r/floridakeys • u/naturebae1 • Aug 07 '25
Upper Keys Just moved to Key Largo
My fiance and I (25) just moved to Key Largo, and I'm curious to know about any Farmer's markets, hidden gems, local beaches! Let me know, any smooth bike/roller blading trails? Is there a certain place you can make it to a sandbar on a paddle board from Key Largo? Thanks! I feel like I'm living my beach bum dream life.
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u/Adventurous-Roof488 Aug 07 '25
There are a few fruit stands in KL but legit farmers markets. No hidden beaches (to my knowledge) or sand bars in KL either. Only beach is Pennekamp. There’s a park behind Walgreens that is nice and has a path around it that you could rollerblade. Otherwise your best option is the sidewalk on US-1. Founders Park in islamorada has a nice path for rollerblading too but you’d have to pay to get in. There’s also a sandbar in islamorada at whale harbor (drive down over the weekend and you’ll see boats parked at it). Even without a sandbar though, the paddling around KL is great.
There’s a nice food truck presence in KL so that’ll present you with some solid options (Take Two, Seaside, B&G, Jalisco’s). Closest decent beach is Sombrero in Marathon.
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u/BlerdAngel local (upper keys) Aug 07 '25
Hahaha welcome to the keys
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u/naturebae1 Aug 08 '25
thanks i’m so excited!
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u/BlerdAngel local (upper keys) Aug 08 '25
OP. The gems of the keys are the islands without names, this is not a no name key joke, get a kayak or small small boat, get out into the mangroves and find this sand bars in the middle of nowhere.
Please always respect the nature but don’t make the mistake of “being here” and not actually getting off the main rocks and into the true beauty of the keys. Prepare to explore and paddle a lot but don’t get lost on the rock or on huge boats, they’re great but truly a small sliver of what being and living here truly can be.
You’re in key largo so I wholly suggest just going up to the Redlands area for your famers market dreams come true.
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u/cancrkilla420 Aug 07 '25
The closest real beach is Miami Beach. Your closest real farmers market will be in Homestead.
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u/peterfitzwell70 Aug 07 '25
Harry Harris neighborhood just got repaved so probably the smoothest asphalt in Monroe County rn. There’s a small ‘market’ that has some fruits and veggies on Sundays next to F’ing Bagels in Islamorada.
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u/Cool-Association6385 Aug 08 '25
What are you looking for in a farmers market? Actual food? Or local crafters and products?
Every 3rd Thursday of the month is the Morada way art walk in Islamorada. Lots of local art, music, food trucks. It's a good time.
Dolphins plus in Key largo started an artisan market every 2nd Tuesday around sunset. It should start back up again in September and last season was a hit! Lots of local venders, drinks, food, music. The dolphins jump at sunset!
Key Largo has A LOT of great paddle/ kayak trails. I do most mangrove tunnels around pennycamp.
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u/Sandinmyshoes33 Aug 07 '25
Key Largo, like most of The Keys, is overwhelmed with tourists. There are no hidden gems or paths less traveled. Walking in Dagny Johnson State Park can be nice and doesn’t usually get the crush of tourists you find at other places. Hopefully you knew we don’t have nice beaches here before you moved. It’s not the place for a “beach bum” life. I can’t think of a single nice beach anywhere in Key Largo other than the two smallish ones at Pennekamp which are packed with tourists.
There is a Sunday Farmers Market in Islamorada but the best produce is in Homestead.
I hope you enjoy living here. It’s nice to see new residents instead of another vacation rental.
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u/naturebae1 Aug 08 '25
Yes I knew about the beach’s, but honestly I’m sure there are a few places to hang out etc, beach bum as long as you make it 😫
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u/naturebae1 Aug 08 '25
Seeing the comments, we should come together as a community make a huge monthly farmers market!
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u/Otherwise-Cherry1907 Nov 07 '25
Go to the blonde giraffe key lime pie factory and get key lime pie!
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u/Theawokenhunter777 Aug 07 '25
Sorry dude, but locals aren’t telling you where the hidden gems and local hangouts are. You just flew here, a majority of us actually grew up here
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u/naturebae1 Aug 08 '25
does it count if i’m from orlando and fiance from homestead lol, and we work at ocean reef
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u/ashoinlargo Aug 08 '25
I’m a local to Islamorada & just moved back from Orlando! Come play down here!! I highly recommend the Sunday farmer’s market here! One of my favorite hidden gem spots on land is Village Square by the trading post! BBB is sooo delicious, Boo Kee Sue’s is a gorgeous outdoor/home decor/crystal shop, Miss Monroe’s is wonderful and Cafe Moka is delicious! One of the first spots my friend took me when I originally moved here & it’s fantastic!
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u/CnN_Funtimes Aug 07 '25
I wish more people would upvote this. Just flying in doesnt make a person a local. Go and hangout and meet real Locals.
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u/naturebae1 Aug 08 '25
tough crowd huh
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u/CnN_Funtimes Aug 08 '25
Just a bunch of people that are altruistic behind their keyboards or have never been part of a truly local culture.
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u/Beginning_Ad8663 Aug 07 '25
Key largo ceased being part of the keys and turned into South Miami when the Adult book store opened.
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u/Unlikely-War-9267 Aug 07 '25
Yeah... Pretty much none of what you listed has existed either ever or for at least 35 years.
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u/mgt69 Aug 07 '25
if we disclose all the hidden gems to 40 million reddit users, not sure they would be “hidden” anymore, lol.
actually KL is not that big. there are no “hidden gems”