Best things to do/visit on the Keys & Gulf - Any must-Do Dibb recommendations please?

[Cloverlady]

Originally Posted by ChrisS

Hi CL - we winter on Bokeelia, Pine Island and head out into the Gulf a few times with Capt Bruce. You'll be out for circa 6 to 7 hours at $50pp for the day. He owns a double bimini pontoon boat, see photo's and details HERE.

His service is excellent, he loves being out on the water as much as his pax, shouts out when he sees dolphin and turns the boat so you, and he, can get photos. He'll make suggestions or you can leave him to it. We like to go to Fosters Bay, tie up and walk thro to Upper Captiva beach. We take a picnic with us but you can tie up at Cabbage Key for lunch if you wish. I guarantee you'll have a superb day.

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This does sound like a fabulous day out, and one to remember for sure!
Hubby gets a bit seasick on small craft but maybe he would take a tablet or something, I'll show him this and some videos and take it from there!

By the way, we are so envious that you spend the winter out there My hubby is hoping to retire early in about 6 years (after youngest finishes Uni, 6 long years as he's studying Medicine)
then what you do is OUR plan too!
I've often read your posts and taken onboard any tips you've given

[Cloverlady]

Originally Posted by Mqt

Let me know if there are any particular types of activities you enjoy and I can probably point you in the right direction. Having said that, the beaches are indeed so lovely you may not wish to do anything else! 🙂

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Thanks so much for this!
Our fave things to do have always revolved around nature and natural/ scenic sights So any more of those kind of suggestions would be really great?
I take what feels like millions of photos of nature - be it fauna or flora - Oh and the sea! and clouds - I take literally hundreds of photos of cloudscapes!

[anji]

Myakka State Park is beautiful. We went on the boat trip and saw lots of alligators and other wildlife. Then we did the walk - part boardwalk, part treetops. We laughed at the signs warning you that the vultures liked to peck the rubber on windscreen wipers etc. on your car!

If you're going to Marco Island then go to Tiger Tail Beach and wade across the Lagoon to get there. Knee deep roughly and a bit squelchy but saves a long walk round.

I know you've already read my trip report below but definitely from it, for wildlife -

John Pennekamp Park near Key Largo is also excellent - you can get a glass bottomed boat, snorkelling, lots of walks, lovely little aquarium and a great cafe.

Big Pine Key and the Pub With No Name - key deer country on the Keys

Also Hemmingway's House at Key West for 6 toed cats, the Wildlife Sanctuary there, the Martello Tower gardens and the butterfly conservancy.

Glad you've got it all booked up

[ChrisS]

Originally Posted by Cloverlady

This does sound like a fabulous day out, and one to remember for sure!
Hubby gets a bit seasick on small craft but maybe he would take a tablet or something, I'll show him this and some videos and take it from there!

By the way, we are so envious that you spend the winter out there My hubby is hoping to retire early in about 6 years (after youngest finishes Uni, 6 long years as he's studying Medicine)
then what you do is OUR plan too!
I've often read your posts and taken onboard any tips you've given

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Yes CL, we're very fortunate to be able to enjoy the winter on Bokeelia, it's very peaceful and very different to the Orlando area.

Further to my recommending Capt Bruce, if you fancy a cheeseburger at Cabbage Key, HERE is their site/menu, Bruce will gladly tie up there. We're picnic takers as Bruce takes us to a lovely lake type body of water off Pine Island Sound, we oft see manatee, gator and a couple of dolphin coming in and out whilst chowing lunch - gator will go in salt water but they need to find fesh water for a swill out now and again When you walk thro from Fosters Bay to Upper Captiva beach Bruce'll bring chairs and sun umbrella so you can sit in the shade inbetween shell collecting [Bruce joins in and finds shells for you too]. Other Dibbers have been out with Bruce and had a great day - far better value than taking the ferry. We've also had sunset cruises with Bruce.

Below is an, admitted long, idea of places I've recommended on other SW Fla threads. Have a pick thro and give me a shout if you want more info. Apologies if any of the links have stopped working

Depending on when, and where, you are in SW Fla, Cape Coral has a water park, Sunsplash. See HERE

SW Fl is a lovely area, ample beaches, watersports, fishing. Naples is a nice place to check out too - excellent soft white beach and long pier - see HERE

Naples conservancy - HERE

Tin City in Naples - HERE

Corkscrew Swamp conservation - HERE

Ding Darling on Sanibel (closed Fridays) HERE

Edison Ford Estate in Fort Myers - HERE

Casino Big M boat from Fort Myers Beach - HERE

Everglades National Park boat tours - HERE

Babcock Ranch, on SR31 between Fort Myers and Arcadia, good place to visit, nice BBQ - HERE

Octagon wildlife sanctuary, just off SR31 between Fort Myers & Punta Gorda; Lauri Caron is an incredible lady who provides home to a multitude of animals, from exotic tigers, a rare black leopard, lions, bears, wolves to donkeys, goats, chickens, ducks, racoons, gators et al - check out the website video. The citizens/local big & small businesses donate food, supplies, manpower to keep them all fed. All volunteers happily donate their time to ensure the majority of monies collected cares for the animals. Hours: check website - HERE

Fort Myers tourist website - HERE

Visit Florida website - HERE

Muscle Car City, Punta Gorda - HERE

Shopping anyone? Miramar Outlets with over 140 top designer outlet stores - HERE

Sanibel Outlets - HERE

[Mqt]

Originally Posted by Cloverlady

Thanks so much for this!
Our fave things to do have always revolved around nature and natural/ scenic sights So any more of those kind of suggestions would be really great?
I take what feels like millions of photos of nature - be it fauna or flora - Oh and the sea! and clouds - I take literally hundreds of photos of cloudscapes!

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You are most welcome! I’d second what Anji said about Myakka. We love it there too. We also enjoy Fort de Soto, Fort de Soto Memorial, Neal Preserve and Perico Preserve. For manatees, it’s worth visiting the little harbour at Porto Sueno Park off 75th Street (just off the island)-they are often just hanging around, even in summer.

A bit like ChrisS, we spend a good chunk of the year in Florida but spread over the year (typically 5-6 weeks here, 4 weeks in Florida...repeat). Not retired but lucky enough to work remotely.

[ChrisS]

Originally Posted by Mqt

You are most welcome! I’d second what Anji said about Myakka. We love it there too. We also enjoy Fort de Soto, Fort de Soto Memorial, Neal Preserve and Perico Preserve. For manatees, it’s worth visiting the little harbour at Porto Sueno Park off 75th Street (just off the island)-they are often just hanging around, even in summer.

A bit like ChrisS, we spend a good chunk of the year in Florida but spread over the year (typically 5-6 weeks here, 4 weeks in Florida...repeat). Not retired but lucky enough to work remotely.

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Boy Mqt, have we missed this winter on the island, even on their version of a cold day You'll likely be the same and be keen as mustard to get back. I watch the island live cams, hubs calls it self inflicted torture If you want to join in, Pine Island/other area live cams are HERE. We stay on Bokeelia between Pineland Marina/Tarpon Lodge and the farthest north section of Bokeelia Pier on the live cams.

Hopefully we get back next winter and you as soon as you can too

[Mqt]

Originally Posted by ChrisS

Boy Mqt, have we missed this winter on the island, even on their version of a cold day You'll likely be the same and be keen as mustard to get back. I watch the island live cams, hubs calls it self inflicted torture If you want to join in, Pine Island/other area live cams are HERE. We stay on Bokeelia between Pineland Marina/Tarpon Lodge and the farthest north section of Bokeelia Pier on the live cams.

Hopefully we get back next winter and you as soon as you can too

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Oh Chris, I can’t tell you how much we’ve missed it but I guess I don’t have to! You’ll be feeling it the same. We are desperate to get back and I understand your DH’s comments about ‘self-inflicted torture’. We have CCTV out to our garden there and towards the driveway and I almost hate to look at it (and the webcams on Anna Maria).

Hopefully it won’t be too long before we’re back. Are you planning on going across earlier than your normal time or will you wait until November?

[ChrisS]

Originally Posted by Mqt

Oh Chris, I can’t tell you how much we’ve missed it but I guess I don’t have to! You’ll be feeling it the same. We are desperate to get back and I understand your DH’s comments about ‘self-inflicted torture’. We have CCTV out to our garden there and towards the driveway and I almost hate to look at it (and the webcams on Anna Maria).

Hopefully it won’t be too long before we’re back. Are you planning on going across earlier than your normal time or will you wait until November?

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Well, our plan is to head back at the very end of Oct/early Nov. I bought UC reward tickets in the November 50% off miles sale knowing we wouldn't get, not due to C-19 but my current health situation. Luckily the gamble paid off and VS cancelled the flight within two weeks of buying and they're sitting as a credit. Sale dates were up to 31st Oct so it depends on VS and reward seat availability, credit is until 31 Dec 2022 if it's reward seat no go this year.

Take good care Mqt, here's hoping US borders open before too much longer

[g1970]

Originally Posted by Cloverlady

Awww. See, I'd LOVE to go out on a boat but hubby is sea sick on smaller boats!

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My other half was sick as a dog when we went out fishing on the Marathon Lady, but we were both fine on the speedboat.

[AhoyShipmates]

Originally Posted by Cloverlady

Thanks so much for this!
Our fave things to do have always revolved around nature and natural/ scenic sights So any more of those kind of suggestions would be really great?
I take what feels like millions of photos of nature - be it fauna or flora - Oh and the sea! and clouds - I take literally hundreds of photos of cloudscapes!

See more...

We loved the bird sanctuary on Key Largo. Free but there’s a donation box. We also took a short detour on to Pine Key and saw some pine key deer. They are about the size of a medium dog.

You have probably been before but among our highlights were the Little White House and Ernest Hemingway’s house at Key West.

We also went snorkelling at the John Pennekamp Marine Park. You hire wetsuits and a (big) boat takes you out to a coral reef. We saw the most amazing coloured fish. Definitely a highlight and worth taking a sea sickness tablet for 🙂