Page Updated: November 16, 2023
Islamorada
Betsy - Islamorada FL
Before visiting the Florida Keys, we’d never even heard of Islamorada much less know to say it. Now we know it’s eye-lah-mah-rah-dah…, and I think we might have fallen a little bit in love with it a little bit. We traveled all up and down the Keys on leg 19, but spent the bulk of our time hanging out here and doing our very best to be lazy.
Islamorada has unique places to check out!
The lagoons and tropical gardens of Theatre of the Sea have the interesting distinction of being “one of the oldest marine mammal facilities in the world.”
Theater of the Sea
Rescued and rehabilitated animals the day of our visit were a sea turtle amputee that had lost a flipper that had been tangled in discarded fishing line, a crocodile rescued from a small circus cage where people paid $1 to feed her a hotdog., and a sea lion that was found malnourished - nurtured back to health - released - and found underweight a second time.
If you ever wanted to know anything about diving, this is the place! The museum has countless artifacts - including an impressive diving helm collection of 45 rare pieces from 24 countries.
History of Diving Museum
Favorite Islamorada Eateries
Favorite Islamorada Breweries
Laid back craft brewery of Islamorada Brewery & Distillery has a wide selection of ales on tap, but not many darks. No Wake Zone is light and crisp: a local favorite we both enjoyed … perfect for the Florida heat. The Key Lime flavor beers and cocktails are a unique and appropriate touch. Spirit tasting room is separate and off to the side. Great stop in the Keys.
Our favorite of the craft breweries in the Keys, Florida Keys Brewing Co has minimal seating inside, but the beer garden is exceptional. It doesn’t hurt they have a nice selection of beers on tap. Locals love the iconic Honey Hibiscus Kolsch Style Iguana Bait - which we enjoyed enough to walk out with. But, we were stoked that they also offered several dark beers. The B.I.G. Brown Coconut Brown Ale was phenomenal. Food truck on site was equally delicious. Can’t recommend this location highly enough.
-b&b
Kayaking Matecumbe Bight
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
