Thursday, April 19, 2012

Spring Break in the Florida Keys

This April we took a trip with our friends, The S's, to Islamorada Key in Florida.  We flew into Miami and drove to our hotel (about one and a half hours with no traffic).


We stayed at the Postcard Inn and had an oceanside room.  (http://holidayisle.com/)  I think we were lucky to get a ground floor room so we could just walk out onto the beach. 

This was the view when you opened the door of our room:



The hotel is right on the "beach" and there is a pool as well.

We went snorkeling out of Robbie's Marina ( http://www.robbies.com/snorkeling.htm) on the "Happy Cat".  The Lighthouse from above:

THe lighthouse from below...











 
 
 
 
 
 
 
We had lovely sunset dinner at Islamorada Fish Company (http://restaurants.basspro.com/fishcompany/Islamorada/)
 
 



We also went Kayaking out of Robbie's Marina (http://www.kayakthefloridakeys.com/
We were told there was a 30% chance of seeing a Manatee and often Crocodiles are spotted sunning themselves. (Crocodiles don't attack people generally; Alligators do)

We kayaked along the shoreline and saw Heron Island.


 
Then we paddled through the Mangrove Tunnels.


Another Sunset dinner was at Lorelei's.






The hotel had WaveRunners to rent...


The Hotel had a number of bars...Tiki Bar, Rum Runner, etc.


Some our favorite shops were:

LATITUDE 25 CLOTHING Co. fun, affordable shopping experience. Tropical gifts, home decor, key lime products, tervis tumblers, Tommy Bahama, Pelagic, Salt Life, Body Glove, sandals, pet products and more!


Lion's Lair Swimwear Speciality Sizes and Swimwear for the whole family

Blu Bamboo Salon & Spa Full service salon and day spa.. The Day Spa offers Yonka and Arcona custom facials, massage, reflexology, waxing, manicures and pedicures

Ocean Gardens & Gifts, LLC Beautiful Gift Shop with Shells, candles, glass wares and much more - A "must see" stop in Islamorada

Islamorada Mercantile Island boutique - clocks, tide clocks, t-shirts - clothing & gifts for the whole family!

We also enjoyed  The Island Grill restaurant...but it was not on the bay side so it did not have the sunset views.