Lunch at the Gasparilla Inn
📍 Gasparilla Inn, Boca Grande
Dress (also) (also) || Sandals || Clutch || Bracelet
Because it feels like it’s just down the road, I never say no when a Gasparilla Inn trip presents itself. That’s even true if the visit just for a few hours and lunch. One of my dear friends from New York, Sydney, just happened to be in the area. With that, David and I happily made the drive for a quick afternoon away from it all. This short change in scenery was exactly what I needed to get inspired and recharged for the work week ahead.
Coffee To-Go
We opted to get into town a little early and make the most of the day. For us, that always means grabbing a coffee and pastry to go from the Inn Bakery. Since it’s the only coffee shop on the island, it was positively buzzing when we arrived. They have an entire menu of delicious treats and it’s honestly a chore having to pick only one. My standing order is a flavored iced coffee and whole wheat croissant, but this time I decided to switch it up with an iced tea and a maple-bourbon scone. We took our treats to go and found a shady spot on the Inn’s front porch. It turned into the perfect place to people watch, get caffeinated, and have a quiet morning with David.
Long Strolls Through Boca Grande
Since we had some time to kill, we decided to take a walk through Boca Grande. Like you would expect from any cute beach town, the homes were breathtaking! There’s one that’s currently a work in progress right next to the Beach Club. Each time we visit, the progress noticeable moves along. Recently, they gave this home a fresh coat of bright coral paint that I loved! Of course, I instantly asked if we could paint our home the same color, but I bet you could probably guess the answer. We also had the opportunity to do some window shopping at the boutiques downtown. Since it’s such a small island, there’s not a huge number of shops, but they are all quality!
Lunch at the Pink Elephant
Because of our walk, we were hungry again when lunchtime came around. Lovingly called The Pink, The Pink Elephant is the place to dine on Boca Grande. The name alone is enough to get me in the door. We had a perfect little table that was outside, but miraculously in the shade on a sunny Florida day. Quickly, the pink libations were ordered and it was the perfect way to catch up and talk about all things travel! Each drink comes with a sweet little elephant figurine, so it’s fun to collect as the visits add up. I ordered the Pink BLT which may have been the best BLT I’ve ever had! It was the mozzarella and gouda cheese that did it for me. Our lunch flew by and before we knew it, it was almost 4 o’clock. I consider this to be a Sunday well spent!
When you visit the Gasparilla Inn, you quickly see and hear their tagline. It’s “Florida as it’s meant to be.” Obviously, this means so many different things to different people. For me, it’s all about slowing down the clock and enjoying a long outdoor lunch with quality people. Honestly, what could be better than that?
Love from Florida,
Katie
As always, thanks for stopping by! To keep up with all things about the Sunshine State, be sure to visit my exclusive Florida page, here.