New Ferry Tour to Don Pedro Island State Park
There aren't many islands left in Florida that can't be reached by car. But Little Gasparilla (also known as Palm Island)is one of those islands. Actually it is an interconnected group of four islands, Knight Island, Thornton Key, Don Pedro Island, and Little Gasparilla Island. It's relative remoteness creates seven miles of nearly deserted beaches.
The beaches are wide and flat and seem to go on forever. The sand is light brown. There are no parking lots, no lifeguard towers, no snack bars, piers or jetties. But there is a lot of peace and quiet.
Little Gasparilla is so close to the mainland you could almost throw a rock across from one shore to the other, yet there is no bridge, so you need a boat. Until recently, you either needed your own boat, or you had to make use of the Palm Island Transit Car Ferry Sevice. The ferry is nearly as long as the crossing it makes. It's the only way to get cars onto the island for the few residents that have homes there. There are few roads on the islands and there is no where to park unless you live there and have a driveway. The problem has been that once the car ferry drops you off, it's at least a 45 minute walk or more to Don Pedro Island State Park, which is located about mid-island.
Now a new ferry service is serving Don Pedro Island State Park. Grande Tours of Placida has started a ferry service to the park and leaves the dock at 10am on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, returning at 2:30pm. That's a fairly short day, but it's a good start. Grande Tours also rents kayaks, so that is another option. The cost of the trip is $18 per person, which also includes the park entrance fee.
To see photos and read more about Palm Island and Don Pedro Island State Park, visit my website at http://www.beachhunter.net/palm_island.htm.
To find out more information about Grande Tours and their ferry, visit their website at http://www.grandetours.com/.
Read an article from the Ft. Myers News-Press about Betsy Clayton's trip to Don Pedro on the ferry.
BeachHunter
The beaches are wide and flat and seem to go on forever. The sand is light brown. There are no parking lots, no lifeguard towers, no snack bars, piers or jetties. But there is a lot of peace and quiet.
Little Gasparilla is so close to the mainland you could almost throw a rock across from one shore to the other, yet there is no bridge, so you need a boat. Until recently, you either needed your own boat, or you had to make use of the Palm Island Transit Car Ferry Sevice. The ferry is nearly as long as the crossing it makes. It's the only way to get cars onto the island for the few residents that have homes there. There are few roads on the islands and there is no where to park unless you live there and have a driveway. The problem has been that once the car ferry drops you off, it's at least a 45 minute walk or more to Don Pedro Island State Park, which is located about mid-island.
Now a new ferry service is serving Don Pedro Island State Park. Grande Tours of Placida has started a ferry service to the park and leaves the dock at 10am on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, returning at 2:30pm. That's a fairly short day, but it's a good start. Grande Tours also rents kayaks, so that is another option. The cost of the trip is $18 per person, which also includes the park entrance fee.
To see photos and read more about Palm Island and Don Pedro Island State Park, visit my website at http://www.beachhunter.net/palm_island.htm.
To find out more information about Grande Tours and their ferry, visit their website at http://www.grandetours.com/.
Read an article from the Ft. Myers News-Press about Betsy Clayton's trip to Don Pedro on the ferry.
BeachHunter
posted by David McRee, --BeachHunter at Friday, March 17, 2006
2 Comments:
Don Pedro Island and Knight Island have nothing to do with Palm Island. The owner of Palm Island Resort likes them referred to as Palm Island so many will often think of his resort. He also owns and operates the very expensive ferry service. Google Palm Island and see what you get...
As I accurately stated in my blog post "...it is an interconnected group of four islands, Knight Island, Thornton Key, Don Pedro Island, and Little Gasparilla Island."
The islands are geographically contiguous and it's all one big beach. I realize that there are political squabbles between developers and landowners and I choose not to participate or perpetuate those differences.
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