“What a lovely surprise to finally discover how unlonely being alone can be.”
– Ellen Burstyn
Should you have any photos you’d like to share, please email them to Dina@OceansReach.com.
The ever-popular Budweiser Clydesdales returned to the Fort Myers area last week, kicking off their visit with a return to the Edison Festival of Light Grand Parade.
The massive horses — the living symbol for Anheuser-Busch beer company since 1933 — made various other stops around Southwest Florida, including an eight-horse “full hitch” walk through the Historic Downtown River District, where you-know-who couldn’t resist a selfie!
Some info for trivia buffs: In order to qualify for the World Famous Budweiser hitch, a Clydesdale must stand at least 18 hands high (or 6 feet tall) and weigh between 1,800 – 2,300 pounds. All Budweiser Clydesdales have a bay-colored coat, four white stockings, a blaze of white on their face, a black mane and a black tail. Each of the geldings consume as much as 20 – 25 quarts of whole grains, minerals and vitamins, 50 – 60 pounds of hay and 30 gallons of water per day.
Every hitch travels with a Dalmatian dog — a throwback to the early days of beer brewing, when Dalmatians were bred and trained to guard the wagon and horses while out on beer deliveries.
To learn more fun facts about the Budweiser Clydesdales, click here!
On the roof, the only place I know
Where you just have to wish to make it so
– Gerry Goffin and Carole King
Today is National Margarita Day!
Since it is reportedly the most commonly ordered drink in the U.S., accounting for 18% of all mixed drink sales (runner up is the martini), we thought that we would throw a shout-out to the frozen concoction that helps many hang on.
No-one knows who invented the margarita, but as with most things, it’s likely that it involved a beautiful woman. Many think that the first margarita was made by a Mexican restaurant owner in 1938 for a gorgeous Ziegfeld showgirl who was allergic to all forms of alcohol except tequila, but she didn’t like to drink tequila straight. The restaurateur supposedly solved the problem by adding salt and lime, and hence created the world’s first margarita.
Nowadays, you can order margaritas in every conceivable flavor, from pomegranate, strawberry, raspberry, and pineapple to cucumber mint, green tea and chocolate. Specialists behind the bar have also gotten creative mixing dried herbs, infused sugars and exotic salts to enhance both the presentation of the glass and the flavor of the cocktail.
Next time you visit Sanibel, decide for yourself who makes the best Margarita on the island! For a good place to start, we suggest heading to Cip’s, Doc Ford’s or Cantina Captiva. Or try lounging outdoors at Coconuts, right next door to Ocean’s Reach on the beach, where — as the song goes — there’s always booze in the blender!
One of the reasons we look forward to this time of year is having longtime guest Bob P. from Plymouth, MN back to delight beachgoers with his kite flying finesse.
It’s wonderful to see all of the vibrant colors sailing against the backdrop of a crystal blue sky. As always, Bob, thanks so much for the treat!
“A kite is a victim you are sure of.
You love it because it pulls
gentle enough to call you master,
strong enough to call you fool;
because it lives
like a desperate trained falcon
in the high sweet air,
and you can always haul it down
to tame it in your drawer.
A kite is a fish you have already caught
in a pool where no fish come,
so you play him carefully and long,
and hope he won’t give up,
or the wind die down.
A kite is the last poem you’ve written
so you give it to the wind,
but you don’t let it go
until someone finds you
something else to do.”
― Leonard Cohen, The Spice Box of Earth
This weekend, Centennial Park will be transformed into a craft lovers dream with 100 exhibitors displaying their hand-crafts along the historic riverfront in downtown Fort Myers.
The annual Crafts on the River is a non-juried event open to local and national artisans and crafters. The event delights in old, new and unique items that come from all over the world. Original designs are displayed by nearly 100 artists in an informal atmosphere that encourages visitors to talk with the artists about their work and, in some cases, see them in action. A large variety of mediums include drawings, paintings, graphics, sculpture, crafts, jewelry, photography and edible art will be featured. The event runs 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. this Saturday and Sunday.
This photo was sent to us from longtime guest Scott N. from Indianapolis, IN.
“An Indianapolis camera store, which has been in business 60 years, hosts a gallery night once a year. As a part of that, they ask people to submit images for consideration to be on display that evening. I submitted this image to them, and they chose the image to be on display in their gallery for two months last fall. This is a Great Egret which I saw last April at Ding Darling.”
Long-legged Great Egrets wade in shallow water (both fresh and salt) to hunt fish, frogs, and other small aquatic animals. They typically stand still and watch for unsuspecting prey to pass by. Then, with startling speed, the egrets strike with a jab of their long, S-curved neck and daggerlike bill.
For a great video of the Great Egret from the Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, click here!
One of our favorite spots at Ocean’s Reach is The Grove, where guests are invited to hold family gatherings, social events and cookouts amid our beautiful outdoor space.
Popular for its comfortable dining and grilling area, The Grove is also a perfect escape for guests who just want to sit back and relax in the shade, read a book, or simply observe nature.
Guest Anne C. from Mahwah, NJ, shared these photos which we think capture the essence of The Grove perfectly. Thanks so much, Anne!
