1:47 PM PDT 5/27/2016 by Rebecca Kleinman
Want to visit the heart of Bloodline? An easy drive from Miami, Islamorada in the Upper Florida Keys offers more than fishing these days. Here’s a quick guide to get started.
Live like a Rayburn (hopefully, sans the dark secrets) by checking into one of the 18 Bahamian cottages with one to three bedrooms at the timeless Moorings Village. Stroll down to the south end of its beach to see the “big house” with cobalt blue shutters and verandas where it all goes down. Grab a paddle board or nap in the hammock hanging at the end of the dock, but definitely don’t leave without snapping a selfie on the dramatically crooked lone palm along the water’s edge, which has launched a thousand photo shoots. When hunger strikes, walk across U.S. 1 for the resort’s restaurants, Pierre’s (fine dining) and Morada Bay (toes in the sand). 123 Beach Road; 305-664-4708, themooringsvillage.com
Oo-tray’s burger leans more Wimpy than wimp. Made with the house’s signature blend of flank steak, applewood smoked bacon and ground chuck, two 6-oz. patties come with bread and butter pickles on a brioche bun. Vacations are meant for indulging, so follow it up with pecan pie bread pudding drizzled in vanilla bean sour cream. When he’s in town shooting Bloodline, castmember Norbert Leo Butz pops by to jam with local musician David Feder on Thursday nights. 80900 Overseas Highway; 305-922-2027, oo-tray.com
Named after Ernest Hemingway’s term of endearment for his son, Bumby’s would make Papa proud. Nestle into one of its tufted, seafoam green banquettes for local delicacies like Key West pink shrimp ceviche or opt east with five-spice swordfish. If you’re wondering what’s up with the nod to N’awlins (crawfish rangoon, bananas Foster cheesecake), the executive chef, Chris Visger, has a thing for the Big Easy’s top toque John Besh. 82779 Overseas Highway; 305-509-7561, bumbysislamorada.com
Set aside a morning or afternoon for Village Square at the Trading Post, a one-stop shop in a secluded tropical garden. Its central bungalow alone houses a couple of stores and restaurants each.
Photo: Courtesy of Village Square at Trading Post
The owners of Bad Boy Burrito, whose devotees come in several times a week to wolf down perfectly prepared guacamole and grilled fish tacos, expanded with Good Girl Juice & Cafe. Order a green papaya salad with Key West pink shrimp and micro greens and Beet the Best, which adds red cabbage and ginger. Blow your budget on uCumbe’s trove for home, garden and gifts including Assouline books and kantha quilts; and on Miss Monroe’s Keys-ready fashions and accessories for women. 81868 Overseas Highway; 305-440-3951, villagesquareislamorada.com