Did you know Jimmy Buffett's "Cheeseburger in Paradise" is Cabbage Key? Check it out on one of our out-island cruises. Visit the historical Museum of the Islands, see Florida as it was 100 years ago. Click on these links to learn more.
At Channel Marker 60 in the Intracoastal Waterway, accessible only by boat, lies Cabbage Key, a tiny island alive with charm and history. Built atop an ancient Calusa Indian shell mound, the cozy inn was constructed by playwright and novelist Mary Roberts Rinehart in 1938. Today, there are six guest rooms, a marina, nature trails, a wooden water tower to climb for a great view of Pine Island Sound and a picturesque dining room wallpapered with thousands of autographed $1 bills. Lunch and dinner cruises run from Fort Myers, Pine Island and Captiva Island regularly. Location: Milemarker 60 on the Intracoastal Waterway; P.O. Box 200, Pineland, FL 33945; (941) 283-2278.
Learn how Pine Island was formed and settled and about the Calusa Indians who made their home here. Historical artifacts, ecological displays and artifacts from the Calusa Indian, including a dugout canoe, depict the island's history. Open daily in season (November-May) Tuesday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Open May through November, Thursday-Sunday, 1-4 p.m. Location: at Pine Island Center, corner of Russell Road and Sesame Drive; 5287 Sesame Dr., Bokeelia, FL 33922; (941) 283-1525.
To experience Lee County's offshore coastal islands, take a day-long cruise on the 59-passenger Tropic Star to Cabbage Key and Cayo Costa State Island Preserve. Departing from Four Winds Marina everyday at 9:45 a.m., the cruise first drops passengers at Cayo Costa, then proceeds on to Cabbage Key for lunch at its famous inn. The cruise stops again at Cayo Costa on its return, arriving back at Bokeelia at 4 p.m. Well-versed guides point out the sights and talk about the history of the area while passengers shell, swim, fish or just enjoy the view on this cruise. Dolphin generally can be seen playing in the bow wake. Prices are $18 for adults and $10 for children ages 2-12; lunch at Cabbage Key is on your own. Reservations for the day cruise are required. Sunset cruises available Saturdays and Sundays leaving at about 4 p.m. and costing $7 per person. Call for times. Special group charters are available. Location: Four Winds Marina, P.O. Box 627, Bokeelia, FL 33922; (941) 283-0015.
A converted mango-picking trailer takes passengers on a tour through one of the state's oldest mango groves, planted in the 1920's. Learn about growing tropical fruit and spices in Southwest Florida. The tour ends with samples of tropical fruit delights such as mango chutney, preserves and fresh fruit in season. Tours cost $5 for adults, $2 for children younger than 12. Reservations must be made in advance. Location: 7113 Howard Rd., Bokeelia, FL 33922; (941) 283-1200.
Spend the day or take an overnight camping trip in the natural habitat of Southwest Florida. Daily (except Mondays) sea kayak tours are offered to explore the many coastal islands of the Lee Island Coast. Get up close to dolphin, stingrays, manatees, eagles, ospreys, and other wildlife. Daily guided trips are offered in Matlacha Aquatic Preserve and the Hurricane Bay area of Fort Myers Beach. Full-moon trips are scheduled each month and new-moon astronomy trips are offered. By reservation, trips can be scheduled to Mound Key, North Captiva and Cayo Costa. Half-day guided tours are $35 per person and include kayak instruction, sunscreen, bug repellent, water, health food snacks, dry bags for storage and personal floatation devices. Overnight trips range from $95 to $125 per person. Individuals may rent kayaks for use near their launch area in the Matlacha Aquatic Preserve or be outfitted for camping on Cayo Costa. Special groups rates are available. Location: 4882 NW Pine Island Road, Matlacha, FL 33909; (941) 283-1125.