21 Best Things to Do in Islamorada FL (Over a Third Are Free!)
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Oh, the Florida Keys…what a wonderful, weird place! Though Key West gets most of the attention, Islamorada, Florida is well worth visiting.
If you’re looking for a laid-back experience in the Florida Keys that still has everything that makes the Keys great–think quirkiness, gorgeous ocean views, snorkeling, and let’s not forget Key Lime Pie–then I have the spot for you. There are so many fun things to do in Islamorada, FL, so let’s get to it!
Classic Islamorada Activities
Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
hand feed the tarpon at Robbie’s
Robbie’s
77552 Overseas Highway, Islamorada
Here, fishy, fishy…
Yes, you can actually feed giant tarpon with your bare hands. Pay a few bucks for a bucket of bait fish, fend off hungry pelicans, and have at it. Or if you’re too squeamish, like me, just watch. Either way, you’ll be entertained.
Go scuba diving
Check out the Islamorada Dive Center for tours. There’s even a shipwreck nearby to plunder.
Go Snorkeling
The Keys are famous for snorkeling, and you won’t want to miss out. Beware, though – Keys snorkeling usually entails a boat taking you out to the middle of the ocean and you jumping in. As someone who’s afraid of the ocean (and of fish), this was a bit unnerving to me, especially since my snorkeling experiences elsewhere started at the shore with no boat. But anyway… I went snorkeling a few times in the Keys and never had a bad experience.
Take a sunset cruise
Now we’re talkin.’ The Keys have some of the best sunsets in the world. In Islamorada, I did this sunset cruise to Alligator Reef, and it was beautiful!
Go party on the sandbar
The Islamorada Sandbar is located off Mile Marker 84 about a mile-ish out into the ocean. You’ll need some sort of boat to get there, and once you arrive, you can expect to find a strip of knee-deep or so water out in the middle of the ocean. Pretty cool! This is a party spot, so if that’s what you’re looking for, this is where to go. Also, dogs are allowed!
No boat/kayak/jetski? No problem. Book a sandbar tour here.
Yours truly snuba-ing. Photo credit: Mike of Underwater Adventures
Give snuba a try
If you’re curious about scuba diving, but you’re not quite ready, try snuba. It’s a combination of snorkeling and scuba diving. You have a hose that hooks to oxygen, and you can only go a maximum of 15 ft. from the oxygen source. This allows you to explore further depths than snorkeling but without the training required to go scuba diving.
Go Kayaking
Nothing beats an ocean kayak. Here are a couple of popular kayaking tour options:
Through the mangroves. Enjoy a scenic tour through these cool ocean trees and spot some wildlife!
Nighttime light-up kayaking. What creatures lurk beneath the ocean at night? Find out with this tour. LED lights illuminate the water so you can see all the way to the ocean floor.
Boat, Paddle, or Jetski out to Toilet Seat Cut
Does it get any more Florida Keys than this? Near Mile Marker 89, there’s a channel of 250 or so toilet seats, and it’s been a thing since the 1960s. After Hurricane Donna flung a toilet seat onto a post there, people added more. That’s some historical Keys for you.
Free Things to do in Islamorada FL
Cheap entertainment is the best kind. Or in this case, cheap as free. Let’s get to it:
Check out Anne’s Beach
Mile Marker 73.5
Anne’s Beach is a quiet little spot off the Overseas Highway. It has a cool boardwalk and some picnic tables, and you can bring your pup! That being said, don’t expect to have a full “beach day” there. The “beach” part is a small sliver of sand. It’s worth stopping to get your feet wet if you’re already in the area, but don’t make any special trips for this beach.
Make friends with exotic birds at the Lara Quinn Wild Bird Sanctuary
93600 Overseas Highway, Tavernier
Well worth stopping by to see all the cool birds! It’s free, but you can donate $10 if you wish.
Have a good ol’ beach day at Founders Park
86800 Overseas Highway, Islamorada
This is free only if you can provide proof you’re staying in Islamorada. Your hotel receipt/AirBnB confirmation will do. Otherwise, it’s $8.
Bonus: Founders Park has a dog park! However, dogs are not allowed on the beach.
John Smith, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Go meet Betsy the Lobster
86700 Overseas Highway, Islamorada
Along the Overseas Highway is a giant lobster statue named Betsy. It’s a fun, very Florida Keys stop.
Take a sunset drive over the Channel #2 Bridge
You could also get out and walk or bike! This is a very popular fishing spot, so be mindful of that, especially if you have a dog with you. IYKYK
Stroll through a nature trail
Unwind and enjoy walking trails through greenery. Note: Dogs are not allowed on any of these trails:
Key Tree Cactus Preserve Mile Marker 80.5:
Library Beach Park Behind Islamorada Library at MM 81.8
Green Turtle Hammock Nature Preserve MM 81.2
Check out the art
The Morada Way Arts and Cultural District is home to several cool galleries!
Meet the locals
Oh, the stories you’ll hear and the characters you’ll meet. The best way to meet locals is to check out little hole in the wall spots. I went to an Islamorada dive bar, where I learned about one of the best fishermen in the Keys. In a “don’t look now” moment, a man pointed out the fisherman to me. That particular bar owner had told the fisherman he had to wear shoes inside the bar. Dude’s solution? Get flip-flop straps tattooed on his feet. Sure enough, when he made his way over to where I was, he was barefoot with flip-flop tattooed feet.
Bonus Free Thing to Do: Walk around in a swimsuit
Some form of swimwear is acceptable attire for just about anywhere in the Keys. A swim top and shorts for a dog walk? No one will bat an eye.
Where to eat and drink in Islamorada
To be honest, aside from Key Lime Pie, I was underwhelmed with the food options in Islamorada and the Florida Keys in general. That being said, here are some spots I did enjoy.
Admittedly, I’m not the best about “letting the camera eat first”…
Have delicious key lime pie at The Blond Giraffe
92220 Overseas Hwy, Tavernier,
Best key lime pie in Islamorada and my favorite key lime pie in all of the Keys! You can get it naked, with whipped cream, with chocolate (my favorite), or even frozen with chocolate on a stick.
Florida Keys Brewing Company
81611 Old Hwy, Islamorada
Super cool vibe and great brews!
The Tiki Bar
84001 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada
This spot has live music and great drinks!
Marker 88
Best breakfast in Islamorada! Come for the lobster Benedict, stay for the views and music.
Day Trips from Islamorada
Sebastian Carlosena, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Key largo
Key Largo is ~25 minutes away from Islamorada, and it just might be the capital of snorkeling in the Florida Keys. You’re sure to find some fun at John Pennekamp State Park, where Underwater Jesus, a.k.a. Christ of the Abyss resides. I did this snorkel tour and recommend it.
Key West
If you’re in the Keys, you have to see Key West. Even if its general partying atmosphere isn’t your vibe, I recommend going at least once for the sunsets and experience (and more key lime pie). It’s about an hour and 45 minutes away from Islamorada.
Also worth doing is Dry Tortugas National Park, but you will need more than a day to see both Key West and Dry Tortugas.
Miami
About an hour and a half-ish away from Islamorada is Miami. If you’re intrigued by beaches, nightlife, Cuban food, and good-looking people, head up to Miami.
Dorkus malorkus…
Everglades
It’s well worth taking a cool airboat tour through the Everglades and seeing the wildlife! I even got to hold a baby gator!
FAQ: Things to do in Islamorada
Is Islamorada safe? Absolutely. Never felt unsafe a single time.
Is Islamorada/Are the Florida Keys dog-friendly? Not really. Dogs aren’t allowed on many of the beaches or most walking trails. Founders Park has a dog park. However, Elgie is hit or miss at dog parks, so he was mostly restricted to walks around our neighborhood. I think most people with dogs in the Keys just take their dog with them on the boat or kayak or jet ski or whatever and call it a day.
How do you get around in Islamorada? You will need a car. The closest airports are Miami and Key West, and you’ll need to drive to Islamorada. Additionally, amenities are very spread out. You could possibly get by with biking, but for the full experience, and especially if you want to see more of the Keys, you’ll need a car.
When’s the best time to visit Islamorada? It depends on what you’re looking for. I went in December, and it was fun seeing it decorated for the holidays! Winter is also the busiest season for the Keys, but I never found Islamorada overwhelming or crowded.
Is there an airport near Islamorada? The closest airports are in Miami and Key West.
Where to Stay in Islamorada?
As a digital nomad, my go-to is Furnished Finder. You may have luck with AirBnB also since there are a lot of vacation rentals in the Keys.
Map of where to stay in Islamorada:
Final Thoughts: Things to Do in Islamorada
Islamorada is well worth visiting and is a low-key (haha) Key. Even if you’re not staying there, you’ll at least want to stop at Robbie’s and check out the tarpon! For digital nomads, Islamorada makes a relaxing home base with the vibrant nightlife of Miami and Key West not too far away.
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