Local Area Guide: Things to do / Activities / Attractions
What to do in Pine Island:
The Greater Pine Island Area is made up of several unique communities; Bokeelia, located at the northern end of the island; St. James City, located at the southern end of the island; Pineland, located on the northwest side of the island; The Island Center, which is located in the heart of the island; and last but not least Matlacha which is a chain of islands you pass through on your way to Pine Island proper. Each of these communities has its own unique characteristics and vibe.
Fishing Charters
We recommend Saltyboy Fishing Charters with Captain Scotty Darna, and Snook Town Charters with Capt Joe Harley who specializes in fly fishing the sea grass flats of Pine Island Sound. We also recommend Captain Charles Epranian and Captain Shane Dooley. *It is always a good idea to make boat rental reservations and guide trip reservations well in advance.
Visit some of our beautiful surrounding islands that are only accessible by boat!
If you need a lift to get there, give the Tropic Star Ferry a call!
Where’s the beach?
Pine Island does not have any gulf beaches. We are an interior island that is surrounded by Barrier Islands, which are where the pretty gulf beaches are. Pine Island is mere minutes by boat from all of the beautiful surrounding gulf beaches of Cayo Costa, Boca Grande, North Captiva, Captiva, Sanibel, and Ft Myers Beach. By car you can reach all of the above mentioned islands with the exception of Cayo Costa and North Captiva. Those islands can only be reached by boat. If you don’t have a boat of your own, don’t worry. You can take the Island Girl Water Taxi, or the Tropic Star Ferry. We do have two properties, the Sea and the Sun cottages, that sit directly on Charlotte Harbor and offer Charlotte Harbor beach frontage.
Groceries and Shopping
We have one grocery store on the island. The Winn-Dixie is located at the island center and is open every day with the exception of Christmas. There is also a Publix grocery store nearby, it is just off island at the intersection of Burnt Store Rd and Pine Island Rd. The island also has a few produce stands that offer a wide variety of local fruit and produce. There are also lots of boutique shops and art galleries in Matlacha which are a fun way to spend the day.
What to do in Southwest Florida:
There are several areas to shop, eat & play!
Beaches
Cayo Costa
Sanibel & Captiva Island
Fort Myers Beach
Nature & Museums
Calusa Nature & Planetarium
Edison and Ford Winter Estates
IMAG History & Science Center
Attractions & Activites
Paradise Parasail
Tropical Breeze Mini Golf
Everglades Excursions
Sunsplash Waterpark