| My wife and I discovered this sub tropical paradise | | | | here! They have hospitals, restaurants, movie |
| in 2002 after a family vacation to Key West. We | | | | theaters, doctors, shopping centers and all the |
| sent the kids home early after Christmas, | | | | ingredients to make for a good life and a grand |
| extended our vacation and drove to the Fort | | | | retirement! The fishing is great and the people are |
| Myers/Cape Coral area by ourselves. Over the | | | | friendly. Golfers take notice; this area is also a |
| next week, we discovered an enchanting chain of | | | | golfing Mecca! The lifestyle is casual and laid back. |
| barrier islands off the coast of Southwest Florida. | | | | The colors are bright, the music is lively and the |
| Like pearls on a necklace in an azure sea, they all | | | | cuisine is a mixture of spicy Caribbean, seafood |
| offered surf, sand, sun and fun and a lot of good | | | | and Southern comfort. |
| fishing. Each was unique and each begged to be | | | | Now, eight years after our initial discovery, this |
| explored. | | | | paradise is our home. We've settled in nicely. |
| Running from the South to North, the first | | | | Guess what! We have a lot of friends who love |
| significant island off the coast of Fort Myers is | | | | to come and visit! We have a beautiful house with |
| Estero Island, home to the little beachside town | | | | a pool and my wife and I have jobs and a life we |
| of Ft. Myers Beach. This is Southwest Florida's | | | | could barely imagine back then. Those once |
| version of Miami Beach but on a smaller scale. | | | | mystical sub tropical islands are all now part of our |
| North of there one discovers the magical islands | | | | everyday life. |
| of Sanibel, Captiva, North Captiva, Cayo Costa | | | | I'm a Charter Captain, fishing guide and water taxi. |
| and Gasparilla Island with the town of Boca | | | | I spend my days among these magical islands |
| Grande where the billionaires live and play. Interior | | | | named Captiva, Sanibel, Cayo Costa and Boca |
| to these islands, are two large bodies of water | | | | Grande. I still enjoy exploring these islands myself |
| named Pine Island Sound and Charlotte Harbor. | | | | and now I get to help tourists and fishermen |
| Seventeen mile long Pine Island is the largest of | | | | from around the US and the world explore them |
| the interior islands. Useppa, Cabbage Key and | | | | too. The very best way to explore these islands |
| dozens and dozens of other mangrove lined | | | | is by boat. It's quicker and the only way to get to |
| islands are found within Pine Island Sound. This | | | | some of these islands. What could be better than |
| huge area encompasses the second largest | | | | spending a beautiful day on the water exploring |
| estuary in Florida. It is fed by 3 major rivers, the | | | | these barrier islands. Any number of local Captains |
| Caloosahatchee to the South and the Myakka and | | | | and water taxis can help you. |
| Peace Rivers to the North. | | | | There is lots to see and do for the tourist or |
| This estuary is home to abundant sea life. Sport | | | | vacationer! We can fish for 200 pound Tarpon on |
| fishermen come here for snook, redfish, trophy | | | | the sandy flats in turquoise blue waters or we |
| tarpon, grouper, snapper, shark and dozens of | | | | can catch snapper for dinner tonight! I can take |
| other species. Waterfowl and shore birds inhabit | | | | you on an eco tour to see the manatees and |
| the area in large numbers along with manatee and | | | | alligators or we can hike thru a canopy of palms |
| a smaller population of alligators. Fresh Gulf shrimp | | | | to the surf on a secluded beach on the Gulf of |
| are the best in the world and Southwest Florida's | | | | Mexico. We can lunch at Barancle Phill's on Upper |
| delicious stone crab are found no where else. | | | | Captiva Island or eat fresh oysters at Cabbage |
| I've met sailors who tell me this area offers some | | | | Key. Consider my boat to be your own personal |
| of the finest sailing in the world. If you're a | | | | "water limo" and let me take you to the |
| yachtsman, you'll be right at home in the Gulf, | | | | restaurants and boutiques on Boca Grande for a |
| bays or the Intercoastal Waterway. The boats | | | | visit. You can also walk the beaches of Gasparilla |
| down here are magnificent!! Fishermen will find | | | | or visit the lighthouse. |
| enough water and fish here to occupy them for a | | | | If you fall in love with these barrier islands as my |
| lifetime. The beaches are world class and shelling is | | | | wife and I did 8 years ago, you might catch |
| a local pastime. It is coastal living at its finest. | | | | yourself thinking wild crazy thoughts about making |
| A lifelong angler, I learned that Southwest Florida's | | | | this place your permanent or second home. |
| Lee Island Coast offers a 12 month window of | | | | Check out the real estate. You can find some |
| fishing and boating with all the comforts and | | | | bargains! "It's a great place to visit and by golly, |
| necessities of life. No sacrifices are necessary | | | | you just might want to live here"! |