Gluten Free Travel Blog

Traveling? Try New Gluten-Free Restaurants En Route...

Traveling over the Holidays this year? If so, it's a great excuse to try a new restaurant outside your area. That's what our family did today. We were driving through Pennsylvania, and when it came time for lunch, I pulled out my iPhone and Searched Reviews of area restaurants on GlutenFreeTravelSite.com. Then I checked the Gluten Free Restaurant Menus page to view the chain restaurants in the area with gluten-free menus.  I was reminded of the Charlie Brown's Steakhouse chain, which we'd never tried. There happened to be one just minutes from where we we'd be passing through at lunchtime. Let's just say it was nice to know we would be taking the kids to someplace other than the old standby...McD's! 

Charlie Brown's offered a lunch menu with burgers, sandwiches, salads, and other heartier entrees. I ordered tilapia from the gluten-free menu, and our boys split the filet mignon. The mashed potatoes were gluten-free, although the fries were not. There's a nice range of gluten-free options...ribs, fish, chicken, and lots of steaks (what they're known for). So don't forget to utilize all the resources on GlutenFreeTravelSite this Holiday season...whether you're traveling or just looking for something new in your area. We just added 6 new restaurant chains to our Gluten Free Restaurant Menus page: Old Spaghetti Factory, Z'Tejas, Ruby Tuesday, Ted's Montana Grill, Stonewood Grill and Tavern, and of course the old standby and gold-standard of gluten-free menus: Outback Steakhouse.  

If you dine at these or any other restaurants this Holiday season -- or if you're lucky enough to be traveling to a resort or on a cruise, please don't forget to share your experience by submitting a review to GlutenFreeTravelSite. Happy Holidays!

Dining Gluten-Free at Disney World's Theme Parks

Our family just got back from four nights/four days at Disney World in Orlando,  Florida. It was the second time taking our boys there -- the first was 3 1/2 years ago. It was a whirlwind trip, and yes, it was once again "majukl," as our son Ryan (the one with Celiac) wrote in a first-grade writing assignment the day he got back! 

I have to confess...I had never been fanatical about "the mouse," as so many people are. I went to Disney once or twice as a child -- and then a few more times as a teenager and young adult. While I always had a great time, there were other places I'd choose to travel instead, if given a choice. 

That all changed a bit after Ryan's diagnosis with Celiac 4 1/2 years ago. Suddenly, planning trips revolved around places that could understand and accommodate a gluten-free diet. Enter Disney. We'd heard a bit about how well they worked with all sorts of special diets, so when our boys were 3 and 5, we decided they were old enough (just barely!) to appreciate a trip to Disney World. Getting detailed information through their Special Dining Department was a great experience. (Call 407-938-3288 for Animal Kingdom, 407-560-6395 for EPCOT, 407-824-5967 for Magic Kingdom, and 407-560-3551 for Hollywood Studios.) We did indeed have a "magical" vacation, with friendly chefs coming to the table to consult with us before each meal. I literally almost cried after that first trip...it was the first time in the year since Ryan's diagnosis that we were able to travel somewhere without having to bring our own food -- and were able to rest easy knowing he'd get a fun, safe, and delicious meal, just like all the other kids. Now THAT's a vacation from worry! 

So, here it was 3 1/2 years later, and we found ourselves back at Disney World, in large part due to the great deals they were marketing back in the summer. And again, it was "majukl," as Ryan would say. I can't help but think that, for him, it's partly due to the fact, beyond the rides and characters and excitement of it all, he can enjoy fun "kid" things like gluten-free Mickey-shaped waffles and the Mickey ice cream bars throughout the four parks. In fact, in our experience, there are very few Disney restaurants (either quick counter-service OR sit-down table-service) where you CAN'T get a gluten-free meal. And all in all, the food is pretty good quality. They also offer healthier side dishes for kids (like carrots, grapes, and yogurt) as alternatives to the ever-ubiquitous fries, and gluten-free chocolate chip cookies and brownies are available at many of the quick-service restaurants. 

Our family traversed all four parks in four days and had the Dining Plan as part of our package, so all our meals were on the Disney property. You can find detailed reviews of restaurants like Le Cellier Steakhouse in EPCOT's Canada and T Rex Restaurant in Downtown Disney...character breakfasts at The Crystal Palace, Tusker House, and Hollywood and Vine...and various "quick service" meals -- all on our sister site GlutenFreeTravelSite (just select Florida under the United States pull-down menu when you Search Reviews). Others have posted many Disney restaurant reviews here as well.

If you have your own Disney stories to share -- good OR bad -- please add to our reviews by submitting one of your own. It's easy and helps so many others planning trips to this "majukl" place! And be sure to stay on top of other great places to dine and travel by signing up for our free monthly e-letter from GlutenFreeTravelSite.com and by following us on Twitter. 

Gluten Free Options at Vail Ski Resorts

It recently came to our attention (via theskichannel.com) that Vail Resorts, which owns Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, and Heavenly ski resorts, will be identifying their gluten-free menu items with special "GF" designations beginning this season. Thank you, Vail Resorts! 

Our family went to one of the top ski resorts in the country last year -- Deer Valley. Even though it was just rated #1 Overall (well-deserved!) and #1 for "On Mountain Food" in October's issue of SKI magazine, we still found ourselves chasing down chefs before lunch to try to find suitable gluten-free choices for our son. How wonderful it would have been to be able to glance at a menu and see right away what was safe for him to eat. 

It appears that is how things will work at Vail Resorts as they try to meet not only gluten-free diners' needs, but other dietary needs as well. Let's hope other resorts follow suit!

Gluten Free Dining in Mendocino, California

If you're lucky enough to live in Northern California -- or if you're considering a trip there -- don't miss GlutenFreeTravelSite.com's Featured Review of dining gluten-free in Mendocino. Amy, a visitor to the site, recently submitted three reviews from this gorgeous area of the California coastline...one of a restaurant, one of an inn, and one of a local market selling all sorts of gluten-free goodies. We've combined them into October's Featured Review. 

Coincidentally, my husband and I actually spent a Thanksgiving weekend at The Little River Inn that Amy reviewed. However, it was years ago when we lived in San Francisco and when our older son was just a baby -- and our younger son (the one with Celiac) wasn't born yet. So we didn't have any special dietary needs to work around. Regardless, staying at the Little River Inn was certainly a nice experience...great location, beautiful views, wonderful food, and lots to do in the area. We stayed in the original Victorian house built in 1853. There are also newer buildings on the property, many with jacuzzis, decks, and other luxury amenities. 

Read the specifics of Amy's review of the Little River Inn, Ledford House Restaurant, and Harvest Market, and please post some of your own reviews on GlutenFreeTravelSite.com -- of anyplace where you've had a good gluten-free dining or travel experience. 

Gluten Free Ocean City, Bethany, and Rehoboth

Each year, our family takes a one-week beach vacation to Ocean City, Maryland. And each year, we are a little disappointed that more restaurants aren't aware of Celiac Disease and gluten-free food preparation. It's not too surprising, given the seasonal nature of the resort...and the seasonal help that often staffs the kitchens and dining rooms. So we typically cook in most meals -- or get food from some of our favorite places as take-out so we can also fix something at home for our kids (one with Celiac and one who's a bit of a picky eater anyway!). But this year we were determined to find at least one new restaurant that could prepare a safe, gluten-free meal (and not just a basic grilled chicken breast, hamburger patty, or steak -- almost anyone can do that). Our quest took us to two restaurants -- one a national chain (Carrabbas) and one an independent local steakhouse (Steakhouse 26). Both meals were outstanding. 

Of course, most people with Celiac know about Carrabba's gluten-free menu. We've been there several times in the past, but not very recently and not to the Ocean City location. It is in West Ocean City, on Route 50 just before crossing over the Bay into Ocean City itself. There is also an Outback restaurant (also with a g-f menu) right across the street where we typically dine on our way into town, but this year we wanted to do something different. The Carrabba's menu has plenty of g-f entrees, and we encouraged our six-year-old to try one of their chicken specialties, Pollo Rosa Maria. It was a big hit, and it was so nice to see him enjoy something other than a standard plain grilled chicken breast! (For more on our experience at Carrabbas, read the review posted on GlutenFreeTravelSite's Maryland page.)

The other restaurant we tried, Steakhouse 26 (on Route 26 in Milville, Delaware, between Bethany and Rehoboth) is owned by Jerry Richard, a chef whose three daughters and wife are all on gluten-free diets. While he does not have a printed gluten-free menu, per se, most items can be made g-f if they aren't naturally gluten-free already, and he even can make fried shrimp, calamari, etc. using gluten-free breadcrumbs. (For the details, read my review on GlutenFreeTravelSite.com's Delaware page.)

If you've had a good gluten-free dining experience in Ocean City, Bethany, or Rehoboth -- or any other seaside vacation spot, for that matter -- please let others know by posting a quick review at GlutenFreeTravelSite.com!

 

Let a Travel Agent Help You With Your Gluten Free Travel Planning

In this age of do-it-yourself online travel booking, many people have forgotten about the benefits of using a travel agent. With their immense resources, level of personal service, and wealth of knowledge, they can help with some of the research and legwork involved in planning the ideal gluten-free trip. Keep in mind, it doesn't cost any more to use a travel agent than booking direct with a travel provider, and nine times out of ten, they can save you money by accessing deals you may not be aware of. 

I've personally used a travel agent that a family member referred me to almost five years ago, and I'd recommend her as a valuable resource if you want to save yourself some time (and money) planning an upcoming trip. Her name is Doreen Costa, and she's with Travel Leaders' Boston office (not to worry if you're not a Bostonian...neither am I. All my contact with her has been via phone or email over the years.) Their number is 800-487-6110. 

Best of all, Doreen's specialties include Caribbean travel, cruises, and Disney vacations, which we all know are popular and safe options if you're traveling gluten-free. Doreen has a working knowledge of gluten-free diets from dealing with our family and can help you find the best options for lodging and dining. Just be sure to mention you heard about her through GlutenFreeTravelSite so she takes extra special care of you!

So why not investigate some Summer and Fall travel deals (there are so many right now!)...or get a head-start on your Holiday or Winter plans? Get some ideas on GlutenFreeTravelSite.com by reading gluten-free reviews of hotels/resorts, cruises, and restaurants in the destinations that beckon you. Once you find some options that seem Celiac-friendly, give Doreen or another travel agent you might know a call to see what deals they can find for you. 

And this summer, whether you're traveling near or far, don't forget to periodically visit our Gluten Free Restaurant Menus list to remind you of all the national and regional chain restaurants with gluten-free menus (check out Rosa Mexicano, the latest addition to our list). And please...take a few minutes to share your thoughts about anywhere you've dined gluten-free by submitting a review to GlutenFreeTravelSite.com! 

Gluten Free Salt Lake City

Our family got back from a great ski trip to Park City, Utah just a couple weeks ago. Typically the snow in early-mid April is slushy at best. And after a very dry March with little snow, we were not optimistic as the date of our departure to Utah approached. But lo and behold, luck was on our side. They got several snowstorms in the 10 days leading up to our arrival, and we got an additional 7 inches of fresh powder mid-week during our stay. What could be better than Spring skiing with fresh powder? Good gluten-free dining, of course! While the Park City, Utah area wasn't the best destination we've ever been to for dining out gluten-free, we did okay. I posted a handful of reviews from both Park City and Salt Lake City on GlutenFreeTravelSite. We dined out 4 nights and cooked in our condo the rest (ordering ready-to-prepare food from GF Meals to be delivered in advance of our arrival). Park City doesn't really have any of the national chains with gluten-free menus, but we found a great steakhouse (always a safe bet) and a good restaurant on Main Street called Zoom which had a printed gluten-free menu. On one of our last nights, we visited an area of downtown Salt Lake City that was a gluten-free paradise. The area is called The Gateway, and it's an outdoor shopping/dining/entertainment complex near the Energy Solutions Arena. We had a choice of no less than THREE restaurants with printed gluten-free menus: Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse, and Z'Tejas Southwestern Grill. We would have liked to have done a progressive dinner, stopping at all three, but ultimately we decided on Biaggi's (featured in the new Gluten Free Restaurant Menus listing on GlutenFreeTavelSite). As you'll read in my gluten-free mother-in-law's review, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. It was one of the best gluten-free experiences to date! Too bad we don't have Biaggi's out on the East coast (with the exception of Cary, North Carolina, their locations are concentrated in the Midwest and West). If you're lucky enough to live near one, go! You will NOT be disappointed!