Tell me all about it...Are planning a long weekend trip & am curious as to best place to stay (we are looking @ Matlacha) where things are, best places to eat ? Is there a good place to buy seafood ? Best beach nearby, etc. Thanks for your help. I also heard one of my favorite authors Randy Wayne White lives there ? Is it worth it to go to Cayo Costa for a day ?

If you want to go to the beach, you have to go to Cayo Costa. There aren't any public beaches on Pine Island unless you stay in the hotel in Bokeelia or rent a condo in St James City.

Matlacha is the Biggest Little Two Block City in the World. If you like Randy Wayne White, you will like Matlacha.

There is/was a very good seafood store set back from Pine Island Road on the mainland just before you reach Matlacha proper. It's on the right going out.

There is another Pine Island on the Gulf in north Florida, so don't let your GPS get confused if you are traveling from away.

Thanks very much - I do like Randy Wayne White...

ttt

If you are going to Matlacha best advice is to go to Bert’s Bar. It is simply great. The view, atmosphere, food, staff and drinks will make your visit. It is a classic in town and everybody knows about it. Pretty amazing. Also you can stop by the waterfront and probably enjoy a diner there. If you like to do so I suggest you visit Sandy Hook. Fish and Rib House. Their food is also pretty good. Nothing pretentious. This is just and simply delicious and original southern seafood. For beaches no other place is better than Cayo Costa, actually if you have the change try staying there. Enjoy!

Agreed with Bert's Bar as well as the Ragged Ass Saloon further onto the Island from Bert's. Other than that, great views of the Gulf and whatever else Randy Wayne White has written about it.

Cayo Costa beautiful and is accessible by a short boat ride. Jimmy Buffet was inspired to write his song "Cheeseburger in paradise" there! There a cottages that you can rent starting around 110.00 a night.

Thanks to all - IF I don't want to get dumped for an entire day on Cayo Costa - what/where is the next best beach option ??

There is not a convenient one, though I think there is a passenger ferry over to Sanibel from somewhere on Pine Island. You could take or rent a bike to get around over there. It's about an hour to drive from Matlacha to Sanibel thru Ft Myers.

Ack - Thanks - that's exactly what I was looking @ - nothing on the 'mainland, so to speak ?

The "mainland" in this area is pretty much all mangrove swamp, great for wildlife and fishing, but you would have to work hard to make a beach. Cayo Costa is a barrier island, like Captiva,so it has beaches. North Captiva has them too, but I am not sure it is open to the public. There are small strips of sand at Bokeelia on the north end of Pine Island, but I am 99% sure you must be staying there, and I know there is no parking.

Thx, Ack that was my assumption but if the lady wants a beach, we'll have to find one...lol