In a Flip-Flop State of Mind.

Happy New Year! 

Just as a new year allows us to focus on reinvigorating our own lives, the start of 2024 will see rejuvenation of Sanibel’s beloved beaches and ecosystems.

A little over fifteen months ago, Hurricane Ian flattened our coastline, leaving behind significant beach erosion and creating channels of “gullies”  » Read more

The Ocean’s Reach team would like to send our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has so kindly reached out to us during our recovery from Hurricane Ian. 

We’re making significant progress and can’t wait to welcome you back to an Ocean’s Reach that will be better than ever.  We look forward to sharing our re-opening plans with you soon!  » Read more

A place to let it all go … and take it all in.

Where it’s come as you are and everybody’s your friend.  

Feels like home to me. 

A new release by BMI musical artists Brian Sutherland and Clint Daniels illustrates the special connection the songwriters have to Southwest Florida.   » Read more

It’s time to kick off the holiday season on Sanibel and Captiva Islands!

Our traditional “Luminary Night” community celebration will be postponed one more year, as the SanCap Chamber of Commerce announced that it will wait until the first weekend of December 2024 to host the beloved holiday event as a kickoff to the City of Sanibel’s 50th anniversary.

However, a merry mix of events are planned in its place this year to ensure that we keep the holiday spirit alive and well on the islands!  » Read more

The more you count your blessings, the more blessings you find to count. 

Although it has been a difficult year, we’ve come away with a renewed sense of gratitude and appreciation for the amazing support we’ve received from our Ocean’s Reach family.

We still have a ways to go in our rebuilding efforts, but we continue to see progress every day and look forward to sharing our re-opening plans with you soon.  » Read more

“Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.”  — Zig Ziglar

When Hurricane Ian ripped through Southwest Florida last year, one of the most striking images the storm left behind was a partially collapsed Sanibel Causeway.

To add to the many signs of progress now being seen throughout Sanibel Island, the Florida Department of Transportation recently announced that they are expecting to complete a majority of the emergency roadway restoration work by the end of this year.   » Read more

First Place:  Heidi Dirkse’s “Looking for Love”

Second Place:  Frank Brinker’s “Low-Flying Fisherman”

Third Place:  Kathleen Colligan’s “Mangrove Tree Crab”

Our friends at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge credit the Refuge’s namesake, Jay Norwood Darling, for recognizing the importance of art in conveying powerful messages about conservation and the need for protecting our native wildlife and habitats.  » Read more

As a gathering spot for more than 100,000 people each year, The Sanibel Community House has served as the heart of the island since 1927.

With its recent re-opening ribbon-cutting ceremony pictured above, it is officially back in service catering to the needs of our island community.

Hurricane Ian destroyed most of its kitchen and event spaces, but even during its renovation, The Community House was able to use their outdoor area for several community get-togethers,  » Read more

There’s nowhere better to feel sand between your toes than on the beaches of Sanibel Island.  Soon, those beaches will receive some much-needed renourishment, bringing us one step closer in our hurricane recovery efforts.

The City of Sanibel has reported that it has received authorizations for approximately $23 million in state and FEMA funding to renourish and strengthen the beaches and dunes impacted 13 months ago from Hurricane Ian.  » Read more

Photo of the Midpoint Bridge in Fort Myers from Florida Weekly

“Sunset is still my favorite color,

and rainbow is second.”

— Mattie Stepanek  » Read more