My confirmed vacation has been “upgraded” to another city and date!

[jules54]

Google Alabama Jack's. It's on Card Sound Road, which is a toll route. Since it's a toll route, few tourists take Card Sound. That's the way you want to go. Not the 18-mile Stretch to Key Largo. Card Sound to Key Largo. The only time I don't take Card Sound is if they have closed the road (for whatever reason. I always assume the billionaires over at the Ocean Reef Club have a button they can press to close Card Sound.)

Stop at Alabama Jack's for your first meal. And then stop again on your way out if you can. You can't go wrong at Alabama Jack's. I have never driven to or from Miami and not stopped there. (I won't drive the 18-mile stretch -- great way to get killed by a tourist who wants to get from MIA to Key West in 90 minutes flat.) I ate there last in 2019 and it was like I had never left home.

I don't have ANY recommendations for restaurants in Key Largo. Every place I knew is GONE. Sorry, you're on your own there. All my favorite places in Islamorada are still open though: Hog Heaven, Lorelei, Islamorada Fish, and the Green Turtle. It's been awhile since I've been to any of these, so read some reviews first. I did stop at the Islamorada Beer Company and tried their sampler. That's worth doing if you like craft beer. And there should be a Dion's gas station in Islamorada. Which means that you can get Dion's chicken there.

I'd pay $100 for a single piece of Dion's -- if you could get it to me hot and fresh from the fryer.

Thank you so much for this post. We drove down to Key West from Pompano Beach on Saturday on a motorcycle. Because we used the turnpike and Card Sound which are both toll roads the traffic was less and the ride not as terrifying though the Miami area.

 

[Laurie]

Google Alabama Jack's. It's on Card Sound Road, which is a toll route. Since it's a toll route, few tourists take Card Sound. That's the way you want to go. Not the 18-mile Stretch to Key Largo. Card Sound to Key Largo. The only time I don't take Card Sound is if they have closed the road (for whatever reason. I always assume the billionaires over at the Ocean Reef Club have a button they can press to close Card Sound.)

Stop at Alabama Jack's for your first meal. And then stop again on your way out if you can. You can't go wrong at Alabama Jack's. I have never driven to or from Miami and not stopped there. (I won't drive the 18-mile stretch -- great way to get killed by a tourist who wants to get from MIA to Key West in 90 minutes flat.) I ate there last in 2019 and it was like I had never left home.

I don't have ANY recommendations for restaurants in Key Largo. Every place I knew is GONE. Sorry, you're on your own there. All my favorite places in Islamorada are still open though: Hog Heaven, Lorelei, Islamorada Fish, and the Green Turtle. It's been awhile since I've been to any of these, so read some reviews first. I did stop at the Islamorada Beer Company and tried their sampler. That's worth doing if you like craft beer. And there should be a Dion's gas station in Islamorada. Which means that you can get Dion's chicken there.

I'd pay $100 for a single piece of Dion's -- if you could get it to me hot and fresh from the fryer.

Thank you for this advice for our trip later this year, as well as your Key West comments, I've made notes about all of it.