Blogs from Pine Island, Florida, United States, North America

There are so many reasons why we return to Pine Island time after time; but here are some of the biggies in no particular order: 1. Oysters $9/dozen at the Waterfront on Saturdays. 2. "No see ems" go away if it is windy... It is often windy 3. Tex Mex lunch at the VFW on Thursday with giant Margaritas. O Fraternal clubs (Legion, Moose) offer delish, low priced specials on a rotating schedule. Great prices at the bar always. 4. A wide, off-road, flat and string stright bike path spans the island from St. James City to Bokeelia. 5. There are no high rises. 6. There is no beach (this keeps the crowds down and actually there is a beach in a secret location that we have sworn not to reveal). 7. There are no traffic ... read more

Welcome to Matlacha and Pine Island. We love this place although friends sampling this southwestern Florida destination admit they don’t get it. A “drive by” just doesn’t suffice. It’s all together possible that the locals nurture the very low key “best kept secret” aspect to discourage gridlock on the lift bridge (the only way onto and off the island. Matlacha and Pine Island are constants contradiction of the Florida stereotype. Someone keeps snapping up untamed, indigenous landscaping for perpetual land conservancy. Utility poles sporting subtle evidence of an aging art project confirm wild creativity. Bright pastel cottage galleries and boutiques pack a wallop of “over the top artiness.” Some shops lure visitors into water edged backyard gardens to sun themselves. The art is signed and genuine. The owner is in the shop. Often she’s an artist. ... read more

Pine Island feels like home. We have been coming back for at least two visits each year for the past seven years! The KOA/Encore/Thousand Trails RV Park is friendly and relaxing. This time back we were thrilled to find a new hot tub and a newly enlarged, paved and landscaped pool deck. We never left the island at all this trip. The funky Matlacha shops, familiar restaurants, chatting at the pool, reading up a storm and occasional a piece of client work kept us occupied and satisfied for over a week. You’ll find our other Pine Island Blogs by hitting the previous button a few times. I’m working hard at not being repetitious when writing about this oft visited island. This trip started out with a 12-12-12 party at the Low Key Tiki with the great ... read more

We are once again staying at the KOA on the St. James City side of Pine Island. Pine Island has no traffic lights, a four way stop in the center of the island is a BIG reference point. Turn right from Matlacha Road onto Stringfellow and you go north toward Pineland and Bokeelia. Turn left onto Stringfellow and you head toward St. James City. There is no beach; there are no condos; there are no crowds to speak of. So what brings us back to Pine Island time after time? The good eats listed in the previous blog are part of the answer; but Joanne and Wes don’t live by bread alone! We’re attracted to Pine Island’s laid back, unhurried, artsy (visual and performing) culture! We appreciate (since we still both work) that our PC’s and ... read more

Pine Island is like a hideout for artists, musicians, growers (landscape agriculture), fishermen, and retirees! Several years of RV camping on Pine Island from the convenient vantage point of the KOA in St. James City has allowed us a great “explore” of Pine Islands and environs. The island is sort of a secret; and people either love it or don’t get it! We met an artist at the Low Key Tiki on Friday night who said “Hush, don’t tell anyone about Pine Island. We like it just the way it is.” So, in direct violation of that well-meaning warning; we’re sharing! We like everything about Pine Island except for the occasional spate of “no seeums.” On our most recent visit, we lounged at the pool, finished a few books, extolled the attributes of fresh squeezed orange ... read more