Issue 013: How a Canadian Celiac Can Vacation Gluten Free in Tampa

Special Canadian Celiac in Tampa Blog Series

“I’m planning my first trip to the States since going gluten free and I’m terrified!” 

When I started planning my two-month gluten free Tampa vacation it was that comment from a Facebook follower that convinced me to blog about my trip.  I figured my experiences might be helpful to other celiac snowbirds and folks just looking to get away from the cold for a little while.

We can all relate to the fear, can’t we?

We Canadians are on social media.  We see American celiacs posting about “hidden gluten” and the recalls for mislabeled products.  And then there’s the great Cheerio’s debacle.  It kinda feels like we’re headed to the wild west.

We’re actually going east, southeast to be more precise. 

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A little over a week ago, Hubby and I loaded up the Tesla and hit the escape button.  We left the snow behind to spend January and February in sunny Tampa Bay Florida.  We chose this area because he has some golf buddies with vacation homes here.  He can get in the odd game, and we have people we know to visit and plan a few outings with. 

If you’ve followed any of my travels, you know I almost always look for a place with a kitchen.  Some celiac travelers opt for hotels and eat in restaurants.  “I don’t want to cook when I’m on vacation” they say.  I get it.  I totally get it.  But my system can only handle so much restaurant food even if it’s gluten free.  Too many days in a row just leaves me feeling bloated and exhausted.

We searched Airbnb for a reasonably priced vacation home that we could book for two months.  No easy task as most want a 6-month commitment.  We found a “manufactured home” Lutz, just 15 miles (23 kilometres) north of Tampa Bay. 

To be honest, I wasn’t 100% into the plan.  I don’t mind winter so much; I don’t like hot weather at all and I’m not sure if I’ll like being away from home for two whole months.  My longest vacation so far has been 3 weeks.  I love to travel, but it’s stressful.

And yet, I’ve always been up for adventure.  You can’t knock it till you’ve tried it as the saying goes.  And besides, I get to share my experiences with you.

Over the next couple of months, I’ll be writing a blog series for Canadian celiacs vacationing in Tampa.  I hope that my successes, and inevitable missteps will help you to have more confidence travelling gluten free in the United States.

I’ll cover topics like:

-        Understanding the issues facing a Canadian celiac vacationing in Tampa.

-        Planning your gluten free Tampa vacation.  How to get there and how to choose a place to stay.

-        Getting to Tampa.  Will you drive or fly?  What are the pros and cons of each and the little snags to watch for.

-        Settling into your Tampa vacation home.  How to safely eat gluten free and some special precautions to take.

-        Reviews of restaurants and attractions.

-        Any problems or snags I run into, so you don’t have to make the same mistakes.

-        Any fabulous finds so you can enjoy them too.

So, Let’s get started with

Part 1: What Every Canadian Celiac Needs to Know to Vacation Safely in Tampa

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