Month: March 2019

Thanks so much to guest Kathy L. from Gaithersburg, MD who shared this enchanting photo of the sun playing “Peek a Boo” with one of our palm trees!  » Read more

The Sanibel Historical Museum and Village will honor some of the women who made history on Sanibel for Women’s History Month. In 1987, Congress declared March as National Women’s History Month to honor the extraordinary achievements of American women.

Elinor Dormer will be one of nine female Sanibel pioneers who be featured in the village’s nine buildings.

A conservationist dedicated to the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation,  » Read more

Each year, we’re thrilled to welcome Bob and Mary Ellen P. from Plymouth, MN.  Not only are they “longtime” annual guests who have visited us for well over 20 years, but they’re “long term” as well, staying at Ocean’s Reach for close to three months each year.

This year, Bob surprised us with these incredible pieces of handmade art, which he calls Sanibel Tidal Stream Impressions,  » Read more

What are the odds?  About 1 in 10,000 apparently.

According to Matt Asen, the owner of Timbers Restaurant & Fish Market, something pretty unusual happened recently to oyster bar “master shucker” Luke Timmons.

“After shucking literally thousands of oysters over the past couple of years, Luke found one with a pearl inside still attached to the shell,” said Asen. “And that’s only the second one I’ve ever heard about in my 40 years in the restaurant business.”

Timmons,  » Read more

In 2017, Naples resident Yve Morrell became the first woman to tally the most species of birds for the American Birding Association’s North American “Big Year” with a count of 817.

In celebration of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, Ms. Morrell will present two special programs at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island on Friday, March 8, at 10 a.m.  » Read more

“From all the paths you take in life,

make sure a few of them lead

to magical sunsets on the beach.”

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

Today’s Guest Photographer:  Michael Ahlrichs

   » Read more

Photo by 10Best.com

We are so proud of this incredibly talented friend! 

Read some wonderfully delicious news about her with this article by Annabelle Tometich, published on News-Press.com:

Melissa Donahue never saw it coming.

The chef-owner of Sweet Melissa’s Cafe on Sanibel was prepping for Wednesday’s dinner service when a friend tagged her in a Facebook post from the James Beard Foundation.  » Read more

On March 3, 1845, Florida became the nation’s 27th state, which means that our state officially celebrates its 174th birthday today!

To learn what Floridians like most about their home state, click here.  Some of their answers may surprise you!  » Read more

Many thanks to Rachel C. from Cadillac, MI (daughter of longtime Ocean’s Reach owners Bob and Judy G.) for this great photo from her recent visit to Sanibel.

Fun Fact:  “Wing spreading” — sometimes described as “sunbathing” or “wing-drying” — is a technique that Double-crested Cormorants use to dry their feathers after swimming.  Cormorants have less preen oil than other birds, so their feathers can get soaked rather than shedding water like a duck’s.   » Read more

Ever wonder how the Sanibel Shell Festival got its start? 

Thanks to our friends at the Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club for this excerpt, from a local newspaper article circa 1968, explaining the origins of the shell fair:

“The first Community Fair was held in 1928 on the porch of the Old Island Inn and was a miniature county fair with baked goods,  » Read more