If you’re flying in, the fastest way to get to Islamorada is by landing at Miami International Airport (MIA) and driving 90 minutes south. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL) isn’t too much further away, and will still take fewer than two hours. And if that’s not fast enough, the Florida Keys Marathon Airport (MTH) is about 40 minutes down the Keys and has charter flights from select Florida cities. For drivers, take the Florida Turnpike south toward Key West — once you start island hopping (in the form of driving over the Overseas Highway’s 42 bridges), US-1 South will take you to all the major Florida Keys destinations. Shuttle bus services also run between Miami and Fort Lauderdale and the Keys.

Summertime in the Keys and the living is easy — but scorching hot. High temperatures are in the upper 80s to 90s Fahrenheit, while lows hover around the mid-70s. Along with the warm weather comes humidity, which can often feel oppressive, so opt for lightweight, comfortable clothing. Hurricane season runs from June through November, so keep an eye on the forecast, since there is only one road in and out of the Keys, and you’ll want to plan ahead if conditions get extreme. Spring and fall may be the more comfortable times of year to visit, when it’s between the upper 60s and 80s. But winters are also lovely in the mid-60s to upper 70s — and with less rain.

Founders Park

This 45-acre park is the most popular of the village’s parks, especially because of its shallow beach on the bay side. In addition to tiki huts, picnic tables, volleyball courts, and a playground, there’s also an Olympic-size pool, walking trails, a driving range, and courts for basketball, tennis, and pickleball.

Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park

Walk along the eight-foot-high walls of the former quarry, formed of Key Largo limestone (fossilized coral). The land was once owned by the Florida East Railroad, a company that helped build the Overseas Railroad in the early 20th century, connecting the mainland to Key West — but it was eventually damaged by hurricanes and shut down.

Alligator Reef Lighthouse

The namesake for the 136-foot-tall lighthouse, built in 1873, is not the reptile, but rather the USS Alligator, whose remains are deep underwater. Nowadays, the area is known for its reef with 500 sea life species, including barracudas and spiny lobsters.