to walk around in, public restrooms, parking, you have to bring your own chairs, snorkel gear, kayak. great to visit or lie around all day and tan! -
address: 81576 Overseas HighwayHuge sports store, endless fishing supplies, women's/men's/children clothing, great souvenirs, shoes, sun tan lotion, indoor fish tank.
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The Florida Keys Memorial
address: Mile Marker 82Built to commemorate those who died in the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Do
Scuba or snorkel!
Islamorada, long recognized as the "Sport Fishing Capital of the World," is now an icon among sport divers for a similar reason: a massive population of tropical marine life. High profile coral heads and broad ledges shelter huge congregates of French grunt and goatfish, while regal queen angelfish casually graze amid the reef recesses. Friendly green moray eels swim freely along the spur-and-groove channels, and reclusive nurse sharks lurk beneath the overhangs. Islamorada offers a wide variety of shallow coral reefs, mini walls, shipwrecks, and even an underwater habitat for scientific research, the Aquarius. To learn more about Islamorada or any other manner of local lore, stop by the Chamber of Commerce at mile marker 82.5 or dial +1-800-322-5397.
- The Eagle - This 287-foot ship was intentionally sunk in 110 feet of water as a dive attraction and rests on her starboard side cloaked in a colorful patina of encrusting sponge and coral, populated by huge schools of grunt, tarpon, and jack.
- Davis Reef - This reef is revered for its incredible concentration of grunts and schoolmaster snapper, as well as several amiable resident green morays, long accustomed to benign interaction with the dive masters.
- Alligator Reef - Now marked by a 136-foot-tall lighthouse, on this spot in 1822 the USS Alligator grounded and sank while protecting a convoy from pirates. Now all that remains of the wreck are the twin piles of ballast stones, but the coral reef - in just 25 feet of water - is vibrant and alive.
- Conch Wall - Offering an exciting change of pace from the normal spur-and-groove profiles of most keys' reefs, Conch Wall presents a precipitous sloping wall and captivating concentrations of barrel sponge and gorgonia punctuating the seafloor.
- Crocker Wall - An over 450-foot-long wall in 50 feet of water. The wall has a thirty-foot decline and features grunts, yellowtail and grouper with spur-and-groove coral and block coral on the wall.
- Pickles Reef - For macro photo enthusiasts, Pickles provides a wonderful opportunity to encounter the reef's minutia, from flamingo tongue cowries to banded coral shrimp, all amid a dynamic coral reef in only 15 to 25 feet of water.
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A Pirates Choice Deep Sea Fishing Charters
address: 84500 Overseas highwayFull and half day available. -
address: 77522 Overseas HighwayTarpon feeding, snorkeling trips, boat rentals, fishing charters, sunset tours, shopping, tours, kayak rentals, great for walking around and also grab a bite to eat. Restaurant on site.
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address: 79851 Overseas HighwayMarina featured on many fishing shows. Boat rentals, chartered fishing trips, pontoon boats, tackle shops with coffee and deli. Miss Islamorada docks there which is a party boats $60 for full day of fishing includes rods, tackle, and bait. Bring your own lunch and drinks.
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address: 84001 Overseas HighwayGreat place for families whether or not staying at the hotel or just visiting for the day, popular with spring break students, parking pool, private beach, swimming, lounge chairs provided for a small fee, tiki bar, snack bar with picnic tables with waterfront view, live entertainment, jet ski & kayak rentals, snorkeling, great for night life.
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address: 84721 Overseas HighwaySwim with dolphins, rays, and sea lions. swimming takes place in the lagoon daily, adventure & snorkel cruises, live shows.
Buy
Robbie's MarinaA variety of independent tents set up selling paintings, clothing, and jewelery. Along Route 1 there are many places to stop for ceramic lizards, copper suns, palm tree plants, pots, souvenirs.
Eat
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phone: +1 305-664-9094address: 82779 Overseas HighwayRaw bar, 4-7PM daily happy hour, reservations suggested, great for steaks and lobster.
Boardwalk PizzaThe only pizza around. Also sandwiches, meatball subs, salads. Indoor and outdoor seating, friendly service, casual dress, delivery & take out also available.
Bob's BunzA bayside restaurant (also known as the Islamorada Bakery) that is popular with locals and tourists. Friendly service, great food and a name you won't forget. Also, remember to check out their merchandise. You can even get a key lime cake shipped to your home.
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address: 81219 Overseas HighwayGreat place for breakfast, must try their huge sticky buns. Large portions, island casual dress, friendly staff, well stocked bar. Also attached to a fly fishing shop.
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address: 81532 Overseas HighwayGreat for sunset, food for all, also will cook your fresh catch, no reservations taken, tarpon feeding at sunset, entertainment, island casual dress, two bars, great for family pictures.
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address: 85501 Overseas HighwayVery 'islandy' feeeling, pull up boat access, live entertainment, well stocked bar, great fresh food, island casual, indoor and outdoor seating, on the water, bugs might be bad; bring bug spray!
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address: 81701 Overseas HighwaySushi, indoor and outdoor seating, take-out also available,well stocked bar, island casual dress, great atmosphere.
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address: 79867 Overseas HighwayReservations suggested or very long wait, terrace and indoor seating overlooking water, island casual dress, large portions, bar, very fresh local food,you can bring in your catch of the day to be prepared.
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address: 87900 Overseas HighwayGourmet dining, indoor and outdoor seating, inside lighting is dim, great for sunset view, reservations suggested, large wine list, friendly service.
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address: 81590 Overseas highwayPerfect for the sunset! Chairs are set up to view the sunset, reservations taken, island casual dress, live band, indoor/outdoor seating, tables and chairs on the sand, must try: Wagyu Burger.
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address: 8300 Overseas HighwayGreat for casual dining during the day, on the water, over looks ocean, great view for passing boats, bring in your own catch for them to cook, lobsters, stone crabs, snapper, grouper comes right from their own dock, indoor seating also available.
Drink
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Oceanview Inn & Sports Bar
address: 84500 Overseas HwyNice local dive bar! The backyard patio has plenty of fun bar games, including ring toss, a swimming pool, pool, darts, and plenty of lounge chairs. Accessible by boat. Tourists may want to spend their time out back as the inside is populated by seedy locals most of the time. -
Hog Heaven Sports Bar & Grill
address: 85361 Overseas HwyLocal dive bar/club caters to tourists and locals. Clientele is generally slightly more wild than the Oceanview crowd. Frequented by tourists from Miami. The back deck overlooking their private marina is a nice place to go for a drink. -
Tiki Bar
address: Holiday IsleGreat for grabbing a cocktail after a long day at the beach, on the water, great for no shower happy hour.
Sleep
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phone: +1 305 664-2361address: 80015 U.S. 1
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address: 81801 Overseas HighwayOceanfront resort with 203 rooms and 48 suites with full kitchens on 27 lush acres featuring tropical gardens, a palm-lined beach, a nine-hole pitch & putt golf course, tennis courts, lagoon, and pools. Very nice!
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address: 83409 Overseas HighwayAn oceanfront location. The resort has 65 rooms.
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Holiday Isle Hotel
address: 84001 Overseas HighwayYou can enjoy water front views right from your window, pool and ocean swimming, great for spring break students, night life. -
address: 8220 Overseas Highway114 spacious rooms available, private spacious beach, some suites offer full kitchen, own entrance to your room, water sport rentals available on site, fishing charters.
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address: 87770 Overseas HighwayAll suites.
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address: 84457 Overseas Highway63 rooms and suites on the water, tennis court, pool, snorkeling, kayaking, bar, lagoon, fishing charters, sailing, windsurfing, great for a family vacation, manatees have been frequently seen, beach volleyball, swim with the dolphins, AARP members receive discounted rates.