I am getting married at the Pelican cove Resort in Islamorada the first week of December. Has anyone stayed at this hotel?
Does anyone have any suggestions on things to do and places to eat in Islamorada? We will be spending our honeymoon here and we have some friends coming down for the wedding as well.

Thanks a bunch

Dawn,

This is just an idle observation on a lazy day when the market has closed and most businesses might as well be, for all that is getting done. I'm loafing...but do have a question for you, based on a previous observation. Are you by any chance...this is personal now....left-handed? gt; I ask for one reason only...your smiley face is facing a different direction than most (I can hear the screaming from here guys) and the only person I've ever seen do that previously, is my left-handed daughter. Had to ask...just curious. Is that a left handed thing...you are oriented to look to the left for the mouth while we "normal" folk are oriented to look to the right? At first glance and thought, I thought you'd made a person with a furrowed brow.

Now...that out of the way, congrats and best wishes on your upcoming wedding. Wish I could give more info on Islamorada. We honeymooned there too, but in January, 1969--too long ago to remember much about it. I was disappointed there were no beaches, but that was pre-Internet days, so I suppose you are well aware of that with resources you have at your fingertips. Cheeca Lodge mentioned in many notes if you do a search, was the best place even back in those days. We were struggling young things though, and it was Jerry's Sunset Inn for us, on our drive down in my '68 MGB. (Moving me and what I could pack from my home in Va Bch to my new husband's, in [gawd save us] Red Stick, LA. Islamorada is where we got tired, so that's where we had our honeymoon. So much for planning.

Weather was bathing suit nice, and hopefully you'll be as lucky.
You won't be far from John Pennekamp State Park and great snorkeling on FL's only (I believe) living reef, and I'd definitely take another day and explore Key West.

Again, best wishes, and....is that theory of mine correct? gt;

Dawn,

Congrats on your upcoming wedding! Pelican Cove is a very nice resort & here is the website if you don't already have it. Here are my recommendations for restaurants around the Islamorda area.

http://www.pcove.com/

http://islamorada.fl.us/

http://islandbase.com/

http://www.keysdining.com/

http://www.insiders.com/florida-

keys/main-restaurants3.htm

http://www.greenturtleinn.com/

PIERRE'S
MM 81.5, BS, Islamorada, FL, USA
Phone: 305/664-3225
Over $35 - The Upper Keys - French

First came the tony Moorings resort on the ocean. Then French windsurfer-turned-Keys-entrepreneur Hubert Baudoin opened his first restaurant, the popular Morada Bay, on the bay. Now, he's outdone himself with this showcase for chef Andy Niedenthal, who creates French masterpieces heavily inspired by Thai and Asian accents. The dishes are complex: layered, colorful, and beautifully presented. The setting is serene, like a gentleman's club in colonial Indonesia or a Louisiana plantation house. Even if you don't come to eat, stop in at the wonderfully sophisticated bar where buttery leather sofas provide a perfect vantage point from which to watch the sun set over the palm trees. Reservations are recommended.

ISLAMORADA FISH COMPANY
MM 81.5, BS, Islamorada, FL, USA
Phone: 305/664-9271
Under $35 - Upper Keys - Seafood


This casual waterfront seafood restaurant is one of the best places to people-watch, and it's also one of the prettiest spots in the Keys. All but a few tables are on a dock overlooking several islets and Florida Bay. A handful of others are inside an open-air screened room. Adjacent is a new fish market where you can buy and ship seafood overnight nationwide. At the fish market's dock, boats unload the fresh catch, which minutes later is served fried, grilled, blackened, or broiled. Wine and icy cold beer, soda, and pink lemonade are served, and on weekends a band plays reggae and calypso music.

MORADA BAY
MM 81, BS, Islamorada, FL, USA
Phone: 305/664-0604
Over $20 - Upper Keys - Eclectic

In the Upper Keys, this bayfront restaurant stands out among the other eateries and elbow-to-elbow resorts. First, there's the spectacular water view. Then, there's the traditional wooden Conch architecture decorated with Clyde Butcher's black-and-white Everglades photos. Best of all is the contemporary menu featuring tapas and innovative small dishes, mostly from the sea. Meals start with a basket of fresh rolls and a plate of tapenade, white-bean dip, and garlic-infused olive oil. You can dine indoors (noisy) or outdoors on the porch overlooking a sandy beach dotted with Adirondack chairs. The laid-back island groove here is especially popular with families.

BEautiful scene, wonderful food and service

The Lorelei Restaurant and Cabana Bar is
305-664-2692

Lorelei offers excellent American, Caribbean and Cuban cuisine in a festive atmosphere.

Marker 88
Mile Marker 82
Islamorada, FL 33036
305-852-9315

7 MILE GRILL
MM 47, BS, Marathon, FL, USA
Phone: 305/743-4481

SQUID ROW
MM 81.9, OS, Islamorada, FL, USA
Phone: 305/664-9865

BARRACUDA GRILL
MM 49.5, BS, Marathon, FL, USA
Phone: 305/743-3314

Tropical Cafe 90691 State Road 4-A Tavernier, FL (305) 852-3251

Paradise Cafe Mm 68 Long Key Islamorada, FL (305) 664-4900

Well, O, I can offer a right-handed interpretation while you're awaiting a more relevant response. First, the name Dawn ... it suits the look somehow. Just beginning ... this is the way I think of a personality to fit the name ... thus, possibly this is the sign of someone just beginning to look outward, as one who perhaps takes a peek over their fence to see what's in the next yard, and even further out. Prehaps a sign of impending marriage, going into new territory, and take a first glance to discern what may wait ahead. If true, then you're seeing a forehead and eyes, much like Tim's all-wise neighbor. Sorry to intrude into your comfortable afternoon, and hopefully your ruminations will be answered forthwith. Ciao

Hi L...a veritable Rorschach test, right here. It's *hard* to make it in that direction, try it! Oh hey...."you've got mail".

Ron...I've seen your posts before, always with web addresses. Am trying to understand your connection. The restaurant descriptions look like cut and pastes from something.....?

Sorry, but the guess was wrong, I am a righty But, I am an Aquarius and a bit eccentric, maybe that is where it comes from.

Thanks all for your help!!!!

Hey, O, and so do you!! ... too easy. Just watch me: ... or {: .. or [: ... for the block head look, I think. Anyway, if I continue to leave these little thingees, I'll ruin my rep, and it's pretty far gone at this point, so I'm hanging onto the shreds. Leah's one of those water women too, and while strange, they are all in all a delightful lot, and we are blessed to have them walk among us. Ciao

hey L, you been drinkin'?

Shucks, and I thought I was onto something....BUT, she's an Aquarius too and very definitely her own person (OK, eccentric), so maybe it's you who is onto something. It's an Aquarius thing?

Again, best wishes. Islamorada evidently started us off on the right foot...32 years and still going. Hope it's as wonderful a journey for you both.

Hey O, Islamorada had nothing to do with 30 plus years of wedded bliss...you had the foresight to pick a gem of a guy. Same with me, I'm going on 16 years and I wouldn't trade the lovable lug for anything.....

TO: Olive Oyl,

>Ron...I've seen your posts before, always with web addresses. Am trying to understand your connection. The restaurant descriptions look like cut and pastes from something.....?<

I want to apologize to the original poster & the other posters for I usually don't answer these type of responses & I tried to send this to the person who question my responses via E-mail, but her E-mail doesn't exist, but here goes... I'm a retired guy who likes to help people or travelers going on their vacations. I try to give responses to these people with websites so they can come to their own conclusions themselves. Yes, my wife & I have been to all of these places that I recommended. It doesn't mean that they don't have to visit the site or accept my posts. I'm also retired from the computer business & still enjoy working on them so other people don't have to go looking for websites they can't find themselves. I'm very sorry if I have offended you in my posts, I just try to offer my opinions & websites to these posters for those who would like to visit them to get their own opinion & research those sites to get a better perspective than just opinions of other posters, that is my connection only!

Ron-There was a person on here a while back who posted long lists of web addresses. The problem was he never traveled and had never been to a single place he posted web addresses. I am glad you have been to the places you are posting. I'm sure OO meant no disrespect.

I love the Keys and keep telling my dh I am going to move down there and volunteer at the Turtle Hospital...

Ron...I meant no offense, honestly! I do have a connection with a certain hotel chain and will always post my connection when I say anything about that chain. Was trying to understand, as you normally give websites, if you too have some connection.

And please, I hope you won't take offense at this, but some of your restaurant/lodging descriptions do ring of a cut and paste from a professional site, and if that is the case, they should be given credit for it. If it's not the case, congratulations, those are well thought out and very professionally worded descriptions!

Web addresses are great for further research and I occasionally give them too. Was only interested to know if you were connected somehow with some of websites...maintaining them, whatever?

ttt

Ron, in the past has given me a wealth of information about the keys. Whether or not it is cut and paste, he has taken his time to post valuable and true information. Can we thank him and not question his sources? This isn't a term paper.

Thanks Ron, for your wonderful info!

LOL! The post is over a year old! Are you kidding! Ron supposely died but know one believes it!