The Boca Grande Causeway links the island to the mainland and the toll $4 per car is well worth it. Driving down the island a few miles will bring you to the village center  which apparently has hardly changed in 100 years, it is home to upscale boutiques , art galleries and fancy restaurants with prices to match. In some respects it is a carefully preserved place and indicative of Old Florida, condominiums and some lovely modern homes have been built but there are no high rises.  It is a quiet community where the locals are keen to maintain this beautiful environment and there quality of life, it is said that the Billionaires now outnumber the Millionaires. Although you may not think it when see plenty of people making there way around the island on there electric golf carts.  

If you happen to be in Boca Grande in the spring the normal relaxed atmosphere is disrupted during  tarpon season culminating in the annual tarpon run each July when fisherman descend in their droves from across Florida. The island is considered to be the best tarpon fishing spots in the World.  I am not a fisherman myself but to see some guy catch a 4 foot or so tarpon whilst stood on the beach was some sight.

Which brings to the beaches which are simply superb, the pristine white sand beaches stretch for miles on the Gulf side.  The best places to access the beach are having gone through the village centre you continue along with the gulf to your right and you will shortly come to the car park and public access to the beach. There are Beach Pavilions and

BBQ, s and toilets, and then there is the beach and the clear blue sea where you will often see Dolphins swimming close to shore. A word of warning there are no lifeguards on either of the beaches mentioned

Another beach close to the lighthouse is at the southernmost tip of the island again there are beach pavilions and this area offers lovely view of Boca Grande pass, this is the principle area for fishing and you will see numerous boats on the water. However swimming is not recommended at this beach due to the fast moving currents in the pass itself, which is a gateway to Charlotte Harbor

You can charter a boat and there is every chance you will see Dolphins, Manatees, Ospreys and if you here in the winter months White Pelicans.  Whatever you do enjoy.

There is no food as such in this inlet but the manatees are drawn by the warm water, and it is only when the water in the gulf is cold that they will venture into this inlet. One can imagine that in the summer months when the gulf is 85 degrees or so the water around the power plant would be unbearably hot for the Manatees.

The best time of day to visit is in the morning or around noon when the sun is behind you or overhead, it is much easier to see them rather than later in the day.

The volunteers are helpful and informative, and pleased to educate the tourists.

Best of all apart from a $1 car park fee, its free.

Funnily enough it’s called Manatee Park and is located right off interstate 75 on State Road 80 in Fort Myers. It is a small park with a playground and picnic benches but Manatees are the main attraction. There is a small gift shop and drink machines.

Manatee Park
5761 Palm Beach Bvld
Fort Myers

Telephone Number 239 432 2004

We have often been strolling along a beach on the gulf coast and seen a glimpse of what we believed to be manatees, so it was nice to go somewhere and see them in all there glory in their natural environment

Many years ago we made the discovery of the joys and untold pleasure to be gained by visiting the Gulf Coast and in particular the beaches of South West Florida,   There is something unique about still being able in this busy world  to walk along an empty beach of clear white sand with the occasional appearance of a dolphin  freely swimming close to the shore line looking a for meal, the only company.

We have encountered this scenario many times along South beach  Boca Grande and  and Stumps Pass Englewood to name a few, the locals do not bat an eyelid when the dolphins meander past, they are just used to it.  Whilst the visitor myself included will alert to the wife in excited way that dolphins are off shore, I can just visualised the locals muttering to themselves, typical tourists.  You can see dolphins along any beach on the gulf coast but there is no doubt they like quiet areas and when they come close to shore to feed.

The peak Gulf coast vacation rental season on the gulf coast is the winter months December to April when the North Americans and Canadians flood into South West Florida especially to escape the cold temperatures and snow in the Northern States.  The months of May and June are considered the off season which has always amazed me, I have been sat on a sun chair on a quiet beach in hot and sunny weather with the temperatures in the 90s and reading the local papers which talk about the busy season being over. When on some of the beaches in Europe in similar conditions you would be climbing over people to get to the sea.

Yes some of the beaches will still be busy, the likes of Fort Myers and Sarasota but there are still plenty of beaches to explore which offer the type of experience I have described above.

To get to Boca Grande we would take the causeway from the Mainland.  On Placida Road we saw this cluster of buildings just after the causeway and discovered amongst other things a restaurant called the Fishery.  It looked a bit of dump from the outside and what was the Fish Market which serviced 18 fishing boats is now a derelict building, around the corner you come to the charming restaurant. There is now only one fishing boat as time marches on.

Initially it did not particularly appear attractive at all despite backing onto the bay.  We steered clear, but we read reviews and spoke to some people who recommended it, so we thought we would give it go.

We went midweek one evening and entered the restaurant to be pleasantly surprised, the staff were friendly and the place was busy with a mixture of locals and tourists, it oozed character we were shown to a table by the large picture window which overlooked Gaspiralla Sound, and the other small islands in the area.  There was a long dock where people who had come by boat could tie them up. There was a car park for us mere mortals.

We ordered from the extensive menu, there is lot of fish as you would expect but also steaks for the likes of me, I was impressed by the basket meals they did as well, portions were huge, and prices were average and did not break the bank.

Before our food arrived on that first visit, we went out onto the dock and marvelled at view, it was so relaxing watching the pelicans dive bomb in the water for their tea. Then we saw a dolphin swimming close to shore looking for his tea as well.  

We went back inside and promptly told the waitress about the dolphin, we were excited to see dolphins in there natural environment, which was quite simply amazing.   She was unmoved and commented they were there most nights.  She added that when she was a kid around 20 years ago she would go down the Fish Market which at that time was the home to the fishing boats and feed up to 20 dolphins who would gather waiting for the local fishermen who landed there catch in the hope of getting some titbits, that must have been some sight!!. On another visit when we came out there was mother racoon with her cubs and mother cat with her kittens.  It is obviously a routine that diners bring leftovers from the meals out for them and on this occasion the racoon and the cat were in competion for the food while their young continued to play together in the bushes.

It was lovely to watch them and added to charm of the place, so if you are ever in this part of Florida then we can recommend a trip to the Fishery not only for the food but to see some of the Florida Wildlife.

The Fishery continues to serve good food and dolphins can be seen on a regular basis.