Month: July 2019

Interested in joining the Scallop Search?

Volunteers are needed to snorkel in select areas within Pine Island Sound and San Carlos Bay to look for scallops on Saturday, August 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This year’s event is being organized by the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) and Florida Sea Grant – UF/IFAS Lee County Extension.

The purpose of the program is to monitor and document the health and status of the bay scallop population,  » Read more

It’s certainly gratifying to hear that our area tops the list of Florida’s best recycling spots.

Last year, Lee County recycled more than 75 percent of its waste.  Of the nearly 2 million tons of waste made in 2018, 1.5 million was recycled.

That’s enough to fill 107 football fields with material 70 feet high (roughly the tallest point of the Sanibel Island bridge)!  » Read more

“Life is getting up an hour early to live an hour more.“  

– Unknown

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

Today’s Guest Photographer:  Sheila Pittman

   » Read more

Photo from Narcity.com

Found on Narcity.com:

Have you ever wanted a beachfront hideaway where you can get away from the Queen of Hearts? Well there is one – and it’s in Florida! There is a hidden restaurant in Sanibel Island that will take you down the rabbit hole with their fantastic menu. Mad Hatter Restaurant is an Alice In Wonderland-themed eatery with an eclectic menu and decor by artist Lacy McClary.  » Read more

Photo of Henry Ford inspecting his V-8 engine prototype.

To honor Henry Ford, the automobile icon, the Edison and Ford Winter Estates will celebrate his 156th birthday on Tuesday, July 30. The day will start off with a free presentation about Ford at 11:30 a.m. on the museum porch (regular admission prices apply to tours of the homes, museum and lab). Cookies and lemonade will be served.  » Read more

Photo by Beth Stephenson, “Daily Herald”

A recent article written by Beth Stephenson from the “Daily Herald” out of Provo, UT, begins:

I have a corner of my heart for treasure hunting.

While the family may be fishing or floating on a cold mountain stream, they’re likely to catch me digging around in the sand, looking for gems or gold or anything else.  » Read more

The official 2019 Island Hopper Songwriter Fest mobile app is now available to download!

Don’t miss the incredible music experience coming September 20 – 29 to nearby Captiva, downtown Fort Myers and Fort Myers Beach.

The 6th Annual Island Hopper Songwriter Fest will offer a unique experience to interact with songwriters who wrote your favorite hits.

And now, planning your visit is a snap with the new app,  » Read more

Thanks so much to longtime guests Tom and Terri Rubenstein from Morgantown, WV who sent us this pretty photo that they titled “View from Our Happy Place.”

As they noted, “This simple photo captures the peaceful beauty that we love about Ocean’s Reach and Sanibel!”  » Read more

Like we needed another reason to love pasta?

We loved hearing that one of our favorite island spots, Joey’s Custard, has started using pasta straws, instead of paper and plastic, to help reduce the use of plastic on the island.

They call it eco-pasta. It was created by Sammy Ramirez, who came up with the idea because he says he says he’s been a huge supporter of the single use plastic straw ban after seeing the damage and mess it’s left on the beach.  » Read more

Photo from the Naples Zoo

We’d like to tip our hats to the crew over at the Naples Zoo as we begin National Zookeepers Week.  This year’s celebration will be extra special as 2019 represents their 100th year as a botanical garden and 50th year as a zoo.

2019 is also the year that two endangered cloud leopards were born at the facility in late February.   » Read more