Picnic on the beach or train for D-Day? Before these cool retro picnic pavilions were here, this was the spot for D-Day training back in 1943.
When arrested in Carabelle…
Category: historical (page 2 of 3)
The words “you can’t get there by car” scream a challenge to me.
Cabbage Key is a little, 100-acre island located off the southwest coast of Florida, and the only way to get there is by boat. You should also be aware this resort doesn’t come with turndown service… or a pool… or any visible staff for that matter.
It’s more of a word-of-mouth place, rather than a buy-a-T-shirt place. Could there be anything better???
There are only a few cottages for rent on Cabbage Key, and having your own dock means even less of a chance of running into neighbors.
Depending on the time of day, the Cabbage Key Restaurant (its only eatery) is as packed with day-trippers off their boats for lunch as it is with dollar bills. Or, as is shown in this image, it is as quiet as the island, with only a few customers left for the night.
Best day job ever…
Legend holds that Jimmy Buffett cut his teeth playing in the restaurant’s bar, even inspiring “Cheeseburger in Paradise.” But what’s even cooler is the fact the restaurant is perched atop an ancient Calusa Indian shell mound, making it the highest point in the area. This confirms that the Indians wanted us to fall on our drunk asses as we left the restaurant that would one day be perched atop their hard work… I kid… if you fall, it is probably the fault of the Cabbage Creepers. The restaurant’s signature drink makes you wobbly.
Royal poinciana flowers cover the paths, not roads, providing beautiful, canopied paths around the island.
Take a kayak from the key to “The Tunnel” and end at Cayo Costa Beach.
When you sadly leave the island, your boat and your buzz, drive through Matlacha It will cheer you up.
ALL PHOTOS SHOT WITH PANASONIC DMC-LX5
Written & photographed by Molly Dempsey and edited by Pamela Staik.
This post is about a step back in time for me and is dedicated to my family and the fun we had in this part of our home state. So the fact that nearly NOTHING has changed in this restaurant or along this section of Indian River Drive in Jensen Beach brings an indescribable comfort to me.
All photos were taken with my iPhone camera as part of a little self-imposed photographic challenge.
Bahamian dishes, including all things conch, and fresh seafood are among the restaurant’s specialties.
Deck shoes… enough said.
All of the above are scenes from Conchy Joe’s Seafood restaurant, an old Florida institution. Walking into the restaurant, I could still see my beautiful mom laughing as she attempted to line dance to a live band’s music, although she had no idea what she was doing. Conchy Joe’s Seafood 3945 NE Indian River Drive, Jensen Beach, FL 34957
(772) 334-1130
Window AC units still cool these shotgun cottages that line an old dirt road, which is perpendicular to the Indian River. This spot is still popular for local and visiting fishermen.
This is one of many elaborate and colorful mobile homes located near the water. I will definitely return to photograph these homes, as each one has a story to tell.
Written & photographed by Molly Dempsey and edited by Pamela Staik.
WELCOME
Molly Dempsey is a photojournalist looking for ways to tell the state's true story. Molly cut her teeth working for newspapers from the Midwest to the Deep South and has had her work appear in multiple publications including Garden & Gun Magazine, Wall Street Journal, Consumer Reports, Christian Science Monitor, Florida Travel & Life and many state newspapers.
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