I am taking my first mini-cruise down the intercoastal and Gulf shoreline. 7 days of sun&fun. I have charts,chartpootter,compass,insurance, etc and a well maintained boat. I also have the guide book "Cruising western Florida". What I am looking for is advice on "what to do" or "where to anchor". Maybe a good snokeling place or fishing area. Local knowledge of the intercoastal/passages would also be appreciated. Any local upcoming festivals or dockside marina's with excellant food and Jimmy Buffett music. I am leaving on the 6th. thanks in advance, Jack
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South Seas Plantation and Cabbage Key.
South Seas Plantation on Captiva Island...just north of Sanibel is a pretty cool place, but it's a big resort-not a gunkhole. Nearby Cabbage Key is much smaller in scale. Either place will make a great stopover. http://www.southseas.com/ http://www.cabbagekey.com/
South Seas Plantation on Captiva Island...just north of Sanibel is a pretty cool place, but it's a big resort-not a gunkhole. Nearby Cabbage Key is much smaller in scale. Either place will make a great stopover. http://www.southseas.com/ http://www.cabbagekey.com/
Cayo Costa and Ussepa Islands
In that area you also can find a good anchorage at Pelican Bay tucked in behind Cayo Costa, which has one of the best beaches in Florida (no bridges!) just a short hike away. Useppa (sp?) is a private island and a private club, but if you are chartering, you may be able to make arrangements to stay overnight in their marina. Well worth a visit. Cabbage Key is a restaurant, extremely popular, with limited dock space. Arrive early for a drink/meal and take time to wander around. A remnant of old Florida. Decent anchorage just across the intercoastal, near the mangroves. Check the guidebook for the channel marker. number. Also good but busy anchorage behind Fort Myers Beach, with lots of bars and eating places a short dinghy ride away. Of all these, Cabbage Key is a must-see spot. You'll think Buffett invented this place. Fair Winds, Sanders s/v Good News
In that area you also can find a good anchorage at Pelican Bay tucked in behind Cayo Costa, which has one of the best beaches in Florida (no bridges!) just a short hike away. Useppa (sp?) is a private island and a private club, but if you are chartering, you may be able to make arrangements to stay overnight in their marina. Well worth a visit. Cabbage Key is a restaurant, extremely popular, with limited dock space. Arrive early for a drink/meal and take time to wander around. A remnant of old Florida. Decent anchorage just across the intercoastal, near the mangroves. Check the guidebook for the channel marker. number. Also good but busy anchorage behind Fort Myers Beach, with lots of bars and eating places a short dinghy ride away. Of all these, Cabbage Key is a must-see spot. You'll think Buffett invented this place. Fair Winds, Sanders s/v Good News
Points further north and a South Sea comment
We used to go to South Seas frequently and pretend we had money (we still don't.) Captiva certainly has it's charms and we love the island but be aware that the resort was ground zero for Hurricane Charley and had it's clock cleaned. They've been franticly rebuilding and a friend just e-mailed me from there 2 days ago says that while it's open for business there's still much construction underway and you'll pay $3.50/ft. for the priviledge of enduring it. You've gotten some good advice on Cabbage, Useppa and Cayo Costa. They're all favorite stops of ours and worth a look. See if you can find someone in the anchorage to lead you through the 'tunnel-of-love.' If you're in the area, dinghy in to Barnacle Phils's on the northern tip of North Captiva Island. There's no bridge to the island and Phil's sits on a charming lagoon hidden within the Northeast corner of the island. Oh yeah, don't miss the ice cream shop up stairs. We always stop at the Crow's Nest Marina just inside the Venice Inlet. It's a small, friendly, easy to access facility that has a pretty damn good restaurant upstairs. Be sure to try the Guenther-Gebel Williams filet mignon. Oh my god, it's unbelievable. You can enjoy your meal with a fine wine while watching the sun set behind your boat. The loaner bikes will allow you to pedal into town to sightsee. The anchorage adjacent to the Marina Jack's complex in downtwn Sarasota is worth considering. Just don't come in Big Sarasota pass. It's marked but WAY too treacherous for deeper draft vessels. You'll see locals use it but usually only in settled conditions. Anyway, you can land a dinghy at the upper eastern shore of the anchorage basin where you can lock it up and head into town. Dowtown Sarasota has undergone something of a renaissance in the past several years and there's many nice bistros and shops to visit. On a nice day you can visit the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. Covered in the Claiborne Young guide you mentioned is the Longboat Key anchorage on the extreme northern end of Longboat Key. It's small and overly popular on weekends but for good reason. We try to visit on weekdays. Tuck in close to shore as the current reverses in the outer parts of the anchorage pretty hard. There's two excellent seafood eateries on the shore (Mar Vista and Moore's) and beatiful beaches a short dinghy ride away. Follow the first meandering canal into the Key that begins immediately south of the anchorage. At it's terminus is Isabel's, a fabulous breakfast hole-in-the-wall. There's even a short seawall where you can tie up the dink. If you like huevos rancheros done right or maybe chocolate chip and banana pancakes then you can't miss it. A few steps from Isabel's is an upscale grocery store for mid-trip provisioning and a liquor store for mid-trip prov..., well, you get the idea. The Longboat Key pass is okay for sailboats but be aware that the current can run briskly and that it's a single-lift bascule. Inside the mouth of the Manatee River you'll find acres of anchorage on either the north or south side of the river. There's not much in the immediate vicinity (which isn't always a bad thing) but there are county parks on either shore to explore. You might head to St. Pete to anchor in the Vinoy (hotel) basin. On the south shore there's a small watercraft concession and dock run by a lady who would let us keep the dink there securely for a few bucks while we traipsed through downtown. Don't miss Moon Under Water restaurant which borders the basin. It's a converted old rambing house that features an unusual British colonial cuisine and lots of favorite draft beers. There's plenty more stops to be found on foot but you'll just have to discover those on your own. If you head north of St. Pete I'd recommend the Greek enclave of Tarpon Springs. Mmmmm, I can taste the saganaki now... As you can tell, a good deal of our cruising revolves around food. That's not abnormal is it? Heck, why'd I write all this? You can just read our logs and check out the pictures at www.svanthem.com. Hope this helps.
We used to go to South Seas frequently and pretend we had money (we still don't.) Captiva certainly has it's charms and we love the island but be aware that the resort was ground zero for Hurricane Charley and had it's clock cleaned. They've been franticly rebuilding and a friend just e-mailed me from there 2 days ago says that while it's open for business there's still much construction underway and you'll pay $3.50/ft. for the priviledge of enduring it. You've gotten some good advice on Cabbage, Useppa and Cayo Costa. They're all favorite stops of ours and worth a look. See if you can find someone in the anchorage to lead you through the 'tunnel-of-love.' If you're in the area, dinghy in to Barnacle Phils's on the northern tip of North Captiva Island. There's no bridge to the island and Phil's sits on a charming lagoon hidden within the Northeast corner of the island. Oh yeah, don't miss the ice cream shop up stairs. We always stop at the Crow's Nest Marina just inside the Venice Inlet. It's a small, friendly, easy to access facility that has a pretty damn good restaurant upstairs. Be sure to try the Guenther-Gebel Williams filet mignon. Oh my god, it's unbelievable. You can enjoy your meal with a fine wine while watching the sun set behind your boat. The loaner bikes will allow you to pedal into town to sightsee. The anchorage adjacent to the Marina Jack's complex in downtwn Sarasota is worth considering. Just don't come in Big Sarasota pass. It's marked but WAY too treacherous for deeper draft vessels. You'll see locals use it but usually only in settled conditions. Anyway, you can land a dinghy at the upper eastern shore of the anchorage basin where you can lock it up and head into town. Dowtown Sarasota has undergone something of a renaissance in the past several years and there's many nice bistros and shops to visit. On a nice day you can visit the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens. Covered in the Claiborne Young guide you mentioned is the Longboat Key anchorage on the extreme northern end of Longboat Key. It's small and overly popular on weekends but for good reason. We try to visit on weekdays. Tuck in close to shore as the current reverses in the outer parts of the anchorage pretty hard. There's two excellent seafood eateries on the shore (Mar Vista and Moore's) and beatiful beaches a short dinghy ride away. Follow the first meandering canal into the Key that begins immediately south of the anchorage. At it's terminus is Isabel's, a fabulous breakfast hole-in-the-wall. There's even a short seawall where you can tie up the dink. If you like huevos rancheros done right or maybe chocolate chip and banana pancakes then you can't miss it. A few steps from Isabel's is an upscale grocery store for mid-trip provisioning and a liquor store for mid-trip prov..., well, you get the idea. The Longboat Key pass is okay for sailboats but be aware that the current can run briskly and that it's a single-lift bascule. Inside the mouth of the Manatee River you'll find acres of anchorage on either the north or south side of the river. There's not much in the immediate vicinity (which isn't always a bad thing) but there are county parks on either shore to explore. You might head to St. Pete to anchor in the Vinoy (hotel) basin. On the south shore there's a small watercraft concession and dock run by a lady who would let us keep the dink there securely for a few bucks while we traipsed through downtown. Don't miss Moon Under Water restaurant which borders the basin. It's a converted old rambing house that features an unusual British colonial cuisine and lots of favorite draft beers. There's plenty more stops to be found on foot but you'll just have to discover those on your own. If you head north of St. Pete I'd recommend the Greek enclave of Tarpon Springs. Mmmmm, I can taste the saganaki now... As you can tell, a good deal of our cruising revolves around food. That's not abnormal is it? Heck, why'd I write all this? You can just read our logs and check out the pictures at www.svanthem.com. Hope this helps.
Rick
I am very interested in your "ships log" but the link doesn't appear to be working. Could you try it again? Thanks for everyones advice, Jack
I am very interested in your "ships log" but the link doesn't appear to be working. Could you try it again? Thanks for everyones advice, Jack
Jeez, I'm such a dork
it would help if I knew how to type. I fixed it in the previous post but here it is again (I hope.)
it would help if I knew how to type. I fixed it in the previous post but here it is again (I hope.)
I'll Go Along With Rick
Especially in regard to the Crows Nest. I would skip Tarpon Springs as a destination it is just one tourist clip joint after another. Any of the places that put "plantation" in the name are just trying to get an additional $2.00 a foot. If you are a member of a Yacht Club using the reciprocity is the way to go.
Especially in regard to the Crows Nest. I would skip Tarpon Springs as a destination it is just one tourist clip joint after another. Any of the places that put "plantation" in the name are just trying to get an additional $2.00 a foot. If you are a member of a Yacht Club using the reciprocity is the way to go.
Thanks for the heads up.
After a bit of research I notice that things at South Seas Plantation have changed quite a bit... including the name! Thanks for the update. I first went there in 1980... and fell in love with the place. It truly had a "plantation" feel and no matter what Rick W says it was a very cool place. Of course that was before all the condos, and everything was cheaper back then, right? When we were last there in the early 90's things had built up quite a bit, but it was still a great place. We had a blast at a place called the "Bubble Room" near the bridge between Captiva and Sanibel. Probably gone now,too....sigh. Cayo Costa was totally deserted. Hmm...sometimes change sucks! Oh by the way, isn't Tarpon Springs NORTH of Clearwater Beach and would add at least 80 miles (roundtrip) to Jack's intended route from Tampa to Marco Island?
After a bit of research I notice that things at South Seas Plantation have changed quite a bit... including the name! Thanks for the update. I first went there in 1980... and fell in love with the place. It truly had a "plantation" feel and no matter what Rick W says it was a very cool place. Of course that was before all the condos, and everything was cheaper back then, right? When we were last there in the early 90's things had built up quite a bit, but it was still a great place. We had a blast at a place called the "Bubble Room" near the bridge between Captiva and Sanibel. Probably gone now,too....sigh. Cayo Costa was totally deserted. Hmm...sometimes change sucks! Oh by the way, isn't Tarpon Springs NORTH of Clearwater Beach and would add at least 80 miles (roundtrip) to Jack's intended route from Tampa to Marco Island?
Yup, Tarpon is north of Clearwater
but I figured that since Jack is in the area he may want to head up that direction if he gets tired of going south. Rick W is right that Tarpon downtown is touristy but we're not always put off by that. I mean, I LOVE Key West.
but I figured that since Jack is in the area he may want to head up that direction if he gets tired of going south. Rick W is right that Tarpon downtown is touristy but we're not always put off by that. I mean, I LOVE Key West.
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