Nurseries of the Sea

Photo of The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum

 

The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum offers more than 30 permanent exhibits and a variety of temporary exhibits. In addition to displaying spectacular shells, they offer insights into many of the shells that have played vital roles in history, culture, art, design, and medicine.

​Their newest exhibit — Coral Reefs: Nurseries of the Sea — explores the important role that reefs play in the life cycle of mollusks and in the ocean as a whole.   » Read more

A Fever of Cownose Rays!

Cownose rays along the shore

 

Sharing a recent article by Daniella Medina from the Orlando Sentinel about an incredible new video shot on Bowman’s Beach:

A week off school brought Canadian tourist Cameron Perdue, 25, to the sunny, sandy beaches of Sanibel Island, where his drone captured a breathtaking sight of a fever of Cownose rays traveling north along the shoreline on Thursday.

“I have a drone and I happened to have it with me and we were just sitting on the beach just relaxing and a kid was like,  » Read more

It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere!

the Jimmy Buffett tribute band, Caribbean Chillers

 

Calling all Parrotheads!

On February 28, Edison and Ford Winter Estates will host the Jimmy Buffett tribute band, Caribbean Chillers. The band plays Buffett’s top hits and crowd favorites for an authentic show. The event will take place on the Ford lawn, along the Caloosahatchee River. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and the concert starts at 6 p.m.

The setting offers a beautiful river view and a chance to see a spectacular sunset.  » Read more

Seashells as Metaphors

seashell on the shore of the beach

Photo from the Sanibel-Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce

 

An article from JournalStandard.com in Freeport, IL:

From the Old Pine Rocker: Led by a book to enchanted islands

 

During the holidays, a dear friend I used to work with came to visit, and she brought me a painting by a Freeport artist featuring lovely seashells. As always,  » Read more

Mashupalooza!

 

Just what is Mashupalooza?

Find out for yourself on Saturday, February 29, when composer/conductor Steve Hackman returns to the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall with the Southwest Florida Symphony.

Previously, they’ve wowed audiences with mash-ups of “Beethoven and Coldplay” and “Brahms and Radiohead.”

This time around, they’ll fuse fuse modern pop songs with various orchestral movements, including “Beethoven and Beyonce,”  » Read more

An Ice Age Sand Dune

aerial photo of cabbage key and woman taking a photo

Photo from Narcity

 

Southwest Florida has countless unique locales that belong on your bucket list, with histories that are just as unique.

For instance, many of our guests delight in taking a lunch cruise up to Cabbage Key, just north of Captiva.  Did you know that the island formed around 10,000 B.C.?  According to geologists, it is considered an “ice age sand dune”  » Read more

National Wildlife Day

Family with bikes overlooking the water

 

Why, of course, Ding Darling will be celebrating “National Wildlife Day” tomorrow!

You’re invited to take a free guided bike tour, play wildlife trivia games, watch a free film, and take advantage of Refuge Nature Store specials during National Wildlife Day tomorrow, Monday, Feb. 24.

Bring your own bike and helmet to join the 4-mile bike tour at 9 a.m. and meet at the parking lot flagpole.  » Read more

More Bizarre Florida Laws

Photo found on Pinterest

 

It’s fun to learn of bizarre laws still on the books in Florida, as they always make you wonder about the stories behind them.

For instance, what do you think was behind this latest batch of outlandishly peculiar laws?

  • Men may not wear a strapless gown in public.
  • It is illegal to have sexual relations with a porcupine.
  •  » Read more

Belted Kingfisher

 

What a beautiful photo of a bird that is really tough to photograph!

Longtime guests Peter and Joan F. from Glenwood, MD captured this amazing photo of a male Belted Kingfisher on a recent walk through the Bailey Homestead and Pond Apple Park.

Fun Fact #1: 

The Belted Kingfisher is one of the few bird species in which the female is more brightly colored than the male.  » Read more

Sign Up to Receive Special Offers