Pine Island is a largely rural island west of Cape Coral in Southwest Florida known for its mango farms and commercial fishing industry in the Intracoastal Waterway.
Understand
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The island is about 15 mi (24 km) long and about 2 mi (3.2 km) wide. Pine Island Sound separates Pine Island from a series of barrier islands, including Cayo Costa and Captiva Island, which form Florida's western coast on the Gulf of Mexico. Also to the west in the sound are smaller islands such as Cabbage Key and the old Fishing Shacks. Pine Island itself has traditionally been a mango growing region, and there remain several farms that cultivate mangos across the island and sell them in local markets.
Pine Island's climate is tropical, moderated by the waterways and its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico. Summers are hot and very humid, while winters are warm and receive moderate precipitation. Winter is the best time to visit, as during the summer and early fall, Southwest Florida is hurricane-prone and vulnerable to flooding due to low elevation.
Villages
[edit]- 1 Bokeelia — hamlet on the northern tip of the island; boat docks with an off-the-beaten-path feel
- 2 Matlacha — compact, artsy village on the causeway to the island from Cape Coral; known for its indie art galleries and cottages
- 3 Pine Island Center — shopping malls and amenities at the junction of Pine Island and Stringfellow Roads
- 4 Pineland — a Calusa shell mound site and village on the western shore, with access to Pine Island Sound
- 5 St. James City — at the southern end of the island and the largest settlement; home to boat ramps and seafood markets
Get in
[edit]By plane
[edit]Pine Island Airport, an unpaved airstrip on the island, is not open to the public.
By car
[edit]Pine Island Rd from Cape Coral is the only road access to the island, coming from the east. It passes through Matlacha (in the waterway) and Little Pine Island via 1 Matlacha Pass before coming onto the main Pine Island at Pine Island Center.
There is no direct connection by road from Captiva Island or Sanibel Island.
Get around
[edit]By car
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A car is needed to travel around Pine Island, as there is no public transit service on the island, and the nearest bus route is in Cape Coral. Stringfellow Rd (County Road 767) follows the entirety of the island from north to south and is the main highway.
By boat
[edit]It is possible to kayak through the mangrove swamps on the eastern side of the island, and there are marinas on the western side. That said, for getting around the agricultural parts of the island a car is necessary.
- 2 Island Girl Charters, 13921 Waterfront Dr, Bokeelia, ☏ +1 239 633-8142. Water taxi service from Pineland Marina to surrounding islands including Useppa, Cabbage Key, and North Captiva. You can also book a private charter or sightseeing tour, or book a spot on one of their boats between islands. Reservations can be booked through the website. $59 per person round trip; $54 per child; $11 parking fee at Pineland Marina.
See
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1 Old fishing shacks in the Pine Island Sound to the west were constructed on stilts on sandbanks in the early 20th century, and can be visited by boat.
Check out the local ecosystems, which are diverse on the island. It's been shaped by human habitation over the last two hundred years, with agriculture somewhat taking over the local pine flatwood and mangrove environments. That said, much can be seen of the mangroves and other woodlands across the island while driving north or south.
- 2 Calusa Heritage Trail, 13810 Waterfront Dr, Pineland. Sunrise-sunset. Until Spanish colonization in the 16th century, Pine Island was controlled by the Calusa, their capital being a few miles to the southeast at Mound Key. The Calusa had a settlement near Pineland on the west coast of the island where they constructed shell mounds and a canal. The trail passes these mounds and displays plaques detailing the pre-Columbian history of Pine Island.
- 3 Museum of the Islands, 5728 Sesame Dr, Bokeelia, ☏ +1 239 283-1525. Tu-Sa 11AM-3PM. Details the history of the island including the Calusa period (corresponding roughly to the Middle Ages) and the modern era of American settlement from the 19th century to the present. $3 per adult; $1 per child.
Do
[edit]The island has a conservation and outdoorsy culture, with several nature preserves and hiking trails. Some of the these trails such as the St. Jude Nature Trail connecting to "paddling trails". These are kayaking routes through the mangroves around the island.
Boating is also popular. Marinas and boat launches can be found all over the island for different kinds of boats — from kayaks to yachts. If you have an iPhone, check out the app Calusa Blueways, which provides information and instructions for a 190 mi (310 km) canoe and kayak route throughout the region. It follows the east coast of Pine Island and crisscrosses the local waterways including around Sanibel.
- 1 Galt Preserve, 3661 Stringfellow Rd, St. James City, ☏ +1 239 220-7243, [email protected]. A 260-acre forest preserve with several hiking trails.
- 2 Pine Island Commercial Marina, 6001 Maria Dr, St. James City, ☏ +1 239 229-0452, [email protected]. Open to recreational boaters on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays. $10 per car.
- 3 Pine Island Flatwoods Preserve, 6351 Stringfellow Rd, St. James City, ☏ +1 239 220-7243, [email protected]. dawn-dusk. This 900-acre park protects Florida's native pine flatwoods biome, necessitating regular, controlled burns. Designated trails and fire lines make up 7.5 mi (12.1 km) of trails total that can be hiked across the flatwoods ecosystem.
- 4 St. Jude Nature Trail, Crestwell Ct, St. James City. Short trail connected to a paddling (kayak) route through the mangrove forest.
- 5 Tropical Point Park, Tropical Point Dr, St. James City, ☏ +1 239 229-0452, [email protected]. Kayak and canoe launch.
- 6 Wigert-Barron Preserve, 7124 Barrancas Ave, Bokeelia. A 1 mi (1.6 km) trail great for spotting gopher tortoises. Ecosystems across the preserve vary from scrubland at the park entrance to pine flatwoods and mangroves farther north. Pets aren't allowed due to sensitive wildlife.
Buy
[edit]Shopping malls with your typical Florida chain stores (Publix/Winn-Dixie) are in Pine Island Center. Otherwise, markets tend to be small and independent.
- 1 Fruitscapes, 12870 Stringfellow Rd, Bokeelia, ☏ +1 239 218-2848, [email protected]. Mangos, berries, nuts, avocados, and rare fruits are grown at this nursery. Check the website for harvest times of the nursery's various fruits.
- 2 Pine Island Botanicals, 12571 Aubrey Ln, Bokeelia, ☏ +1 239 222-9494, [email protected]. A botanical garden and farm that cultivates tropical fruit (even lychees and star fruit!) and frequented by domestic animals and local wildlife.
- 3 Pineshine Farms, 7401 Stringfellow Road, St. James City, ☏ +1 561 374-9216, [email protected]. Specializes in the sale of antibiotic-free beef and raw dairy, but pork and poultry are also available.
- 4 Stanley's Mangos Home Farm, 6011 Alcorn St, Bokeelia, ☏ +1 239 220-3826, [email protected]. M-Sa 9AM-4PM. A mango farm open from May to September.
- 5 The Mango Factory, 7180 Tropical Ln, Bokeelia, ☏ +1 239 283-0830. You can buy mangos on-site or have them shipped, but check the website first for details regarding when they're in season!
Eat
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Unsurprisingly given Pine Island's coastal location and history, the emphasis is on seafood in local cuisine, but with the Florida touch. Expect fish to be served in tacos, with fruit, and a variety of sauces. Some restaurants and grills use local ingredients. Markets sell locally grown tropical fruits and locally caught seafood.
- 1 Blue Dog Bar & Grill, 4597 Pine Island Rd, Matlacha, ☏ +1 239 558-4970, [email protected]. Tu-Sa 11AM-9PM. The "food is love" seafood diner in Matlacha, sourcing from local ingredients. Plenty of classic American fare.
- 2 El Sazón de Leony, 10493 Stringfellow Rd, Pine Island Center, ☏ +1 239 282-0168, [email protected]. Standard American cuisine, but with some Mexican and Spanish dishes as well, such as paella.
- 3 Salty Girls Island Café, 10700 Stringsfellow Rd #20, Bokeelia, ☏ +1 239 558-4912. American cuisine with shrimp dishes.
- 4 The Eagle's Nest, 10880 Stringfellow Rd, Bokeelia, ☏ +1 239 558-5577, [email protected]. American and Italian cuisine, and seafood. It's allowed to reserve a table online before coming.
Drink
[edit]Most of the places here for a night out are bars and grills with views of the water. There are no pubs or nightclubs per se.
- 1 Yucatan Waterfront Tiki Bar & Grill, 4875 Pine Island Rd, Little Pine Island, Matlacha, ☏ +1 239 283-0113. Tiki and sports bar with typical cuisine such as Key West linguine, ahi tuna nachos, and pineapple bowls (not to mention drinks, of course!). Don't miss the views onto the Intracoastal Waterway facing Matlacha and Cape Coral.
Sleep
[edit]Lodging
[edit]- 1 2 Fish Inn, 2960 Oleander St, St. James City, ☏ +1 239 284-5895, [email protected]. Small resort accommodation on the shore of the waterway, with a swimming pool, fishing docks, and a tiki bar.
- 2 Angler's Inn, 11282 Matlacha Ave, Matlacha, ☏ +1 239 898-2121. Bright blue (in true Matlacha style!) 4-room hotel just off Pine Island Road. Backs onto the waterway near Matlacha Park.
- 3 Off the Charts Island Resort, 2938 Sanibel Blvd, St. James City, ☏ +1 239 558-4886, [email protected]. Hotel with suites. There's a boat dock and trailer parking available here.
- 4 Tarpon Lodge, 13771 Waterfront Dr, Bokeelia, ☏ +1 239 283-3999. Coastal lodges, a boat dock, and restaurant.
Camping
[edit]- 5 Cherry Estates, Cherry Estates Pkwy, St. James City, ☏ +1 239 283-1144, [email protected]. RV park for vacations and long-term stays. Includes waterfront sites for those with boats.
Backcountry
[edit]Parks are closed during the night, and most of the island is used for agriculture or villages, so don't try backcountry camping.
Go next
[edit]- Unless you have a boat and can travel the Gulf Coast's waterways, you'll have to return to Cape Coral.
- Across the river from Cape Coral is Fort Myers.
That said, by boat, you have more options. Across the Pine Island Sound are several spots you can visit for a daytrip or even overnight, such as the tiny islets of Cabbage Key and Useppa Island, which have no bridges to land and are therefore car-free. They're home to resorts and hotels, while farther west is Cayo Costa with its own rugged terrain and beaches.