Month: December 2020

Earlier this fall, the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation’s Sea Turtle Team found a white loggerhead sea turtle hatchling while inventorying a hatched nest.

“They are rare on Sanibel and we only find a few every year,” Research Associate Andrew Glinsky said. “This hatchling appears to be albino but actually has a condition known as leucism.”

Albinism occurs when there is an absence of melanin.  » Read more

(Taken yesterday by Ocean’s Reach owner Carolyn P. in Boston, MA)

(Where we wish she was instead!)

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times …”

We like to think that Charles Dickens would have thought it’s always the best of times at Ocean’s Reach!  » Read more

Photo by Eary Warren

Many thanks to our friends at the Ding Darling Wildlife Society for sharing this photo of a White-crowned Pigeon that was recently spotted at the Refuge. Experts say that they rarely venture this far north as they primarily reside in the Caribbean, so it was quite a treat for birding enthusiasts.

Did you know?

Although the speed of a White-crowned Pigeon has never been formally documented,  » Read more

From one pandemic to another …

About 40 islanders recently took part in the restaging of a historical photo as the Captiva Island Historical Society hosted “History Repeats Itself.”

The “then and now” photo was taken in the same location as a photo taken during a community gathering in front of the Captiva Chapel by the Sea in 1918,  » Read more

Where will Santa be on his last day before flying out this year?  Looks like he’ll be heading back to his favorite deserted island in the waters surrounding Sanibel Island!

Join Adventures In Paradise as they offer Santa’s Dolphin & Wildlife Cruise on Christmas Eve.

Bring the family and hop aboard “Dolphin Waters,” a 45’ open-air Corinthian Power Catamaran, to cruise among the dolphins on your way to visit with Santa,  » Read more

Many thanks to longtime guest Joan B-F. from Glenwood MD for these wonderful photos, which we think do a perfect job in summing up 2020.

She writes:

Here are two photos from our visit last season, which look like some of my days — calm one minute; rattled the next!!!

   » Read more

Leave it to our friends at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge to come up with yet another way to enjoy nature that’s fitting for the times!

Refuge officials are excited to debut the new Plant ID on the Go virtual vegetation trail. There are virtual plant identification trails on Wildlife Drive, Indigo Trail, Bailey Tract trails, and Perry Tract.

Visitors just need to scan the QR code on each sign at the beginning of the trail.  » Read more

There’s fun to be had for children at the Sanibel Historical Village as they go on an educational treasure hunt!

Kids are given a sheet of instructions outlining where they can find treasures in each of the Village’s nine historical buildings.  Prizes are located in the Village Gift Shop in the Rutland House and include little toys, tattoos, and other goodies.  This time of year,  » Read more

For those of you who have connected with Sanibel Sea School over the years, you know what a special place it is.

As this year has been challenging for everyone, the SX3ers are doing a very special “Call for Worries” as part of their annual winter camp tradition of Giving our Worries to the Sea.

The ceremony is simple —  » Read more

Celebrate the holidays in a lush tropical paradise as the Naples Botanical Garden is transformed into a spectacular light show during the 11th annual Night Lights in the Garden.

Each evening includes holiday musical performances, family activities, festive treats and enchanting illumination scenes throughout the garden, including lighted landscapes, waterscapes and sculptures by Steve Tobin.

This year, Night Lights in the Garden runs through January 3rd,  » Read more