Month: October 2018

You’re invited to join the fun-lovin’ team over at the Sanibel Sea School for a whole-family, all-hands-on-deck, island-wide scavenger hunt. The game will be full of interactive challenges that will test your team’s island and ocean knowledge in some very creative ways.

Proceeds from this all-ages event will support their scholarship program, which provides meaningful ocean learning experiences to those in need.

Saturday, November 3rd,  » Read more

The “Smoke on the Island” Hog Roast will be held tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Sanibel Community House, with Resident Chef Jarred Harris preparing the pig pickin’ and sides.

The menu will feature a slow-roasted pig with Chef’s special barbecue sauce, paired with tomato and fresh mozzarella salad, black beans and yucca fries.

Tickets are $18 for adults and $10 for children ages 10 and under.   » Read more

Hooray — Baileyfest is almost here!

The 33rd annual Baileyfest celebration will be held on Sunday, October 21 from noon to 4 p.m. in the Bailey’s Corner Shopping Center, located at the corner of Periwinkle Way and Tarpon Bay Road.

In addition to the traditional crowning of the king and queen, who will arrive in a mule-drawn carriage, the free community gathering will feature live entertainment,  » Read more

photo by the Santiva Chronicle

The Sanibel Historical Museum and Village, which will re-open on October 16, has just announced its 2019 line-up for their popular and always fascinating “Twilight Talk” series.

If you’re interested, be sure to plan your next visit to Ocean’s Reach to coincide with one — or more! — of the following dates:

January 30,  » Read more

Photo by Peace River Photography

We like to think that sunsets on Sanibel Island can’t be beat, but the ones you can experience at Fisherman’s Village are certainly worth checking out if you’re looking for a fun “day trip” away!

Conveniently situated about halfway between Sarasota and Fort Myers, Fisherman’s Village is located approximately 50 miles north of Ocean’s Reach in Punta Gorda, Florida.  » Read more

“A Quote by Einstein” created by John Gowdy

2017 1st Place Master Solo Division

Master sand sculptures will once again head to nearby Fort Myers Beach for the 32nd Annual American Sand Sculpting Championship scheduled for November 16 – 25, 2018.

This event has been named a “Must See” and “Among the 10 Best Sand Sculpting Competitions in the World”  » Read more

Photo by Ocean’s Reach guests Dan Ferrell and Mary Dameron.

As many of you know, Sanibel Island was impacted by a severe red tide bloom in late July.  Throughout the summer, we were in constant communication with upcoming guests advising them of beach conditions and how they have been dramatically improving over the past two months.

We’re very pleased to report that official testing now shows red tide cells are NO LONGER PRESENT in the waters off our shorelines.   » Read more

In honor of National Dessert Day today, we’ve got to give a shout-out to one of our favorite places on the island – Pinocchio’s!

This much beloved little green ice cream shop on the east end of the island is perhaps the only place in the world where you can get ice cream flavors like Dirty Sand Dollar, Sanibel Krunch and Berrywinkle on Periwinkle!  » Read more

… come the shells!

Guest Darrell F. came into the office to share a peek at his bag full of shells — including these many beautiful lightning whelks — that he collected Thursday morning after Hurricane Michael was about 300 miles offshore the day before.

There’s a quote that says “The most beautiful souls have weathered the darkest storms.”  Our thoughts and prayers continue to stay with our Florida neighbors throughout the Panhandle.  » Read more

The silence of nature is very real.

It surrounds you … You can feel it.

 

– Ted Trueblood

Should you have any photos you’d like to share, please email them to [email protected]

Today’s Guest Photographer:  Debbie Hartman  » Read more