Month: January 2019

Imagine our surprise and delight to see our sand castle featured in your blog (Dec 21)!

We had so much fun during our family’s vacation at Ocean’s Reach that we are all coming back again next year.

We are happy to know that other people liked our creation and we look forward to making some more memories and some more castles in the years to come!     » Read more

Thanks so much for sharing your truly shelltacular find, Lori!   As they say, after a storm the sun always shines … and the shells wash ashore!

For those who may not know, we had an extremely rare “meteotsunami” during your recent visit a couple of weeks ago.  (Not to be confused with a tsumani, a meteotsunami consists of large waves caused by air pressure disturbances and quick-moving storms,  » Read more

With a style they define as “grassical” music – a combination of bluegrass and classical — The DePue Brothers Band will soon take the stage at the BIG ARTS Schein Hall on Jan 12.

Their father is the renowned pianist and prolific composer Wallace DePue Sr., who played musical taskmaster as the boys were growing up.

The band features Wallace Jr.  » Read more

Photo from Port Sanibel Marina

Do you want to build a snowman?

“No, I don’t want to build a silly snowman.  I want to build a sandcastle.  An amazing sandcastle.  On a beach.  In the sun.  Where there is no snow!!”  » Read more

Photo from the Island Reporter

The staff at the renamed Cielo invites everyone to come see their brand new look.

“It needed a facelift, big time,” Manager Chuck Grover said, adding that the initial discussion had focused on minor updates. “We were thinking of repainting, and repainting turned into wow.”

He explained that their recently completed project opened up the dining room and relocated the bar toward the front entrance.  » Read more

Courtesy of National Geographic

The seventh annual “Ding” Darling Wednesday Film Series will kick off its popular biweekly showings this winter with a schedule of seven films that explore natural facets from plastic impact and pythons to sea turtles and Jane Goodall.

First up on Jan. 9, “RiverBlue” examines the impact of the fashion industry on water quality.  » Read more

We were thrilled to recently host new guests Amy and John P. from Galena, OH.

Their three beautiful girls — Madelyne, Abigail and Kaitlyn —  stopped by with “Thank You” cookies and, of course, we had to share!

As with all of our new friends, we’re thrilled that the family discovered Ocean’s Reach and we look forward to welcoming them back again soon!  » Read more

From Coastal Living; photo by Chuck Haney 

In case you missed this article in the latest issue of Coastal Living magazine, we thought we’d pass it on!

It’s titled “10 Florida Beaches So Beautiful You’ll Think You’re in the Caribbean” and starts:

“There’s something about the turquoise water and ivory sand beaches in the Caribbean that makes the destination a true paradise.  » Read more

A new family-owned and operated restaurant on Sanibel brings something new and different to the islands with its hybrid of South Pacific, Hawaiian and Asian menu.

Malia Island Fusion Cuisine, run by Jeff and Kathy Samson and daughter Malia, is located at the Sanibel Island Golf Club, just about 2 1/2 miles away from Ocean’s Reach.

Open to the public for lunch and dinner, it serves up appetizers,  » Read more

Photo from Tarpon Bay Explorers

Looking for a new way to explore some of Sanibel’s most gorgeous back-bay waters? 

Tarpon Bay Explorers is now offering custom Hobie trips to explore the wilderness of Tarpon Bay’s mangrove estuary.

For those who may not yet have heard of Hobie kayaks, they are not traditional “all-arm-powered” vessels. Hobies have a pedal drive system that allows the operator to use their legs instead of their arms,  » Read more