Sunday, March 16, 2008

Venice Florida to Boca Grande, Florida

Kevin & Ian on Banyan Street
"Island Hopper" arrived at Boca Grande at 2:00 PM. Boca Grande is a beautiful island. I t is also called Gasparilla Island. Before roads to the lower Gulf Coast were even talked about, wealthy northerners came by train to spend the winter at Gasparilla Inn, built in 1912 in Boca Grande on Gasparilla Island, named, legend has it, for a Spanish pirate who set up headquarters in these waters. Although condominiums and modern sprawl creep up on the rest of Gasparilla, much of the town of Boca Grande looks like another era. The mood is set by the old Florida homes and tree-framed roadways. The island is disrupted in the spring when anglers descend with Vengeance on Boca Grande Pass, considered among the best tarpon-fishing spots in the world.
Debbie & Joan in front of the Gasparilla Inn
We rented a golf cart to tour the island. Pam and John Payne along with Carol and Dave Lindenbaum came aboard "Island Hopper" for cocktails. Both couples have a winter home on the island. We then went to Palmetto Grille for dinner.

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