Essentials
Places to purchase items you need for a vacation on the island.
Close to the Ferry and has quality food for your vacation.
20 locals recommend
Publix Super Market At Cape Haze
8725 Placida RdClose to the Ferry and has quality food for your vacation.
Wellen Park Welcome Center
Costco (June, 2024)
You pass it on road to island.
Essentials
Has everything you might need. You pass it on the way to the Ferry.
71 locals recommend
Walmart Supercenter
2931 S McCall RdHas everything you might need. You pass it on the way to the Ferry.
Abe's Boat Rentals
6950 Placida RoadThis is a very good boat rental company.
CVS
1760 S McCall RdIn case you need a prescription..
Englewood Community Hospital
700 Medical BlvdBetter Than A Bistro LLC
Specialty seafood and meats delivered to the island every Saturday!
Neighborhoods
Palm Island is "old" Florida.
Most guests come to this barrier island for its tranquil setting, and great beaches.
During your stay, feel free to do anything:
Beach bum, shell collector, sandcastle builder, fisherman, swimmer or Star watcher. The possibilities are endless!
Unassuming and uncrowded - Palm Island awaits you.
Palm Island is actually three islands. Knight Island (the most northern island bordered to the north by Stump Pass), Don Pedro island (the "middle island), and Little Gasparilla island, the most southernly island, were originally three separate island, divided by passes. When the pass between Knight Island and Don Pedro, and the pass between Don Pedro and Little Gasparilla Island closed in (sometime in the 1960s) the islands became one, with more than seven miles of beach.
Palm Island Resort encompasses the northern two miles and is a private resort area, with golf cart or walking access only. Rum Bay Restaurant located inside the resort along with a small gift shop. Rum Bay resturant offers “red beard the pirate ” shows every Friday night at 6pm. Please call ahead to ensure Red Beard is not out in the Gulf plundering! The food is fair, the show is always a good time- which children love. This is the islands only restaurant, although the mainland and Boca Grande offer a wide selection of restaurants to select from. Should you not have a boat, the resort also offers a water taxi which offers free rides to one restaurant on the mainland.
The area of the island you are staying on is known as Palm Island Estates and is approximately two and a half miles long, including Knight Island, and over the big bridge, Don Pedro Island. South of the road access, lies the Don Pedro Island State Park which is approximately 135 acres of natural, pristine land. You can access the state park by boat or a beach walk. There are bathroom facilities in the park area.
To the south of the State Park lies Little Gasparilla, an island accessible by private boat with approximately 300 homes, mostly part-time residents. Development there was started somewhere during the turn of the century. Some of the older "fish camps" still can be seen. Today, there are some exclusive homesites and two condominium communities.
Palm Island Estates is home to approximately 70 families who live here full time. There are approximately 525 existing residences, some used every weekend, others on a part time basis. Many owners rent their homes when they are not using them.
When Palm Island Estates was platted in the late 1950s, a bridge to the mainland was built. In the early 60s, the Intracoastal waterway was dredged and the bridge removed for good. Islanders were offered a replacement bridge or old Navy LST’s and $3,000 per household. They took the old LST’s over a new bridge..
Today, there are about ten school aged children who live full time on the island. The parents "boat pool" them to school or they travel via ferry to the mainland to catch the bus at the landing. They live similar to the florida keys family on the TV series “Flipper” from the 1960’s. Quite a life for a kid in today’s world!
Palm Island
Palm Island is "old" Florida.
Most guests come to this barrier island for its tranquil setting, and great beaches.
During your stay, feel free to do anything:
Beach bum, shell collector, sandcastle builder, fisherman, swimmer or Star watcher. The possibilities are endless!
Unassuming and uncrowded - Palm Island awaits you.
Palm Island is actually three islands. Knight Island (the most northern island bordered to the north by Stump Pass), Don Pedro island (the "middle island), and Little Gasparilla island, the most southernly island, were originally three separate island, divided by passes. When the pass between Knight Island and Don Pedro, and the pass between Don Pedro and Little Gasparilla Island closed in (sometime in the 1960s) the islands became one, with more than seven miles of beach.
Palm Island Resort encompasses the northern two miles and is a private resort area, with golf cart or walking access only. Rum Bay Restaurant located inside the resort along with a small gift shop. Rum Bay resturant offers “red beard the pirate ” shows every Friday night at 6pm. Please call ahead to ensure Red Beard is not out in the Gulf plundering! The food is fair, the show is always a good time- which children love. This is the islands only restaurant, although the mainland and Boca Grande offer a wide selection of restaurants to select from. Should you not have a boat, the resort also offers a water taxi which offers free rides to one restaurant on the mainland.
The area of the island you are staying on is known as Palm Island Estates and is approximately two and a half miles long, including Knight Island, and over the big bridge, Don Pedro Island. South of the road access, lies the Don Pedro Island State Park which is approximately 135 acres of natural, pristine land. You can access the state park by boat or a beach walk. There are bathroom facilities in the park area.
To the south of the State Park lies Little Gasparilla, an island accessible by private boat with approximately 300 homes, mostly part-time residents. Development there was started somewhere during the turn of the century. Some of the older "fish camps" still can be seen. Today, there are some exclusive homesites and two condominium communities.
Palm Island Estates is home to approximately 70 families who live here full time. There are approximately 525 existing residences, some used every weekend, others on a part time basis. Many owners rent their homes when they are not using them.
When Palm Island Estates was platted in the late 1950s, a bridge to the mainland was built. In the early 60s, the Intracoastal waterway was dredged and the bridge removed for good. Islanders were offered a replacement bridge or old Navy LST’s and $3,000 per household. They took the old LST’s over a new bridge..
Today, there are about ten school aged children who live full time on the island. The parents "boat pool" them to school or they travel via ferry to the mainland to catch the bus at the landing. They live similar to the florida keys family on the TV series “Flipper” from the 1960’s. Quite a life for a kid in today’s world!
Sightseeing
Little Gasparilla Island Carts
8657 Grand AveNice walk down the beach from Palm Island
Boca Grande
Gasparilla Inn & Club
500 Palm AveTurn of the century hotel at Boca Grand
Restaurants
Placida Grill
Best restaurant in the area and close to the island!
CUISINES
American, Seafood
Killer Shrimp $29.00 Gulf shrimp gently simmered in a light Thai coconut curry broth served with basmati rice and crusty baguette for dipping Ribeye Steak 3 reviews $39.00 ...
Salmon Tostada Stack $32.00 ...
Chicken Scampi $24.00 ...
Restaurant on the island. Good spot on Wednesday night's for Islander evening. Kids do enjoy it.
24 locals recommend
Rum Bay
7092 Placida Road Restaurant on the island. Good spot on Wednesday night's for Islander evening. Kids do enjoy it.
Pink Elephant
491 Bayou AveGreat place to eat in Boca Grande!
The New Faull Inn
2670 Placida RdBest pizza in the area. Have them deliver to the ferry.
Placida Grill
5855 Cape Haze DrBest Restaurant in the area!!
CUISINES
American, Seafood
Sassy Tarts Bakery
Good breakfast and Great Lunch!
Close to the island
Not open for dinner.
Popular restaurant!
Serves lunch and dinner.
Make reservations.
135 locals recommend
Farlows on the Water
2080 S McCall RdPopular restaurant!
Serves lunch and dinner.
Make reservations.
Traveler advice
Getting around
Welcome letter will provide detailed information!
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