Islamorada Vacation - Day 127 to 130 - Islamorada, FL

It seems strange to refer to our stay at Holiday Isle Resort and Marina as a vacation but that is what it is; a vacation within a vacation.

Partial view of the holiday Isle Resort and Marina

While not on a par with Captiva's South Seas Island Resort, Holiday Isle is actually very nice.  It has two restaurants, two tiki bars, two swimming pools; one fresh one salt, a marina, sport fishing boats, boat rentals, snowmobile (PWC) rentals, a dive shop, a clothing shop and beach front.  Unlike South Seas that was tucked away on the north part of Captiva, Holiday Isle is right on Route 1, the Overseas Highway, which is the busy two lane road that links the Keys together with the mainland.  However, once inside the property Route 1 disappears.

Rumrunner Bar

View of beach and fresh water pool

That said, we are surprised especially given the weather at how few people are using this facility and the others nearby.  The only logical answer is that we are in a shoulder season and there is a recession going on.  There were a few people here over the weekend but Monday it was dead.  We estimate no more than a dozen occupied rooms.  Meawhile, that works well for us as we have the place to ourselves.  There have been no more than three transient boats at the marina at any one time.

Guided Discovery was the lone transiet

We have spent time at the pool, walked the grounds, took three long dingy explorations and enjoyed good local restaurants. 

On Saturday's dingy ride we explored west on Florida Bay and discovered an art fair when we docked at the Lorelei Restaurant.  We also discovered a neat marina.


The dingy docked at the Lorelei Resturant on Saturday



Diana and Kodi at the art fair

At the art fair we saw some particularly unique items.  The most unique was the photo of a boat in a squall that hit Florida Bay.  I asked if this was a photo and the photographer's wife said it was and then went on to explain how it was taken.  Seems her husband, Al Vinsant, was out on the bay in a squall that came up quickly and started taking multiple photos as they circled the trawler.  The one we see below was that one "special" photo.  The also attach words of inspiration to each photo (see caption).  Their website is http://www.ironpetal.com/.

"To know the strength of the anchor you have to weather the storm."

We understand the uniqueness of a photo.  Check out the photo that headlines our blog.  We refer to it as the Million Dollar photo.  If you look closely you will see a sunset, a thunderstorm approaching (upper left) and the boat's running and city street lights on.  There is no way to replicate this unique photo, which was taken by our friend's Chuck and Pam, and the same can be said of Al Vinsant's trawler photo.

Written by Les.