Florida Fort Myers Pine Island Beach
Pine Island is one of the largest
islands off the west coast of Florida and consists of Matlacha
( Mat-la-shay), Pine Island Center, Bokeelia (Bo-keel-ya), Pineland
and St. James City. Each community treasures its own distinctive
ambiance with authors, artists and musicians calling it home. Pine
Island's remote and natural environment is home to many varieties
of exotic and tropical wildlife, with more than 18 active American
bald eagle nesting sites. Pine Island also has fantastic fishing
and boating, with the sport of Tarpon Fishing originating in Pine
Island Sound in the late 1880's.
Matlacha looks like an "old
Florida" fishing village. Unique and funky art galleries, gift
and island wear shops, boutiques and restaurants abound. The drawbridge
over Matlacha Pass is known as the "Fishingest Bridge in the
World." with anglers fishing the bridge night and day. There
are plenty of bait and tackle suppliers and two full-service marinas
- Olde fish House Marina and Viking Marina that also rent boats.
Pineland, is home to the Randall
Research Center - one of the main historical sites of Calusa Indian
mounds. It also boasts one of the country's smallest Post Office
buildings and provides the island with the only golf course at Alden
Pines Country Club. You will also find boat rentals, water taxis
and fishing charter services at the full-service Pineland Marina.
St. James City is Pine Island's
most developed area with about two thirds of the island's population
and several marinas. Most homes are located on canals with direct
access to Pine Island Sound, San Carlos Bay and the Gulf of Mexico.
Bokeelia is homeport for many of
the island's commercial fishermen and the site of several historic
buildings. It is the primary location of many of Pine Island's agricultural
businesses featuring mangoes, pineapples, citrus, row crops and
a wide variety of exotic tropical fruits including the carambola,
longan, papaya, lychee and loquat. There are many tree farms as
well.
Pine Island Center is the only completely
off-water community and the hub of the islands commercial activity.
It "harbors" the main shopping center, a community park
with pool, lighted tennis courts and ball fields, school, main fire
station and museum.
Uninhabited Little Pine Island consists
of 4,700 acres and is now involved in a process called the Wetland
Restoration & Mitigation Bank. Nature and wildlife, as well
as the environment are protected on Pine Island by the island's
largest organization, the Calusa Land Trust and Nature Preserve
of Pine Island, Inc.
Escape to The Beaches of Pine Island in Fort Myers Florida,
a world where white sand beaches stretch as far as you can see and
the shore is lined with exotic seashells, It is a world of tropical
wildlife, spectacular sunsets over sparkling waters and hundreds
of islands to explore. The Beaches of Pine Island in Fort Myers
Florida is your opportunity to experience Florida the way it used
to be...with unspoiled natural beauty.
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