An eclectic blend of art, water and whimsy, the canal-lined island of Matlacha makes the most of its 440 acres. It’s teeming with galleries, painted bright Caribbean hues and selling handcrafted treasures like seashell flowers and mermaid sculptures. Backyards open onto waterfront gardens where bottle trees flourish alongside polka dot buoys and boaters pull up for a chat to while away the afternoon. It’s even fun to say — “matt-la-shay” — though no one knows exactly where the name came from.
What we do know is the island, dredged up from oyster beds in the 1920s, was once a thriving fishing village. When the industry died, the community got creative, literally, transforming its main street into a tropical, technicolor canvas of shops and seafood shacks.
The surrounding tidal flats, meanwhile, owe nothing to art. They’re scenic and alive, popular for birdwatching, crabbing, shrimping and fishing or simply admiring a glorious Gulf Coast sunset.
Leoma Lovegrove, a Matlacha artist who owns a gallery on the island, sums it up best: “When I cross over the Matlacha Island bridge, I fall in love with my little fishing village all over again. It’s home, the place that always inspires me to pick up my paintbrush.”
Here are the Matlacha experiences you can’t miss.
Soak in Galleries Galore
Effusive and fanciful, Matlacha’s art covers everything from blown glass to coconut postcards. Browse work by dozens of local artists at Matlacha Menagerie and Island Visions, just steps from each other. Funkiest of all, Leoma Lovegrove’s gallery includes a one-of-a-kind garden, featuring a Beatles stage, a 1960s glamper and several palm trees, all painted with her signature bold strokes.
"When I cross over the Matlacha Island bridge, I fall in love with my little fishing village all over again. It's home, the place that always inspires me to pick up my paintbrush."
— Leoma Lovegrove, artist
Indulge in Old-Fashioned Fudge
Designed as the fudge shop of your childhood memories, CW Fudge Factory is stocked with nostalgic candy, homemade popcorn, truffles and more. But most importantly, there’s fudge: around 30 flavors on any given day that might include salted caramel, sangria, coconut cream pie, pistachio or creme brulee. You can even watch it being made on-site.
See Dolphins on an Eco Tour
The protected estuary surrounding Matlacha is a haven for eagles, ospreys, dolphins, even manatees who winter in the warmer waters. Get a glimpse of these and more on one of Captain Cathy’s Eagle boat tours through the protected estuary. She’ll also tell you all about the Calusa tribe and their magnificent shell mounds, which you can still see today.
Check Out the Tiny Home Architecture
Sporting names like Flamingo and Margarita and vivid exteriors that range from turquoise to tangerine, the houses at Matlacha Tiny Village perfectly match the rest of the town. Overnight guests have all they need with a kitchenette, outdoor grill, picnic table, dock and kayak launch.
Paddle the Preserve
Chart your own course through the Matlacha Pass Aquatic Preserve. It’s less than six feet at its deepest and welcoming for first-timers and families. You can rent a kayak or paddle board from Gulf Coast Kayak, but if you want to venture into the maze of mangroves, go with one of their guides.
