Islamorada - municipality in Florida, United States

Islamorada is a group of islands in the Florida Keys strung along US Highway 1. The first group you reach driving out from the mainland is Key Largo, then second is Islamorada consisting of Plantation Key, Windley Key, and Upper then Lower Matecumbe Key. The highway then takes a long jump to the Marathon island group heading towards Key West.

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

A car is a must! If you are coming from any major airport you are able to directly rent a car.

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.
• Anne's beach, MM 73. Public 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!
• Bass Pro Shop, 81576 Overseas Highway, +1 305-664-4615. open daily. Huge sports store, endless fishing supplies, women's/men's/children clothing, great souvenirs, shoes, sun tan lotion, indoor fish tank.
• The Florida Keys Memorial (Hurricane Monument), Mile Marker 82, 24.917136°, -80.635967°. Built to commemorate those who died in the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Free 2015-03-10
• Indian Key Historic State Park, 77200 Overseas Hwy, 24.877984°, -80.676732°, +1 305 664-2540. 8AM to sundown. Only accessible by boat or ferry. 2015-02-27
• Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park, 77200 Overseas Hwy, 24.902454°, -80.697877°, +1 305 664-2540. 8AM to sundown. Only accessible by boat or ferry. 2015-02-27
• Long Key State Park, 67400 Overseas Highway, Long Key, 24.81413°, -80.82181°, +1 305 664-4815. 8AM to sundown. 2015-02-27
• San Pedro Underwater Archaelogical Preserve State Park, 77200 Overseas Hwy, 24.915585°, -80.6381572°, +1 305 664-2540. 8AM to sundown. 2015-02-27
• Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park, 84900 Overseas Hwy, 24.950702°, -80.594874°, +1 305 664-2540. 8AM to sundown. 2015-02-27

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.
• First Choice Charters, 84001 Overseas highway, +1 305-360-4900. Full and half day available.
• Robbies Marina, 77522 Overseas Highway, +1 305-664-9814. 8AM-5PM. Tarpon 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.
• Bud and Mary's, 79851 Overseas Highway. 7AM-9PM. Marina 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.
• Holiday Isle, 84001 Overseas Highway, +1 305-664-2321. Great 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.
• Theater of the sea, 84721 Overseas Highway, +1 305-664-2431. ticket counter opens at 9:30AM daily. Swim with dolphins, rays, and sea lions. swimming takes place in the lagoon daily, adventure & snorkel cruises, live shows.

Buy

• Robbie's Marina. A 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

• Bob's Bunz. A 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.
• Green Turtle, 81219 Overseas Highway, +1 305-664-2006. Tu-Su 7AM-10PM. Great 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.
• Islamorada Fish Company, 81532 Overseas Highway, +1 305-664-3701. 11AM-11PM. Great 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.
• Island Grill, 85501 Overseas Highway, +1 305-664-8400. 11AM-11PM daily. Very '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!
• Kaiyo Grill, 81701 Overseas Highway, +1 305-664-5556. 5PM-10PM daily. Sushi, indoor and outdoor seating, take-out also available,well stocked bar, island casual dress, great atmosphere.
• Lazy Days, 79867 Overseas Highway, +1 305-664-5256. 11AM-10PM. Reservations 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.
• Mangrove Mike's Cafe, 82200 Overseas Hwy, +1 305-664-8022. 6AM-2PM daily. A good breakfast and lunch place with friendly service. Environmentally conscious establishment that does not use plastic straws (uses bamboo ones instead).
• Mile Marker 88, 87900 Overseas Highway, +1 305-852-9315. 11AM-10PM daily. Gourmet dining, indoor and outdoor seating, inside lighting is dim, great for sunset view, reservations suggested, large wine list, friendly service.
• Morada Bay, 81590 Overseas highway, +1 305-664-0604. 11:30AM-midnight. Perfect 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.
• Wahoo's, 8300 Overseas Highway, +1 305-664-9888. Su-Th 11AM-10PM; F Sa 11AM-11PM. Great 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

• Oceanview Inn & Sports Bar, 84500 Overseas Hwy, +1 305 664-8052. Nice 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, 85361 Overseas Hwy, +1 305 664-9669. Local 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, Holiday Isle. Great for grabbing a cocktail after a long day at the beach, on the water, great for no shower happy hour.

Sleep

• Breezy Palms Resort, 80015 U.S. 1, +1 305 664-2361, sales@breezypalms.com. $99 to $296 December 20 to August 15, $69 to $219 August 16 - December 19 2015-02-27
• Cheeca Lodge, 81801 Overseas Highway (Mile Marker 82). Oceanfront 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!
• The Chesapeake Resort, 83409 Overseas Highway. An oceanfront location. The resort has 65 rooms.
• Postcard Inn Beach Resort and Marina, 84001 Overseas Highway, +1 305-664-2321. You can enjoy water front views right from your window, pool and ocean swimming, great for spring break students, night life.
• The Islander Resort, 82100 Overseas Highway, +1 305-664-2031. 114 spacious rooms available, private spacious beach, some suites offer full kitchen, own entrance to your room, water sport rentals available on site, fishing charters.
• Pelican Cove Resort & Marina, 84457 Overseas Highway, +1 305-664-4435. 63 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.

Go next

You've come all this way, you might as well continue to the end of Highway 1. That would be Fort Kent, Maine, about 2300 miles away north on the Canadian border.