If you enjoy water activities, Boca Grande is an ideal destination since some of its main attractions include boating, kayaking and fishing in the 120 square miles of water that include the Gulf of Mexico and Charlotte Harbor to the east of the island. You can book a guided kayaking tour with local companies such as Grande Tours, which is located in nearby Placida. If you're more interested in casting your line or trying your hand at deep-sea fishing, consider booking an excursion with fishing charter companies such as Another Keeper Charters, located roughly four miles from the Boca Grande Causeway in Cape Haze-Englewood.
Bring a beach chair and a book and relax on one of Boca Grande’s 14 beaches on the Gulf of Mexico or one of its 11 bayside beaches. Some of the beaches offer limited facilities or parking. If you're looking for more than just a nice beach, consider hopping on a ferry to Don Pedro Island State Park, which is only accessible by ferry or private boat. The park has a one-mile sandy beach where you can relax, swim, snorkel or search for shells. You can also boat, surf fish, canoe or kayak and hike on the park's nature trails.
Practice your swing at Gasparilla Inn and Club's private 18-hole golf course, which is open to guests of the resort. The 6,811-yard, par 72 championship course was designed by Pete Dye and offers several challenging holes, along with picturesque views. If you aren't staying at the inn, you could book a tee time at one of the off-island golf courses, which include Rotonda Golf and Country Club in nearby Rotonda West. The club has 99 holes and five golf courses, including The Palms and The Hills, two championship courses. Other courses include The Links, Pinemoor and Long Marsh.
Take a step back in time when you visit Boca Grande's Main Street, which has no traffic lights, fast food chain restaurants or billboards. Instead, it is lined with one-of-a-kind shops and restaurants that serve locally caught fresh seafood. If you like art, stop in at one of the local galleries, such as Hughes Gallery, which is owned by local artists. Each exhibit typically opens with a "Meet the Artist" event, allowing you to meet and learn more about the featured artist. Another option is to take a short drive to nearby Placida to the Margaret Albritton Gallery, which houses the work of Garry and Margaret Albritton.
