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28. Explore the islands of Matlacha and Pine Island.
We’ve borrowed the following text from Coastal Living Magazine and travel writer, Jeff
Book:
Just past the Island Time Zone road sign, the tiny town of Matlacha (MAT-luh-shay)--an
islet west of Ft. Myers- welcomes visitors with art galleries and shops but retains the
charm of a quiet fishing village. Tethered to the mainland by the "fishingest bridge in the
U.S.A." over Matlacha Pass, it's surrounded by dozens of mostly empty isles, an ideal
habitat for fish (and the anglers who catch them). Kayakers come here to paddle placid
backwaters, but be sure to spend time on dry land, checking out the eclectic collections
at galleries such as Lovegrove Gallery & Gardens, where owner and artist Leoma
Lovegrove's vibrant paintings cover every surface.
Route 78 from Matlacha continues to peaceful Pine Island. The land on this 17-mile-long
slice of Old Florida is largely home to plantations replete with palm, citrus, avocado,
guava, macadamia, and mango trees. The island's Annual Mango Mania festival-with
games for the kids, recipe contests, and arts and crafts-is held in July.
Pine Island's sparse traffic-and the bike path running from one end to the other--makes it
ideal for cycling. Hikers take the Calusa Heritage Trail, which winds among ancient shell
mounds and the remnants of an impressive cross-island canal built by the Calusa
Indians, who settled here around A.D. 1. Trail signs illustrate the thriving seaside village
that greeted Spanish explorers in the early 1500's.