Launch: Aingers Creek Park

Pickup: Placida Park

Lodging: We enjoyed the Beach Shack so much we went back for a second night. If you are looking for a place to stay in Florida be sure to check this one out!

www.beachshackofmanasotakey.com

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Dining: Food stores.

Launch: Placida Park

Pickup: Carmen’s Kayaks, Bokeelia, FL

SUCH nice people with good hearts and a great business. We highly recomend kayaking this bay with a local dolphin, manatee, and tarpon running through!

www.carmenskayaks.net

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Lodging: We were charmed by the Tarpon Lodge. This historic site is a romantic blast from the past where you can watch the sunset from the anarondak chairs on the dock, poolside, or from a hammock.

www.tarponlodge.com

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Dining: The Tarpon Lodge restaurant is a local’s favorite fine-dining restaurant. Fresh local catch, homemade bread, and vegetarian options make this a memorable evening for everyone. They highly recommend making a reservation.

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Launch: Carmen’s Kayaks, Bokeelia, FL

www.carmenskayaks.net

Pickup: D&D Bait Matlacha and Tackle This is a great local bait shop! Well stocked, very organized, and the owners/staff were a delight. We will definitely launch here again when we come through town!

Find them on Facebook! 

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Dining: We ate at a local Italian restaurant called Michele’s. Waterfront dining, music, a kids play area, and hot food made it an enjoyable experience.

www.micelis.com

Lodging: We stayed in Ft. Meyers at a friend’s place.

Launch: D&D Bait Shop

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Pickup: Sanibel Boat Ramp

Dining: Food stores.

Lodging: We stayed in Ft. Meyers at a friend’s place.

We lost one of our motors on Day 5. We spent this day finding and purchasing a new motor for Bob. We HIGHLY recommend Jeff at Estero River Outfitters. Cool location, great service, and everything you need including bait & tackle!

www.estero-river-outfitters.shoplightspeed.com

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Launch: Sanibel Boat Ramp

Pickup: Lovers Key State Park

Lodging: Ft. Meyers (same location)

Dining: Food stores

Launch: Lovers Key State Park

Pickup: Collier County Public Boat Ramp

Lodging: Ft. Meyers (same location)

Dining: Spanish Mackerel catch

Launch: Collier County Boat Ramp

Pickup: Bayview Boat Ramp

Lodging: Headed home to rebuild…

Dining: Food stores

Launch: Collier County Boat Ramp

Pickup: Shell Island Boat Launch

Dining: Snook Inn! This place was FANTASTIC. The ambiance, the food, and the company were all supreme. We’ve never had such attentive service. Please leave them a review for us! snook inn

Lodging: The Boat House on Marco Island. It’s true what they say…this is the islands best kept secret! Right on the water with a heated pool, walking distance to the Snook Inn, and spacious rooms full of amenities. We couldn’t have asked for more and highly recommend looking them up when visiting this area!

The Boat House Motel on Marco Island

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Launch: Shell Island Boat Launch

Pickup: Goodland Boat Park

This is a great boat ramp. Clean, full of amenities including a shop with beer! Please leave them a review if you’re so inclinded: goodland boat park.

Dining: Snook Inn again! This place was FANTASTIC and well worth going back.

Lodging: The Boat House on Marco Island. We loved it so much we convinced ourselves to go back a secong night. 🙂  It’s true what they say…this is the islands best kept secret! Right on the water with a heated pool, walking distance to the Snook Inn, and spacious rooms full of amenities. We couldn’t have asked for more and highly recommend looking them up when visiting this area!

The Boat House Motel on Marco Island

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Preparation for the 10,000 Islands Wildlife Refuge.

Launch: Goodland Boat Park

Distance: 11 NM

Dining: Sardines

Camping: Picnic Key, 10,000 Islands Wildlife Refuge

Launch: Picnic Key

Distance: 6 NM

Dining: Sardines

Camping: Jewel Key, 10,000 Islands Wildlife Refuge

Launch: Jewel Key

Distance: 6 NM

Dining: We were instantly invited to David and Aaron’s house for a Christmas party where we ate a delicious Christmas dinner prepared by their beautiful mothers and community. We were so grateful for the good company and food. THANK YOU!!!

Lodging: We stayed at the Parkway Motel & Marina in Chokoloskee, FL. This is the ideal location for travelers who want to immerse themselves in the community and surroundings of their location. Located right on the water within walking distance to the historical Smallwood Store and a short drive from the Havana Cafe  we had everything we needed for a comfortable and memorable stay. We will definitely be back!

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Breakfast: Havana Cafe. The cuban style fare meets bohemian ambiance setting was nothing less than charming. Tables are set in a beautiful outdoor garden surrounded by flowers with birds chirping, local hen’s marching through, and live musicians playing softly in the background. The food was authentic and delicious and the pastries looked divine. This was the PERFECT way to start the day.

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Launch: Chokoloskee, FL

Landing: Lopez River

Distance: 5 NM

Dining: Sardines

Lodging: Ground Camping

Launch: Lopez River

Landing: Watson’s Place

Distance: 10.66 NM

Dining: Sardines and Beef sticks

Lodging: Ground Camping

Launch: Watson’s Place

Landing: Mormon Key

Distance: 4.59 NM

Dining: Sardines and Dehydrated Chicken with Rice. And Rum. 🙂

Lodging: Beach Camping

Launch: Mormon Key

Landing: New Turkey Key

Distance: .91 NM

Dining: Sardines whatever the neighbors were willing to offer. 🙂

Lodging: Beach Camping

Launch: New Turkey Key

Landing: Highland Beach

Distance: 4.3 NM

Dining: Sardines and chilli mac MRE. Yum! Haha. 

Lodging: Beach Camping

Launch: Highland Beach

Landing: Harney River Chickee

Distance: 7.9 NM

Dining: Sardines.

Lodging: Chickee Camping with the bugs.

Launch: Harney River Chickee

Landing: South Joe Chickee

Distance: 8.26 NM

Dining: Sardines.

Lodging: Chickee Camping with the bugs.

Launch: South Joe Chickee

Landing: Flamingo, FL

Distance: 8.26 NM

Dining: Hot dogs and Beer!!!!

Lodging: Eco Tents, Flamingo

These were beautifully set, well-designed eco tents with all the amenities you could need for a night’s stay. It felt like heaven compared to the camping we’ve been doing.

Launch: Flamingo, FL

Landing: Florida Bay

Distance: 28 NM

Dining: C&C Wood Fire Eats

This place was DELICIOUS!!! The dough is hand made daily with real ingredients. Everything we ate was quality and happy hour includes a small pizza and a pitcher of beer for $10!!!

Lodging:  Flamingo Lodge

This newly renovated lodge is THE place to stay to experience the Everglades. High-rise, hurricane-proof buildings with everything you need including a little kitchen. But don’t worry about bringing food with you because the on-site restaurante is not only healthy, but delicious.

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Launch: Lower Matecumbe Key

Landing: Islamorada

Dining: Food stores

Lodging: La Jolla Resort and Lodges

By FAR the nicest and best place we’ve stayed in a long, long time. We were in a lodge with a HUGE kitchen, four bedrooms, two baths, and a spectacular wooden deck that looks out over the sea. They have boat docks, mooring, private beaches, and fishing. You won’t miss a single comfort of home when you spend your island time at La Jolla. It’s a fishermans paradise. And we won the Host-off here so we feel bonded with it. 🙂 

Launch: Islamorada

Landing: Marathon Key

Dining: Food stores

Lodging: Gulf View Waterfront Resort

This is a great family resort out of the business of Marathon proper, where the water is accessible and the sounds of the sea can be heard. The suite we received had sweeping views of the sea with a wrap-around deck and all the comforts of home. And they had a private BOAT RAMP to boot! We loved ability to relax and play at this resort. Their heated pool, tetherball, and courtyard hammocks were also popular with little MC. 🙂

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Launch: Marathon Key

Landing: Big Pine Key

Dining: No Name Bar

Lodging: TBA – stay tuned!

Launch: Big Pine Key

Landing: Key West, FL

Dining: The Docks Restaurant and Raw Bar

We had the plasure of dining with @AgentFlamingo and her hubby at this magnificent waterside dining establishment. Everything from the drinks to the desserts met the requirements. We highly recommend! 

Lodging: Big Pine Key Resort

We are not novice RV’ers. So when Big Pine Key offered us their park models and furnished RV’s on site we accepted! This was one of the most fun, down-to-earth, on the water RV spots we have ever experienced. Bocce ball, heated pools, and a community firepit are just the start. With their own private marina, docking capabilities and boat ramp Captain was in heaven. We highly enjoyed the down-to-earth nature the RV world brings and would definitely stay here again. 

Please leave them a review: big pine key resort