If you’re looking for the best things to do in Pine Island, Florida – you’ve come to the right place!

In this blog post we’ll look at all the best things to do in Pine Island, Florida – to keep you busy during your trip or vacation!

Whilst Pine Island might be a small place, there are so many options for the best things to do in Pine Island, Florida – and we know you’ll love the suggestions below!

So, let’s get into it!

Here are our top suggestions for things to do in Pine Island, Florida!

Visit the Pine Island Sound Aquatic Preserve

To kick off our list of the best things to do in Pine Island, Florida, we’ve got the iconic Pine Island Sound Aquatic Preserve!

Editorial credit: Laurel A Egan / Shutterstock.com

Boasting an impressive stretch of untouched and protected water, you can easily spend a couple of days kayaking, paddling, and wading around here. Hey – there’s a reason there are tons of campsites near Pine Island!

Although just seeing the Pine Island Sound remains one of the top things to do in Pine Island, Florida, you can easily spice up your visit by booking a pontoon boat or cruise.

Captain Jack’s is a particularly popular local tour guide, and they’re adored by couples and honeymooners for their sunset boat trips and fishing excursions.

While you’re here, look out for the local fauna and birdlife that flit around this area. They tend to hand around the salt marshes and mangrove swamps, so you need to have a super keen eye.

Offering gorgeous views and plenty of water-based activities, visiting this spot is one of the best things to do in Pine Island, Florida.

Go fishing!

One of the most popular things to do in Pine Island, Florida is to hit the water and go fishing!

If you’re wondering why this is one of the best things to do in Pine Island, Florida, it’s largely down to the area’s history.

This spot is one of Florida’s last remaining fishing villages, and the locals are extremely keen to maintain the authentic, community feel that this spot offers both tourists and residents.

The Matlacha Pass Bridge is among the best spots in the area for fishing and is best known for its trout, cobia, and snapper populations.

Although you’ll find several professional fishermen around these parts, a 1992 mandate prevents extensive net fishing around here. So, recreational fishing enthusiasts have a free pass around here!

The Calusa Heritage Trail

We couldn’t create a list of the top things to do in Pine Island, Florida without mentioning the incredible Calusa Heritage Trail!

This one-mile nature walk takes you through an enriching journey that describes Florida’s exciting history and covers everything from the area’s Native American culture to key archaeological sites around Pine Island.

This is one of the things to do in Pine Island Florida that doesn’t require a tour guide as the signposting is excellent. They do offer one, but we wouldn’t say that it was entirely necessary.

So, simply grab your brood, follow the trail, and learn all about Florida’s First Nation.

Tarpon Lodge

Tarpon Lodge is technically a hotel, but it’s home to one of the finest restaurants in the area. So, it was a given that it has made it onto our list of the best things to do in Pine Island, Florida.

It’s a veritable 4-star sensation that’s received excellent reviews for years, so reservations are an absolute must.

You can expect to find beautifully presented seafood, fresh fish, and scallops on the menu, and the helpful owners are always happy to recommend wine pairings that will take your meal to new heights.

Oh, and although it may not be considered one of the things to do in Pine Island, Florida, you need to order a slice of their incredible Key Lime Pie before leaving.

Trust me, it would be blasphemous not to.

Although it’s better known for its incredible restaurant, Tarpon Lodge also made it onto our list of the best things to do in Pine Island, Florida as it’s a top-level hotel that offers comfortably and conveniently located rooms.

Whether you’re looking to stay in the hotel for the evening or can’t wait to sample the delicious local dishes at the highly-rated restaurant, a visit to the famous Tarpon Lodge is one of the best things to do in Pine Island, Florida by a mile.

Pineland Marina

The next spot on our list of the best things to do in Pine Island, Florida is the famous Pineland Marina!

Editorial credit: HasanZaidi / Shutterstock.com

You may not have the cash to hire a yacht, but you can easily spend an entire afternoon sipping cocktails or drinking sneaky bag wine while you watch the boats go by.

Hey – we won’t judge!

If you can afford a yacht, we highly recommend heading on one of their 6 daily scheduled trips. The boats usually have capacities between 16 and 49 passengers, so you can invite your entire extended family on the water.

It’s also worth noting that Island Girl Charters offer dolphin watching, shelling, and birding trips which are an excellent way to kill two birds with one stone.

I mean, who doesn’t love a glorious boat trip and wildlife spotting?

It’s easy to see why this place has made it onto our list of the best things to do in Pine Island, Florida, right?

Randell Research Center

Tucked away in Bokeelia, the Rendell Research Center certainly deserves a place on our list of the top things to do in Pine Island, Florida.

It’s essentially a program run by the Florida Museum of Natural History, and it teaches visitors all about the people of the estuary who once fished in these waters thousands of years ago.

It offers a fascinating glimpse into the area’s past, and the surrounding grounds are meticulously kept too!

Whether you just want to walk through the trail on a self-guided tour or want a detailed taste of the state’s history, you should add Randell Research Center to your list of things to do in Pine Island, Florida.

Find some wonderful artwork

Pine Island isn’t exactly home to world-famous artists, but it’s a wonderful place to visit for unique artwork that you simply won’t find anywhere else.

Not only is this spot home to the unique and eclectic Matlacha Menagerie which is renowned for its local artwork and gorgeous jewelry, but you can also spend a couple of hours trawling through the fine art at Bokeelia Art Gallery.

If you’re looking for different things to do in Pine Island, Florida that are art-related but don’t necessarily involve looking at art, then why not take a class at the Pine Island Art Association?

Whatever you choose to do, you’re bound to feel creative and refreshed after visiting these hotspots.

The Mango Factory

If you adore uber-juicy mangoes, then you’ll want to brace yourself for the next item on our list of the top things to do in Pine Island, Florida… The Mango Factory.

The concept of this place is rather simple: they essentially sell the freshest, juiciest, and most delicious mangoes in the world. And the best part is – they’re located in Bokeelia!

This is one of the best things to do in Pine Island, Florida for several reasons.

Not only is it a seriously unique activity that allows you to take a bunch of hilarious vacation snaps, but you’ll find mangoes that are almost as big as your head here.

Yep, seriously.

So, whether you’re mad for mangoes or just have a passing interest in the fruit, this is one of the things to do in Pine Island, Florida that you need to check out before you leave.

Bokeelia

Bokeelia is an interesting part of Pine Island and is home to a host of mobile homes, houses, and popular restaurants that are located right on the fishing docks.

Known for its impressive beaches, acres of palm trees, and delightful small-town atmosphere, a visit to Bokeelia will always make it onto any list we make of the best things to do in Pine Island, Florida.

Although fishing charters are the most popular things to do here, you can also explore Gasparilla Island State Park for sprawling trails, Lovegrove Gallery & Gardens for delightful local artwork, and Englewood Beach for a spot of sunbathing.

With so many activities available to visitors, it’s no surprise that Bokeelia has made it on our list of the top things to do in Pine Island, Florida!

Matlacha

We’ve briefly mentioned Matlacha on our list of things to do in Pine Island, Florida, but we couldn’t round things up before talking about this small spot off the coast of Cape Coral.

Editorial credit: Felix Mizioznikov / Shutterstock.com

This place is extremely artsy, and you’ll be able to do everything from dolphin-spotting to postcard purchasing while you’re walking through the charming streets.

In addition to visiting the lovely local boutiques, we recommend stopping by the Museum Of The Islands (affectionately known as MOTI!), and Matlacha Community Park for the beachfront and a gorgeous pier.

Although you probably won’t need hours here, it remains one of our favorite things to do in Pine Island, Florida for first-time visitors.

We hope this list of the best things to do in Pine Island, Florida has been helpful!

Let us know which ideas from our list of the best things to do in Pine Island, Florida you’ll be trying out first!


This post originally appeared on theworldandthensome.com