FILE PHOTO

Once you cross the Matlacha Bridge into Pine Island, you will find that these islanders are not in a hurry. You’ve now become part of the largest island on the southwest Florida coastline where a community made of tight-knit neighbors waits to greet you. From the Matlacha (most “fishing-est”) Bridge in the world to the tip of Bokeelia or Saint James City, you can fish, hunt for goodies, or relax and breathe in the salt air. The Pine Island community is exceptional at making one another a priority, as neighbors look out for one another as though they are truly family. This is one of the most cherished qualities islanders confess they most love when it comes to Pine Island. Being resilient in their mission to achieve Pine Island Strong level intensity is something to which you might see, hear, come to believe in and even adhere to yourself after a short visit.

Perfect Day

Whether you are spending a day touring Pine Island and Matlacha, or even if you have come for much longer, there are a great deal of interesting things to see, learn, and do to keep you engaged. For starters, there is nothing that compares to getting your day off with a great breakfast.

Owner Rich Chalupski will welcome you to the Perfect Cup in Matlacha, where you can visit with locals over a cup of fresh coffee. Many folks from Matlacha congregate daily there, as they are open 7 days a week.

Salty Girls Island Café is another great choice, where Pine Islanders love to gather, especially since there is seating available inside the café and outdoors. Owner Lisa Dence and her friendly, efficient staff are ready to welcome you and your family and friends each morning, with fresh classic favorites, such as biscuits and gravy, or even fresh fruit if you’re eating light.

After you’ve eaten a hardy breakfast, you might want to take a trip over to the Randell Research Center, museum of natural history, in Pineland. The Calusa Heritage Trail is open daily for self-guided visits from sunrise to sunset.

If you’re a history buff, the Museum of the Islands (MOTI) has many great pieces and even cool items from here on Pine Island.

Post adventure, you may find an appetite building once again.

Perhaps fresh seafood, or a fantastic burger is what you crave.

You may want to venture out to Bokeelia’s Lazy Flamingo for perhaps the best burger you’ve ever had or at the center of the island, there is the lovely Street Eatz and Ale, owned by Chef Reid Freeman, who prides himself on finding just the right amount of resident flavor to make you feel like a local.

If you find that what you’re craving falls more on the standard delicious side, Pine Island Pizza is also right in the center. A delicious Italian menu awaits you, with a smiling staff, who make a habit of serving up the best pizza for miles around.

If you simply love Native American style jewelry or souvenirs, you’re going to want to check out, Traders Hitching Post, in the heart of Matlacha. For a farmers market style browse, one may fancy a trip to Pine Island Tropicals or Fruitscapes to see what they’re growing. Don’t forget some of Mama Donna’s goodies, made famous by Martha Stewart.

A day of touring and meandering at will, may leave your tummy grumbling for dinner. In case you weren’t planning to walk across Matlacha Bridge to fish for your own dinner, Blue Dog Bar and Grill is a Pine Island, Matlacha favorite. Owners John Lynch and Jesse Tincher have made a habit of keeping their attentive staff happily employed, even through the recent storms. If you’d like a panorama landscape, you can take a scenic ride out to the Tarpon Lodge in Bokeelia. Owner Rob Wells keeps things running like a well-oiled machine, whether you’re there for a gourmet meal, an overnight stay, or simply to gaze at a beautiful sunset. Tarpon Lodge, is an incredible place to do all of these things and often lent to islanders with charitable intent, such as at Beacon of Hope’s Holiday House fundraiser event, each year.

There is no getting around the soulful Pine Island vibe, felt easily through the artistry, fresh seafood, and charitable nature of the island and Pine Islanders. Come and meet us!

The Perfect Cup

4548 Pine Island Rd.

283-4447

Open 7 Days

Salty Girls Island Cafe

10700 Stringfellow Rd #30

558-4912

Open Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday

Randell Research Center

13810 Waterfront Drive, Bokeelia

www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/rrc/ or 239-283-2157

Museum of the Islands

Located in Pine Island Center, this little gem’s exhibits include shells, dolls, household items, and fishing artifacts. The museum is housed in a former library building. It opened in 1989. Museum hours are: May-October, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday 11 a.m.-3 p.m. November-April, Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and Sunday, 1-4 p.m.

More info: www.museumoftheislands.com or 239-283-1525

Address: 5728 Sesame Drive, Bokeelia

Lazy Flamingo Restaurant 3

16501-B Stringfellow Rd

283-5959

Open 7 Days

Street Eatz & Ale

5508 Avenue A

312-4697

Open Tuesday-Sunday

Pine Island Pizza

5465 Pine Island Rd.

283-7992

Open 7 Days

Traders Hitching Post

4547 Pine Island Rd C, Matlacha, FL 33993

FruitScapes

239-237-6657

12870 Stringfellow Rd, Bokeelia, FL 33922

Pine Island Tropicals

12870 Stringfellow Rd, Bokeelia, FL 33922

Blue Dog Bar and Grill

4597 Pine Island Rd.

558-4970

Open Tuesday-Saturday

Tarpon Lodge and Restaurant

13771 Waterfront Drive in Pineland. Open daily II:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. Come by boat or car: N 26.39.562 W 82.9.180. 239-283-3999

Great Places To Eat

Matlacha

Miceli’s Waterfront Restaurant

3930 Pine Island Rd.

282-8233

Open 7 Days

The Perfect Cup

4548 Pine Island Rd.

283-4447

Open 7 Days

That BBQ Place

4590 Pine Island Rd.

312-8557

Open 7 Days

Blue Dog Bar & Grill

4597 Pine Island Rd.

558-4970

Open Tuesday-Saturday

CW Fudge Factory, LLC

4548 Pine Island Rd

283-9911

Open 7 Days

Yucatan

Waterfront Bar & Grill

4875 Pine Island Rd.

Matlacha 283-0113

Sun-Thur 11am-9pm

Fri & Sat 11am-10pm

CENTER

Pine Island Pizza

5465 Pine Island Rd.

283-7992

Open 7 Days

Street Eatz & Ale

5508 Avenue A

312-4697

Open Tuesday-Sunday

Tacos El Viejon Food Truck

5476 Avenue A

470-5830

Open Tuesday-Saturday

Salty Girls Island Cafe

10700 Stringfellow Rd #30

558-4912

Open Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday

Spots Ice Cream, Crepes & Sauces

10700 Stringfellow Rd. #80

966-4036

Open Monday-Saturday

The Eagle’s Nest Restaurant

10880 Stringfellow Rd

558-5577

Open Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday

Danny’s Cuban Pizza

10493 Stringfellow Rd.

282-0168

Open Monday-Saturday

ST JAMES CITY

Pine Island Getaway Cafe

5281 Doug Taylor Circle

283-3602

Open Tuesday- Sunday

The Frozen Flip Flop

10191 Stringfellow Rd

616 516-6118

Open 7 Days

Domino’s Pizza

9860 Stringfellow Rd

283-8030

Open 7 Days

China Garden III

9846 Stringfellow Rd

283-8891

Open 7 Days

Froggy’s Bar & Grill

3620 Stringfellow Rd

283-3773

Open 7 Days

Marker 3 Coastal Cantina

3421 Stringfellow Rd

966-4064

Open 7 Days

Low Key Tiki

3135 Stringfellow Rd

282-8454

Open 7 Days

Phuzzy’s Boat Shack

3051 Stringfellow Rd

283-5555

Open 7 Days

The Waterfront Restaurant

& Marina

2131 Oleander St

283-0592

Open Monday-Saturday

PINELAND

Tarpon Lodge & Restaurant

13771 Waterfront Drive

283-3999

Open 7 Days

Tarpon Lodge & Restaurant offers a tranquil getaway steeped in “Old Florida” tradition and is famous for its acclaimed dining and unparalleled inshore and coastal fishing in an “island casual” atmosphere.

They are located at 13771 Waterfront Drive in Pineland. They are open daily II :30 a.m. – 9 p.m. Come by boat or car: N 26.39.562 W 82.9.180. 239-283-3999

BOKEELIA

Lazy Flamingo Restaurant 3

16501-B Stringfellow Rd

283-5959

Open 7 Days

Kickstands Bar & Grill

10251 Stringfellow Rd.

St James City, FL

Sun- 11am-4pm

Mon-Thur 11am-8pm

Fri & Sat 11am-10pm

579-0532

Jug Creek Marina & Fish House

16498 Tortuga St.

Bokeelia

283-3331

Tues-Sat 7AM- 10PM

Sun & Mon 7AM-6PM

Places To Go And Learn Something New

Randell Research Center

Visitors can tour this internationally significant site and learn about Calusa culture and their environment. The book store is now open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday-Saturday. The Calusa Heritage Trail is open daily for self-guided visits from sunup to sundown. Restrooms, book and gift shop, and classroom are open Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Guided tours are available by special request for family groups, with COVID protocols, dependent on guide availability. To request a guided tour, call the RRC.

More info: www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/rrc/ or 239-283-2157

Address: 13810 Waterfront Drive, Bokeelia

Museum of the Islands

Located in Pine Island Center, this little gem’s exhibits include shells, dolls, household items, and fishing artifacts. The museum is housed in a former library building. It opened in 1989. Museum hours are: May-October, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday 11 a.m.-3 p.m. November-April, Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and Sunday, 1-4 p.m.

More info: www.museumoftheislands.com or 239-283-1525

Address: 5728 Sesame Drive, Bokeelia

Pine Island Tropicals

This tropical plant nursery and outdoor farmers market specializes in organically grown plants and vegetables. Frequent visits to the nursery reveal the seasonality of the fruits and vegetables; therefore not all of the produce is available year round. They continually do research and development of different plant cultivars to further not only their education but enhance the wide varieties they offer.

More info: https://pineislandtropicals.com or 239-283-4874

Address: 12870 Stringfellow Road, Bokeelia

More Places To Go

GALLERIES

If artwork is on your radar, you may enjoy a visit to what Pine Island has to offer:

Bokeelia Art Gallery: Hours are seasonal and subject to change. This unique Art Gallery set in beautiful Charlotte Harbor features many local painters, pottery, glass and jewelry.

More info: www.bokeeliaartgallery.com or 239-738-5280

Address: 8315 Main Street, Bokeelia