Florida Keys with Gluten Free Kids

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The Florida Keys is a 113-mile long chain of coral islands connected by 42 bridges at the southern tip of Florida, making Key West at the end of the chain the southernmost point of the continental United States.  These islands are famous for excellent beaches, water sports, scuba diving, seafood, key lime pies, coconuts, miniature deer and wild Halloween parties.

The Florida Keys is a fantastic vacation destination for families, young and old, because they offer a wide variety of activities to keep kids and adults entertained and educated.  There is also a wide enough offering of foods that even kids with strict gluten free diets can find plenty to eat.

Florida Keys with Gluten Free Kids

Fresh seafood (grilled, blackened or steamed) and fresh tropical produce (like the coconut pictured, gigantic avocados, mangoes, star fruit, kumquats, and key limes) are all in abundance, and all naturally gluten free.  So at most restaurants throughout the Keys, you’ll have no trouble finding a filet of grilled fish and a salad to enjoy.  But if you are looking for a little bit more in the way of gluten free foods and family-friendly ambiance.

Florida Keys with Gluten Free Kids

Here is the list to take with you on your next trip to the Keys:

The northernmost island, Key Largo (made famous by the 1948 Bogart flick and home of the annual Humphrey Bogart Film Festival) proves the most challenging of the islands to find family-friendly gluten free grub, but there is some.  Ballyhoo’s and Key Largo Conch House both offer cool ambiance, GREAT fresh seafood and are accommodating of gluten free diets.  The Mindful Mermaid, tucked into a shopping plaza does offer specifically gluten free items with a funky tie-died vibe.  Num-Thai is an extremely popular Thai and Sushi restaurant (it’s ALWAYS PACKED) in Key Largo that shares a strip mall with a fresh juice bar which is good to hit on your way out of town.  When at Num-Thai, try to snag one of the sunken tables.  The kids will love taking off their shoes and sitting in the boat chairs.

 

Florida Keys with Gluten Free Kids

Heading south about twenty miles, you arrive in the more stylish islands of Islamorada, the sports fishing capital of the world.  The Presidential Bush family has long visited Islamorada for the sports fishing and pristine back waters.  Gluten-friendly restaurants include Midway Cafe & Coffee Bar  which has a most excellent GF blueberry muffin and bright tropical decor (pictured), the Overseas Kitchen, a small Mediterranean spot with seriously delicious GF felafels and great quinoa salads, and Bitton Bistro Cafe that has a very kid-friendly interior with gluten free crepes and crustless quiches.  If you happen to visit the Overseas Kitchen on a Monday or Friday, be sure to stop by the bustling farmer’s market in the field next door because there are several vendors selling gluten-free fresh and  baked goodies.  Also, when driving through the islands of Islamorada,  look for the ginormous lobster on the side of the road.

 

Florida Keys with Gluten Free Kids

Continuing south to the “Heart of the Florida Keys,” you arrive in Marathon which is exactly halfway between Key Largo and Key West.  Marathon is home to the famous Turtle Hospital (yes, DO book a tour), Sombrero Beach (see pic above), the Seven-Mile Bridge (that was blown up in the Schwarzenegger movie, True Lies) and the educational Pigeon Key, among other points of interest.  One of the coolest restaurants in Marathon is the Island Fish Co.  Arrive by car, bike, boat or helicopter (yes, they have free boat docks and a helipad) for a killer sunset view.  Kids are served meals in take-home Frisbees and the chocolate cake on the menu is gluten free.  For the largest selection of gluten free car snacks and a full-service gluten free/vegan juice bar, head to Food for Thought.  If you need a gluten free pizza, pick one up at Driftwood Pizza & Subs.  And when you want a sweet treat, head to the very fun Sweet Savannah’s.

Continuing south over the Seven Mile Bridge and down another 20 miles, you will arrive in Big Pine Key, the funkiest of all the islands in the Florida Keys.  Big Piners are proud of being nearly “off the grid.”  One visit to the Good Food Conspiracy and you’ll know what I mean. It’s funky, but in a good way.  The GFC is a great spot for refueling with some yummy gluten free foods and grabbing snacks for the road.  If you happen to be driving through Big Pine Key around sundown, slowly drive through the residential side streets to sneak a peek at the local key deer, a special breed of miniature deer that inhabit the island.  Don’t feed them or hit them with your car (both are criminal offenses), but do snap a pic to wow your friends.

A few miles further south on Ramrod Key, you’ll find a super fun putt-putt golf course and restaurant oasis called Boondocks Grille that is fun to visit day or night.  There aren’t a ton of gluten free items on the menu, but there’s enough to get by. For a higher end experience and a wider gluten-friendly menu that includes items like fondue and poutine, head to the very hip Square Grouper on Summerland Key.

Florida Keys with Gluten Free Kids

And finally, at the end of the island chain, you arrive in the most famous and wildest of all the islands, Key West, home of the annual Fantasy Fest (I DO NOT recommend taking young impressionable children to Key West around Halloween…trust me on this one. Two words: body paint), famous Duval Street of food, drinks, live music and shopping, pirates, ghosts, key lime pies and six-toed cats.  Fun things to do in Key West with kids are taking a Ghost Tour, visiting the Pirate Museum, riding the Conch Train and watching the street performers at Mallory Docks.

One of the most quintessential Florida Keys food items is an authentic key lime pie.  It’s unacceptable to visit and not eat a slice, which used to prove a challenge for celiacs.  But I am happy to report that the Key Lime Pie Co. offers a fantastic GF crust on its pies and chocolate dipped pie bars.  Yes.  They dip a slice of key lime pie in dark chocolate and serve it on a stick.  I know, right! In the event you want anything else to eat besides chocolate-dipped pie on your vacation (I won’t judge if that was your plan), there are several extremely cool gluten-friendly restaurants in Key West.  Like Thai Life, a floating Thai restaurant in the harbor, Blue Heaven where chickens wander between your legs on the patio, The Cafe where fresh juices and body piercings are in equal abundance, and Le Petit Paris which serves gluten free pancakes and crepes on a Duval Street patio.  If you need to shop for gluten free snacks or fresh produce while in Key West, Help Yourself is the spot.

Florida Keys with Gluten Free Kids

How do I know about all of these places? I was born and raised in the Florida Keys and have been gluten-free for 14 years.  I have lived off an on in the Florida Keys throughout my adulthood and love spending the winter months by the beach so my girls learn to love the water as much as I do.  I have eaten at all of these places and can confirm that a gluten free family will have no problem finding good grub while visiting.

Happy travels and don’t forget to pack your sunscreen!

Florida Keys with Gluten Free Kids