Holiday Isle at Islamorada

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Nautically Challenged

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Has anybody been lately to Holiday Isles at Islamorada? I heard they were planning to turn it into a condo. The admiral wants to head there for the Thanksgiving holiday. I wonder if it's still the same and the sand bar is still kicking.
Last time I went down there (2 years ago) I had to make reservation long time in advance for a slip at the marina. That's all we need actually, we are staying in the boat.
 
Last time I checked they plan on making condos and private boat slips for very rich people. I have no idea what the status is.
 
their website is up with current rates and events... I'm sure the sand bar is still kicking, it's one of the best in the keys.

i think i read somewhere that the project was on hold due to the current condo market downturn...

give them a call...
 
Drove past a few weeks back...the sand bar looked as busy as ever. No evidence of the condos going up yet...
 
We hit Holiday Isle on Thursday prior to the Columbus Day Regatta and then again on Sunday following the Regatta. Still very much the same place – apparently the condo project is on permanent hold (they indicated that they could not make the numbers work in the current conditions). Biggest disappointment was the lack of people – Thursday night had more members in the bar band than in the bar and Sunday night (of the three day Columbus day weekend) was not u better. We have typically stayed there in May/June on prior trips and the place is truly jumping at that time of year.
 
Hi guys,

Thanks for the information. I had a wonderful time with my family on that holiday weekend. I heard that the condo project for Holiday Isle fell. Apparently, converting hotel rooms into 1.2 million dollar condos will not work at this time. I am very happy.

Anyway, it was not crowded. I guess most people were enjoying turkey and having fun with their family. As you can see below, all we had was the clear turquoise waters of the keys, and no one around. Below is a picture of me and my son playing at the sand bar. All alone.

meandalex.jpg


And this is a pic of the admiral and my son at Holiday Isle.

admiralandalex.jpg
 
Nice pics, Harry. How was the ride down, and back?
The sandbar looks great.
 
The ride was great. We did it last year on the ocean side. This year we tried it inside the bay.
We left Wednesday night and stayed overnight in Haulover. Then We left in the morning. From Key Biscane to Islamorada is only 2 hours and a half. I cruise at 24 knots. I think I can do it on a regular weekend now. I only have to go Friday night and go all the way to No Name Harbour to spend the night. Then Leave early morning.
I just bought a new GPS that shows you the route. I was tired of my little portable one that did not have the software.
I just had to follow the line. I did it for hours without problem. I gave the admiral the helm for 5 minutes and asked her to follow the line. She was having too much of a good time. Five minutes later, she stopped watching the GPS and we ended up in shallow waters. It damaged my Prop's hub. I did not have a spare. I had to buy a new one in Key Largo.
Besides this little incident, everything went well. Holiday Isle is still around. The sand bar was great although the water is getting a little cooler this time of the year. For a Caribbean man, it's cold water.

Have you been there?
 
running down the bay is easy but you have to watch the markers... following a line on the GPS is a sure way of running aground as in some areas the channels are pretty narrow.

it's a nice run though... the mangrove passages are fun, there are many nice anchoring spots on the bay side, off key largo, a nice change of scenery.
 
You are right Pascal,
My favorite places were the mangrove passages. I also liked the scenery. So different from the big mansions of Ft Lauderdale.
I am going to do it more often. I would like to try Key Largo because Islamorada is a long way for a short weekend.
What is your favorite where you can either dock or anchor at Key Largo?
 
there are a number of restaurants on the bayside where you can tie up for lunch, that's always nice. with a 24 footer, the Penencamp park is a great option, you can go under US1 in to largo sound and go back and forth

there are some nice places to anchor out, just north of KL, you can go on the north sides of some of the empty keys, (butternut, etc...) and feel like you are far away from civilization.

islamorada isnt' that far form KL, at 24 kts, it's abut 45 minutes, you can anchor off Plantation Yach Harbor marina, there is a little beach there with a watersport shack (bay side).

btw, with kids, PYH is much better than HI.. there is a big swimming pool, skate park, Basket ball court, trails, etc... great place for kids. they are rebuildign part of the marina right now, but i think they are open.

it was interesting the first time i went down there with the hatt. a few years ago, i only had expresses before and never knew what was behind the mnagroves in the various channels... i was surprised to see a lot of water an not acres of taller mangrove...

i love the keys, it's so relaxing... time stops once you pass the jewfish creek bridge.

it's not a bad run from FTL... beats the traffic jams in the ICW and the unless you come back after a front and face northely winds in biscayne bay, it's a pretty smooth ride even with a smaller boat. i used to go down when i had my 25 footer...
 
Pascal,
I looked at the map and it seems that the JP park is on the ocean side. Is that correct?
So, after Elliot Key, I would have to go to the ocean side.
Thanks
 
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