If you have never heard of Little Gasparilla Island, then there is a reason for that…the residents keep it a secret. As summer vacation is coming to a close, Kelly and I decided that it would be fun to take the kids to the beach for a week for one last getaway before school starts. It was through a recommendation of a friend that we ended up here.
The island is in Charlotte County and located just north of Gasparilla Island and Boca Grande. The only way to get to the island is by ferry which runs only a few times a day; there are no cars, just golf carts and wagons. Now I am sure that you can picture how much stuff is needed for 2 adults and 6 kids for one week, don’t forget groceries…
The kids had a wonderful time on the island. They rode the waves, walked the beach, built sand castles, dug for shells, looked for crabs and treasures, flew kites, counted turtle nests, and looked for island fruit (mangoes and coconuts).
And when the weather wasn’t the greatest they danced in the rain and splashed in the puddles.
On days we left the island the kids loved riding the ferry and watching the dolphins chase the waves.
Off the island we took them down to the Boca Grande Lighthouse, the Loose Caboose for lunch (which used to be an old train station), the Pink Pony for ice cream, and Lemon Bay Park to go hiking.
We spent our evenings watching movies and when the weather was nice we watched the most beautiful sunsets.
To read more about our trip to the beach, check out the Boys Blog or stop on over at Kelly’s….
Mountains! Beach! or Both!... 
These pictures are absolutely gorgeous. The very first one is so classic I want to frame it!
Lovely pictures. We are on Little Gasparilla at the moment
http://julianxbishop.wordpress.com/2011/04/13/arriving-at-little-gasparilla-island/