Day Trip to Boca Grande

Sometimes you get a long weekend and want to get away but for some one reason or another you just can’t make it out of town! Fret no more, Here’s the scoop on the perfect day trip right in SWFL! Our final destination will be Boca Grande! It is a quaint little town full of great restaurants and a beautiful beach. By car Boca Grande is approximately an hour away but on boat it’s a quick and fun 30 mins! 

First things first wake up early and head down to Pineland Marina.

From there you can take a charter with Captain Tom from Pine Island Charters. He will take you through Charlotte Harbor and 15 minutes into the boat ride you will see the water turn into a bright turquoise! Get your cameras ready in case you see some dolphins. Capt. Tom will pull into a public slip/boat ramp area that is typically known as the Pink Elephant Boat Ramp. It is by the well known Pink Elephant Restaurant (Great dining location, btw). 

Once you have arrived, it’s a short 5 minute walk by the Gasparilla Inn Beach Club into the heart of town, where you will find multiple restaurants and markets. One of them is the Dolphin Cove Cafe, which is a Cafe, Market and they also rent golf carts! A golf cart rental is recommended if you want to explore the town. From there short drive down the road you will find Banyan Road- this picturesque road is famous for being the backdrop to family and wedding pictures. Definitely a photo op!

Now get back on the golf cart and head to Lighthouse Beach.

Not only will you be able to see the beautiful white and black lighthouse, but you can enjoy the beach with it’s wonderful white sands and turquoise waters. Lighthouse Beach is also great for shelling and many times you’ll find a bunch of sharks teeth that just wash up on shore. After a few relaxing hours at the beach you can head down the road to the Port Boca Grande Lighthouse and Museum. Known as the original lighthouse, it’s a must-see. The drive there will be scenic full of amazing houses and vegetation.

As the day winds down…

choose one of the many great restaurants, As mentioned above The Pink Elephant, Also Sisters Restaurant and Eagle Grille are rated as some of the best restaurants on the island. So stop by there for dinner before returning the golf cart and taking the charter back to Pineland. Hopefully you are able to catch the sunset on the way back as a perfect ending to the perfect day!

If you choose to stay on the island for the night…

There are many great hotels and inns. The most well known one being the Boca Grande Resort. It has luxurious accommodations and a great location! It’s the perfect place for your family vacation, corporate getaway or wedding! They offer a secluded beach and many different types of entertainment for the whole family.