For information on Boca Grande, go to bocagrandechamber.net. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LEE COUNTY VISITOR & CONVENTION BUREAU

Visitors driving along the Boca Grande Causeway are welcomed by turquoise-blue waters plied by boats ranging from yachts to kayaks. Completing the Gasparilla picture: Sandy beaches, a historic train trestle, high-end shopping and more fishing holes than anyone without a skilled guide can find.

Attractions begin over the bridges at the North Village, anchored by the Boca Grande Hotel. Some of the businesses include CourtYard Hair, Kappy’s Market and Uncle Henry’s Marina. Seafood connoisseurs will find a plethora of eateries to satisfy their taste buds, such as Temptation Restaurant, Sisters Restaurant, and Eagle Grille and Miller’s Dockside.

Whether you switch to a golf cart, bicycle the island path or drive the nearly 8 miles to the south end to view the famed Port Boca Grande Lighthouse and Museum, the key to enjoying Gasparilla is to let your cares slip away and fall into island time.

There is no place in the world where fishing is more abundant or varied. Team with a member of the Boca Grande Fishing Guides Association to maximize your enjoyment in the Boca Grande Pass, Gasparilla Sound or saltwater flats. For even more of an adventure and challenge, head out into the Gulf for deep-sea game.

All beaches are swim at your own risk because of the stream of underwater wildlife that runs through the swift currents of the pass. Adventurers and shell-collectors alike know how much fun it can be. Others watch and fish from the safety of the sand, especially in prime spots.

No mention of attractions can omit The Gasparilla Inn. It attracts visitors the world over to its Pete Dye-designed championship golf course, croquet and tennis courts, and world-class cuisine at The Pink Elephant historic restaurant and others.

PLACES TO GO

• Gasparilla Island Lighthouse

220 Gulf Blvd., 941-964-0060

THINGS TO DO

There are several Gulf-side beach locations; not all have a beach to access, but all offer excellent views of the ocean. Some beach sites and accesses remain closed due to the storms. Parking is limited.

There are also bayside locations, some as small as a walking path to others that allow canoe and kayak launching.

On the southern end of the island, there are more than a dozen walking paths from Gulf Boulevard to the beach. They are unmarked, primitive and without parking.

A Saltwater Fishing License is required to saltwater fish from shore.

• Boca Grande Marina, 220 Harbor Drive, 941-964-2100, bocagrandemarina.net

• The Inn Marina, 500 Palm Ave., 941-964-4620, the-gasparilla-inn.com/activities/marina

• Uncle Henry’s Marina, 5820 Gasprailla Road, 941-964-0154, unclehenrysmarina.com

• Whidden’s Marina, 190 First St. E., 941-964-2878, whiddensmarina.com