SW Florida vacation tips, news and shopping guide

Boca Grande features a subtropical climate with comfortable weather year-around. The climate is moderated by the tempering influence of the Gulf of Mexico. The Peace River, as well as the Gulf of Mexico, adds to the hot and humid weather in the summer (but it’s not unbearable thanks to cooling Gulf breezes.) Prevailing winds typically blow 12-18 mph. The rainy season runs from June through September, with rain spread somewhat evenly throughout the summer.During stable weather in the summer, daily rains are so consistent you can almost tell time by them, with storms occuring in the late afternoon. These thunderstorms crop up quickly but also break up just as fast, with the sunshine promptly returning. The winters are gorgeous, perfect for vacation, with warm afternoons and balmy evenings and a lot less rain. The official hurricane season runs from June 1 through the end of October in the Gulf of Mexico. The most active period is generally August and September.

Here are the current weather conditions for Boca Grande and Gasparilla Island…

Boca Grande (Spanish for “big mouth”) is a small village located on Gasparilla Island. Located on the border of Charlotte and Lee counties, Boca Grande is located on the west-central coast of Florida.

As a vacation spot, Boca Grande is perfect for kicking back and relaxing. In fact, there are two things you will not find in Boca Grande - high rise condominiums and traffic lights. Instead, you’ll find a mix of cars and golf carts sharing the roads.

You’ll find a mix of shopping and restaurants in Boca Grande, as well as a variety of accomodations. From upscale estates to rental villas, there’s something for everyone. You might even get a chance to rub elbows with the rich and famous… The Bush family are frequent visitors.

Looking for a little more excitement?

Grab your lucky fishing hat and head for Boca Grande Pass, off the southern tip of the island. In the spring, huge tarpon stack up in the deep waters of the Pass while eager anglers stack up on the surface. On weekends during the height of the tarpon run, you can practically walk across the Pass without getting wet, just going boat to boat. For the best results, hire one of the top-notch local tarpon guides and hook up with a fish bigger than you are.

The first time you hook up with a big tarpon and watch it rocket into the sky, you’ll know why they call it the Silver King.

Oh, and I wouldn’t actually try that hopping from boat to boat trick. Besides being bad manners, it could be dangerous. You see, large numbers of huge Hammerhead sharks follow the tarpon into Boca Grande Pass. And they bring their appetites.

The world record hammerhead shark, all 1,280 pounds of her, came from the Pass.

Outside of the tarpon run, Boca Grande is a great place to fish for snook, redfish and other inshore gamefish. You can even catch large fish right from the beach.

If fishing isn’t your thing, there are miles of clean beaches, great sailing in the Gulf and a chance to slow down and enjoy a taste of old Florida.

Whether you plan to visit on holiday, spend the winter in the sun, or move permanently, consider Boca Grande Florida for your next vacation.