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Boca Grande is a tiny village located on Gasparilla Island, between Charlotte Harbor and the Gulf of Mexico, that has been the winter home of many famous folks throughout history. Gasparilla Island is named for the pirate, José Gaspar, who may or may not have been a work of fiction. However, it is undisputed that pirates roamed this area as recently as the 1770s.
This area is known as the tarpon fishing capital of the world, and the history of maritime commerce is fascinating, so be sure to read up on the past while you’re here.
Once in Boca Grande, you must check out or stay at the historic Gasparilla Inn, a beautifully restored hotel that opened in 1913. Dine nearby at The Pink Elephant, a charming restaurant serving guests for over 60 years that has been awarded the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence every year since 2012. Diners can enjoy a casual lunch downstairs or on the patio with refreshing cocktails, salads, and sandwiches, or make a reservation for dinner upstairs in the more formal dining room. Travelers arriving by boat even have dockage space for easy access to the restaurant by water.
Spending time on these barrier islands is truly an escape to a bygone paradise on Florida’s southwest gulf coast.
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