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Floradise

A lifestyle blog by Marette Flora

Stay at the Islander Resort | Islamorada, Florida Keys

When searching for an affordable, beachfront hotel option in the upper Florida Keys, I came across the Guy Harvey Outpost Islander Resort. The photos caught my eye, and the resort had decent reviews on Booking.com. I booked a three-night stay for us to explore the Keys during our recent trip.

When we drove up to the resort, an outdated sign greeted us. I didn’t remember seeing that in any of the photos, and the rest of the resort was in better condition. The lobby was decorated nicely and the front desk agent was super friendly and energetic. She informed me that we were in a poolside suite, which according to her is the best option. 
We drove up to our unit and opened our door with a good old-fashioned key (no hotel key card). Our room had a full kitchen, something I appreciate because it helps save cash by allowing us to cook some meals. There’s also a screened patio area and lounge chairs outside.

We typically request rooms with two beds so we don’t have to share with our toddler. The room contains a large closet and drawers with plenty of room. (That’s where I found the safe, which wouldn’t open. I didn’t bother asking the front desk for help.) As I found out during our stay, the poolside location is nice, but it does get a bit noisy sometimes during the day. It was convenient when we wanted to go to the pool, restaurant or beach, though.

Have a seat and admire the view from the pier. 

The A/C in the unit was also a bit loud at times, but it wasn’t an issue. We weren’t in the room that much anyway and we only needed it one day.

The laundry came in handy. I was able to do laundry one day for $1.50 per wash and $1.50 to dry. There is no detergent vending machine, though. I bought a $1 bottle of detergent at a nearby dollar store. 
I enjoyed both restaurants at the resort, especially breakfast at Bonefish Flats. The service was great at the latter. (See my previous post for more details on the food and prices.)
Was Islander Resort the fanciest option? No. But it was comfortable and not too expensive. The amenities were nice (You can rent kayaks and other gear at the beach!) and the location was convenient for us. Nearby we found many parks, the scuba diving museum and lots of shops and restaurants. It was about 40 minutes from the Turtle Hospital in Marathon and about an hour and a half from Key West. I would stay here again.

Have you visited the Florida Keys?

Pescatarian Diet on Florida Vacation

When you don’t eat meat, it can be tricky to find foods to eat on vacation. I do eat fish, so that expands my options. The tricky thing is being somewhere like at an amusement park where you are unfamiliar with the food selection. I did the best I could when choosing food options. Are you pescatarian? Here are ideas on what you can expect to find at various Florida locations:

Orlando:

  • Ceasar Salad ($9.99): What you would expect from a salad. I was able to share this with V and we were both satisfied.
  • Veggie burger and fries (about $10): The worst veggie burger I’ve ever had. Fries were good.
  • Veggie omelet and small orange juice ($13.08): Decent, filling. Shared the omelet with my daughter, who seemed to like it.
Magic Kingdom
  • Zucchini burrito with beans and rice ($10.49): Delicious and filling. Could have used some salsa.
  • Mac and cheese ($8.19): Large, creamy portion. We could have shared one bowl instead of buying two.
Animal Kingdom
  • Hummus with veggies and falafel ($11 total): The falafel was great. Hummus was just OK. The portion was a lot more than necessary for amount of veggies and pita you get. Great veggie option.

  • Mickey Mouse pretzel with cheese sauce (about $6?): What you would expect from a pretzel. A filling snack while walking around the park.

Islamorada, Florida Keys

  • Ceviche (I think $15): Yum! Not as great as my mother’s but decent.
  • Veggie enchiladas ($9.99): I ate every bite of the green-sauce enchiladas. Delicious, filling.
  • Fried ice cream ($4.75): Just OK. Not as crunchy or flavorful as I would have liked.

  • Crab cakes ($8): Yummy. Would order again.
  • Lobster tacos (about $14): Just OK. They were filling and I liked the avocado. 

  • Large Greek salad ($11) and baked potato (about $2.50): Basic, not that impressive, but filling. Lots of feta. I wasn’t really in the mood for anything else. The views from the oceanfront restaurant are serene.
  • Breakfast bullet ($13): I made myself a bagel with cream cheese and salmon, onion and capers. I also had eggs with spinach and feta and breakfast potatoes. I loved it all.

The Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Florida

When I researched things to do in the Florida Keys, I came across the Turtle Hospital, a facility that rescues, rehabilitates and releases sea turtles. I was thrilled about the chance to see my favorite animal up close, so I made reservations for a tour of the hospital in Marathon, Florida, during our stay on Islamorada in the Keys. (Islamorada is about an hour and forty minutes from Key West, in case you’re wondering.)

From our hotel in Islamorada, the hospital was about a 45-minute drive to Mile Marker 48.5. We made it to the hospital at 8:45 for our 9 a.m. tour. We had been asked to arrive 15 minutes early to fill out our waivers and pay our admission fee, which was $22 per person for adults. (Children 4-11 pay half the price.)
Our tour had eight adults and three kids, which we were told was a small group. The tour began with a presentation that included passing around skulls and other items. We saw video and photos of the turtles the hospital has helped and learned about some of the stories. Then we walked into the surgery center before walking to the first tanks.
Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Florida

 

Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Florida
Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Florida
The hospital, from what we were told, has four of the five turtle species that reside in Florida: loggerhead, green, hawksbill and Kemp’s ridley. Many of the turtles they’ve helped have been hit by boats or became stuck in nets. Turtles also come in if they have tumors caused by water pollution, or if they swallow trash that causes them harm, such as balloons, plastic bags and hooks. The released turtles are microchipped, according to the tour guide, and she shared that a recently released turtle is currently in Cuba. On the turtle shells you’ll see then names of the turtles, who are named by the people who found them.
Turtle Hospital in Marathon, Florida
At one of the larger tanks outside, we were able to feed the turtles (by throwing food in; we were cautioned to never put our hands in the tanks). Afterward, we returned to the gift shop to pick up an ornament.
The 90-minute or so program is well worth the admission price. I highly recommend a visit to the Turtle Hospital.
Have you been to the Turtle Hospital or the Florida Keys?

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