OOps! There is a Pink Elephant here – a restaurant!
Perhaps there are other exclusive islands in Florida we don’t know about, but Boca Grande has multiple reputations for an upscale hideaway.
The first thing Boca Grande can boast about is its exclusivity. There are only 1700 people on the island and most are seasonal. The homes on the island have been occupied by famous actors, actresses, politicians, and it is rumored to be the summer home of two national championship coaches!
For years Boca Grande has been called the second-home haven for America’s wealthiest families. Boca has been the backdrop for several movies. This Florida island adventure is world-renowned.
Fishing is synonymous with Boca Grande. When someone thinks of Tarpon, everyone in the fishing circle knows Boca Grande Pass is a world-class
destination. The richest Tarpon tournament in the world is held here every year. Hundreds of boats cram the pass trying to lure a “silver king” to take a chunk out of a jig. Boca Grande island has Charlotte Harbor on the east and the Gulf of Mexico on the western side with the deep water pass on the south end of the island. Tarpon fishing charters are generally available from the middle of April until the end of June.
Watching the tournament from a beach at the south end of the island is exciting as fishermen fight monster tarpon.
The Second Home of the Wealthy – Boca Grande
Boca Grande is also known for the Gasparilla Inn and Club in the heart of the island. This grand old hotel dates back to 1913 and says it is “Florida the way it ought to be!”. The Inn also features a championship golf course on the premises with many waterfront holes. The Inn is open seasonally from October through July.
We can’t forget The Pink Elephant! This is the casual side of the Gasparilla Inn. The main Inn has a dining room that is very posh, but also requires a jacket for dinner. No such rules for The Pink Elephant since many fishermen would be hard-pressed to find a jacket in their suitcase. Act like a local and call this restaurant “The Pink”.
Boca Grande Island has many other independent restaurants, shops and watersports activities. Don’t forget you are near another famous island the we call “Cheeseburger in Paradise“. Have your charter captain take you to Cabbage Key by boat or get a water taxi. Across Charlotte Harbor there are plenty of things to do in Punta Gorda.
