Boating in and around Marathon FL.

[JimG]

I will be in Marathon for a week starting Saturday. We are three couples renting a house with a dock right on the water. We are renting a 24' center console for the week. What are some of the must see/must go water destinations in and around the area? Thanks!

 

[Ididntdoit]

Gulf or ocean side? on the ocean hit sombrero reef and coffins patch - there is a sandbar straight out of vaca cut - looe key would be a bit of a run, but probably is the best snorkeling left in the keys and you could do bahia honda while there - the gulf side has plenty of shallow areas to anchor

 

[my3sons]

When we spent time in Marathon, we, along with other boaters from the marina would do dinghy Crawls to various waterfront establishments. A few of our favorites that would have docks capable of tying a 24 footer to would be: Keys Fisheries, Barnacle Barney's, The Sunset Grille and Burdines. The Lighthouse Grille at Faro Blanco Marina is a little more upscale than the others for a nicer meal, and reservations might be required.
Sombrero Beach can be reached by boat from Sister Creek but it might be difficult to beach a 24 footer on the creek side of the beach. The Hawk Channel side of the beach would require anchoring off. Sombrero reef is not far off shore there, and has decent snorkeling, but if you can get some calm conditions, we preferred Looe Reef, about 25 miles west out of Boot Harbor. We were there the winters of '16-'17 and '18-'19 so pre pandemic. YMMV

 

[JimG]

Gulf or ocean side? on the ocean hit sombrero reef and coffins patch - there is a sandbar straight out of vaca cut - looe key would be a bit of a run, but probably is the best snorkeling left in the keys and you could do bahia honda while there - the gulf side has plenty of shallow areas to anchor

We'll be on the ocean side, thanks!

 

[Groucho]

The marina in Ismorada is Bud and Marys....Dock up and go next door to the restaurant.(Can't think of it's name but it has a nice bar and good food).

 

[370Dancer]

And, if you go as far as Islamorada, might as well go to the Tiki Bar at what used to be Holiday Isle, and is now Postcard Inn. Get a Pain in the Ass. Half Rum Runner, half Pain Killer. If they are open, there used to be a bunch of cool shops along the docks. Why, Carl Fizmer used to sell Atocha doubloon necklaces there. Not sure what COV has done to the keys. Call ahead.

 

[ocgrant]

And, if you go as far as Islamorada, might as well go to the Tiki Bar at what used to be Holiday Isle, and is now Postcard Inn. Get a Pain in the Ass. Half Rum Runner, half Pain Killer. If they are open, there used to be a bunch of cool shops along the docks. Why, Carl Fizmer used to sell Atocha doubloon necklaces there. Not sure what COV has done to the keys. Call ahead.
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+1 for Post Card Inn... They are open and the bar is always rocking.... As far as the Atlantic side going to be a little bumpy this week, make sure you are comfortable out there.

 

[370Dancer]

Admiral corrected me on the drink. Half Rum Runner and half Pina Colada.

 

[JimG]

If we get a good day, we're thinking of going to Key West by boat. Looks like just stay in Hawk Channel all the way. When we get there do we go around the tip through the ship lanes to get to the marinas, or is there a cut through (like Cow Key) we could do? Looks like all of the marinas are on the Gulf side.

 

[370Dancer]

I've always stayed East until the South channel into KW proper. Never attempted any cut thru unless we did it way before KW.
Have come from the Gulf side many times, down from Naples, et al. Well marked. I was 4'6" draft.
The prevailing wind is SE, so gulf side marinas is a strategic decision.

 

[Groucho]

The marina in Ismoralda is Bud and Marys....Dock up and go next door to the restaurant.(Can't think of it's name but it has a nice bar and good food).

LAZY DAYS! Ha...took me a couple days to remember!

 

[JimG]

It was a great trip!