Gasparilla Island

Gasparilla Island is a scenic barrier island located just off the southwest coast of Florida between Fort Myers and Sarasota. Separated from the mainland by Pine Island Sound and Charlotte Harbor, this idyllic tropical island boasts recreational opportunities for swimming, sailing, snorkeling, scuba diving and nature viewing along with world-renowned fishing! If you enjoy saltwater angling, you certainly won’t be disappointed with trophy tarpon, snook, redfish and speckled trout inhabiting these waters. Shelling is another popular activity here which is particularly good during the winter months, and there are two picnic areas which offer pavilions for resting in the shade after a long day at the beach.

Boca Grande is the largest town on the island, and has a charming mix of restaurants, shops, art galleries and inns. But be careful to watch out for the golf carts which are the preferred method of getting around on the island, which is not surprising given that this quiet community is sometimes known as the “Nantucket of Florida”. After all, this is an island that has no high rises or stop lights which makes it the perfect island retreat!

One of the centerpieces on Gasparilla Island is the restored Boca Grande Lighthouse on the south end of the island which was built in 1890. From this point, visitors have a very scenic view of Boca Grande Pass, a swift-moving waterway that leads to the entrance to Charlotte Harbor. The seven-mile long island is also home of the Gasparilla Island State Park which draws visitors throughout the year. Access to the island is via the Boca Grande Causeway (private toll) at County Road 775 from the nearby town of Placida.

Caledesi Island State Park

Caledesi Island is the only natural island on Florida’s Gulf Coast where you can enjoy the nation’s #1 rated beach, take a hike, go kayaking, have a picnic, and visit the island’s snack bar and gift shop—all in the same day! Beach lovers can enjoy swimming, sunbathing, and beachcombing. Not only that, but the island is accessible only by private boat or ferry service so you’ll basically have this white sand paradise all to yourself!

There is a 3-mile hiking trail and recreational activities abound. Nature enthusiasts can view ospreys, gopher tortoises and a rich diversity of plant life. Saltwater anglers can fish from their boats or wade in the surf, and the park even has a marina with electric and water hookups. The kayak trail winds its way across the surrounding bay through scenic mangroves and makes for a relaxing getaway in the warm tropical sun! The next time you’re planning to visit Tampa Bay area, make sure to set aside some time to visit this magnificent natural treasure, which is located just one mile west of Dunedin and only a short distance from Clearwater. Click here to see a list of Clearwater Vacation Rentals.

The cost for the ferry is $10.00 for adults and $6.00 for children ages four to twelve. Trips depart hourly beginning at 10 a.m. and ferry passengers are allotted a four-hour stay on the island. You may contact the ferry office at (727) 734-1501 or the Caladesi Island State Park office at (727) 469-5918 for more information.

Driving Directions to Perdido Key

Directions to Perdido Key Beach:


Take I-65 South from Birmingham

Take Exit 69, Flomaton/Wallace (@180 miles from Homewood)

From Exit ramp, turn left on Hwy 113

Go 14 miles, then turn right on Hwy 29 South

Go 1 mile, then turn left just past Hardee’s

Go 38 miles, then take I-10 West toward Mobile

Go 3 miles, then take Exit 7, Pine Forest

From Exit ramp, turn left on Pine Forest

Go 2.5 miles, then turn right on Blue Angel Parkway (Hwy 173)

Go 10 miles, then turn right on Serento (Hwy 292)

Go 7 miles (you’ll go over a bridge into Perdido)

These driving directions were sent in recently from a friend who goes this way often and has used and shared these directions for several years. They were also tested recently by some Beachguide employees. If you try these directions, please provide any comments or suggestions for our fellow Beachguide travelers. Thanks!

Last-minute Family Beach Vacations

Conditions are perfect on the Emerald Coast for a last-minute family beach vacation. Emerald green waters are crystal clear – in Destin there is no sea weed and no jelly fish in sight – a nice improvement over the past few weeks. Summer has finally warmed the water to a pleasant, relaxing temperature. Some of the crowds have gone home, making it easier to dine out without the wait or drive through some of the more congested areas. We were also in Panama City Beach and the Hwy 30A area this week and they looked even less crowded.

The past week my daughter and I enjoyed our annual trip to The Track – one of our favorite amusment parks in Destin. We try to go early or late summer when the park isn’t too crowded, but we hit it just right this year – arriving aound 5:30 there were no waiting lines for either Track. We also visited The Gulfarium in Fort Walton for the first time. The dolphin and sea lion shows are all outside, so the warm sea breezes kept the summer heat under control. My daughter loved the shows – they were certainly entertaining – I got an extra kick out of the 1950’s-style ambience. We also stopped by the Silver Sand Outlets this week for some last-minute back-to-school shopping – we found some great bargains. It was a trip we don’t make in the middle of summer because of traffic and crowds and heat – but this was a great week to spend a little time shopping. We also went to look at some of our favorite art galleries and shops in Seaside and the Grayton Beach area.

We’re so thrilled the weather is cooperating for one more week before school starts back (mid-August for us) – especially because Red Snapper season closes August 14th. We’ve enjoyed some spectacular days on the Gulf recently, catching mainly snapper and grouper. We love taking friends out – recently my husband and I took our 7-year old daughter, her teenage cousin and another friend. We didn’t look like a serious threat to the fish in the sea, but we loaded the boat with black snapper, red snapper and grouper. My brother-in-law Henry makes an awesome Greek-style baked snapper that’s relatively easy to prepare – you just coat the fish with fresh lemon juice, Lowry’s seasoning, garlic powder, finely chopped onions and tomatoes; then drizzle with feta cheese and plenty of olive oil. We love fish grilled, fried, sauteed – all kinds of ways – but this is one of our best and easiest recipes.



We had so much fun on that trip that the following weekend we went again – just the three of us this time – heading out into some questionable weather. There were only a few other boats out – I was concerned – but I’ve been at sea (and in the air) with my husband John enough to know that we’d probably survive and have plenty of fish to show for it. The 5 or 6 foot waves slowed our trip out, but once we got there the fish were biting and we all reeled in a few before the rain started. Clouds and rain got so heavy we lost sight of land, but the fish were still biting and we couldn’t stop until we reached our limit of snapper. John pulled in a whopper grouper, well over the 22-inch minimum requirement, with our last piece of bait.

Besides relaxing and playing on the beach, there is really an endless supply of activities for family fun on the Gulf – and just a little more time to enjoy them before school starts back. Charter a fishing trip, take a sunset cruise, a dolphin excursion or even a snorkel trip . Or rent a boat or jet ski or bike or kayak for the day. Go parasailing! Visit area museums, art galleries, shops, golf courses. And of course enjoy dining anywhere from the numerous casual beach-front seafood eateries to world-famous gourmet restaurants. It’s all on the gorgeous Gulf Coast in Alabama and Florida. For more information on planning your perfect beach vacation getaway, visit http://www.beachguide.com/.

Discover Florida’s Forgotten Coast

The natural unspoiled environment known as “Florida’s Forgotten Coast”, which is comprised of the quiet coastal communities of Apalachicola, St. George Island and Eastpoint, offers a unique look into the rich traditions of Florida’s Gulf Coast. This colorful area is best known for its excellent oysters, superb fishing, and mouth-watering seafood, but there is much more to this charming region which surrounds Apalachicola Bay than the fishing and seafood industries. Life always seems to run at a slower pace around here than the rest of the world, and judging by all appearances, that’s just fine with the locals and visitors alike.

The bustling town of Apalachicola dates back to 1831 and was originally a hub in the booming cotton trade, which is still evidenced by its wide streets and brick warehouses that were designed to accommodate cotton after it was unloaded at the docks. Today, Apalachicola is truly a Gulf Coast traveler’s dream and boasts a burgeoning collection of charming hotels, acclaimed restaurants and trendy gift shops. Visitors to “Apalach”, as this delightful town is more commonly referred to by its residents, can take a walking tour of the historic downtown area, line up a fishing guide, sailing charter, diving trip, or eco tour, and still have time left over to take a sunset cruise. A little known fact about Apalachicola is that the John Gorrie Museum houses the first ice machine designed by local physician John Gorrie way back in 1851 to treat yellow fever patients, which was the predecessor to modern air conditioning. While you’re here, also be sure to visit the Apalachicola Museum of Art, Maritime Museum, Chapman Botanical Garden, Dixie Theatre, Lafayette and Battery Parks, Trinity Episcopal Church, and Cape St. George Lighthouse out on St. George Island.

For nature lovers, there are miles of uncrowded beaches, protected bays, and State and National forests to explore. You’ll definitely want to check out St. George Island State Park, St. Joseph Peninsula State Park, Tate’s Hell State Forest, and St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge. St. Vincent Island is an uninhabited barrier island at the west end of Apalachicola Bay which is accessible only by boat (visitors can take a shuttle which departs and returns daily from nearby Indian Pass). The island features a unique wildlife habitat which includes the endangered red wolf, exotic sambar deer which were imported from Southeast Asia in 1908, and 260 species of birds. Tate’s Hell State Forest is located at the other end of the bay beyond Eastpoint, and offers visitors thousands of acres for hiking, biking, canoeing, and nature viewing. Both the St. George Island and St. Joe State Parks have miles of beautiful white sand beaches, majestic dunes and salt marshes with abundant opportunities for walking, birding, camping, swimming and snorkeling.

One of the highlights in Apalachicola every year is the Annual Florida Seafood Festival which is held in early November, and offers arts, crafts, and entertainment for the entire family. In addition to being the state’s oldest seafood festival, the Florida Seafood Festival features the annual crowning of Queen Retsyo, who is escorted ceremoniously down the Apalachicola River in a cabin cruiser befitting the occasion by a small flotilla of boats (in case you’re wondering the meaning of “Retsyo”, that’s O-Y-S-T-E-R spelled backwards). The Florida Seafood Festival is the perfect opportunity for newcomers to get a flavor of the region and its people, not to mention a delicious sampling of the area’s fresh local seafood, whether you like it broiled, grilled or fried.

St. George Island, the other jewel on the “Forgotten Coast”, may be reached by taking Highway 98 east from Apalachicola over John Gorrie Bridge and then taking a right on Highway 300 in Eastpoint over newly renovated Bryant Patton Bridge (still referred to by the locals as “Two Dollar” Bridge since it used to be a toll road). When you first drive onto St. George Island you’ll be transported to another world of natural beauty, seclusion, and simplicity. By all accounts, once you arrive on the island and get a feel for the place, it’s rather hard to make yourself leave. After all, you can find basically everything you need on the island and if you can’t find it here, it’s probably not worth going back for anyway!

Whether you decide to stay in Apalachicola, East Point, or St. George Island on your vacation, you’ll have a wide variety of beach houses, condominiums, hotels, and bed and breakfast inns from which to choose. Accommodations range from cozy beach cottages and rustic campgrounds to multi-story million-dollar beach houses with Mediterranean-style tile roofs, exhilarating views, and every modern convenience. Regardless of where you stay in this scenic coastal paradise, it’s a safe bet you’ll be back to experience the unique carefree joy of living which can be found on Florida’s beloved “Forgotten Coast”!

Sight Fishing on the Flats

Sight casting for permit and bonefish on the flats in the Florida Keys is like no other fishing experience you’ll ever have. The fishing guide is paid to expertly maneuver one or two anglers across the flats in a specially designed shallow water skiff. Standing on a raised platform so that he can spot tailing bonefish from greater distances, the guide uses a long pole to push the boat into position so that the angler can make the perfect cast to the fish.

Most guides use the clock system to help direct the angler to the fish. Twelve o'clock means the fish has been spotted in front of the boat, ten o'clock means the fish is on the left side of the boat, and two o'clock means the fish is on the right of the boat. Normally, the guide will also try to let the angler know approximately how many boat lengths the fish is from the boat.

Sometimes the angler will see the fish but often the guide is the only one who is able to spot the fish. It’s truly amazing sometimes how the silvery sides of a bonefish or permit can be concealed against the bottom even in the slightest wake. It’s up to the guide at this point to instruct the angler exactly where to cast and how to retrieve his bait or fly, depending on how the fish reacts. More often than not, the fish gets away but if the conditions are just right and the bonefish takes the bait, the angler knows that he is getting ready to be in for the fight of his life!

Key West Fishing is the Stuff of Legends

When you fish in the crystal clear turquoise waters surrounding Key West, Florida, you’re entering into a world where fishing legends were born. There’s no escaping the influence that fishing greats such as Ernest Hemingway and Zane Grey have had on generations of fishermen, whether they’re seasoned professionals or just taking up the sport. Hemingway is best known, of course, for his high adventures on the waters of the Florida Straights between Key West and Cuba where he pursued giant blue marlin, while Grey preferred backcountry fishing for acrobatic sailfish and tarpon. With over 225 species of game fish prowling these waters, it’s little wonder that Key West has developed a lofty reputation as one of the top saltwater fishing destinations in the world. From big game sport fishing in over 1,000 ft. of water to backcountry fishing for tailing bonefish in mere inches of water, Key West has it all! In addition to sailfish, tarpon and marlin, there are opportunities to catch bonefish, permit, dolphin, cobia, amberjack, wahoo, and pompano.

Luckily, you don’t have to be a fishing legend to catch fish in Key West. You can enjoy the thrill of big game fishing year-round in this southernmost tropical paradise. The months from May through October are all productive fishing months in Key West. If you fish offshore during this time of year, you can match wits with fast-running dolphin, or you can fish inshore for bonefish and giant “silver king” tarpon with a fly rod or light spinning tackle on the Atlantic and Gulf flats. The world-renowned flats in Key West are alive this time of year with migrating permit which are returning from spawning and traveling in large schools. Bonefish are also plentiful during the summer, and you can have some great fun reef and wreck fishing for red snapper and grouper. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can charter a boat and a guide to take you out to the Gulfstream just like Hemingway, where you can test your "blue water" angling skills by trolling for sailfish and marlin. Party boat charters also make daily trips as far west as Dry Tortugas to fish for black grouper and mutton snapper and there are plenty of kayak and eco tours available. Best of all, you won’t have any trouble finding a restaurant in Key West to cook your catch when you return, making for the perfect ending to a successful day of fishing!