Comfy home w pretty garden on historic Pine Island. Nearby fishing, kayaking, birding, good eats, tennis. Visit pristine Cayo Costa (catch ferry from PI) & Ft. Myers Beach/Sanibel (45 min). Renovated 1970s mobile home. A/C + ceiling fans. Sleeps 6, but 1 or 2 is just fine. Full kitch, living, lanai, 2.5 bdrm, 1 bath. Wi-fi. My home in winter, yours off-season. Generous week/month discounts. $10/pers charge for + 4 guests. Need more space? Susie's Old Florida Cottage is also on the property.
Space
Seagrape Escape began life in 1970 as a 12' x 46' 2 bedroom 1 bath single-wide mobile home. Over the years (in traditional Florida fashion) it gained a spacious living room, a third bedroom. and a large lanai. I've had fun doing seat-of-the-pants remodeling since I bought it, but at its heart it is an older home. It is comfortable and sweet, but it is not child-proof. I'm still in the process of adding art and upgrading the trim.
Guest access
My street is a short, unpaved road off Stringfellow Rd. ("the" road on Pine Island, which runs 18 miles from north to south. Guests have sole occupancy of the house, the yard, and a parking space. My goal is to make you feel that Seagrape Escape is your home during your stay.
Guest interaction
I am in my Summer Headquarters in New York during the off-season, but I am always available by text or phone. My wonderful manager, Mel Meo, lives next and will answer all your questions and assist you out if you need help. The gardener comes every couple of weeks to weed and mulch.
Neighborhood overview
Phillips Park, a mile away at Pine Island Center, has a heated pool and tennis courts. The highly recommended Island Lilly's Deli is right aross the street from the park. There is also a library and a small but fascinating museum. Just south of Pine Island Center is a Winn-Dixie and a CVS. There is a cluster of amazing restaurants, many of which feature live music, at each end of the island and in Matlacha (the artsy-touristy hamlet you pass through on your way to Pine Island. Though it has no beaches, there are several public marinas on the island, and a bike trail that stretches from one tip of the island to the other. You can rent bikes on Pine Island Road just east of the Center, and kayaks at any marina. The Randall Research Center is around the corner. For birders, there are the Myakka and Crew Nature Preserves, the Rookery, and, of course, the Everglades (about a two hour drive). Check out the Alden Pines Country Club for golf, right on the island. And of course, enjoy the dozens of restaurants and cafes in Bokeelia, St. James City, and Matlacha.
Getting around
There is no public transport on Pine Island, so you'll need a car. The cottage is about 45 minutes from RSW, which is the Fort Myers International Airport, and about twenty minutes from the Charlotte County Airport in Punta Gorda.
Other things to note
Seagrape Escape is an older home, and it is most definitely not a motel. We are not hoteliers. This is my winter home, and it has both the charms and the annoyances of a home. You make your own bed and sweep/vacuum the floor yourself. For longer stays you can arrange with Tammy to change sheets/towels and tidy up. Otherwise, you're on your own! If such things bother you, skip it. If the idea of having osprey for neighbors sounds appealing, this is the place for you!