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.
