I visited recently Miami with my friends in April and had a day trip to Islamorada and at first sight fell in love with it. Known for its towering palm trees, sandy beaches, clear and unspoiled waters, laid-back vibe and breathtaking sunsets, Islamorada is a complete paradise. Do you know? – Islamorada is one of the Florida Keys and is on its way to Key West.
Just a 90-minute drive from Miami, Islamorada is a great place to go for the day. Islamorada is known as the sport fishing capital of the world with its beautiful local restaurants and quaint shops with a small town vibe that I absolutely love. Even if fishing isn’t your thing, for divers, snorkeling and kayaking are equally appealing.
Fun Fact – The name Islamorada comes from the early Spanish explorers in the area which means Purple Island.
Things to do
Although there is a lot to do in Islamorada, our goal is to just enjoy the beaches, relax and sip a few cocktails with delicious food.
- Anne’s Beach – This is one of the most popular beaches in Islamorada and for good reason. It has very clear blue water which makes it picturesque. It has picnic spots to enjoy the beautiful scenery and is a small beach with shallow water. It doesn’t have a lot of sand so if you’re traveling with a large group like us, you might not find enough space to enjoy the sandy areas and just relax. However, it has a great boardwalk and is one of the beaches in Islamorada where you can bring your pet.
- Sombrero Beach, Marathon – This beach is about 25 miles from Anne’s beach but absolutely amazing if you’re looking for a white sand beach to just relax and soak up the sunshine this is great. If you like swimming I recommend this spot and as an added bonus it’s a great place to catch the sunset!! Also this beach has a great volleyball court and a park area for kids.
Where to eat
- Morada Bay Beach Cafe– A cute cafe with waterfront dining overlooking Florida Bay. A great place to grab a drink and food with a beautiful view. We went here during Covid and what I appreciated the most was that the tables were spread out, making it easy to maintain social distancing.
- Lorelai’s Restaurant and Cabana Bar – What can I say!! I absolutely love this place. It has a lot of great food options to choose from even for vegetarians and everything is so fresh. A great place to enjoy good food, good drinks, waterfront views overlooking Florida bay (beautiful sunsets) and live entertainment from local bands. Spaced desks are great for maintaining social distancing and have some privacy. Highly recommended!!
Hope you enjoyed reading this post. See the complete travel guide to Miami here. Please contact me if you have any questions!
