These 10 Towns Are Florida’s Best-Kept Secret

Posted on September 10, 2025
By Mina Wiebe, WorldAtlas
Cabbage Key, Recreation

The scenic setting of Cabbage Key, Florida.

After welcoming an estimated 143 million visitors in 2024, it is no surprise that Florida reigns as one of the top travel destinations in the United States. From Miami to Kissimmee, millions are drawn to all the Sunshine State has to offer. But what about the towns we don’t often see in travel vlogs and magazines? While Florida’s theme parks and resort cities are popular for a reason, sometimes the best treasures are hidden in the shadows. Whether located off the beaten path or eclipsed by more popular attractions, these 10 small towns are some of Florida’s best-kept secrets. Boasting postcard beaches without the crowds and charming downtowns without the tourist traps, these towns unveil a more authentic side of Florida you never knew existed.

Mangroves, Mollusks, and Frozen Key Lime Pie: Cruising to Southwest Florida’s Cabbage Key

Posted on July 28, 2025
By Phoebe Skok, Matador Network
Cabbage Key, Dining, Nature & Wildlife, Recreation

Five minutes after stepping onto the boat at McCarthy’s Marina in Captiva, Florida, I was already geeking out over a salinity gradient — the gradual transition between freshwater and saltwater.

The Lady Chadwick was my home for the day as guides from Captiva Cruises steered us through Pine Island Sound to Cabbage Key, a low-slung barrier island just off the coast of Fort Myers. Our guide, Captain Richard, casually mentioned that the tea-colored water surrounding us gets saltier the farther south you go, all thanks to a lack of freshwater flow from the Everglades.

Technically, yes, I was on vacation. But when you spend years studying climate science and oceanography, you can’t not get excited about what’s happening under the waves.

Where to eat, stay and play in Fort Myers, Florida

Posted on July 1, 2025
By Roshae Hemmings, St. Louis Magazine
Cabbage Key, Dining, Recreation

Located in southwest Florida, Fort Myers is accessible via nonstop flight from St. Louis. The popular destination is comprised of 100 islands, 50 neighborhoods, and 50 miles of beaches.

Silhouettes of three kayakers on the water at sunset in waters of Fort Myers, FL. A lovely gradient of blue and orange.

Paddle activities such as kayaking are a common way that locals and visitors explore the wildlife and nature of Fort Myers. – Photography courtesy of Cape Coral Kayak

PLAY

To visit Florida, especially Fort Myers, and skip the beach would be a missed opportunity. Island hopping is a popular way to explore the geography and natural beauty of the islands off the coast of Fort Myers. Several companies in the area offer private boat tours, including Captain Brian on the Water. Captain Brian Holaway has been a beloved fixture in the Fort Myers community since 1995. Tour options include trips to Cayo Costa, known for its shell-covered beaches, and Cabbage Key, where guests can stop for lunch at the iconic Cabbage Key Restaurant. Paddling is another great way to get up close to nature and wildlife. Cape Coral Kayak offers several guided and self-guided excursions, including dolphin-spotting tours. If leisure is high on your priority list, then try Fins Up! Beach Club at Margaritaville Beach Resort, where paradise awaits for visitors who yearn for long days by the pool. Fins Up! Beach Club features a 15,000-square-foot heated pool, live entertainment, and various dining options, including 5 o’Clock Somewhere Bar & Grill. Access to Fins Up! Beach Club is included for Margaritaville Beach Resort guests; visitors can also enjoy the fun by purchasing a day pass. Lynn Hall Memorial Park, located in the Fort Myers Beach neighborhood, is a popular option among locals and visitors, as it’s within walking distance from local shops and restaurants. Among other stops to consider: Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum and Aquarium, Dunbar-McCollum Hall mural wall, First Fridays at Downtown Fort Myers Art Walk.

Overnight on Cabbage Key, for a cheeseburger (and more) in old-Florida paradise

Posted on February 20, 2024
By Susan Glaser, cleveland.com
Cabbage Key, Recreation, Reviews, Tarpon Lodge

Looking down the long dock towards the quaint dollhouse cottage at Cabbage Key.

A cottage for rent on Cabbage Key, a Southwest Florida tourist destination named for the many cabbage palm trees on the island.

CABBAGE KEY, Florida – There’s no beach here, no pool, no high-rise condos.

What you’ll find on tiny Cabbage Key: an historic lodge, nature trails, a terrific restaurant that (perhaps) inspired Jimmy Buffett, and most strikingly, an old-time Florida vibe that’s fading fast elsewhere around the state.

Cabbage Key is a small island – just 112 acres – located in Pine Island Sound, west of Fort Myers. Its first inhabitants were the Calusa Indians, who left behind a large shell mound that has served to protect the land for centuries.

The island developed as a tourist destination in the 1930s, accessible only by boat, an off-the-beaten path spot where you could get away from it all (except from the mosquitoes, which also seem to have great fondness for the place).

It’s still that spot.
Read More

Dock & dine in style: Discover Fort Myers’ best waterfront restaurants

Posted on October 6, 2023
By Travelweek
Cabbage Key, Dining, Fort Myers, Recreation, Tarpon Lodge

Inhale those fresh Gulf breezes and feel the warmth of the sun on your face as the day unfolds before you.

All throughout Fort Myers’ islands, beaches, and neighborhoods, you can go straight from an exhilarating boat ride to an amazing meal while overlooking the water.

You’re invited to experience a local legend. Cabbage Key Inn sits on its own 100-acre island and has been feeding guests for decades. Hop aboard a charter or book your own private boat to reach this remote restaurant famed for its cheeseburgers, fresh seafood and frozen Key lime pie. Its defining feature is the thousands of dollar bills taped to the restaurant’s ceilings and walls, and you’ll likely spot tortoises and other wildlife roaming the walkways outside.

Feel the charm of an Old Florida landmark at the Tarpon Lodge & Restaurant in Bokeelia on Pine Island. This historical 1926 house overlooks Pine Island Sound and is surrounded by a restored boathouse, bungalow-style cottage and comfortable Island House. Enjoy a leisurely lunch or exquisite evening meal at Tarpon Lodge Restaurant, where you can dine on the catch of the day, prized Gulf pink shrimp or other locally sourced favourites.

This is an excerpt from an article originally published by Travelweek.

Cabbage Key among the 15 Best Things to Do in Lee County, FL

Posted on June 3, 2023
By Rice Ocampo of Travel Lens
Cabbage Key, Dining, Fort Myers, Lee County, Recreation

Lee County is your ultimate beachfront destination on the Gulf Coast within southwestern Florida.

Founded in 1887, this county is more famous for its sandy beaches, historic homes and estates, quirky galleries and museums, and islands. It got its name from Robert E. Lee, who was an American Civil War general who helped the country reunite.

Aside from its noteworthy attractions, the county also offers access to an impressive water channel, including the Imperial River and the Gulf of Mexico. It’s also home to a variety of collegiate opportunities, what with the Florida Gulf Coast University within the property. Keep your beachfront vacation simple and elegant by choosing to travel to its county seat, Fort Myers, or any of its cities, including Cape Coral and Bonita Springs.

Fort Myers Tip-Off Tournament Features Cabbage Key

Posted on May 23, 2022
Cabbage Key, Dining, Recreation

Special thanks to Jade Mallard, of the Fort Myers Tip-Off Tournament, and Captain Brian for stopping by Cabbage Key on their Fort Myers promotional tour:

Cabbage Key featured in Texas Lifestyle & Travel Magazine

Posted on May 19, 2022
By Daniel Ramirez, Texas Lifestyle Magazine
Cabbage Key, Nature & Wildlife, Recreation

Sunlight pierces the tree canopy as a couple holds hands as they approach Cabbage Key Inn and Restaurant

Take a Ride to Cabbage Key

Take a ride with Captiva Cruises, conveniently located in the South Seas’ Marina, and you’ll find yourself on Cabbage Key, a landmark destination with quite a few interesting residents. The island is home to the ubiquitous anoles – small lizards, either brown or black – strewn throughout the island’s paths and trees, but also to a robust gopher tortoise population. Neither reptile is shy, but they aren’t as curious as the third inhabitant of Cabbage Key – Florida’s famed manatees. There’s not an accurate way to describe the sheer magnitude of these gentle mammals, save to say that they dwarf all visitors, yet are docile enough to surface and say hello. And, throughout your time near the water, whether marina or open gulf, you’ll have no end of attention from dolphins, who call this part of Florida home.

This is an excerpt from the article #TravelTuesday: Stretch Out and Stay a Spell on Southwest Florida’s Captiva Island by Daniel Ramirez, originally published in the travel section of texaslifestylemag.com

Houston Style Magazine Online Features Cabbage Key & South Seas Island Resort

Posted on May 18, 2022
By Reginald Dominique, Houston Style Magazine
Cabbage Key, Local Attractions

Cabbage Key Island

For a one-of-a-kind shelling experience, your adventure Captiva Cruise choice maybe Cayo Costa State Park. Another island accessible only by boat, Cayo Costa State Park is considered to be one of the best shelling beaches in the world. With nine miles of beach, acres of pine forests and more than six miles of trails, visitors may enjoy shelling, fishing, birdwatching and snorkeling on this beautiful barrier island.

This is an excerpt from an original article Captivating and Exciting: South Seas Island Resort Awaits your Arrival by Reginald Dominique on stylemagazine.com.

Worth the Trip: Animal Kingdom

Posted on August 6, 2021
By John Thomason, Boca Magazine
Cabbage Key, Captiva, Recreation, Reviews

Part of the ideal South Seas experience involves leaving the resort: The on-site Captiva Cruises features five-to-six-hour narrated voyages to nearby islands, including Boca Grande, Useppa and Cayo Costa State Park. I joined a cruise to Cabbage Key, a 100-acre speck purchased by its original owners for all of $2,500. We disembarked at the Key’s sole attraction: a historic home converted into an inn and restaurant, one of many places in South Florida attributed as the site where Jimmy Buffett wrote “Cheeseburger in Paradise.”

Boaters first view a sign in Pine Island Sound that marks the channel leading to Cabbage Key, seen in the background.

1 2 … 4 More

Book Your Stay With Us Today

Your Island Getaway Awaits

Give Us A Call

Our staff is standing by to help you book your stay and answer any questions you may have about your relaxing island getaway. (239) 283-2278

Recreation | Cabbage Key Inn & Restaurant