Lights Out for Sea Turtles

 

The Darker the Beach, The Brighter their Future!

It’s officially the start of Sea Turtle Season, and as with every year, hundreds of sea turtle nests will soon be laid on the beaches of Sanibel and Captiva islands.

If you’re new to our island experience, it’s important to know that sea turtle hatchlings emerge after dark, using the light of the night sky over the sea to navigate to the water.  » Read more

Set Your DVR!

 

For years, Samantha Brown’s travel show has been one of our favorites.  Imagine how excited we were when we heard that she is kicking off her next season showcasing a trip to Southwest Florida!

Check your local PBS station to see when you’ll be able to see her next all-new episode of Samantha Brown’s “Places to Love” (it’s airing Saturday, April 24 at 4:30 EDT here locally).  » Read more

Day Trippin’: #7

 

If you really want to get off the beaten path, head up to Ona, about a 2-hour drive from Sanibel Island.  It’s in the middle of nowhere, but well worth the drive.

Especially when you realize that your destination is Solomon’s Castle, a hand-built medieval castle complete with a moat.

The sculptor Howard Solomon started building the castle in 1974 out of aluminum printing plates thrown out by the local newspaper.  » Read more

Day Trippin’: #6

 

Of course, everyone knows that there’s a lot to see in Orlando, about a 4-hour drive from Sanibel.  But we betcha you may not have heard about the “Kaleidoscope House” hidden in one of Orlando’s most exquisite neighborhoods.

Created by artist Tom Fruin, this beautiful art installation is located in Lake Nona’s Laureate Park, close to Canvas Restaurant and Lake House. Fruin is a Brooklyn-based artist,  » Read more

Day Trippin’: #5

 

The famed mermaids of Weeki Wachee Springs have been luring guests from across the globe for over seven decades.  Weeki Wachee’s glory days were the 1960s, and girls from as far away as Japan came to try out as mermaids.  Perhaps the ultimate sign of its coolness then: Elvis visited!

Today, the Weeki Wachee Springs State Park — about a 3 1/2-hour drive from Sanibel —  » Read more

Day Trippin’: #4

 

Here’s something that’s a little different!

Are you ready for the ultimate sugar rush?  This delightful donut trail in Florida can be tackled in a day, and just wait until you see the sweet treats along the way!

This epic, one-of-a-kind day trip starts in Sarasota, about a 2-hour drive from Sanibel Island, and offers up six scrumptious destinations as you drive a little further north.  » Read more

Day Trippin’: #3

 

Ever wonder what it’s like to take a dip with a manatee?  Just about 3 1/2 hours away from Sanibel, you’ll find Crystal River, the only place in the United States where you can legally swim with manatees.

The headwaters of Crystal River are known as Kings Bay, where the water temperature is a consistent 72 degrees year-round.  During the winter months, more than 400 manatees migrate here to escape the cold waters of the Gulf of Mexico,  » Read more

Day Trippin’: #2

 

If you’d like to head up to the Sarasota area, about a 2-hour drive from Sanibel, we suggest including a trip to Myakka River State Park.

At 58 square miles, this is one of Florida’s oldest and largest parks.  The Myakka River flows through a vast expanse of unspoiled wetlands, prairies, hammocks, and pinelands that make up the family-friendly park.  In addition to showcasing a unique side of Floridas fauna and flora,  » Read more

Day Trippin’: #1

 

Although we know how difficult it is to leave your beach chair most days, we also understand that sometimes you just get an itch to see more of what Florida has to offer.  We can’t blame you, and although we occasionally highlight other fun things to do nearby in our state, we thought we’d spend this entire week highlighting some easy “day trips” from Ocean’s Reach!  » Read more

New Look for CROW

 

The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) recently revealed a fun new logo that features sihouettes of many of the animal friends successfully treated at the wildlife hospital each year.

Three birds, a brown pelican, a great blue heron and a great horned owl, represent CROW’s avian patients which account for over 60% of its annual caseload.

Mammals, represented by a North American river otter and a northern raccoon,  » Read more

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