Ocean’s Reach News
It All Started with Hedge Trimmers
Photo by John Riegert
Biking enthusiasts will notice a brand new addition to the beautiful bike path system that winds around Sanibel Island.
A new rest stop has been built at the corner of Casa Ybel Road and Middle Gulf Drive — just around the corner and up the street from Ocean’s Reach. It features two benches, a bike rack, a water fountain, » Read more
The Smallest Post Office in the USA
You think you’ve seen everything?
Chances are you haven’t seen a post office like the one in Ochopee, a fun little day trip about an hour and a half away from Ocean’s Reach.
This 61-square foot facility measures 8′ 4″ X 7′ 3″ and is officially the smallest post office in the country. The tiny building used to serve as a storage shed for irrigation pipes for a nearby tomato farm, » Read more
Gaze at Grand Architecture
#77: Gaze at Grand Architecture While Attending An Event
Excerpt from “100 Things to do in Fort Myers & Sanibel Before You Die” by Nancy Hamilton:
When you see a building of Neoclassical Revival architecture with massive columns in south Florida, you know there has to be an interesting history to match the grandeur. The site upon which the Sidney & » Read more
Scenes from Sanibel #33
“After a visit to the beach,
it’s hard to believe that we live in a material world.”
– Pam Shaw
Should you have any photos you’d like to share, please email them to [email protected].
Today’s Guest Photographer: Scott Norris » Read more
Legend Has It …
Southwest Florida is well known for many things, perhaps the most infamous is the folklore that we were home base for the renegade pirate Jose Gaspar, the “Last of the Buccaneers” also known by his nickname Gasparilla.
Legend has it that Gaspar once made his home in Pine Island Sound, reportedly establishing headquarters on Sanibel Island, holding his female prisoners captive on Captiva Island, burying his booty on Gasparilla Island, » Read more
Think Crafty Thoughts!
You could while away an entire rainy afternoon poking around the islands’ supreme craft store, Three Crafty Ladies.
This amazing think-tank of a craft store is perfect for finding a project for you or the kids. They have a treasure-trove of items that can be decorated with seashells — from boxes to mirrors to frames — and all the accouterments to put your island object d’art together. » Read more
Adopt Your Own!
Yesterday we updated you on the success of the Save The Manatee program in which a huge wave of support has made a real difference for these cherished marine mammals.
Today, we wanted to let you know about the Adopt-a-Manatee program where you can further help manatee rescue, rehabilitation, and research efforts, along with manatee education and public awareness projects.
Unlike other animal adoption programs, » Read more
Save a Manatee
The Florida Manatee is a native species found in many of Florida’s waterways.
In 1975, Florida’s school children helped designate the endangered Florida manatee as Florida’ state marine mammal. Since then, various research, management and educational efforts have helped bring back a species that many people thought was on the verge of extinction.
The Florida manatee population has grown to more than 6,600 animals today. » Read more
Ride of Silence
What began in 2003 in Dallas as a spontaneous outpouring of grief for a friend and fellow rider, struck and killed by the mirror of a passing vehicle, has rolled across the globe to become an international annual event memorializing and honoring cyclists who have been injured and killed while riding.
The Ride of Silence » Read more is a worldwide event, with almost all USA States participating, along with 22 other countries.
The many hundreds of events share the same goals: “To honor fallen cyclists,
