In a Flip-Flop State of Mind.

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

Photo from Eric McCandless, ABC

Article by Charles Runnell, Fort Myers News-Press:

It’s time to play “Family Feud!”

Only this time, the game show won’t be happening on TV. It’ll be live in south Fort Myers.

“Family Feud Live: Celebrity Edition” will be bringing the long-running show to Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Center on Friday,  » Read more

The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife on Sanibel reported the recent release of a one-eyed great horned owl in Bokeelia, after it suffered an injury to its right eye and had it surgically removed.

The owl was admitted to the wildlife hospital on July 5 after it was found sitting under a tree and not moving for several hours near Bokeelia on Pine Island.   » Read more

Photo from The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel

Our area was recently featured in Discover Magazine, better known to its readers as “Science for the Curious.”  The article starts:

Florida is known as the Sunshine State for good reason. Sun-filled days, mild nights, and people with happy dispositions make it a favorite destination for families looking for enriching travel experiences.  » Read more