875 North Shore Drive

Anna Maria, FL 34216

(941) 778-1885

Open 8 a.m.-10 p.m.

Breakfast served until 11 a.m.

Beer and wine.

The Cabbage Key Inn sits atop a 328-foot Indian shell mound on Pine Island Sound. Accessible only by boat, helicopter or seaplane, the island has no paved roads and no cars to jar its Polynesian ambience. It also doesn't allow pets, and its serene and sloping shores, ringed by lazy coconut palms, are said to have so inspired musician Jimmy Buffett that he penned his famous "Cheeseburger in Paradise" here.

The restaurant offers a selection of seafood, but its reputation is built on those hamburgers, so go ahead and try one. After lunch, wander into the famous "Dollar Bill Bar," a dark and cozy place where money is tacked to the ceiling, walls, even the bar itself. Although dinner service ends most nights by 8:30, the bar, unimpeded by noise ordinances or nearby neighbors, doesn't have a closing time. It simply stays open until everyone leaves. Rooms are available if you decide you may just as well spend the night.

The inn's restaurant is a little off the beaten path, but well worth the journey. Approximately 20 miles northwest of Fort Myers and five miles south of Boca Grande, it's directly across from marker 60 on the Intracoastal Waterway. You can reach it by launching from Pineland Marina on Pine Island. (Call 941-283-3593 or visit the Inn's Web site for directions to the marina.) There is a $4 launch fee and an $8/day parking fee.

The paddle to the restaurant usually takes about an hour. Most parts of the water are very shallow, and the channels are wide enough to keep you far away from boats with strong wakes. You'll easily spot the Inn; it's the main building on the island.

On Cabbage Key

P.O. Box 200

Pineland, FL 33945

(941) 283-2278

www.cabbage-key.com

Breakfast Monday-Saturday 7:30 a.m.-9 a.m., Sunday 7:30 a.m.-10 a.m.

Lunch Monday-Friday 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Dinner Monday-Saturday 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m., Sunday 6 p.m.-7 p.m.

Reservations required for dinner.

Part restaurant, part RV resort, Linger Lodge has been a 30-year work-in-progress for owner and amateur taxidermist Frank Gamsky. Located on the Braden River in Manatee County, it's filled with all manner of stuffed animals. A 15-foot alligator clings precariously to the main dining room wall; a six-foot black bear greets customers at the front door; rattlesnakes dangle from the ceiling; and hundreds of critters stare at you from glass cases around the perimeter.

Gamsky says most of his specimens come from "roadkill." If he spots an injured animal, he'll take it to a veterinarian for treatment. If it can't be saved, Gamsky adds it to his collection. As this Wisconsin native jokes, "You bring us your pet, we'll get it back to you-one way or another."

The deer heads on the wall were donated by hunters (Gamsky himself hasn't hunted for more than 30 years), as were most of the exotic fish he keeps in a larger-than-life "aquarium." A cage out front holds an average of 15 birds, including several peacocks, in various stages of rehabilitation.

But it's not just the unique décor that draws crowds to Linger Lodge. "We sell more alligator than anybody in Manatee County," says Gamsky. His secret: marinating the meat in buttermilk for 12 hours before deep-frying in a light cornmeal batter. There's also a full menu of sandwiches, catfish and frog legs, along with a full bar. Meals run from $3.95 to $6.95; the most expensive thing on the menu is the $13.95 alligator dinner.

Gamsky doesn't charge launch fees for kayaks (he says kayak owners only take up one parking space, while boat trailers need two). Or you can put in at Jiggs Landing, located on Braden Road just off Highway 70, and paddle three miles to the restaurant. Gamsky says the Lodge gets lots of kayak traffic because of the deer, armadillos, raccoons, possum and pileated woodpeckers that frequent its riverbanks. "Bring a camera," he says. "You'll be amazed at what you see running up and down this river."

7205 Linger Lodge Road

Bradenton, FL 34202

(941) 755-2757

Open 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m.

Closed Monday.

Live music weekends.

INFO BOX

KAYAKING MADE EASY

If you don't own your own kayak-or if you're not sure you can navigate a cruise safely by yourself yet-try a kayak outfitter for a lunch, dinner or sunset dessert cruise. They provide all the equipment and a professional guide and offer a variety of half, full-day, sunset and moonlight trips to most of these restaurants.