Gasparilla Island Florida is one of the best gulf coast beaches in Florida. This hidden gem has deserted beaches, abundant seashells, quaint shops and few cars on the road.
Every year, when Easter is in the air and Spring is in full swing, our thoughts turn toward vacation at Gasparilla Island. It is warm, sunny and offers joyful solitude to enjoy one of the last unspoiled small Florida islands. Time stands still on Gasparilla island in the only town of Boca Grande. People still relocate from the North to the island during the winter months between Thanksgiving and Easter. This is called ‘the season’ by the locals. Most people that live on the island own a golf cart and decorate the carts with cushions and colorful awnings. Almost every cart carries the family dogs and places of business provide dishes of water/treats for the family pets. The pace of life is slower on Gasparilla and somehow more innocent. It harkens back to days of afternoon tea, enjoying life on the deck while watching the sunset over the gulf.
Getting To Gasparilla Island
Gasparilla Island Florida is located on the Gulf Coast two hours south of Tampa. The island is accessed via a drawbridge (toll) and consists of one main road that travels from the drawbridge to the other end of the island ending at the Boca Grande Lighthouse and State Park. The roadside is filled with palm trees, flowering hisbiscus, oleanders and beautiful homes. Extensive golf-cart and bike trails allow a slower pace of life. Most visitors just park the car and commute using the golf cart or a bike.
Places to Stay
Our favorite place to stay is a condo or beach house where you can hear the sound of ocean waves. Houses on the beach rent for 7 nights, Saturday – Friday. In the off-season, the rentals are more flexible as well as less expensive. We rent through Boca Grande Real Estate. They are very professional and reliable. The rentals are always clean and well maintained. Several of the rental communities have a pool on site and all have a gorgeous view. And…What a View!
Another, interesting place to stay is The Gasparilla Inn and Club. The Gasparilla Inn is the Matriarch of Inns on the Florida Gulf Coast and has a nice resort feel. It has hosted numerous movie stars and is rumored to have been the favorite place to celebrate Christmas for the George and Barbara Bush family.
For a short term stay, The Innlet is a fun and casual stay. The Innlet is about 2 blocks from the beach and backs onto the canal system. This makes it fun to watch the boats and yachts go by or tie up for lunch at the Innlet’s restaurant, The Outlet at the Innlet.
Beaches and Things to Do
Not only does Gasparilla Island have the best gulf coast beach in Florida, but beaches on Gasparilla Island are all public beaches. This means that beach access is available from numerous streets in the town of Boca Grande and at State Park access points the length of the island. Beaches are quiet and uncrowded. Parties, loud music and festivals are discouraged and may require a permit. The beaches are not populated with people wearing bikinis and Gasparilla Island is definitely not a Spring Break venue. Swimming in the ocean is great, we have not heard of a lot of sharks or seen very many jelly fish. Seashells are abundant and beautiful (the picture above is on the beach at Gasparilla island).
Boat Tours and Fishing
There are several private boat tours that go to other islands as well as fishing charters. Boca Grande is known as the Tarpon capital of Florida. We have never chartered a fishing boat or taken a boat tour out of Gasparilla Island as we just can’t bring ourselves to leave the beach! There are surf fishermen at the Boca Grande Lighthouse Point every morning. We aren’t sure who has more fun with these fishermen–the gulls or the people.
Golf Carts
We highly recommend renting a golf cart for your entire stay on the island. It is a fun way to tour the island, view mansions and get to and from restaurants and the beach. We have found that golf carts are a good way to slow down and they are our favored way to enjoy Gasparilla Island. There are no stop lights, gas stations or chain restaurants on the island. Nightlife generally is defined as staying too long at the beach and having to find your way back to the condo in the dark.
Sights
There is a small museum at the Boca Grande Lighthouse and at the Boca Grande Public Library. Both are interesting and a good way to get out of the heat, if the afternoon sun is just burning things up. The Boca Grande Public Library may appear to be a strange choice but it is a must see and checking out books doesn’t have anything to do with its allure. The Boca Grande Public Library houses rare books and one of the last copies of the Guttenburg Bible. There are also extensive shell collections on view as well as a garden and fountain.
Shopping
Shopping in the islands only town of Boca Grande is fun and easy. There are several beach outfitters and casual clothing stores. We usually pack very few clothes when coming to Gasparilla Island. We know that we will buy several outfits at Fresh Produce and yet another sun hat at Gasparilla Outfitters. Except for the dining room at the Gasparilla Inn, dress is shorts or capris and tee shirts.
Restaurants and Food
We generally eat out once a day while we are on the island. The rest of the time, we eat at the condo. Eating at the condo can be great fun! Every afternoon (except Sundays), Hudson Grocery receives their fresh catch of the day. We go most afternoons about 3PM and pick up just enough supplies for dinner along with our fresh catch. They’ll even give you advice on the best way to cook your fresh catch. The best fresh catch of day that we have tried is ‘hog fish’. This was truly the best fish we have ever eaten. Preparation is simple–bake with butter, salt and pepper and lemon zest. Hudson Grocery has a surprising array of groceries and staples as well as fresh vegetables and fruit. Other fish and shrimp are always available if the fresh catch isn’t your style.
The Loose Caboose is our favorite restaurant on the island. They have fish baskets (made with fresh local caught fish) with fries, salads, soup and burgers. Their Key Lime Pie is the best that we have ever eaten and we splurge several times every visit to the island. Dining on the patio is available and many of the locals bring their dogs to dine with them on the patio.
The Outlet at the Innlet is the best breakfast in Boca Grande. They have homemade muffins and cinnamon rolls as well as all the normal breakfast staples. You can dine inside or out on the deck. They are also open for lunch with burgers and sandwiches. The Outlet is always our final stop when leaving the island. The muffins help to take away the sadness that we feel even when we know that we will come back again and again.
The Gasparilla Inn is the fanciest restaurant on the island. They specialize in classic Florida Gulf Coast cuisine. The Gasparilla Inn restaurant has a dress code and is considered expensive. The dining room is elegant and the food is refined.
Tips and Tricks
Finally, take an empty suitcase to carry home shells. This is a must because even a medium suitcase won’t hold all the perfect shells that we find. We usually bring home around 25 lbs of shells per trip. Bring a backpack and shelling bags and water shoes.
Shelling bags are easy to make from Dollar Store washing bags that either zip or have a drawstring at the top. We sew up the bag about halfway up the length and cut if off to make is easier to carry.
A flashlight is a must as it is easy to stay on the beach too long and finding the condo is hard in the dark (yes we know this from personal experience).
Every year, about 2 weeks before Thanksgiving and 2 weeks after Easter, the siren call comes to us and Gasparilla Island won’t leave our thoughts until we visit once again. Nowhere else on the Florida Gulf Coast have we found old Florida, beautiful, clean beaches, the friendliness of a small town and SHELLS! Millions and millions of beautiful, perfect shells. Gasparilla Island Florida is truly one of the best gulf coast beaches in Florida!