Marlin Bay Marina

We settled into the marina and found our first community of fellow boaters. Many of our neighbors had spent all winter here, enjoying the warm air and water and not missing their homes far away. Like us, they travel on their boats and were so helpful to David in planning our next trips on the Atlantic. Marlin Bay Resort has condos with families on Spring Break and a giant swimming pool just off the marina. The pool was very refreshing in the hot temps, plus a great place to meet other boaters, all incredibly friendly. Nearby, we discovered our favorite place to eat, down the road past the towers of Crab Pot Town.

The Key's Fishery is famous for their Lobster Reubens and their Key Lime Pies, and of course a great view of the sunset!

Marathon is an active fishing community and the food was amazing as well as the views of the famous sunsets of the Keys. We watched from the bar of the Key's Fishery as the sun was lowering, the bartender poured shots and then the conch horn blew as the sun disappeared on the horizon. There was no need for us to travel to Key West and see the tourist versiona similar event!

David and I spent several days (including St. Patrick's Day, ask David if he remembers that night..) in Marathon at this leisurely pace. We toured the many canals and waterways on our dingy, then retreated back to the pool to end the day. A nice surprise was a visit with a friend from Louisville, David P. who had just arrived at his place in Marathon. He picked us up in his car and showed us a broader scope of what felt like a little town in the keys! His home sits on the water on the Atlantic side and is a perfect get-away home that he has created. I think we could have stayed even longer in this semi bohemian place, (I did leave with a straw fishing hat) but it was time to round the southern tip of Florida and head north!