I was inspired to write this post after spending a few days in the upper keys around Tavernier, Key Largo and Islamorada. All of the keys are beautiful with plenty to offer visitors, yet the upper keys often get overlooked in favor of Key West. These are my suggestions of things to do and places to dine if you happen to find yourself with some time to explore the upper keys, either on your way down to Key West, or as your main destination.

The one stop you must make along the way

I despise navigating the roads around Miami, but Los Pinarenos Fruteria is worth any amount of traffic you could find yourself in. I like to get mamey sapote here; a tropical fruit with bright red flesh that tastes most like a sweet potato with a hint of caramel flavor. Los Pinarenos has a great selection of tropical fruit, but the most fun thing about Los Pinarenos is that staff will hack open a coconut for you to drink from! I highly recommend making this stop for a fun touristy way to start your keys vacation.

Grab Breakfast at Pinecrest Bakery

Pinecrest Bakery is the sweetest Cuban bakery and cafe. Not only do they have indoor and outdoor seating, but they even have a drive through! Inside Pinecrest you will find cases full of decadent pastries and cakes. If you’re not into feeding your sweet tooth first thing in the morning, fear not as they also offer standard breakfast favorites.

Take a stroll on Anne’s Beach

Surprisingly, the beaches in the upper keys aren’t what you might be used from other parts of Florida. It’s hard to find a great beach where you can set out a blanket and enjoy the water. Nevertheless, Anne’s Beach is a charming beach and the perfect spot to take a walk before the sun gets too hot.

Shop for souvenirs at Shell World

I stop at Shell World for souvenirs on every trip to the Keys. They have everything you could think of from toys to key lime juice to home décor. I can usually find something for everyone on my list at Shell World.

Feed the tarpon at Robbie’s Marina

There is a lot of hype around Robbie’s being the number one must-stop tourist attraction in Islomaraoda. Robbie’s has a restaurant, bar, food trucks, souvenir and art shops along with fun water sport options such as parasailing, kayaking or snorkeling. However, the main attraction here is the marina. For just $4, you can buy a bucket of fish and hand feed the (seemingly) giant tarpon. Pro tip: it’s way more fun if you scream when the fish jump up and grab the bait! I’d have to agree that it’s worth the hype and defiantly worth a visit.

Grab a quick & delicious lunch at Leaning Tower of Pizza

I have to admit that I wasn’t too excited to try pizza on my vacation, but I was not disappointed. I ordered the seafood calzone with scallops, lobster and shrimp. I don’t ever eat calzones, but I had to try their seafood calzone and let me tell you - it was bomb! Their pizza offerings all sounded delicious and the Greek salad is out of this world. I will definitely be going back to Leaning Tower of Pizza.

Snorkel a reef & swim with sea turtles

Snorkeling is another activity you must do when visiting the keys. I specifically wanted to see a sea turtle on this trip. I went out with Sundance Water Sports and they took us to a local sea turtle hot spot. I got super lucky and saw two sea turtles, lots of beautiful sergeant anglers and rainbow-colored parrot fish. Snorkeling never gets old and the water was just the right temperature for a mid-day swim. Sundance offers a morning and afternoon snorkel tour as well as a sunset cruise and snuba diving.

Grab an early dinner reservation at Chef Michael’s

Chef Michael’s is an upscale seafood and american fare restaurant in Islomarada. Chef Michael’s offers several locally caught fish options prepared several different ways, along with a sampler. For appetizers, the ceviche was beautifully presented in a hollowed out coconut, adored with star fruit and filled with fresh shrimp. I opted to try the hogfish as my entree as it’s a popular local white fish. For dessert, the creme brulee was highly recommended so I decided to give it a try. If you never had creme bruelee, like I hadn’t, it’s a very sweet dessert of cream topped with a thick layer of delicious burnt sugar. Make sure to snag an early reservation a few days in advance to ensure a meal of one of their famed specials.

Hunt down the best key lime pie

No trip to the keys would be complete without a slice or two of key lime pie. I feel confident saying that Bayside Gourmet has the best key lime pie in the area. I tried several pies that were way too tart and bitter. Don’t get me wrong, I know its supposed to be tart, but Bayside Gourmet’s pie was the perfect mix of buttery crust, sweet whipped cream and tangy key lime filling. You could taste every individual ingredient in this pie. It was so good, I took one home for the family.

Enjoy a rainbow sunset Pierre’s

Pierre’s Restaurant is an indoor/outdoor bar and restaurant with a beautiful outdoor beach scene and the best mulit-colored sunsets. The best way to end the night is with an epic beach sunset.

I hope you check out as many of these gems in the upper keys as you can on your next trip. You are bound to have a blast. What are your favorite places to visit in the upper keys?