Islamorada, FL Road Trips

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. 1 The Florida Keys Memorial (Hurricane Monument), Mile Marker 82. Built to commemorate those who died in the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Free. (updated Mar 2015) 2 Indian Key Historic State Park, 77200 Overseas Hwy, ☏ +1 305 664-2540. 8AM to sundown. Only accessible by boat or ferry. (updated Feb 2015) 3 Lignumvitae Key Botanical State Park, 77200 Overseas Hwy, ☏ +1 305 664-2540. 8AM to sundown. Only accessible by boat or ferry. (updated Feb 2015) 4 Long Key State Park, 67400 Overseas Highway, Long Key, ☏ +1 305 664-4815. 8AM to sundown. (updated Feb 2015) 5 San Pedro Underwater Archaelogical Preserve State Park, 77200 Overseas Hwy, ☏ +1 305 664-2540. 8AM to sundown. (updated Feb 2015) 6 Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park, 84900 Overseas Hwy, ☏ +1 305 664-2540. 8AM to sundown. (updated Feb 2015)

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 ☏ +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.

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' feeling, 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.

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.

Breezy Palms Resort, 80015 U.S. 1, ☏ +1 305-664-2361, fax: +1 305 664-2572, [email protected]. $99 to $296 December 20 to August 15, $69 to $219 August 16 - December 19. (updated Feb 2015) 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. Three Waters Resort and Marina, Islamorada, a Tribute Portfolio Resort, 84001 Overseas Highway, toll-free: +1-855-868-5172. 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.

Hop in a car and drive from Miami on US 1. 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. The Greyhound/Flixbus stop is at (Wendy's formerly Burger King) 82201 Overseas Highway (US 1). The bus stops for both directions are in the Wendy's parking lot, in front of the building. The stops for Metrobus #301 is at on MM 74 of US HWy 1. The bus stops are at opposite sides of the road from each other.

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