Coastal Cleanup

 

If you’re going to be on Sanibel mid-September, consider joining island friends and neighbors as they participate in this year’s International Coastal Cleanup.  This year’s event is scheduled for September 17 from 8:00 – 11:00 a.m. at various locations.

The International Coastal Cleanup remains the largest, global volunteer effort to remove trash from local shorelines.  Since its beginning, more than 17 million volunteers around the world have collected over 348 million pounds of trash.  » Read more

A Paddler’s Paradise

Kayaking at Blind Pass along the Great Calusa Blueway

 

The Great Calusa Blueway, a 190-mile saltwater paddle trail that weaves its way along the mangrove islands and sugar-sand beaches of Southwest Florida, is a one-of-a-kind way to explore our area’s unspoiled beauty, history and abundant natural habitats.

Inspired by the indigenous Calusa, the Great Calusa Blueway paddling trail encompasses three distinct regions of the Gulf of Mexico coast.   » Read more

Snap, Crackle and Pop

 

At J.N. “Ding” Darling Wildlife Refuge, fortunate visitors may catch a glimpse of manatees, sea otters, indigo snakes, gopher tortoises, dolphins, and horseshoe crabs amid the mangroves and open water.

What most people won’t see is the unassuming pistol shrimp, which lurks in vast numbers just below the surface, but many people may hear their Rice Krispie-like crackling echoing through their canoes or other watercraft.  » Read more

Selfie Challenge!

 

Get ready to snap away!

“Ding” Darling is challenging visitors to use its #WildForAll station and other refuge locations to snap selfies and post them on their social media channels, as they have been selected as one of the 12 (out of 568) refuges nationwide chosen to participate in the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s #WildForAll Challenge.

What a fun way to add even more enjoyment to your visit to Ding Darling!   » Read more

What a Hoot!

 

Here’s something fun for the kids!

Hoot, by staff favorite author Carl Hiaasen, is a humorous adventure novel for middle-grade readers in which a group of children tries to save the habitat of a colony of pint-sized burrowing owls from being bulldozed.  Published in 2002, the book became a New York Times bestseller, won a Newbery Medal, and was subsequently made into a motion picture,  » Read more

Day Trippin’: #7

 

What Florida may lack in elevation, we make up for in man-made towers.  Take the Shark Valley Observation Tower for example.

This giant tower spirals into the sky and overlooks the Florida Everglades, somewhat resembling a miniature Space Needle, despite being only a fraction of the height.  Built back in 1984, it’s dubbed one of the best overlooks in the state, and not only are the views worth checking out,  » Read more

Day Trippin’: #6

 

The Sunshine State has a never-ending list of quirky restaurants.  One of the most unique restaurants in Florida can be found about 2 1/2 hours from Ocean’s Reach … in a circus train, no less!

Bob’s Train, in Sarasota, is the only place in the country where you can dine in an authentic circus train.  The interior of this one-of-a-kind restaurant is full of circus memorabilia,  » Read more

Day Trippin’: #5

 

Ever wonder what it’s like to take a dip with a manatee?  Just about 3 1/2 hours away from Sanibel, you’ll find Crystal River, the only place in the United States where you can legally swim with manatees.

The headwaters of Crystal River are known as Kings Bay, where the water temperature is a consistent 72 degrees year-round.  During the winter months, more than 400 manatees migrate here to escape the cold waters of the Gulf of Mexico,  » Read more

Day Trippin’: #4

 

Return to maritime Florida of the mid 19th century!  Two hours north of Sanibel you’ll find Cortez, Florida, home to the state’s oldest surviving fishing village.

Maritime traditions run deep through this historic community where you’ll find restored boats proudly displayed.  Modest bungalows from the 1920s with sandy yards pack the narrow streets of the village, and salt permeates the air.

Meander down to Burton’s store – a relic of the area’s earliest years – or grab a fresh bite at the Seafood Shack or the Star Fish Company Market and Restaurant,  » Read more

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