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Islamorada, Florida Attractions

Besides unlimited fishing, Islamorada, Florida has many attractions and activities to satisfy every member of the family. Islamorada, Florida attractions include plunging into an underwater theatre, studying shipwrecks, swimming with dolphins, feeding tarpons, snorkeling and diving, learning about early Indian and settler life, hiking sub-tropical forest,  and shopping for original art. 

A quick but memorable stop is Robbie's, where for a few dollars you can buy a bucket of small fish to feed the giant tarpon that hover at the docks during daytime hours.

An underwater state park is a rarity, and San Pedro Underwater Archaeological Preserve is a study of a sunken Spanish fleet of 1733.  You'll follow an underwater nature trail and see original anchors, ballast stones, bricks from the ship’s galley and concrete cannon replicas, as well as a variety of fish, crustaceans, mollusks and corals.

Another historical site of interest is Windley Key Fossil Reef State Geological Site. This Islamorada, Florida attraction is an archeological treasure uncovered by the extension of the Overseas Railroad through Windley Key in the early 1900s by Henry Flagler. One section of the quarries dug by Flagler has been cut deeper to reveal fossilized clams, corals, worm holes, and other aspects of the formerly submerged island.

Divers and snorkelers will be enthralled with the rich array of coral reef, underwater shipwrecks, and gorgeous sea creatures.  For those unwilling to take the plunge, a number of Islamorada, Florida attractions provide glass-bottom boats to view the underwater points of interest.

One such Islamorada, Florida attraction is Theater of the Sea, one of the Key's oldest attractions. Theater of the Sea is an educational and entertaining  marine animal park where shows are up close and personal and the animals live in natural salt-water lagoons.  Activities include dolphin and sea lion shows, guided marine life tours, glass-bottom boat rides and swimming with and learning about dolphins in special seminars. Additional creatures on view include sea turtles, tropical and game fish, sharks, stingrays, crocodiles, alligators, marine invertebrates, parrots, and birds-of-prey. 

For those wishing to "golf on the Gulf," four golf courses service the area.  (See Islamorada, Florida golf section.)

This is just a sampling of the many unique and memorable Islamorada, Florida activities you and the family will enjoy during your stay in the Keys.

Be sure to check out Islamorada, Florida vacation rentals by owner houses, villas and condos for luxurious, yet affordable accomodations - many times less than the cost of a cramped, stuffy, less-than-clean hotel room.

DIRECTORY OF ISLAMORADA, FLORIDA ATTRACTIONS:

ART COVER'S GALLERY
MM 82.2
Islamorada, Florida attraction

Complete gallery with local artists and wide selection of originals and limited edition prints.

FEED THE TARPONS at Robbie's
MM 77.5
Islamorada, Florida attraction

Buy a bucket of small fish and throw them off the dock to 50+ ravenous tarpons.  It's a true Keys experience.

HARRY HARRIS PARK
MM 92.5
Tavernier, Florida attraction

Harry Harris Park is one of the few public parks in the area. You can hang out all day beside the ocean, there are also grassy areas and shade trees. The beach is small, but the water is clear and you’ll see lots of fish and swimming is great. Unfortunately, fishing off the pier is prohibited. You need a boat if you want to fish. There are picnic areas, restrooms, play-grounds a bastketball court, a baseball field.

HURRICANE MONUMENT 
MM 81.5
Islamorada, Florida attraction

Visit the Hurricane Monument which tells of the terrible storm of Labor Day, 1935. Before the anemometer blew away, winds were recorded at 200 mph; the barometer fell to 26.35, one of the lowest pressures ever recorded in the Western Hemisphere. This slightly neglected but nevertheless moving monument was dedicated in 1937 to the memory of the 423 people who died in that storm.

INDIAN KEY HISTORICAL SITE 
MM 78
Islamorada, Florida attraction

Take the 10 minute boat ride to the lush 10-acre island that was once the tropical paradise of Captain Jacob Housman.  The ruins of houses and cisterns are now choked by vegetation.  The waters off this island contain some of the most treacherous reefs off the Florida coast. Shipwreck after shipwreck triggered centuries of treasure hunting. Trails, tower, boat dock. 
 
LAYTON NATURE TRAIL 
MM 67.5
Islamorada, Florida attraction

The Layton Nature Trail is a 20-minute loop trail spanning the area between the highway and the bay. You’ll travel through a dense area of labeled tropical plants found only in the Keys, such as pigeon plum, wild coffee and gumbo-limbo.

LIGNUMVITAE KEY STATE PARK & BOTANICAL SITE 
MM 78.5
Islamorada, Florida attraction

Take a boat to the lush 280 acre island that was once a coral reef.  Guided tours will reveal virgin West Indian hardwood hammock as well as the unusual mastic, gumbo-limbo and poisonwood trees.

LONG KEY STATE RECREATIONAL AREA 
MM 67.5
Islamorada, Florida attraction

Visitors may enjoy a beach, camping, fishing, nature trails, canoe trips, biking and ranger-guided nature walks. 

MATHESON HOUSE 
Islamorada, Florida attraction

Matheson House on Lignumvitae Key was built of coral in 1919 and recently restored. See how island dwellers survived in the early days of Keys settlement using rainwater, wind power, and fish.

RAIN BARREL ARTISANS VILLAGE 
MM 86.7
Islamorada, Florida attraction

Artisan shops in a courtyard setting. 

SAN PEDRO UNDERWATER ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK 
MM 67.5
Islamorada, Florida attraction

The San Pedro was a 287-ton, Dutch-built galleon that in 1733 met its doom on the reefs in a hurricane. The shipwreck park features an underwater nature trail where one can view a variety of fish, crustaceans, mollusks and corals. You’ll also find original anchors, ballast stones, bricks from the ship’s galley and concrete cannon replicas.

SOMEWHERE IN TIME SHIPWRECK MUSEUM 
MM 83
Islamorada, Florida attraction

Spanish shipwreck artifacts - free admission. 

THEATER OF THE SEA 
MM 85
Islamorada, Florida attraction

One of the Key's oldest attractions, this marine park has been entertaining visitors for nearly 50 years. Theater of the Sea is an educational and entertaining  marine animal park where shows are up close and personal and the animals live in natural salt-water lagoons.  Activities include dolphin and sea lion shows, guided marine life tours, glass-bottom boat rides and swimming with and learning about dolphins in special seminars. Additional creatures on view include sea turtles, tropical and game fish, sharks, stingrays, crocodiles, alligators, marine invertebrates, parrots, and birds-of-prey. 

TREASURE VILLLAGE/MCKEE TREASURE MUSEUM 
MM 86.7
Islamorada, Florida attraction

Village shops in tropical setting. 

WINDLEY KEY FOSSIL REEF STATE GEOLOGICAL SITE 
MM 85.5
Islamorada, Florida attraction

The foundations for the Overseas Railroad were dug from Windley Key in the early 1900s by Henry Flagler. One section of the quarries dug by Flagler, Windley Key Fossil Reef State Geological Site, has been cut, even deeper to reveal fossilized clams, corals, worm holes, and other archaeological treasures from the formerly submerged island. You can get to the quarries via short trails through hardwood hammock. There’s also a visitors center.

ZANE GREY COTTAGE 
MM 68  
Islamorada, Florida attraction

Famous Western author and screenwriter Zane Grey discovered the Florida Keys in the early 1900s and fished the waters of Long Key, Duck Key, and Grassy Key.