"Must See" West Florida

Hampton

Hampton

Air Defense Dept
TECHNICAL Contributor
Nov 26, 2006
7,628
Panama City, Fl
Boat Info
2008 44 Sedan Bridge
Engines
Cummins QSC-500's
Straight Drives
We'll be heading South in June and need to know what areas we should stop at in West Florida on the way home. We'll have about 10 days to spread out between the Keys and North Florida. What marinas are an absolute must? Which should we avoid? Where should be drop anchor over night?

We plan to see Crystall River if time permits, but, we've decided that since we're spending the money to go to the Keys, that area will have priority on our month-long journey.

Thanks!
 
Pelican Bay is a great anchorage inside the Boca Grand pass to Charlotte harbor. It's on the south side of the pass immediately inside on Cayo Costa.

Be sure to visit Cayo Costa. There is a beautiful blue lagoon on the outside, no boat access. You can anchor off shore, or head into Pelican Bay on the back side and walk over. Or take a tender around. There is also a state park dock in Pelican Bay with a shuttle to the outer shore.

Ft. Myers - Matanzas Inn and Marina
Captiva - South Seas Plantation - pricey or Jensens
Boca Grand - Miller's Dockside
Placida - Palm Island Marina in Placida - popular stopover point
Sarasota - Longboat Key Club - high end or Marina Jacks - party crowd

For Food:
Barnacle Phil's - inside the bay at the North tip of North Captiva. Best black beans and rice. Dog's welcome.
Cabbage Key - but of course. Another one that claims to be the inspiration of Jimmy's "Cheese Burger in Paradise"
Rum Bay - on Palm Island in Placida - best ribs in the region. Get some swamp sauce to take home.
Crow's Nest - at Venice Inlet, fine dining.
 
'Tween Waters Inn on Captiva. Awesome food and the marina is nice.

Captain Jack's in Sarasota has an awesome restaurant as well.

Hummm...Looking at that, you'd think I'm all about food.:grin:
 
Taking an entire month to cruise Florida? Very cool. Make sure your credit card credit line has the capacity to keep up with the fuel! Have you calculated the amount of fuel you will use? I imagine you have since you seem pretty organized...

It seems like a helluva trip though!
 
I was in Crystal River Thursday thru Sunday, nice area, went off shore with a friend on Sat, rough water, watch out for crab pots, we were out 15 to 20 miles and they string them in lines, sometimes multiple lines, at least that far out. Some of the floats are dark and blend in with the water. I have no idea how far they run out or up and down the coast. You have to drop to idle speed as you come out of the marked channel and enter Crystal River between the two islands, then 25 mph speed limit in the marked channel, then idle speed where the river jogs over, then 25 mph speed limit again. Any time you are not in marked channel it is slow speed minimal wake, all due to Manatees in the area. I never went all the way up the river, you are supposed to be able to watch them in places, not sure if your boat would get in those places, thin water.
 
Be sure to stop at State Park Caladesi Island Marina, nice beach. This is just south of Honeymoon Island State Park near Clearwater. Also some nice stops are Anclote Island off near the Anclote Power plant and Tarpon Springs. As you pass the Skyway Bridge between St Pete and Sarasota, check out Egmont Key another nice beach.
 
Hey John,
Sorry I do not know the answer to your question but I do have a favor to ask of you on behalf of the entire CSR family. And it’s a big one….

Would you consider posing a documentary of sorts of your trip like Gary had done over the past two years?

Following Gary’s adventure live was my highlight of boat reading.

I have been like a crack addict in withdrawal ever since. Your post has peaked the need to feed my addiction.

Post about your month long boating vacation. Include lots of photos, stories, the good, the bad, we want it all. Feel free to post some photos of broken toes or a brand new POS grill that you tossed in the trash after it flamed up.

We want to live vicariously thru your adventures. We want to arm chair quarterback your mistakes. We want to look forward to getting up, booting up the laptop, head into the bathroom to settle down for a long constitutional as we read about your day.

Come on John, what do you say? Please?
 
I'll second that:thumbsup:

Presentation said:
Hey John,
Sorry I do not know the answer to your question but I do have a favor to ask of you on behalf of the entire CSR family. And it’s a big one….

Would you consider posing a documentary of sorts of your trip like Gary had done over the past two years?

Following Gary’s adventure live was my highlight of boat reading.

I have been like a crack addict in withdrawal ever since. Your post has peaked the need to feed my addiction.

Post about your month long boating vacation. Include lots of photos, stories, the good, the bad, we want it all. Feel free to post some photos of broken toes or a brand new POS grill that you tossed in the trash after it flamed up.

We want to live vicariously thru your adventures. We want to arm chair quarterback your mistakes. We want to look forward to getting up, booting up the laptop, head into the bathroom to settle down for a long constitutional as we read about your day.

Come on John, what do you say? Please?
Click to expand...
 
When you go past Bonita Beach I will wave to you. LOL

It should be a great trip. Waters are finally warming to the 80 degree mark and clearing. There are a number of decent marinas between Ft Myers and Marco before you venture to KW. There is a decent on on the south end of Estero Island that has floating docks which is always nice. It leaves you about 120 miles from KW. I think others have hit the culinary hot spots above.
 
Either going or coming, when you get tired of glitz and resorts, duck into Miller Marina on Boca Grande. Restaurant has food rivaling Capt Anderson's, nice folks, stores close by, fuel, and tarpon fisherman, but not a lot else.
 
Don't forget to stop by Cabbage Key for that "Cheeseburger in Paradise". I will be there next month when I am on my way over to Ft. Lauderdale via the OKE.

Have you tried www.activecaptain.com to help plan your trip? The site offers many reviews on marinas, anchorages, sites, etc.

Brian
 
One of our favorite places to eat in the keys is a place called keys fisheries on marathon (gulf side) they have a lobster reuben to die for:thumbsup:
 
I'll definately keep a trip log right here, complete with pics.

Thanks everyone. Just catching up after a couple of long days at work and a night on the boat.
 
Hampton said:
We'll be heading South in June and need to know what areas we should stop at in West Florida on the way home. We'll have about 10 days to spread out between the Keys and North Florida. What marinas are an absolute must? Which should we avoid? Where should be drop anchor over night?

We plan to see Crystall River if time permits, but, we've decided that since we're spending the money to go to the Keys, that area will have priority on our month-long journey.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Hope to make that trip from Maryland one of these days. Bon Voyage!
 
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