[mofarmboy]

Has anyone visited Pine Island. We were looking for a beach to take Son and his family.

[KARENNN]

Yes, I have. Not much to do there in my opinion. Matlache has quaint shopping. The rentals have docks (most people there fish I assume) and I think you have to drive a bit to get to a beach. Sanibel I hear is very nice.

A picture...
http://www.pineislandrentals.com/ima...-17-5A_018.jpg

[Jim 9922]

Buy the book "Florida Beaches" published by Foghorn Press. Parke Puterbaugh and Alan Bisbort authors. They have very accurate descriptions of all beaches and surrounding areas, parking, fees. etc. Worth every penny. About 800 pages, cost about $20

[starflyte1]

Ft. Myers Beach is a family tourist place with lots of waterfront rooms.

[senior citizen]

...........

[BritParrothead]

we went to Pine island 17 years ago! Spent the whole summer there! No beach. We rented a boat and went to Cabbage Key, (where Jimmy Buffett is supposed to have got the inspiration for Cheesburger in Parasdise) Cabbage Key is ok. Sanibel or Fort Myers are better. Sanibel more upmarket though.

[starflyte1]

Ft. Myers Beach is quite a distance from Ft. Myers, and the beach is along a 12 mile long, 1/4 mile to maybe 1/2 mile wide strip of land from Ft. Myers Beach to Bonita Beach over the barrier islands. There is only one bridge on the north end and one on the south end on and off the islands. So there is no way on or off the islands for criminals other than the two bridges or by boat. I am sure that Ft. Myers Beach and Bonita Beach have crimes, but nothing to keep me away. Just watch your surroundings.

mofarmboy, I don't know the ages of your grandchildren, but FMB is a family destination, with lots of resturants, tourist shops, motels on the beach, something for everyone. There is a sloooow trolley than runs from Bonita K-mart to Ft. Myers and back. That is even fun maybe once.

[John_W]

I was wondering why everyone was talking about Ft. Myers, which is quite a haul from TV. I believe the OP was talking about Pine Island in Hernando County that's only about an hour and half from here.

I use to live in Spring Hill and Pine Island was the only beach we had locally, although you have to go out a few miles from Spring Hill. I haven't been there since 1989, but I remember it as a state park and had public restrooms and picnic areas but no real businesses.

If you want more of the tour attractions along with the beach, head to St. Petersburg Beach or Clearwater Beach, I think the Gulf Coast has the nicest beaches. That's probably a two hour drive down I-75 to I-275. If you want something just a little closer I would try New Smyrna Beach on the Atlantic, but I don't believe it's quite as nice.

Here's the Pine Island in Hernando County, take Route 50 from I-75 and just keep going west, when you cross US 19 you're getting close.

[starflyte1]

You may be right about which Pine Island. The only one I knew about was near Ft. Meyers, but pictures of your Pine Island are beautiful. Will have to check it out.

[JeffAVEWS]

There is a nice beach on the Gulf side about an hour from The Villages in Citrus County. Fort Island Gulf Beach It is a very pleasant dive to get out to it, passing thru wetlands of what the gulf coast looked like before development. Its a free county park. Click on the photo at the web site to see 11 different pics.

[Shimpy]

Originally Posted by John_W

I was wondering why everyone was talking about Ft. Myers, which is quite a haul from TV. I believe the OP was talking about Pine Island in Hernando County that's only about an hour and half from here.

Right, there are 2 Pine Islands. The one in Hernando County is just a beach and really not much in the way of eating.
The other one, much further away is nice and you can see Sanabal from there.
In my opinion for a REAL beach go east. Daytona is my favorite.