Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Dog-Friendly Things to Do in Islamorada

I spent the weekend in Islamorada, the "Village of Islands" in the Florida Keys.  Islamorada is actually several different islands including Tea Table Key, Lower Matecumbe Key, Upper Matecumbe Key, Windley Key and Plantation Key.  Islamorada is known as the "Fishing Key" and you will find lots of marinas filled with all kinds of boats - from kayaks to big luxury charter boats - that you can rent for different types of charters like fishing, paragliding and touring some of the nearby islands.

Oz along a roadway pull-off on the Florida Bay in Dog-Friendly Islamorada, Florida Keys

Dogs are welcome at a lot of places in Islamorada so long as you are on a leash and you are willing to scoop that poop!  Insider Tip:  Some of the best spots are the little pull-offs on U.S. 1 (the only road in and out of the Keys).  There are pull-offs on both sides where you can park and get out to enjoy a short walk, fish or set up chairs and relax along the shores.

Anne's Beach is another great spot on the ocean side that is dog-friendly.  I visited Anne's Beach on a previous trip to Islamorada where I had a lot of fun wading in the ocean and walking along the boardwalk.  The water is crystal clear and you can see all kinds of fish and hermit crabs in the water.

Oz the Terrier loves visiting Robbie's Marina in dog-friendly Islamorada, Florida Keys

Of course, no trip to Islamorada is complete without spending some time at Robbie's Marina.  When we got there on Saturday morning, a storm was just barreling its way across the island so we hunkered down on a covered part of the dock to wait out the rain.  Then we walked over to the restaurant, The Hungry Tarpon, and had some lunch.  After that, it was back to the dock to feed the hungry tarpon!

Oz the Terrier barks at and feeds the tarpon at Robbie's Marina in dog-friendly Islamorada, Florida Keys

Yep...there is a whole school of Tarpon at Robbie's Marina.  Though they are free to come and go as they please, they always show up to be fed by all the visitors.  You can buy a bucket of bait fish for less than $5.00 and go out on the dock to feed these huge fish.  (Insider Tip: if you eat at the restaurant first, and show your receipt, they won't charge you $1 per person to walk out on the dock.)  The folks at Robbie's are super cool and will even let your dog bark like a maniac at the tarpon (trust me, I know this first paw).

In addition to the restaurant and the tarpon feeding, Robbie's is home to some of Islamorada's local artists and photographers.  You can find some great artwork in the vendor shops for purchase as well as all kinds of kitschy Keys trinkets.

Oz the Terrier visits local artists in Islamorada, Florida Keys

To top off your visit to Islamorada, you should go to one of the dog-friendly restaurants on the Florida Bay for a sunset dinner.  Several, like The Lorelei and Marker 88, have wonderful food and spectacular views of the sunset.  They don't call Islamorada the "purple island" for no reason - the sunsets, which start off with vibrant yellows and oranges turn to pinks and blues and finally to purple as the sun finally sets.

Florida Keys sunset as seen from Marker 88 Restaurant in Islamorada

Have you ever been to Islamorada and/or the Florida Keys?  
Did you know it was so dog-friendly?




28 comments:

  1. Looks like a lotta fun! I'd luv to bark dose fishies!

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  2. Wow Oz, that looks a great place to go, soooo dog friendly, just pawfect.
    Luffs your insider tips!
    Loves and licky kisses
    Princess Leah xxx

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  3. Oz that's a wonderful place.... and you can bark as much as you want? wow! I would like to eat in such a cool restaurant... think that's the right place for me... seafood and seafood and seafood...:o)

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  4. Islamorada is a great place to visit, especially if you're a dog! The pawrents stayed at a very dog-friendly place with cabins when they went 15 years ago. They took along 4 dogs that were here before me.

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  5. Mama hasn't been to the Keys in over 20 years....but still remembers how beautimous it is! Looks like you had a great time!!
    Smileys!
    Dory, Jakey, Arty & Bilbo

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  6. Looks like such fun...!!

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  7. Oh my, that place looks absolutely amazing! I would have jumped into that water and brought a fish home for dinner! :)

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  8. What a neat trip! We'd love to see it if we ever get out that way.

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  9. Who cares about this place? I want a write up on Treat Key.

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  10. Wow, looks like a beautiful place! Love that it is so dog friendly!

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  11. Gorgeous! We hear it's pretty dog friendly there.
    Snorts,
    Lily & Edward

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  12. MOM SAYS THEY LOOK LIKE PEOPLE FRIENDLY THINGS TOO. I MUST SEND THEM TO THAT AREA SOON...
    HUGS MADI YOUR BFFF

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  13. Gering-ding-ding-ding-dingeringeding Oz ~ I have never ever been to Florida less been to the
    Keys but Oz I so do want to go. You made it sound like heaven and looks beautiful. Places for me to eat, a luxury boat to be on and shops with artist why that is right up Lee's alley. Lee says that is about what we could afford is the alley.
    When we heard President Carter had cancer we thought of you and the working for Habitat for Humanity. Did I ever tell you the Lee's father everyone thought looked like President Carter.
    Thanks for being a friend
    Sweet William The Scot

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  14. Wow that looks like a great place to visit.
    Thanks so much for your kind words on my blog today btw, I really appreciated it.
    ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!

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  15. Mom was in the keys, but it was years ago before she had a dog. She liked it, just the road to get there was kind of crowded when she went.

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  16. That Islamorada sounds like a great place to visit - now how do we get the Mom to take us there?

    Woos - Ciara and Lightning

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  17. NOPE!!! maybe will do plan a road trip to visit. Beautiful place and glad you and your peeps had a great time. Golden Woofs

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  18. No, we have never been there before but we will save this in case we go!

    Your Pals,

    Murphy & Stanley

    Be sure to check out the OFFICIAL new blog for the 2016 Blogville Awesome Retreat (BAR) at: http://blogvilleawesomeretreat.blogspot.com/

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  19. Looks like a wonderful place! Maybe someday we can visit!
    hugs
    Mr Bailey, Hazel & Mabel

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  20. That sure looks like a great place to visit. You sure had fun barking at all those fish.

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  21. Mom loves the Keys. After she quite flying for Uncle Somebody she flew a corporate jet. Her boss had a 115 foot Christensen (spelling) yacht down in the Keys and she'd fly he and customers and guests back and forth from where the corporation was in the midwest, staying sometimes before flying people back. She loved it there. It's so beautiful and the residents so friendly. She said SPF 50 usually didn't help with her fair skin and red hair and was usually hiding under a beach umbrella, but she loved it

    We're so glad you got to experience this.

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  22. Wow, what a fun vacay! Maybe one day I'll be able to visit there too. I hope!

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  23. We'd love to chase those fish!!!

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  24. Wow...what a (p)awesome place to visit! I had no idea it was so dog-friendly! That's very cool! Great pics!

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  25. Long before mom was a dog mom she went on a business trip to Key West, really. Her and 2 co-workers drove all the way back to Miami in a convertible on Hwy 1 she'll never forget it. What she liked about Key West was all the cat themed stuff, because of Hemmingway, and she was a cat person then. But now we know that it would be a good place to take me! If she liked Florida, sigh. Love Dolly

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  26. You find the best dog friendly places to go too.

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  27. It looks so beautiful there! I only went to the Keys once, when I was young and foolish and didn't appreciate it enough. It's one place I have always wanted to go back to as a mature adult. :) Great to know it's dog friendly too!
    Jan, Wag 'n Woof Pets

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  28. I haven't been to Islamorada, but now I definitely want to go!!! Thank you for the beautiful pictures and the insider tips. Definitely pinning it!

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Thank you for stopping by and leaving a pawprint. I enjoy reading each and every one!
Cairn cuddles,
Oz the Terrier