We made some great friends and contacts over the two-day festival and the locals were so helpful, giving us insight into where could sell our bottles and connecting us with friends who own stores. It really was a networker's dream. Even though one of us was battling shellfish-induced hives for a few days, even that didn't rain on our Islamorada parade.

We must mention that we did squeeze in a little bit of leisure time, spending an afternoon tasting all the cool beers at Islamorada Beer Company. The Islamorada vibe was so apparent here, locals mingling with tourists in the most welcoming way. All of the workers were Drew Brophy fans, so we brought in one of our Sunrise bottles. One customer happens to give yoga lessons on paddle boards and she bought a case of Drew Brophy bottles on the spot!

We couldn't miss out on stopping by the Rain Barrel, an eclectic village of artistic shops encompassing the Islamorada shopping scene. There are meandering paths, snack bars, outside tables...very cool. It's known for this giant lobster, which greets you in a whimsical way when you arrive. We opted to park in the back so as not to risk hitting any of the dozens of tourists taking pictures with this huge dude!

One of our favorite retail spots was Ocean Gardens, a beautiful upscale nautical boutique in the heart of Islamorada. We are proud to say they will be carrying Water Gallery bottles-- they saw the uniqueness of our bottles and we're honored that they feel we are a good fit. 

We truly believe that Islamorada is going to be the crux in assisting us with our thoughtful transition into the Florida retail market, a great start to Water Gallery's journey into Florida. We absolutely loved our time in Islamorada and can't wait to go back.