I've Been Visiting the Florida Keys for 36 Years—and This Small Village Is the One I Keep Returning To
Islamorada serves up a vibrant art scene, fresh seafood, and some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving in Florida, and it's less than two hours from Miami.
Roughly 80 miles south of Miami and 80 miles north of Key West, Islamorada offers the perfect blend of Old Florida charm and salty barefoot luxury—no high-rises, no big-box stores, just freshly caught fish, breezy galleries, and the healing rhythm of the sea. With 18 miles of shoreline stretching across six islands, this historic village in the Upper Florida Keys invites visitors to slow down and let the water set the pace.
I’ve returned again and again to this stretch of islands—I love the energy of Key West, the saltiness of Marathon and Key Largo, and there's plenty to do up and down the Florida Keys. Still, as a longtime Floridian, Islamorada has a piece of my heart.
For local artist Roberto “Pasta” Pantaleo, who founded the Morada Way Arts & Cultural District, the pull of Islamorada runs deep. “I came to South Florida from Brooklyn in 1970 when I was 12,” says Pantaleo. “I knew I needed to be near water. When I found Islamorada, the topography here and the people fit me like a glove. I kept coming back until, eventually, I never left. It just felt like home. The people here are kind, nature-driven, respectful.” A fixture in the community for the past 20 years, Pantaleo helped build the creative spirit that pulses through the village, from gallery nights with live music to the vibrant art galleries and studios dotting the streets.
