Pine Island - Public Access Update

Rather than plug-in the pictures I took yesterday of the Tropical Point access to the previous posting, I decided to bunch them here in an "update" as the comparison between Pine Island and Sanibel Island are so markedly different.  I stopped on my way around the loop to Sanibel Island which took about an hour as Google had indicated to cover the approx. 37 miles -- though it will be much easier on the next trip there.

Tropical Point

I took pictures of Tropical Point a little before 9:00 a.m. and when I drove up, there aleady was a backup with two cars being parked illegally at the right and a biker waiting to use the port-a-john -- the biker pointed out to one of the illegally parked drivers that a local cop lived just around the corner and probably would quickly ticket them in a short time.  He also pointed out that some of the already parked cars could have parked more closely and thereby allowing at least one more vehicle to squeeze in -- where's a parking attendant or traffic cop when you need them (maybe sleeping or waiting around the corner)?

Your Public Beach

So the pictures show you what you can best expect to find when trying to get to the water and its one lowly stretch of beach -- here at Pine Island.  My advice?  Go to Sanibel Island instead -- definitely a far, far better place to go.  Oh!  How I wish I could have gotten into Periwinkle Park, right on the island and in the heart of things near the southern tip (as that local had pointed toward the day before at Tropical Point).

Your Public Facilities (Bathroom)




Your Public Boat Ramp

There seemed to be a boat ramp of sorts one block from the end of Tropical Point Dr. but, "No Parking Signs" all around indicate you would have to park another block to the right on a street perpendicular to Tropical Point Dr.  Of course, you would have to paddle through the narrow opening in the Mangroves (keep one paddle up to cut the spider webs and hope you don't drag the bottom in the shallow waters).  By the way, "Don't Feed the Alligators" because that is a hefty fine of some $500, I think (so keep those pink things out of their mouths).


End of Boat Ramp channel at Tropical Point