Getting Around
Jug Creek Marina
16498 Tortuga StPublic boast slips.
Safe Harbor Pineland
13921 Waterfront DrThe closest public marina.
Food Scene
Little Lilly's Island Deli
10700 Stringfellow RdSimply the best sandwich shop and deli in the State!
Lazy Flamingo 3
Stringfellow RoadLove the local feel and view of the water.
Inexpensive seafood with lovely view. Take a walk out on the pier after your meal.
32 locals recommend
Capt'n Con's Fish House
8421 Main StInexpensive seafood with lovely view. Take a walk out on the pier after your meal.
Best veggie burger on the island. Lot's of outdoor seating.
51 locals recommend
Woody's Waterside Island Bar & Grill
3051 Stringfellow RdBest veggie burger on the island. Lot's of outdoor seating.
The home of the original Cheeseburger in Paradise. Book the ferry from PIneland with TropicStarAdventures.com or take the water taxi (try PineIslandCharters.com)
25 locals recommend
Cabbage Key Inn and Restaurant
The home of the original Cheeseburger in Paradise. Book the ferry from PIneland with TropicStarAdventures.com or take the water taxi (try PineIslandCharters.com)
Breakfast and lunch in cherry atmosphere with great coffee. Check it out when you're browsing the funky tourist shops in colorful Matlacha. Closes at 3.
56 locals recommend
Perfect Cup
4548 Pine Island RdBreakfast and lunch in cherry atmosphere with great coffee. Check it out when you're browsing the funky tourist shops in colorful Matlacha. Closes at 3.
The best Chinese restaurant in Greater Pine Island, IMO. Sweet view of Matlacha Pass out the back, too.
Le's Oriental Cuisine
4205 Pine Island RdThe best Chinese restaurant in Greater Pine Island, IMO. Sweet view of Matlacha Pass out the back, too.
Saltwater Smokehouse
10251 Stringfellow RdIt's the fried green tomatoes. Mmmmm.
Ragged Ass Saloon
3421 Stringfellow RdThe name says it all. :-)
Parks & Nature
CREW Land & Water Trust
23998 Corkscrew RoadFor the birders, this is the place to go. Best board walk ever.
Time to stretch your legs. Good signage along this half mile trail that explores the Calusa Indian city that once occupied the area. Couple osprey nests, too.
16 locals recommend
Randell Research Center
13810 Waterfront DrTime to stretch your legs. Good signage along this half mile trail that explores the Calusa Indian city that once occupied the area. Couple osprey nests, too.
Best bird and gator watching spot around. Endless boardwalks make the trip a joy.
93 locals recommend
Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary-ONLINE RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. NO WALK-INS
375 Sanctuary Rd WBest bird and gator watching spot around. Endless boardwalks make the trip a joy.
An incredibly one or two day trip. Nothing like it anywhere else and only a couple of hours away.
350 locals recommend
Everglades National Park
An incredibly one or two day trip. Nothing like it anywhere else and only a couple of hours away.
There are half a dozen trails in the Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park, in Cape Coral, Punta Gorda, and over in Port Charlotte. More for the trails and flora than birds, but just wonderful.
8 locals recommend
Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park
12301 Burnt Store RdThere are half a dozen trails in the Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park, in Cape Coral, Punta Gorda, and over in Port Charlotte. More for the trails and flora than birds, but just wonderful.
Wild secluded beach. A long drive to get to a location that is actually quite close as the crow flies!
11 locals recommend
Boca Grande Beach
Wild secluded beach. A long drive to get to a location that is actually quite close as the crow flies!
Everything Else
Island Center Auto
5220 Pine Island RdCar trouble? Here's the place to go. Fast and friendly.
Three tennis courts (with lights for night play, if you can figure out how to turn them on). Plus a heated swimming pool Check the bulletin board for water aerobics! Seniors, 2.50 a day. What a deal.
Philips Park
Three tennis courts (with lights for night play, if you can figure out how to turn them on). Plus a heated swimming pool Check the bulletin board for water aerobics! Seniors, 2.50 a day. What a deal.
There are two POs in Bokeelia, but they are in the wrong direction. Matlacha PO is convenient (you can't get off Island without passing by). Last building on the Right before the bridge. Closed Sat.
6 locals recommend
United States Postal Service
4547 Pine Island RdThere are two POs in Bokeelia, but they are in the wrong direction. Matlacha PO is convenient (you can't get off Island without passing by). Last building on the Right before the bridge. Closed Sat.
Sightseeing
Bird watchers: This makes a sweet side trip. Keep your eyes open for the roseate spoonbills.
The Rookery
Bird watchers: This makes a sweet side trip. Keep your eyes open for the roseate spoonbills.
Day trips to Cayo Costa depart daily from the Pineland Marina. Book well in advance--they fill up quickly. Why to go? The beach.
41 locals recommend
Cayo Costa State Park
Day trips to Cayo Costa depart daily from the Pineland Marina. Book well in advance--they fill up quickly. Why to go? The beach.
What Florida used to look like. There are birds on the river if you're there at dawn. Otherwise: foot or bike. Beautiful woods; a great variety of native trees and shrubs. And a lot of palmettos.
24 locals recommend
Myakka State Forest
2000 S River RdWhat Florida used to look like. There are birds on the river if you're there at dawn. Otherwise: foot or bike. Beautiful woods; a great variety of native trees and shrubs. And a lot of palmettos.
If you're into shells, and shell product, or want to buy shells, this is The Place to go.
79 locals recommend
The Shell Factory and Nature Park
41 North Tamiami TrailIf you're into shells, and shell product, or want to buy shells, this is The Place to go.
Drinks & Nightlife
"The" Burger joint in Greater Pine Island. Everybody has to go to Bert's at least once.
112 locals recommend
Bert's Bar & Grill
4271 Pine Island Rd"The" Burger joint in Greater Pine Island. Everybody has to go to Bert's at least once.
Shopping
Steve and Jesus run the best fruit nursery around. Plus they sell local fruit and exotic plants, some provided by Mama Donna. Worth the trip if you like trees or just want fresh fruit for lunch.
12870 Stringfellow Rd
12870 Stringfellow RoadSteve and Jesus run the best fruit nursery around. Plus they sell local fruit and exotic plants, some provided by Mama Donna. Worth the trip if you like trees or just want fresh fruit for lunch.
An old-fashioned sweets shop. Stop by and chat with the boys. Cute gifts too. Tip: They carry the Matlacha Mystery series, too.
9 locals recommend
Cw Fudge Factory LLC
4548 Pine Island RdAn old-fashioned sweets shop. Stop by and chat with the boys. Cute gifts too. Tip: They carry the Matlacha Mystery series, too.
It's nice to have a pharmacy on the Island. Located half a mile south of the Center, in the Winn Dixie strip.
10 locals recommend
CVS
9852 Stringfellow RdIt's nice to have a pharmacy on the Island. Located half a mile south of the Center, in the Winn Dixie strip.
Seriously--the only home made ice cream shop on Matlacha? You work up a sweat nosing around all those funky art galleries.
20 locals recommend
Great Licks Ice Cream Shop
4548 Pine Island RdSeriously--the only home made ice cream shop on Matlacha? You work up a sweat nosing around all those funky art galleries.