Don Pedro Island

We took a quick five‑day trip to Don Pedro Island on Florida’s Gulf Coast, and honestly, I needed it more than I realized. The past couple of years have been rough, so getting away with my daughter’s family was exactly what I needed. We had a great time together.

Every morning I’d wake up early and walk the beach at sunrise. Some days I was the only person in sight, which made it feel like the whole shoreline belonged to me. I spent my time fishing and taking photos — the photos turned out great, the fishing… not so much. The exception was a six‑hour trip with Captain Shane, who kept us on fish all day. We caught a bunch of snook and even one grouper. He’s a fantastic guide and works all around the area, not just Don Pedro Island. His info: Captain Shane — 239‑246‑9172, Instagram @shaneearhart.

There’s only one restaurant on the island, Rum Bay Restaurant, but luckily it was really good — and they had a great little ice cream shop too.

We also saw some amazing wildlife: manatees, dolphins, rare gopher tortoises, and my personal favorite, a scarlet kingsnake. They look a lot like the very poisonous coral snakes, but the color pattern makes all the difference: red next to yellow, kill a fellow; red next to black, friend of Jack. Since it was the off‑season, the island was pretty empty, which was perfect for me. We also rented a golf cart from Barb, 941-830-4179 which made exploring the island even more fun.

I’d go back in a heartbeat!