Welcome to Gasparilla Island and the community of Boca Grande, one of Florida’s most picturesque and well-preserved coastal communities. Ideally located midway between Sarasota and Fort Myers along Southwest Florida’s beautiful Gulf Coast, Boca Grande is just far enough off the beaten path to feel as though you’ve stepped back in time. When you cross over the causeway onto the island, there are no traffic lights, fast-food restaurants, big box retail stores, high-rise hotels or condominiums. Thankfully, Boca Grande’s growth – or lack thereof – hasn’t mimicked that of most other areas of the Sunshine State.
Boca Grande retains its “Old Florida” charm and strong sense of community which makes it a unique and wonderful place to visit and live.
At only seven miles long and not more than one-quarter mile wide at any given point, Boca Grande offers an amazingly wide variety of activities from which to choose. From collecting treasured sea shells along its white sand beaches, to world-class tarpon fishing in Boca Grande Pass, to listening to a famous author lecture in the courtyard of the Johann Fust public library, or by climbing to the top of a historic lighthouse to admire the view, this charming island has something to offer everyone! The best way to experience Boca Grande is to hop on a boat or take advantage of the dedicated six-mile long bike path or simply relax on a beautiful white sand beach and enjoy the Florida sunshine and clear blue water.
When you are ready for a break from the water and sun, hop on your golf cart and explore Boca Grande’s charming historic village (aka Downtown). Take time to wander through The Gasparilla Inn, which was built in 1913 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Inn was named the No. 1 resort hotel in Florida—and No. 7 in the United States—by Travel + Leisure in 2017. Enjoy shopping at the many boutiques lining Downtown’s quaint streets. Grab groceries for the week at Hudson’s, the family-owned on island grocery store – make sure to tell Smitty behind the meat counter “Hello”. Or reserve a table for a special night out at one of Boca Grande’s many gourmet restaurants like The Temptation or The Pink Elephant.
Boca Grande has so much to offer we’ve only begun to scratch the surface! At Boca Grande Realty Advisors, we love giving personalized tours of Boca Grande island to visitors and those interested in potentially purchasing property. Please don’t hesitate to give us a call and let us share our local knowledge with you today!