Picnic Island

Florida Keys

Picnic Island was a surprise find during my recent trip to the Lower Keys. Quirky and beautiful, it’s located on the oceanside of Little Torch Key.

THE LOCATION

Picnic Island is a small scrub island located inside the Newfound Harbor Channel in between Little Palm Island and Little Torch Key. Before Hurricane Irma, the island used to be bigger and had more foliage. Today’s it’s a small island with a beach as well as some home-made, salty, memorabilia and swings. It’s a great place to anchor the boat and relax or socialize with friends.

NAVIGATION

Navigating to Picnic Island is pretty easy. The deepest side is the side where the huge houseboat/barge is permanently anchored so, it’s best to approach from that side (the SW side).

WHY YOU WEAR POLARIZED SUNGLASSES AND OTHER BOATING TIPS

CAP’N JACK’S HOUSEBOAT

One of the things you’ll notice right off the bat is a large houseboat. At first, I thought it was a floating restaurant but it turns out to be a houseboat owned by a “Cap’n Jack” who lives on it full-time and is very welcoming to visitors who like to socialize and are nice. I think he has an interesting story from talking to locals but I don’t know the details.

WEAR YOUR AQUA SHOES

If you want to get off the boat and explore, it’s wise to wear waterproof shoes. The bottom is a mix of soft sand and chunks of rock/coral. As you get closer to the island it gets rockier. As a result, wearing something to protect your feet is wise.

WETSTOCK

Every year on Independence Day, Picnic Island transforms from a relaxing spot to a huge, floating concert. Hundreds of people spend the day partying and listening to music hence, the name “Wetstock”. I’ve never been but it seems like a fun time!

ANOTHER AMAZING PLACE TO TAKE YOUR BOAT NEAR HERE

FUEL & FOOD

The Lower Keys don’t have a lot of on-the-water fuel choices. The most convenient one I found was Captain Hooks on Big Pine Key. The Shell station on Big Pine also carries rec fuel but it’s land-locked.

LODGING

As I mentioned in my Content Keys post, when I visited I stayed at Parmer’s Resort on Little Torch Key. It was a great place in a great location. The room was clean and nice, the property had a refreshing, “Old Florida” feel and the boat dockage and ramp were nice. The marina and ramp are ideal for single-engine boats under 25′. Trailer parking was on-site as well. Easy peasy, my kind of place!

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