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August 2009 Newsletter Stories
Story 1
Great Vacations - Right Here
By: Chris Wadsworth,
Long-distance travel plans out of the question this year? Read on to learn about nearby adventures for kids, animal encounters, boating trips and escapes for lovers.
Ah, sweet summertime.
Bright Florida mornings give way to gentle afternoon showers followed by sultry evenings. Life moves at a slower pace this time of year as the days lazily tick by.
And then suddenly you realize it’s time for a summer vacation and packing and driving and flying and hotels and resorts and theme parks and museums—and it’s all just too much.
This year, there’s no secret the big trend is the so-called “staycation.” For a multitude of reasons including the economy, flu fears and more, people are choosing to get away while staying closer to home. With this in mind, Gulfshore Life set out to discover ideal subtropical itineraries to help you kick back in our own backyard.
Family Fun
The Haas family of south Fort Myers are staycation pioneers of sorts. When Linda and David and their two children want to get away, they head just a short drive from their home—to the renowned South Seas Island Resort on the northern tip of Captiva Island.
Linda Haas says South Seas is the perfect place for her kids—ages 12 and 20—with plenty of things to do. This year, the resort introduced H2Whoa!, a new children’s pool area with a corkscrew slide and a 16-foot plunge slide.
“It’s a beautiful addition,” Linda says. “Our daughter loves it. Our son loves it. Our son’s girlfriend. Even my husband loves it.”
Nearby, families will find the popular Scoops and Slices ice cream parlor and candy shop. Parrots Arcade is filled with the latest virtual reality video games and arcade action. Finally, there are kid and teen clubs where the younger set can go off and have adventures while mom and dad relax.
For a great daytrip visit the Edison & Ford Winter Estates. There you can tour their homes, stroll through the gardens, marvel at the laboratory, visit the museum and much more.
Animal World
Florida is known for its fauna as much as its flora—and many wonderful zoos and nature parks abound with wildlife as the main attraction. Our own “Ding” Darling national Wildlife Refuge is the first that pops to mind. Whether it be birds, otters, alligators, raccoons or bobcats, you just never know what you may see.
For a different kind of nature experience, head to the beaches. Sanibel & Captiva are world renown for them. If just taking in the sun is your choice or the ever popular shelling this is THE place. You might also be lucky enough to see dolphins, egrets, sea turtles (or at least their nests), and maybe even a manatee swimming by.
Island Hopping
Step back in time and visit the Florida of a hundred years ago when you venture out amongst the various barrier islands and backwaters along our coast. Far from the maddening crowds and traffic of mainland Lee and Collier counties, the islands are a world apart.
A number of boat cruises leaves from Sanibel & Captiva and offers a variety of ways to explore. There are narrated sight-seeing cruises for several hours or just short cruises for an hour or so. Some of the rides include stops for lunch at the famed Cabbage Key Inn and other out-of-the-way islands. Or charter your own water taxi and visit hard-to-reach spots like Gasparilla Island, North Captiva, or Cayo Costa.
Great Outdoors
Living in Southwest Florida, there is nature all around us. Just a few miles from our homes and condominiums lay thousands of acres of wilderness. Panther Crossing signs dot our highways, and black bears occasionally venture into the center of town.
Nonetheless, few of us really have any idea of what it means to spend time deep in the swampy backwaters. Explore the Everglades on an Everglades Day Safari. Elevated swamp buggies and airboats take visitors on tours through wetlands and cypress heads where sightings of eagles, hawks, deer, bison and wild hogs are common.
Romantic Weekend
Resorts around Sanibel & Captiva are offering many elegant and romantic stays, so check our website for the many summer weekend deals
It’s a great time for couples to reconnect, they get to spend time together, relax and feel closer to each other.
Don’t forget eating
After a day of cruises, safaris or just laying on the beach you will be ready to sit back and enjoy a relaxing meal. Whether it be super casual or just plain casual, fast food or fine dining, there are over 50 restaurants to choose from. Seafood is number one but that is just the beginning. There is something for everyone's taste.
Now that’s a getaway.
To learn more about summer getaways and any of the businesses or attractions mentioned in the story, click over to the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce website.
If you have questions or suggestions, please contact us
by email at:
islandnewsletter@sanibel-captiva.org
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