Our Annual Trip To Marco Island, FL – Everglades City and The Triad Seafood Market & Café

We woke to ten-degree cooler temps this day as the cold front had made its way into South Florida (mid-30F nights at home) and the wind was blowing from the west causing the usually calm gulf to have some pretty good waves.

Friends and neighbors, Pat and Steve, invited us to drive down to Everglades City for lunch at the Triad Seafood Market & Café and while I didn't care about eating out, it was a nice little half-day trip.  Everglades City is about 30 miles from Marco and a nice drive thru the glades to a town with a population of 350 but with a dozen places to eat so sounds a lot like a tourist destination.  The town is in the Everglades so it is popular for kayaks, airboat tours from several vendors, motorboating into the 10,000 Islands, and other outdoor adventures.

But before heading into Everglades City, we drove another 15 miles or so east to stop at The Big Cypress Wildlife Management Area visitors center to check out the gators and were surprised at the number of Gars swimming around - they apparently migrate to the alligator pools in the dry season: 10/15-5/15.

The Big Cypress Wildlife Management Area makes up most of the protected land in the Everglades.  There were also lots of gators and hundreds of egrets in the mangrove lined canal along the road, so we got our alligator fix.

This was, at least, our third visit to Triad and you can tell it’s more than just a restaurant by the boats but the market seemed to only have stone crabs – med and jumbo below.  

If you are not familiar with them, the crabs are trapped and brought to the surface.  Then one claw is removed (so they can still protect themselves) and they are returned to the water where they regrow a new claw so the same crab can provide many claws.  

Then the claws are boiled and served warm or chilled to be served that way.

Stone crab claws were on the menu by the pound at $43, $53, and $63 for med, large, and jumbo claws.  I’ve had them a long time ago and wouldn’t buy them at 1/3 the price as cold crab is not my favorite. 

Ready to dig-in.

For this meal Steve and I had the Fried Seafood Sampler (Mahi, Shrimp, Oysters, Clam Strips) $27.99, French fries, hushpuppies ​and coleslaw included.

Bev had a half shrimp/half oyster basket $20.99.

And Pat had the blackened grouper basket $26.99.  Steve said this was one of the better meals he’s had while here and the others enjoyed theirs as well.  I liked everything but the clam strips which seem pretty tasteless to me.  I also liked the sweet potato fries, slaw, and hush puppies and was stuffed even leaving 2/3 of the fries.

We drove around town a little and it’s obviously a place where folks like to over-winter based on the empty houses (many looked new) and boat lifts this time of year – most homes are on stilts.

I don’t know what we’d do there for very long here but if you enjoy fishing and the things mentioned above, I can see it being a great place and away from the winter crowds along the coasts with about a 40 minute drive into Marco for special needs.  

After returning to Marco, you’ll never guess what the girls did – shopping then a nap – I knew you’d guess it.

Photos can be slightly enlarged by clicking on them and the blue words are links.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by Almost Heaven South.

Larry

11/21/24 event date