Islamorada; "Purple Isle"

Islamorada, Spanish for "purple isle," is the place to be if you like to fish or dive. It is also a great spot to take a minute to watch the view. It’s incredible. The tropical weather and beautiful waters that surround the islands are the main ingredients of Islamorada.

Islamorada, Florida, is referred to by many as the "Sportfishing Capital of the World".

Islamorada is beautiful and fun to visit. Don't drive to fast to Key West, because you'll miss a great place.

Quick Tips:

Fun, interesting stops:

MM 84.5 Dolphinshow and Theather of the Sea
MM 81.5 Hurricane Monument
MM 79 Indian Key Historical Site
MM 79 Lignumvitae Key State Park
MM 73 Islamorada County Park
MM 67.5 Long Key Fishing Club
MM 67.5 Long Key State Park
MM 85 Windley Key Quarry State Park

Events in Islamorada:

January: Cheeca Lodge Annual Sailfish Tournament
January: Florida Keys Seafood Festival
February: Holiday Isle Resort Sailfish Tournament
March: Rain barrel Annual Arts Festival
June: Tavernier Creek Dolphin Rodeo
June: Gold Cup Tarpon Fly Fishing Tournament
September: Poker Run
October: Indian Key Festival
December: Islamorada Sailfish Tournament
December: Holiday Isle New Year's Firework
Celebration

WEBSITES:

DIVING: www.conchrepublicdivers.com

ACCOMMODATION: www.cheeca.rockresorts.com

Best Way To Get Around:

We stayed in Cheeca Lodge Resort & Spa a few years ago. I heard it’s been renovated. Back then, I was very surprised with it. What a beautiful hotel with a high standard service. Many pathways were lined with palm trees and flowers and lit by torches at night. The setting is beautiful, right on the beach (ocean side).

This resort has two pools and a lagoon, and hammocks are everywhere. There are a lot of amenities. You can golf, fish, and much more. There are many spa facilities you can choose from.

There are a lot of famous people that visit the resort, and I can imagine why. I would recommend this to anyone who loves spa treatments, golf, and luxury.

This is our regular stop when we drive down to Key West. Jaws Raw Bar is a casual eatery. There are several restaurants you can choose from. We always have lunch at Jaws Raw Bar. They serve seafood, and the food is good. We were seated at a picnic-style table a few feet from the water. It can be crowded on the weekends.Holiday Isle is also home to the World-Famous Tiki Bar, where the infamous Rumrunner was originally created. The Tiki Bar lets you enjoy indoor or outdoor drinks and snacks, with live entertainment. They are open 7 days a week.

We always make a stop at the Holiday Isles in Islamorada. The place is sold and they will close all the bars when it become condos. So we decided to try a different restaurant. I saw some pictures on the Internet of the Lorelei and it looked very nice. When we arrived for lunch at the Lorelei it looked all so new. Later I was found out that the Lorelei was destroyed with Hurricane Wilma. They rebuilt the whole place. They are also planning to build condos, which is a good plan, knowing that the bars at Holiday Isles going to be closed in the future. You have a great view over the bay.

This is what we ordered:

Mozzarella Sticks with a marinara sauce for $7

Steve’s Famous Conch Fritters served with lemon and conch sauce for $7

Steve’s Famous Fish Sandwich. I had the fried grouper and John had the blackened mahi mahi, both served on fresh ciabatta bread. On the side: billfish sauce, fresh dill, lettuce and tomato for $9.

The food was simple but good. I think the location does it all!

Location:
Mile Marker 82 Bayside, Islamorada
The easiest way to find Lorelei is to look for the mermaid.

Website:
http://www.loreleifloridakeys.com/

It’s a great place to relax, have lunch or diner and to enjoy the view for a while!