Beaches in/around Islamorada

Mon · Post by **Mon** » August 4, 2006 3:05 pm

Any help would be appreciated. The last time we were in Islamorada( my father in law has a timeshare) we traveled by ourselves and did the scuba diving/bar thing. This time we will be traveling with our two keets. Are there any "decent" beaches in the area for the kids to play in the sand and swim in the water. What else would you suggest for them. BTW - they are 2 and 4 years old.

Thanks,
mon

Bucs_fan · Post by **Bucs_fan** » August 4, 2006 3:49 pm

We LOVE the keys. One drawback though is the lack of "beaches". There are a lot of places where you can pull over on the side of the road, and maybe do a little snorkling, but as far as nice sandy beaches go, there aren't many options, unless the hotel you are staying at has one. There is a fantastic beach at the Bahia Honda State park about 10 minutes south of Marathon, but from Islamorada, its a haul. Good luck on your trip.

sonofabeach · Post by **sonofabeach** » August 6, 2006 8:42 am

The last time that we were in the Keys we found a nice little suprise called Anne's Beach at Mile Marker 73.
http://floridakeystreasures.com/Beaches ... each.shtml
Our son (4 years old at the time) loved it.
It's secluded and has boardwalks that lead thourgh wooded areas to the beach. High tide is the best time.

12vmanRick · Post by **12vmanRick** » August 6, 2006 9:27 am

sonofabeach wrote:The last time that we were in the Keys we found a nice little suprise called Anne's Beach at Mile Marker 73.
http://floridakeystreasures.com/Beaches ... each.shtml
Our son (4 years old at the time) loved it.
It's secluded and has boardwalks that lead thourgh wooded areas to the beach. High tide is the best time.

I think I saw something on the Travel Channel about a "Lovers Key" which seemed really nice but I doubt they'd want kids there

Desdamona · Post by **Desdamona** » August 6, 2006 12:08 pm

I visited Harry Harris park with a friend and her child back in the early '70s.
They were locals and knew exactly where to go. I have a picture around
somewhere of myself on the swings there. On a recent trip, we hunted it
down and I was delighted to find it bigger and better. It's in Tavernier, MM93.
http://www.fodors.com/miniguides/mgresu ... y_id=40758
http://www.thefloridakeys.com/parks/harris.htm
http://floridakeystreasures.com/Beaches ... each.shtml

Mon · Post by **Mon** » August 6, 2006 8:37 pm

Thanks for all the input.

We would be staying around MM75 (?) . I know the keys aren't known for their beaches, but we need some sand and water activity to keep the keets happy.

Desdamona · Post by **Desdamona** » August 7, 2006 4:03 pm

Sounds like Anne's Beach at MM73 is just what you were looking for. I need
to check that one out myself. Let us know how it worked out for you & yours.

As always, I'm recommending that you print out the Keys Adventure Guide
found at http://www.buccaneerpublishing.com/AdventureGuide.htm
You'll find lots of stuff in there... some of it kid friendly!

Speaking of which, I'd recommend visiting Robbie's to see the tarpon (at least
as long as you have enough adults to keep the kids from falling off the dock) MM77.5
http://www.robbies.com/
and the Bird Sanctuary MM93.6.
http://www.thefloridakeys.com/keylargo/bird.htm
I've visited both and can vouch for them.
Also Lor-E-Lei's Restaurant at MM82 would be a great place for a sunset
supper with kids if you sit outside. (See if you can catch an evening when
Steve Webb is playing.) http://www.keysdirectory.com/lorelei/index.html

Theater of the Sea MM84.7 and the Dolphin Research Center MM59 look
like kid-friendly activities. (I haven't been, so I'll not vouch for them.)
A trip out to Pigeon Key sounds like a fun day, too.

chalksoperations · Post by **chalksoperations** » August 8, 2006 4:31 pm

About 8 miles to the west is Long Key State Park. Many people go there to camp, but it still has a nice frontage of the Straits.
About 9 miles back up the road is Holiday Isle. It is just west of Theatre of the Seas. Cheryle and I took the kids there 2 days ago actually. Holiday Isle is a couple of things. First and foremost, it is one of the larger marina for the big game charters in the area. With that, there is also a hotel, a raw bar, pool, rumrunners and tiki hut (bars). There's a BBQ pit by the pool, and a decent beach area with cold beers no more than 20 steps away. Next door is Theatre of the Seas, good for an afternoon for the kids. Just up the road 2 miles from the both of those, at MM87 or so, is Islamorada Founders Park. It has pool, marina, tennis, etc. Not sure how old the kids are, but these are basically the kid friendly things in the area.

Mon · Post by **Mon** » August 9, 2006 8:57 am

chalksoperations wrote:About 8 miles to the west is Long Key State Park. Many people go there to camp, but it still has a nice frontage of the Straits.
About 9 miles back up the road is Holiday Isle. It is just west of Theatre of the Seas. Cheryle and I took the kids there 2 days ago actually. Holiday Isle is a couple of things. First and foremost, it is one of the larger marina for the big game charters in the area. With that, there is also a hotel, a raw bar, pool, rumrunners and tiki hut (bars). There's a BBQ pit by the pool, and a decent beach area with cold beers no more than 20 steps away. Next door is Theatre of the Seas, good for an afternoon for the kids. Just up the road 2 miles from the both of those, at MM87 or so, is Islamorada Founders Park. It has pool, marina, tennis, etc. Not sure how old the kids are, but these are basically the kid friendly things in the area.

Thanks Chalksoperator

When we were there almost 5 years ago, someone told us that the "Beach" at Holiday Isle was only for their guests!!! Not true??? Also, would Theater of the Sea be good for our 2 and 4 year old?
Thanks a bunch

sonofabeach · Post by **sonofabeach** » August 9, 2006 6:43 pm

Hey Mon,
My four year liked liked Theater Of The Seas a couple of years back.
He got to feed a walrus and other kids fed dolphins.
They also had a parrot show and other animals.

chalksoperations · Post by **chalksoperations** » August 9, 2006 7:14 pm

It's true, the beach at Holiday Isle is for guests...but if you don't make a big deal of it and don't haul in armloads of beach crap you shouldn't have a problem. (might also want to leave any out of town sports attire at home) Also, if you line up in the barbeque stand and buy a few beers at the raw bar...I'm sure they would rather have the revenue than give you a hard time. Especially if it is a slow time of year.

Theater of the Seas is great for kids. There is a great sea turtle rehab display there now. If they're not careful, they just might learn a thing or two about these magnificent creatures.

And yes, they also have birds, a one-eyed croc (shot in the eye when he wandered too close to a home), sea lion, dolphins, and others. And cats in the lobby too.

Aquaholic101 · Post by **Aquaholic101** » August 16, 2006 9:35 pm

Got to stop at Robbies and feed the Tarpon...AWESOME even for the adults.

Mon · Post by **Mon** » October 16, 2006 9:17 pm

Finally booked the airfare. We are headed to Islamorada on November 6th!

Any other advice for things to do with the keets? Of course, we will take that trip to MM 0 while we are there.

conched · Post by **conched** » October 16, 2006 9:59 pm

Did you see this online?

http://www.floridakeysbest.com/florida_ ... useums.htm

conched · Post by **conched** » October 16, 2006 10:08 pm

Lot here for families. Lot to cull through also.

http://www.floridakeysbest.com/families ... eaches.htm

http://www.floridakeysbest.com/families ... ishing.htm

Rum&aLime · Post by **Rum&aLime** » October 16, 2006 10:42 pm

Another vote for Anne's Beach. The keets can have fun chasing the fiddler crabs from burrow to burrow. Not really much of a swimming beach, but a nice place to kill a couple hours.

-Paul

HsvParrothead · Post by **HsvParrothead** » October 17, 2006 1:44 pm

chalksoperations wrote:Holiday Isle is a couple of things.

One is the host for the annual Bartenders Bash!! or excuse me, the "Hospitality Expo"... more drunken illegal activity than you can shake a stick... I saw a guy get Tazed in the rain by the cops, pretty cool watching a guy flop like a fish out of water.. he was hancuffed and lying in a puddle

.. but that's only for a 3-4 days in May... so your keets are safe

Mr Play · Post by **Mr Play** » October 17, 2006 1:57 pm

If you rent a boat you can head out to the sandbar from Holiday Isle, but I wouldn't recommend taking keets out there on a weekend!

Mon · Post by **Mon** » October 17, 2006 8:16 pm

Thank goodness for that

.....on the other hand....if they weren't behaving

Mon · Post by **Mon** » October 17, 2006 8:17 pm

Mr Play wrote:If you rent a boat you can head out to the sandbar from Holiday Isle, but I wouldn't recommend taking keets out there on a weekend!

That sounds like fun. We won't actually be there on a weekend, just a quick Monday to Saturday trip.