Night falls on the Caloosahatchee River in Fort Myers. PHOTO BY DAVE POLLARD /Toronto Sun Classic cars and snappy songs. And, maybe, if you’re lucky, a cheeseburger in paradise. Yes, Fort Myers and the surrounding area, including Captiva and Sanibel islands, has all that – it was the winter home of Henry Ford (and Thomas Edison, for that matter), hosts the annual Island Hopper Songwriters Fest, and nearby Cabbage Key was allegedly the inspiration for one of Jimmy Buffett’s more well-known songs – and more for Canadian snowbirds to discover … if your timing is right. Fort Myers, roughly 200 k ..read more

Cabbage Key, Florida, has attracted famous guests like Ernest Hemingway and Jimmy Buffett. PHOTO: VITO PALMISANO/GETTY IMAGES Set off the coast of Fort Myers lies a 100-acre island that feels like it has been preserved in amber. It’s the type of “Swiss Family Robinson”-style retreat that represents a bygone Florida and has attracted famous writers and heiresses — not to mention presidents Carter and Kennedy. The 112-acre island on the Pine Island Sound was first inhabited by the Calusa people and Cuban fishermen. And in 1875, it appeared on maps with the name Palmetto Key. PHOTO: DRIENDL GR ..read more

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 larg ..read more

John Coletti//Getty Images Look no further for a relaxing, wholesome and feel-good trip If you’re a fan of low-key, chain-free restaurants and hotels, protected wildlife, island hopping around secluded beaches and making real memories in a slice of paradise, Florida’s Gulf Coast could be calling your name. Here’s our travel guide of the best places to stay, where to eat and drink and what to do while you’re there. Basically, here’s what your adventure could look like. Where to stay in Florida’s Gulf Coast Tarpon Lodge Hotel and Restaurant Our trip started at the low-key and charming Tarpon L ..read more

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 doll ..read more

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, sa ..read more

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. The ..read more

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 channe ..read more

Cabbage Key Inn and Restaurant. Wesley K.H. Teo Every city has a legendary restaurant that everyone knows — and recommends to visiting family, friends and strangers alike. When it comes to iconic restaurants, Florida has plenty, including several open for more than a century, including Tampa’s original Columbia Restaurant and Miami Beach’s Joe’s Stone Crab. While some are special-occasion restaurants, others are everyday favorites. Here’s our list of some of Florida’s most enduring (and endearing) restaurants, presented in alphabetical order, from USA TODAY Network contributors from across t ..read more