What to do on a rainy day on Pine Island Florida

 It's been an unusually cool couple of days on Pine Island, and raining the past 2 days.  We need the rain and cool weather is so rare it's nice to have sweater weather.  But if I were on vacation and didn't live on Pine Island, I might be a little at loss of what to do?

 

Hong Kong Orchid Tree in my backyard drinking up the rain

Here's a few things to do in cool and rainy weather here:

Visit the Museum of the Islands, at the corner of Sesame Drive and Russell Road at Pine Island center.  The gift shop has a great selection of books, both fiction and non-fiction, some by local authors.  Also there are some great photo exhibits of the history of the island, going back more than 100 years, as well as archeological artifacts from the cultures of the native Americans that first occupied Pine Island. Visit www.museumoftheislands.com.

Right next door to the Museum, it the Pine Island Library, has a good selection of books and periodicals and free internet.

Stop by the Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce Welcome Center at 3640 Pine Island Road, next to the new fire station being built in Matlacha.  A great resource to discover local art galleries; shops; restaurants; gift shops; accommodations; music, guides, real estate and much more.  The Welcome center is open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can get brochures, events flyers, maps, menus and more.  The website is www.pineislandchamber.org.

The Pine Island Art Association meets at the park  at 4577 Pine Island Road, Matlacha, FL. 33933, www.pineislandart.com.

The Saint James Civic Association sponsors many activities including educational classes; games (ma jong, cribbage, bingo, bridge and ping pong); fitness (yoga, line dance and qui gong) and various workshops, exhibits and photography.  The website is www.SJCCAPI.ORG.

Even in rainy weather, a visit to our parks and conservation land is enjoyable.  Visit Randell Research Center, with walking trails and an interpretative trail exploring the culture of the Caloosa native people who lived here (www.flmnh.ufl.edu.rrc).

The Calusa Land Trust also preserves and manages hundreds of acres of conservation land on the island, some have walking trails.  www.calusalandtrust.org.