How To Spend An Amazing Day In Islamorada, Florida (2023)

FAQs

What is Islamorada Florida known for? ›

Known as the Sport Fishing Capital of the World, Islamorada is a popular vacation destination enjoyed for its up-scale small-town atmosphere, scenic bay and ocean views, sunshine, boating, fishing, locally owned restaurants, quaint shops and galleries.

Islamorada has an easygoing atmosphere and is filled with outdoor activities. There are so many attractions in Islamorada. It's certainly worth visiting. If you are driving from Miami to Key West, you'll drive right through it, so stop and check it out!

The village is spread across six islands (or “keys”) but the walking tour is concentrated on a one-mile stretch of Upper Matecumbe Key along U.S. 1, which ties the keys together and leads to Key West, the southernmost point of the U.S.

Notable residents include Miguel Cabrera, Gene Hackman, Jimmy Johnson, and Ted Williams. If you think the area looks familiar, you may recognize it from the TV show Bloodline which was filmed in Islamorada.

Islamorada was a place I wasn't familiar with until I became hooked on the Netflix original series Bloodline. This gripping family drama and thriller is set in the Florida Keys, filmed primarily in Islamorada. The locations are such an integral part of the show, it's like the Keys themselves are a main character.

While Key Largo is undoubtedly the prettiest of all the Florida Keys, it's also one that's home to plenty of activities for the avid beachgoer. With scenic views like this, it would be tough not to fall in love with such a beachside beauty!

The Morada Way Arts and Cultural District is a lively and bustling downtown community in the heart of Islamorada.

Anne's Beach

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.

A-12-foot-alligator made an appearance at a home in Islamorada. ISLAMORADA, Fla. (WPLG) - Officers and a trapper from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission were called to a home Tuesday in Islamorada after an unexpected visitor showed up.

Can you swim in the beach in Islamorada? ›

This beach has little to no wave action and offers a shallow swimming area great for young children and dogs. Anne's Beach also features a paved parking area, boardwalk, covered picnic tables, and public restrooms. Swim at your own risk.

For those wishing for a more laidback, small-town vibe, Islamorada is the way to go; and for those wanting a more bustling, high-energy spot, Key Largo is where it's at. Either way, travelers will find a fantastic vacation destination that showcases the best of the beautiful Florida Keys.

If your stay in Key West is limited to just a day, however, you will want to live it up and make the most of it! As a small island, only 8 square miles, many think experiencing all of Key West can be accomplished in a day. Unfortunately, that's just not the case.

The fall (September–November) is the low season in Key West, and room rates can drop by 50 percent or more. The hot, storm-prone summer months also see lower prices, and you'll find decent discounts in April and May after the winter crowds thin out.

The backcountry is also home to a variety of different sharks. In the winter months we see lots of acrobatic spinner sharks (which jump and twist), blacktip sharks, bull sharks, bonnetheads, etc. In the spring and summer months the lemon sharks are extremely active, as well as many of the other species.

Are there Sharks in the Florida Keys? You bet. It is common to catch nurse sharks while fishing on the flats. These bottom dwellers are generally docile and will only act defensively if provoked, so if you see one out snorkeling or diving there is no need for alarm as long as you do not disturb it.

Legend has it the area was named by Spanish explorers who, upon seeing the purple sky at sunset and the purple bougainvillea, called it “isla morado” or purple island. Islamorada is known as the Sport-Fishing Capital of the World. And recently the island was named one of the 17 most romantic destinations in the U.S.

Ted's Place – the spectacular former estate of Ted Williams is superbly situated at Mile Marker 82 in the heart of fabulous Islamorada – the Village of Islands, the Sportfishing Capital of the World and recently described by the Miami Herald as 'the Cool Key'.

The area is known as the red light district due to the red ambient street lighting installed to protect turtles.

1. True Lies (1994)

Where is the bluest water in the Keys? ›

Fort Zachary Taylor Park Beach, Key West

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park is a National Historic Landmark that offers some of the clearest blue waters for snorkeling and diving in Key West.

With premier services and a prime location for both relaxation and recreation, The Islands of Islamorada is one of the most romantic places in The Florida Keys and is perfect for your next getaway!

1. Key West. Key West is one of Florida Key's most famous and greatest keys. As we mentioned, it is the southernmost point of the Florida Keys, but it is also the southernmost point of the mainland US.

The tourism score favors clear, rainless days with perceived temperatures between 65°F and 80°F. Based on this score, the best time of year to visit Islamorada for general outdoor tourist activities is from mid November to mid April, with a peak score in the second week of February.

If you plan to stay anywhere in the Florida Keys outside of Key West, you will need automotive transportation. Almost everything is close to the highway, and it is extremely busy.

Known as “The Village of Islands”, Islamorada is a collection of 5 small islands in the Florida Keys. A true taste of paradise, the area is famed for its beautiful coastline, crystal clear water, and tropical climate.

The best beaches for swimming in the Keys are in the middle Keys (midway between Key Largo and Key West) Bahia Honda State Park between Marathon and Big Pine Key has the largest sandy beach areas with several good locations for swimming; those areas are some of the only smooth, sandy bottom swimming beach areas in the ...

Why are there no beaches in the Keys? ›

The lack of soft, white sand shoreline in Key West is the result of a beautiful live coral reef that extends from Key Largo to the Dry Tortugas National Park. The coral reef prevents natural beach formation because the waves don't crash onshore as you might see in Miami beach.

From April to June, gators all across Florida will be more active with the start of the mating season. During these months, you are much more likely to see alligators. In fact, you might even spot one in your backyard or the pond across the street.

Ted Wilson, a captain with the Islamorada Fishing Guide, came across a five-foot Eastern diamondback rattlesnake swimming in the waters near the Florida Keys. It is the largest venomous snake in North America, according to the National Geographic.

Crocodiles are federally and state protected, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's position was that they were “reestablishing themselves in their historic range.” The American saltwater crocodile population, which is found almost exclusively in South Florida and the Keys, went from the hundreds ...

If you're heading to Islamorada, FL and want to pack the essentials, here's what I suggest. Bikinis, straw hats, sandals, sunglasses, crop tops, dresses, casual dresses for beach days and a couple cuter ones for dinners out.

$279.99 per person/ Participants must be 48 inches tall to participate in the Royal Swim program. Children 48-54 inches must be accompanied by a paying adult (1 adult per child). frontofficedc@dolphindiscovery.com or call us at (305)-289-9975 to make a reservation.

Average annual water temperature on the coast in Islamorada is 79°F, by the seasons: in winter 73°F, in spring 78°F, in summer 85°F, in autumn 82°F. Minimum water temperature (69°F) in Islamorada it happens in February, maximum (88°F) in August.

Snorkeling Florida Keys – Middle Keys – Islamorada, Marathon, and Big Pine. And now, the best for last. By far and away the Middle Keys offer the best snorkeling grounds.

Is it better to snorkel in the morning or afternoon in Key West? ›

The afternoon sun is warm and bright making it a great time to relax on the catamaran and enjoy the temperate ocean water. The ocean currents and wind direction are often different than the morning, so if you've taken a morning snorkel in the past, chances are you'll go to a different reef location in the afternoon.

The answer the Americans do not like is “no, you cannot see Cuba from Key West. “ The problem is that the earth, being round, curves and Cuba, which is about 90 miles from Key West, falls below the horizon when you look towards it from Key West.

Peak Season / Shoulder Season in Key West

Generally speaking, the best time to see Key West is during its high season which occurs from March to May. March is the busiest month because the weather is perfect. Most days stay around 75 degrees, and there is low humidity.

March is peak high season in Key West, but the weather is great, with every day at 75°F and low humidity. The downside is higher prices for flights and lodging. April sees a small dip in crowds, and May is a great shoulder season time to come. Prices drop and and crowds thin.

The Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1 and ends November 30 of each year. Historically, the most active time for hurricane development is mid-August through mid-October.

The rainy season in the Florida Keys typically runs from June through October, covering the bulk of the hurricane season, which ends on November 30th.