A Tropical Island Paradise

Are you looking for an authentic Florida getaway? One of our new favorite places to visit is Cabbage Key, located on the Gulf Coast near Cape Coral. It’s the laid-back paradise Jimmy Buffett made famous when he met the perfect cheeseburger, a piano, and a cold beer after a day of incredible fishing (At least that is how the story goes; I have heard other versions). Cabbage Key is an “old Florida” island where the inspired rocker is reported to have written the famed song “Cheeseburger in Paradise.” Below I will share our journey on this exciting adventure! 

Since moving to Cape Coral, we have been told that we must visit some of the islands off the coast. It sounded so beautiful how the locals described it that I could not wait to see Cabbage Key. 

Earlier this month, an opportunity arose that allowed us to book a night on Cabbage Key. We had been told it was a must-visit restaurant and Inn. Now we did little to no research and was not sure what was on the island or what to expect. 

I had assumed that we would need our snorkeling equipment and bathing suits. So I packed our bags full of beach towels and accessories. In general, I packed way too much for our just over 24-hour stay on Cabbage Key. These items could be needed for a visit there, but I will explain that later. 

We booked a ride on the Island Girl water taxi out of Pine Island Marina. When we arrived at the marina, we were greeted and had help with our bags. A gentleman even helped us in parking our car in a secure lot for overnight parking. It was a pleasant experience at the marina.

Once we were all on the boat and headed out to the island, I was full of excitement. The boat ride only took fifteen minutes. As we slowed and approached the Inn’s docks, I noticed the beautiful white restaurant and Inn up on the hill. It looked like a painting. 

Full of excitement, we checked in at the shop located on the docks; while checking in, I asked how do we get to the beach. She smiled and said, no beaches here. This is a quiet hideaway to unwind and relax. She let us know that if we stayed a bit longer, we could rent a kayak or small boat to take a short ride to Cayo Costa State Park. Amenities at Cayo Costa include beaches, boat slips, hiking trails, a picnic pavilion, 12 primitive camping cabins, and a bathhouse/restroom. 

A little shocked that there were no beaches, we were still optimistic. The clerk told us to head up to the restaurant, and a hostess would show us to our room. Once inside, we were warmly greeted and shown to our room, which was room 5. This room is just off the dining room, and at first, we were taken back by this, but it was a charming room and restroom with a private porch to enjoy the view of the water and docks. 

We got settled and went out to explore the island. Mangroves surround it, and water is not visible except in two spots that we found as well as from the lookout tower. The gardens and wildlife around the island were breathtaking. 

Together we walked the multiple trails throughout the island. It was a breezy day with a bit of cloud. As we made it to the end of one of the trails, it began to rain. At first, we were rushing to get back to the room, but I said, it’s rain. It will not kill us. We slowed down and enjoyed the walk while enjoying a cool mist of rain. 

When we booked the room, they made dinner reservations for us. While waiting for our reservation, we sat out front and enjoyed watching the boat docks’ activities. 

Dinner at Cabbage Key did not disappoint. The staff was absolutely amazing, and the food was so delicious. The servings were large and the food and drinks top notch. There was no way we had room for dessert, but the choices sounded terrific. While enjoying dinner, we made sure to sign a dollar and hang it from the roof. This is an additional charm added to the restaurant. 

Because we were very unprepared for this visit, the staff was wonderful to help us get ice for the night as we were unaware most people bring a cooler along with them. Anything and everything we needed was taken care of. The service was phenomenal. The staff enjoyed chatting about life on the island and how the staff and transportation to and from the mainland work. We were very curious about these topics. 

The room was kept cool and comfortable throughout the night. When we woke the next morning, we strolled the island a bit more and enjoyed the view from the tower once again. We then went in and enjoyed a sizeable tasty breakfast and coffee. The time for our water taxi was arriving, so we gathered our things and went out front to watch the activity at the boat dock until our boat arrived. 

The staff said that Cabbage Key is a place to come and unwind, and they are not kidding. You could book at the Inn or Cottages for a romantic getaway, for some quiet time to yourself, or just to get lost away from the real world. This trip was a much-needed getaway from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. 

Once our Island Girl Boat arrived, we enjoyed a bit longer boat ride back to Pine Island as we stopped at North Captiva along the way. It was a relaxing and enjoyable ride back to our car. 

I would say Cabbage Key is a must-visit place to stay or at least enjoy a cheeseburger in paradise. The unique “old Florida” feel they provide refreshing. If you have not been, you should add it to your bucket list.