Matlacha: Pine Island’s Quaint Fishing Village

Matlacha is one of five waterfront communities on Pine Island.  It is an old historic fishing village surrounded by mangroves, home to many offbeat art galleries, island boutiques, seafood markets, restaurants, Floridian cottages, gift shops, bait and seafood shops.  Matlacha is a unique culture of artists and musicians that contribute to the island’s character and laidback lifestyle.  The creative diversity of the art community has earned the community the title of “Florida’s Creative Coast.” Just 30 minutes from Fort Myers, Pine Island is one of the largest islands off Florida’s west coast.  This Florida island has avoided major commercial development.  The friendly atmosphere and beautiful homes located on Matlacha feature tin roofs, homes on stilts and 2-story crow’s nest homes that sit next to Spanish-style architecture and traditional Florida concrete block construction.  Yards are finely manicured, boats line the docks and neighbors are outside enjoying fishing, boating and sunshine.  Palm plantations and groves of various tropical fruits thrive in Matlacha, and are shipped all over the U.S. The quaint fishing village of Matlacha is a place where you can relax and watch a sunset.  At Bert’s Bar and Grill, you can sip on a mango daquiri as you watch the sunset along the dock.  For lunch, there is the popular Old Fish House Marina and Restaurant where its fish tacos are a house specialty.  An authentic lunch spot, this charming restaurant has guests order their lunch at the outside window counter and eat inside or on the back patio dining area adjacent to a boat dock.  The ambiance is refreshingly authentic with Florida memorabilia hanging everywhere.