beach~10-15 min drive
Boca Grande Beach (Gasparilla Island)
Wide, soft-sand Gulf beach on Gasparilla Island — calm shallows for little ones and world-class shelling in the quiet months.
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Things To Do
Things to Do in Boca Grande & Placida
Placida sits at the quiet base of Gasparilla Island — a stretch of Florida's Gulf Coast that still moves at the speed of the tide. From Seaside Boca you are minutes from the beach, the pass, and some of the most peaceful water in the state. Here is how the families who stay with us actually spend their days.
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The Lay of the Land
Florida's Gulf Coast — 7 handpicked things to do, all within easy reach of Seaside Boca.
The Shortlist
What to Do Around Boca Grande
kayakingLaunch at 8450 Placida Rd
Don Pedro Island State Park - kayak/clear-kayak crossing
Launch from Placida and paddle the short crossing to an undeveloped barrier island reachable only by water.
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boatingMarina in Placida
Gasparilla Marina fishing charters (Boca Grande Pass, 'Tarpon Capital of the World')
Boca Grande Pass is the legendary tarpon fishery — book a guided charter minutes from the dock.
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biking~2.5 mi paved path
Boca Grande Bike Path
A flat, shaded paved path running the length of the island, from the village to the lighthouse.
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biking6+ mi trail extending north through…
Cape Haze Pioneer Trail
A longer rail-trail heading north through Cape Haze for the family that wants real miles.
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sightseeingGasparilla Island
Port Boca Grande Lighthouse & Museum
The 1890 lighthouse at the island's southern tip, with a small museum and a beach to comb around it.
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stargazing~15 min drive
Gasparilla Island State Park (zero light pollution stargazing)
With almost no light between the house and the Gulf, the night sky here opens up like nowhere else in Florida.
Details & hours ↗Right at the Home
You Don't Even Have to Leave
Seaside Boca comes loaded — half the itinerary is in the backyard.
Resort-style poolThe center of every afternoon — cannonballs, floats, and a shaded deck for the grown-ups.
Mini golf courseA private course in the backyard for the friendly family rivalry that outlasts the trip.
Infrared saunaAn evening reset after a day on the water — warm, quiet, and yours alone.
Dock accessSlip a kayak in from the private dock before the house wakes.
Fire pitWhere the day ends: marshmallows, stories, and one of the darkest night skies in Florida overhead.
Plan It in 3 Days
Your Boca Grande Itinerary — Your Way
Four mood-built plans — Fun, Thrilling, Relaxed, and Nature — each a perfect three days of real, nearby things to do. Download the Relaxed sample now; the full pack lands in your inbox the day you book.
Relaxed
Slow mornings, warm water, and a sky full of stars.
Download the free sample ↓Free 3-day sampleFun
Beach days, backyard games, and a lighthouse to climb toward.
In the booking packThrilling
The pass, the crossing, and real miles on the trail.
In the booking packNature
Barrier islands, dark skies, and the quiet Gulf.
In the booking packThe full itinerary pack is a booking bonus.Reserve any Travel DRD home and we'll email you all 4 Boca Grande itineraries — beautifully laid out, ready to print, built from the same local knowledge on this page.
Book a Home & Get the Pack →
Read Before You Go
Boca Grande Travel Guides
Boca Grande with Your Family: A Complete Guide to Gasparilla Island
Beaches with no high-rises, an island with no streetlights, and the deepest tarpon pass in Florida. Here is how a family actually does Boca Grande.
Read the GuideDon Pedro Island State Park: The Beach You Can Only Reach by Boat
No bridge, no road, no parking lot on the sand. Don Pedro Island State Park is a 129-acre barrier island you can only reach by boat, kayak, or ferry — and that's exactly why it stays quiet while Boca Grande fills up ten minutes away.
Read the GuideTarpon Fishing in Boca Grande Pass: Season, Rules, and How Families Book a Charter
The Tarpon Capital of the World is an 80-foot-deep pass twenty minutes from our door. Here's the season, the law, and the honest truth about bringing kids.
Read the GuideGasparilla Island State Park: The Complete Family Visit Guide
Everyone talks about Boca Grande. Fewer people talk about the state park that owns the whole south end of the island — the lighthouse, both real beaches, and the pier. Here's how to actually use it.
Read the GuideBoca Grande in Winter: Shelling Season and the Quiet Months
Everyone books Boca Grande for tarpon season and pays peak rates for it. The quieter, cooler, cheaper months are sitting right there in plain sight — and the shelling is better.
Read the GuideEnglewood Beach or Boca Grande Beach: Which One Fits Your Family?
Same stretch of Gulf coast, two completely different beach days. Here's how to pick between Englewood Beach and Boca Grande for your family.
Read the GuideWhere to Stay
Our Boca Grande Home
Good to Know
Frequently Asked
What is there to do in Boca Grande?
Placida sits at the quiet base of Gasparilla Island — a stretch of Florida's Gulf Coast that still moves at the speed of the tide. Highlights include Boca Grande Beach (Gasparilla Island), Don Pedro Island State Park - kayak/clear-kayak crossing, Gasparilla Marina fishing charters (Boca Grande Pass, 'Tarpon Capital of the World'), Boca Grande Bike Path, and more — all detailed on this page with distances and links.
Is Boca Grande good for families?
Yes. Seaside Boca sleeps 10 and the area mixes easy beach or park days with backyard amenities, so every age has something. Our free three-day itineraries are built specifically for family trips.
Do you have a Boca Grande itinerary we can follow?
We do — four mood-based three-day itineraries (Fun, Thrilling, Relaxed, and Nature). The Relaxed plan is a free download on this page, and the full pack is emailed free when you book any Travel DRD home.
Where should we stay to be close to all of this?
Seaside Boca sits right in the middle of it — see the full Boca Grande & Placida destination guide for the map.
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Ready to Plan Your Boca Grande Trip?
Book a home from our collection and we'll send the full Boca Grande itinerary pack — free.