Edgewater Lodge

Edgewater Lodge sits at 65651 Overseas Highway, mile marker 65.5 on the bay side of Long Key. There are 16 rooms, each with a kitchenette, microwave, private balcony and air conditioning, and wifi and parking are free. The bay side location is the point of the place: the sun goes down over the water in front of you rather than behind the building.

The property is built for guests who brought a boat or plan to spend the day on the water. There is an on-site boat ramp and a marina with day passes running 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., bait for sale on site, and a private beach with tiki huts and hammocks. Add a pool, BBQ facilities, free bikes for getting around the island, and a barbecue food truck on the property, with beer and wine sold at the hotel office from 8 to 9.

Long Key State Park is a couple of minutes up the road on the same island, with hiking trails, a mangrove boardwalk and kayak rentals at the ranger station. The flats and channels around Long Key are what brings the anglers, and Islamorada is a short drive north when you want a bigger night out. Call (305) 664-2662.