Boca Grande/Gasparilla,FL questions?>..
Feb 23rd, 2004 | 01:03 PM
#3
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,289
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Pink Elephant comes to mind. Everyone in Boca Grande eats at the Pink. Really not much to do other than the beach, look at the homes, (some are quite beautiful) have an ice cream at the Loose Caboose and lunch or dinner at the Pink. Walk down the street with the huge Banyan trees. LMF
LMF
LMF
Feb 23rd, 2004 | 01:21 PM
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Lodging in Boca Grande...Gasparilla Inn...it's not on the beach, but it's THE place to stay there. To be right on the beach, you'll need to rent a condo.
It's enjoyable to rent bikes and ride around sight seeing in the little town and some of the neighorhoods, visit the lighthouse. You can rollerblade for miles as well. The town has some cute boutiques, and yes, the Loose Caboose.
There are charter boats and rentals at Millers Marina. I've never done this, but my husband has enjoyed tarpon fishing there too. This is a catch and release program...the fish are huge. He caught 3 as I recall, in the 2 days they were there, and in all instances, by the end of the fight would have been happy just to have it get off the line! His were all in excess of 100 lbs...estimated by their guide, seeing as it's catch and release.
It's a pretty little island. Very peaceful. Very. This is not South Beach!!
It's enjoyable to rent bikes and ride around sight seeing in the little town and some of the neighorhoods, visit the lighthouse. You can rollerblade for miles as well. The town has some cute boutiques, and yes, the Loose Caboose.
There are charter boats and rentals at Millers Marina. I've never done this, but my husband has enjoyed tarpon fishing there too. This is a catch and release program...the fish are huge. He caught 3 as I recall, in the 2 days they were there, and in all instances, by the end of the fight would have been happy just to have it get off the line! His were all in excess of 100 lbs...estimated by their guide, seeing as it's catch and release.
It's a pretty little island. Very peaceful. Very. This is not South Beach!!
Feb 23rd, 2004 | 09:11 PM
#5
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,266
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I hesitated to reply because Boca Grande is such a special, peaceful place that I don't want anybody else going there (selfish, aren't I?).
The Pink Elephant is one of "the" places to go, but there's no ocean view, and the food's good but not great. At the sound end of the island is the tiny "South Beach" restaurant. You can eat inside or outside at picnic tables in the sand (great for kids). Good drinks and the world's best onion rings. Miller's Marina has pretty good food, and it's fun to watch the boats and pelicans at the marina.
In addition to world-class tarpon (in season) and flats fishing, you can take boat rides to see manatees and other wildlife. Or boat rides to nearby islands (Cabbage Key is popular.)
The island is a bird sanctuary, so you'll see a lot of them (including, if you're lucky, bald eagles). You can rent bikes and take the bike path that stretches the length of the island. There's an old lighthouse at the south end that's kind of interesting, too.
The Gasparilla Inn seems quite stuffy (I think even ties for men at dinner), but your only other lodging option is the mostly low-rise condos on the ocean. But if it's a day trip, you don't need lodging, right?
The Pink Elephant is one of "the" places to go, but there's no ocean view, and the food's good but not great. At the sound end of the island is the tiny "South Beach" restaurant. You can eat inside or outside at picnic tables in the sand (great for kids). Good drinks and the world's best onion rings. Miller's Marina has pretty good food, and it's fun to watch the boats and pelicans at the marina.
In addition to world-class tarpon (in season) and flats fishing, you can take boat rides to see manatees and other wildlife. Or boat rides to nearby islands (Cabbage Key is popular.)
The island is a bird sanctuary, so you'll see a lot of them (including, if you're lucky, bald eagles). You can rent bikes and take the bike path that stretches the length of the island. There's an old lighthouse at the south end that's kind of interesting, too.
The Gasparilla Inn seems quite stuffy (I think even ties for men at dinner), but your only other lodging option is the mostly low-rise condos on the ocean. But if it's a day trip, you don't need lodging, right?
Feb 24th, 2004 | 02:18 AM
#6
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,289
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I've fished in the Tarpon Tide. I'm not sure if they are still doing it, but this Tarpon tournament used to have huge prize money, like 100k or such.
Best grouper sandwich I've ever had was at Miller's Marina.
Just as a side note: during tarpon season which is in May-June, you can see the tarpon gathering in the Boca Grande Pass (from Charlotte Harbor to the Gulf) as you come into Fort Myers airport to land. It looks like millions of tiny mirrors and the huge fish roil the water. Tarpon fishing is fun and hard work. Lots of controversy too. LMF
Best grouper sandwich I've ever had was at Miller's Marina.
Just as a side note: during tarpon season which is in May-June, you can see the tarpon gathering in the Boca Grande Pass (from Charlotte Harbor to the Gulf) as you come into Fort Myers airport to land. It looks like millions of tiny mirrors and the huge fish roil the water. Tarpon fishing is fun and hard work. Lots of controversy too. LMF
