Situated in the breathtakingly beautiful Gasparilla Sound, Boca Grande is a quaint and small residential area on the Gasparilla Island in southwest Florida. Deriving its name from the Spanish word meaning ‘big mouth’, Boca Grande is well-known for its powdery white sand beaches, and clear azure waters that are teeming with marine life. The town is home to many state parks that afford plenty of opportunities for birding, fishing, kayaking, boating, paddleboarding, hiking, cycling, and other adventurous activities. Visitors can also spend time admiring the historical downtown buildings or learn about the history of this town at the museums. Restaurants, cafés, boutiques, and cute shops provide a vast array of options to spend your time in this beautiful town. Scroll down to know more about all the things to do in Boca Grande, Florida.
1. Enjoy inshore fishing at Boca Grande (from USD 690.0)
Go on a fishing adventure if you don’t know what to do in Boca Grande. Experience fishing for trout, snapper, flounder, and a variety of other fish on this fishing charter trip. Guided by a local and knowledgeable captain, you are sure to catch interesting fish whether you are a first-timer or an experienced angler. All fishing equipment and licenses are included, and there is no chance of seasickness since you will be fishing in calm backwaters. At the end of the trip, your captain can even clean and prepare your fish for you.
Boca Grande Inshore Fishing Charter
Duration 4 to 8 hours
2. Explore the Boca Grande Lighthouse Museum
The oldest structure on Gasparilla Island also houses the Boca Grande Lighthouse Museum. Situated on a beautiful beach, the museum houses artefacts that provide a detailed look into the cultural and social history of the island. This Boca Grande attraction is comprised of five rooms, including one where you can touch fossils, shells, and bones found in the area. A gift and souvenir shop is also available on the premises.
Boca Grande Lighthouse Museum
Address: 880 Belcher Rd, Boca Grande, FL 33921
Website: Boca Grande Lighthouse Museum
Opening hours: Wed - Sat: 10am - 4pm; Sun: 12pm - 4pm (closed on Mon & Tue)
Price: Free
3. Go hiking and biking at Cayo Costa State Park
One of the best things to do near Boca Grande is visiting this state park in Cayo Costa. On the 9 miles (14.5 km) of untouched beaches at Cayo Costa State Park, enjoy a range of outdoor activities including biking and hiking. Explore the unspoiled beauty of this area with a leisurely bicycle ride via trails scattered throughout the interior of the island. Hiking along nature trails will give you a chance to spot many endangered and rare bird species nesting on the island.
Cayo Costa State Park
Address: 4 Nautical Miles West of Pine Island, Cayo Costa, FL 33922
Website: Cayo Costa State Park
Opening hours: 8am - sundown (daily)
Price: 2 USD
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4. Play a round of golf at Gasparilla Golf Club
At the Gasparilla Golf Club located on the grounds of The Gasparilla Inn & Club, enjoy teeing off a championship course against the backdrop of swaying palms and the scenic waters of Gulf of Mexico. The eco-friendly turf designed by master designer, Pete Dye, is suitable for players of all levels. Private lessons and practice facilities are also available.
Gasparilla Golf Club
Address: 500 Palm Ave, Boca Grande Fl, 33921
Website: Gasparilla Golf Club
Price: 125 USD onwards
5. Grab some grub at the Pink Elephant
Why not go on a food trip for a fun thing to do in Boca Grande this weekend? Tuck into some delicious lunch or dinner at the beautiful outdoor or the casual indoor dining areas of the Pink Elephant restaurant. Try their fresh seafood dishes like tuna tartare, fish tacos, seafood gumbo, etc. Their American-style steak, ribs, sandwiches, and salads are also excellent. Cocktails at the Pink Elephant are also highly recommended.
Pink Elephant
Address: 491 Bayou Ave, Boca Grande, FL 33921
Website: Pink Elephant
Opening hours: Mon - Tue: 5pm - 9:30pm; Fri - Sun: 11:30am - 9:30pm
6. Learn about the ecosystem at Gasparilla Island State Park
Described as a sportsman’s paradise for the abounding variety of fish seen here, the Gasparilla Island State Park is also the perfect place to learn more about the delicate ecosystem of this area. The island is home to many protected marine and wildlife species like the southern bald eagle, manatee, royal tern, gopher tortoise, osprey, and more. As such, visitors can participate in a variety of park ranger-led events to understand more about the natural resources of the island.
Gasparilla Island State Park
Address: 880 Belcher Rd, Boca Grande, FL 33921
Website: Gasparilla Island State Park
Opening hours: 8am - sundown (daily)
Price: 3 USD
7. Browse through the exquisite collection of jewellery at Barbara Anne's Jewelry & Repair
A Boca Grande institution since the past 27 years, Barbara Anne’s Jewelry & Repair is a much-loved local jewellery shop in Boca Grande. The shop has an amazing variety of exquisite sterling silver, gold, and costume jewellery in nautical and marine themes. You can easily spend an hour or two marvelling at the beautiful designs and delicate craftsmanship of the jewellery, including those in the shape of local fish, coral, lighthouse, etc.
Barbara Anne's Jewelry & Repair
Address: 410 Park Ave Suite 1, Boca Grande, FL 33921
Website: Barbara Anne’s Jewelry & Repair
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10am - 5pm (closed on Sun)
8. Paddle through the water with Paddleboard Adventures
Specializing in paddleboard tours, training and snorkelling trips, Paddleboard Adventures is a unique Boca Grande experience! Led by a certified instructor and a Florida Master Naturalist, the paddleboard tours offer you a chance to explore the waters of Boca Grande and see the marine life that inhabits these waters. Manatees, dolphins, starfish, sea urchins, etc. are commonly seen marine creatures during these paddleboard excursions.
Paddleboard Adventures
Address: 19th Street East, Boca Grande, Florida 33921
Website: Paddleboard Adventures
Opening hours: 7am - 7pm (daily)
Price: 65 USD
9. Create your own art at Boca Grande Art Center
At the Boca Grande Art Center, you can engage in creative activities like making your own artwork that you can take home with you as a souvenir of your trip. Art activities include making your own holiday-themed art, Christmas tree ornaments, pumpkin painting, paper crafts, unique wood art, drawing, oil painting, watercolour painting, etc. Activities at the Boca Grande Art Center are conducted by experts and are generally suitable for beginners, too.
Boca Grande Art Center
Address: 236 Banyan St, Boca Grande, FL 33921
Website: Boca Grande Art Center
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 10am - 4pm (closed on Sat & Sun)
Price: 65 USD onwards
10. Plan a wedding at Banyan Street
If a unique, tree-lined residential street has always been your dream wedding destination, then you should definitely check out Banyan Street! About 26 banyan trees stand in a row on either side of this street in Boca Grande, forming a series of arches overhead with their branches. Running perpendicular to the Gulf of Mexico, Banyan Street is a popular wedding destination in the area.
Banyan Street
Address: Banyan St., Boca Grande, FL 33921
11. Admire a collection of residential and commercial buildings at Downtown Boca Grande Historic District
The 3-mile-long (4.8 km) Downtown Boca Grande has a picturesque set of buildings that have been preserved to retain their old-world charm. Historic hotels, homes, churches, cafés, restaurants, boutiques, and gift shops line the downtown area, which has also been added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. You will find buildings like the historic Gasparilla Inn, Whiddon’s Marina, etc. on your walk in the downtown area.
Downtown Boca Grande Historic District
Address: Boca Grande, FL 33921
12. Gain knowledge about the historical past at Boca Grande Historical Society
Housing a large collection of documents, photographs and research materials about the history of Boca Grande, the Boca Grande Historical Society gives visitors a peek into the past of the area. Visit their fascinating exhibitions to gain knowledge about Boca Grande right from the time of the first settlers to present day society. A bookshop containing interesting Boca Grande-related paperbacks, photographic prints, map reproductions, etc. is also located on the premises.
Boca Grande Historical Society
Address: 170 Park Ave, Boca Grande, FL 33921
Website: Boca Grande Historical Society
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10am - 4pm (closed on Sun)
13. Visit the Cape Haze Aquatic Preserve
The aquatic preserve of Cape Haze is a popular place to go fishing, kayaking, paddle boarding, or sailing. This maze of shallow water channels and islands with an intricate network of mangroves is a rich wildlife habitat abounding in hundreds of species of fish, crustaceans and nesting birds. The unspoiled Cape Haze Aquatic Preserve is a must-visit place in Boca Grande.
Cape Haze Aquatic Preserve
Address: Boca Grande, FL 33921
Website: Cape Haze Aquatic Preserve
Opening hours: Mon - Fri: 8am - 5pm (closed on Sat & Sun)
14. Unwind with your family at Boca Grande Sandbar
The family-friendly Boca Grande Sandbar is the perfect place to take the whole family out for a fun day on the water. The crystal clear water on the white, hard packed sand of this shallow sandbar allows for fun relaxing activities like swimming, playing in the water, fishing, or boating. Restaurants, bars and boating docks, and ramps are also nearby.
Boca Grande Sandbar
Address: Placida, FL 33946
15. Ride across the Boca Grande Causeway
Connecting the mainland at Placida to Gasparilla Island where Boca Grande is located is the Boca Grande Causeway. Driving across it is sheer joy and pleasure as you take in the beauty of the Gasparilla Sound. Stretching across 2.5 miles (4 km) of azure waters, it is a series of three bridges and is the only access to the island for vehicles.
Boca Grande Causeway
Address: Boca Grande Causeway, FL 33946
16. Pamper yourself at Boca Body Massage
After all the outdoor adventures at Boca Grande, your body needs some pampering and relaxation. Soothe your aching muscles with a relaxing body massage by a licensed massage therapist at the Boca Body Massage. The establishment offers a range of therapeutic massages like deep tissue, Swedish, reflexology, hot stone massage, and more.
Boca Body Massage
Address: 5800 Gasparilla Rd, B-3, Boca Grande, FL 33921
Website: Boca Body Massage
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 9am - 6pm (closed on Sun)
Price: 105 USD onwards
17. Relish seafood platters at Eagle Grille and Miller's Dockside
Gorge on fresh seafood by the Boca Grande Marina at the relaxing water-side ambience of Eagle Grille and Miller’s Dockside. Renowned across the island for their fresh and delicious food, the restaurant’s must-try dish is the seafood platter. Comprising scallops, shrimp and Gulf Grouper served alongside fresh vegetables and shiitake truffle risotto, the seafood platter is delectably good!
Eagle Grille and Miller's Dockside
Address: 220 Harbor Dr, Boca Grande, FL 33921
Website: Eagle Grille and Miller’s Dockside
Opening hours: 11:30am - 9pm (daily)
18. Pick up beach souvenirs at Fugate's
While in downtown Boca Grande, pop into the famous Fugate’s to shop for some unique gifts for your friends and souvenirs for yourself! A Boca Grade institution, this shop stocks high-end beachwear, branded and quality apparel, classy souvenirs, glassware, dining and kitchen items, cute kids’ toys, and so many more items. Their accessories like hats, purses, jewellery, etc. are also very popular with locals as well as visitors.
Fugate's
Address: 428 4th St W, Boca Grande, FL 33921
Website: Fugate’s
Opening hours: 9:30am - 5pm (daily)
19. Gulp down cocktails at Temptation Restaurant
With a bright and lively ocean-themed interior, Temptation Restaurant is the quintessential old Florida restaurant that serves up some seriously delicious cocktails! The bartenders at the restaurant are friendly and mix up craft cocktails for the customers. Try their loaded Bloody Mary, Mango Margarita or Moscow Mules, and many other refreshing cocktails.
Temptation Restaurant
Address: 350 Park Ave, Boca Grande, FL 33921
Website: Temptation Restaurant
Opening hours: Mon - Sat: 10am - 10pm (closed on Sun)
20. Buy local items at Boca Grande Farm & Fish Market
Take a break from the sight-seeing and water activities to visit the open-air Boca Grande Farm & Fish Market that is open to residents and visitors alike. At this seasonal Friday market, you will find a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, baked goods, artisanal products, homemade items, fresh fish and seafood, etc. from over 30 local vendors. Buy a local item at this market as a gift for your loved ones or take home a travel souvenir for yourself.
Boca Grande Farm & Fish Market
Address: 305 Wheeler Road, Boca Grande, Florida
Website: Boca Grande Farm & Fish Market
Opening hours: Fri: 9am - 1pm (seasonal)
Beautiful Boca Grande, Florida
A true water lover’s paradise, Boca Grande offers a ton of activities to enjoy - fishing, kayaking, boating, paddleboarding, swimming, and more! There is history, art, and adventure on this small but picturesque part of Gasparilla Island. So pack your bags and head on over to the paradise-like Boca Grande, Florida.