Every now and then at sassygirltennis we like to cover outdoor activities other than tennis. Living in sunny Florida there are so many activities to choose from. Florida is known for its miles of coastline and of course, great fishing. One little fishing village that still captures the mystery and spirit of Old Florida is Chokoloskee in the southwest corner of Florida. This is the gateway to the fabled "Ten Thousand Islands." You can still feel the pirate spirit in this place that in the 70s and 80s was one of the main ports of marijuana importation into the U.S., and used to be a great hide out from the law for drug smugglers, rum-runner and assorted other criminals while on the lam.
If you ever have the opportunity to visit Chokoloskee, a must see is the Everglades City Rod and Gun Club located on the banks of the Barron River just north of the causeway leading to Chokoloskee. Adorning the walls of the Rod and Gun Club are the numerous mounts of monster tarpon, snook, wild turkey, and gators that look to have been bagged decades ago from the area, which is brimming with wildlife.
The mystique of this place is increased when naming
those who have stayed there. The list includes five past presidents, FDR, Truman, Eisenhower, Hoover and Nixon. Rugged actors such as John Wayne, Burt Reynolds, Sean Connery, Danny Glover and Joe Pesci have stayed there as well. Burl Ives and Gypsy Rose Lee stayed there while filming "Winds Across the Everglades." Mick Jagger has stayed there as well as Ernest Hemingway.
Oh and did I mention that the fishing is fantastic. However, it is strongly recommended that for at least for the first few trips you hire a knowledgeable guide. The Chokoloskee waters can leave even an advanced boatsman high and dry on one of the numerous sand or oyster bars that are nowhere to be seen on most navigational maps. Local knowledge is a must.
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