Little Gasparilla Island, a tropical barrier island just off the west coast of Florida, can only be reached by boat and therefore has no paved roads or cars, only sandy pathways made for golf carts and foot traffic. Beach cottages dot the island with that Old Florida charm reminiscent of the keys. When your feet hit the sand, all worries fade away and you’ll be immersed in island vibes of pure relaxation. Enjoy seven miles of unspoiled beaches, Florida wildlife, friendly visitors and endless sunshine. Have a cocktail before noon, go skinny dipping, build a bon fire- anything goes on the island as long as you keep the peace and don’t disturb the few locals.

Things to do:

• Kayaking. You can kayak around the uninhabited bird island and over to the abandoned train bridge or across the channel to Boca Grande. Throw a fishing pole in and you’re sure to catch something while cruising along. A sand bar comes out during low tide by the bridge and another juts out on the south side of bird island. Take a break to cool off floating in the knee deep water.

• Have yourself a beach party. Pack a cooler, radio, chairs, umbrella, sand castle tools, etc. and setup camp on the beach.

• Take a morning stroll for sea shells. LGI is one of the best shelling islands in America. You can find all types of shells and sharks teeth walking along the beach. If your feeling extra zen go for some early yoga on the beach like my momm

• Enjoy the very best sunsets. Make sure to head out to the beach for a breathtaking west coast sunset every night your on the island.

• Go fishing. If you came by boat there’s great fishing all around the island. Pick up bait from Eldred’s Marina before you head out and they’ll give you advice on some hot spots. No boat, no worries. Walk down to the southern point where you can wade out into the surf and cast into the channel. You’ll have the best luck on an outgoing tide and all you need is a saltwater jig.

• Enjoy Florida’s native wildlife. We see dolphins and manatees and turtles every trip. If you see manatees in the canal turn on your fresh water hose and they’ll come right up to you.

• Drive a golf cart or take a walk to explore other houses on the island. Pathways with tropical palms hanging overhead make way to the cutest little beach cottages and you’re sure to meet other friendly visitors. If your accommodations don’t come with a golf cart you can rent from lgicarts@gmail.com (941) 697-3820.
• Boat to Cabbage Key for lunch. This fun spot south of Boca Grande Pass is known for its great food and dollar bills hung by patrons covering every inch of the walls. It is only accessible by boat, about a 40-60 min cruise from LGI depending on your speed.

• Relax on deck. Sometimes the best thing to do is nothing at all. Soak up the sunshine in a hammock or lounge chair wherever you’re staying on the island.

How to get to the island:

LGI is actually part of the bigger, more touristy Don Pedro Island. It is cut off from Don Pedro Island by a large nature preserve of submerged mangroves which makes it its own private oasis accessible only by boat. Here’s a few ways to get to the island:

• By personal boat: There are two marinas near LGI. Your best bet and cheapest option is to offload your boat and park at Eldred’s marina. The address is 6301 Boca Grande Causeway, Placida, FL 33946. Car parking onsite cost $6/day, there may be an additional fee with a boat trailer.
• Rent a boat: Allure Rentals is located in Englewood and rents boats out for multiple days. You can park onsite for free and keep the boat the duration of your stay which makes it very convenient. If multiple parties are joining we usually have one car pick up the boat and the rest park at Eldred’s marina which is a much quicker boat ride. From Allure to the island by boat takes about 30 minutes.
• By water taxi: There is one private water taxi service called Pirates water taxi. You must call Emmett at 941-697-5777 to schedule an appointment (no texting or email). Call a few days in advance as he fills up quick. You should be conservative with your scheduled pickup time. He expects you are waiting with all bags on the dock ready to load up when he gets there. He is not the friendliest captain, but is the only option on and off the island if you don’t have a boat. Emmett picks up from Eldred’s Marina (6301 Boca Grande Causeway, Placida, FL 33946) and charges 10$/person each way with a 20$ minimum. You’ll have to buy a parking pass to place in your window. Parking is 6$/day and you buy the pass at the little bait shop

Where to stay:

Most the houses on the island are available for rent via VRBO when the owners aren’t using them. My family and family friends have had a place there for years which is my personal favorite. It’s located on one of two small canals so you can dock your boat right out front and is a super quick walk to the beach. It has a huge upper and lower patio with BBQ grill and a bar made from old wooden water skis. You can browse all the rental properties here.

Important to know before going:

There are no commercial establishments on the island so make sure you bring all the food and drink you’ll need for your stay. There’s a large Publix with liquor store not far from Eldred’s Marina. Be sure to load up on everything especially if you wont have your own boat.

Thanks for reading! I hope one day you can make a trip to paradise!