Getting into your "Child" on the Island of Sanibel

Remember the old term "getting into your child"?

It was used to signify getting down to the pure impulses and joys in your life.

The kind of impulses and joys most easily experienced when on vacation.

And there are so many ways to get into your child on the Island of Sanibel.

We'd like to share some of our favorites with you and ask that you comment with your own particular preferences.

First and most obvious, there is the question of where is it easiest to experience childhood on the Island? And the answer is evident. The beach is the place to shed adult inhibitions. Loose that business attire and get nearly naked: when it's only that skimpy bathing suit that separates you from the world, you are a free person, a child like person.

Run, don't walk, into the welcoming turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Bob around in the calm, clear, warm and salty sea and you are virtually weightless, carefree and one with nature. You may find no one around you, or perhaps a school of dolphin passing by, or maybe one lone pelican who will keep one eye on you as it plunges and fishes.

If you are with your own children, teach them the art of sand castle building. Or if you are by yourself, with your spouse or with a friend, rekindle those skills as you dig into the sands with your hands. Or just sit in a beach chair and dig into the sands with your feet. There is nothing more fundamental in pleasure than digging down beneath the warm grains until you feel the damp, cool, coarse sand below.

But the beach is not the only place to experience the special quality of childhood.

You can get almost the same amount of joyful discovery, child like discovery by exploring the Island by bike, parasailing the blue skies, boating out to the smaller islands, or kayaking through the mangroves.

If you feel shackled by the responsibilities of adulthood, there is no better place than Sanibel to lose your chains and roam unencumbered.

Do you have a favorite route to a younger feeling when vacationing on the Island?

Sanibel: a star gazers delight

When trying to describe the beauties and benefits of vacationing on Sanibel Island, there are the obvious ones and then the not so obvious ones.

The Island is a calm, serene place to be sure, but it is also a very dark place at night.

These black velvet skies present a major opportunity, if you are celestially inclined, and that is star-gazing. The City of Sanibel has a dark skies policy so that there is minimal ambient light. Being off shore, with a beach that is oriented to the Gulf, the island has heavenly night sky views. You may well wonder where all those stars came from, or where they were hiding when you were home.

Walking out of your condo or house, the glitter above you is quite astonishing. It is a picture you may never have seen, and the picture frame, towering palms, is nearly as lovely as the picture itself.

In addition to the silver twinkles, in the winter season if you gaze upward to the night sky and look to the east in the early evening, you should see a bright reddish object. This object that might look like a bright red star is actually Mars, the fourth planet out from our Sun.

In Roman mythology, the bright red planet signifies energy, ardor and aggression. They referred to it as "the little evil one" and it represented the God of fire and war. The earliest recorded naming of Mars is credited to ancient Babylonians - 6,000 years ago - who called Mars Negral, their deity of Fire, War and destruction. Greeks also called Mars Pyroeis, meaning fiery. In Hindu Mythology Mars is known as Mangala. Ancient Egyptians referred to Mars as Horus the Red while Hebrews labeled Mars as Ma'adim, "the one who blushes." One of the largest canyons on Mars is today classified as Ma'adim Vallis. Ancient Chinese called Mars the Fire Star, a name based on the ancient mythological cycle of five elements.

Today, science often trumps mythology and mystery, but as you gaze upward at the night sky try to see the objects above you through the eyes of ancient cultures. Let your imagination go, enjoy the spectacles, the colors and the magic.

And one of the nicest things about Sanibel is that there is an expert right on Island who can steer you in the right direction when it comes to star-gazing. Richard Finkel is an Environmental Educator with Captiva Cruises and conducts educational programs including the Sailing Under the Stars Cruise. Comments or questions can be addressed to captivacruises@info.com.

There is a whole world above you on Sanibel just waiting to be explored.

A Sampling of Summer Fun on Sanibel

The crowds are gone.

The Gulf is warm.

The prices are down.

There are many reasons to visit Sanibel in summer, and paramount among them are the number of great things to do on Island during June, July and August.

Of course the usual fare is still available. You can swim and sun and collect shells, bird watch, boat and bike to your heart's content. And there are also some wonderfully entertaining and educational ways to spend your and your family's time as well.

Summer "camp" at the Sanibel Sea School promises to offer hoots, hollers and cheers with their menu of offerings. Frogfish Week begins on May 28. And if you were wondering, here is a brief description of a frogfish which is the object of study: "Its body is lumpy and can change colors to match its surroundings. Although it is a fish, it walks around the bottom slowly on its pectoral fins." There is also Dolphin Week, Shrimp Week, Manatee Week and several others to bring a smile of delight to the whole family.


And speaking of camps and an abundance of activity, rarely is there a dull moment at the Sanibel Recreation Center.


The Sanibel Recreation Department “Summer Day Camp” is a traditional ten week day camp which will run from Tuesday, May 29th through Friday, August 3rd. Summer Camp is offered to children entering grades first through eighth and will operate Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on all days except Wednesday, July 4th. Campers will participate in activities such as swimming, arts and crafts and athletics, as well as, a variety of games. Special guests along with an enhanced field trip itinerary will also be a part of the action.


Last but not least, with support from the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge (DDWS), the refuge is offering five free education programs this year. No pre-registration is necessary:

Reading at the Refuge, every Monday and Friday at 11 a.m. in the Education Lab: Attendees of each 45-minute reading-and-crafts session will receive a free Nature Journal (one to each child) in which to record their impressions of their refuge visit and future nature encounters.

Indigo Trail Hike, every Tuesday at 10 a.m.: Join refuge naturalists as they lead a one-hour tour identifying and discussing the ecosystem’s plants, animals, birds, and reptiles - fun for adults and children alike. Bring water and bug spray. Meet at the flagpole in front of the Education Center.

Refuge Caravan Tour, every Wednesday and Saturday at 9:30 a.m.: Ride along on a car caravan tour of the refuge’s Wildlife Drive. This 90-minute tour highlights the natural wonders of the unique mangrove ecosystem and the wildlife that call it home. Meet at the flagpole in front of the Education Center.

NEW!! Natural Wonders, every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday at 1 p.m.: What makes a bird a bird? Why is a manatee called a sea cow? Is it a crocodile or alligator? Find the answers to these questions and more as you join a naturalist in exploring the refuge’s unique ecosystem. Geared for adults and children, this 30-minute program meets in the Education Center Lab.

Family Beach Walk, every Thursday at 9 a.m.: Back by popular demand and in partnership with the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum, the program convenes at Gulfside Park for a one-hour exploration of the refuge’s gulf-front Perry Tract. (City parking fees apply.)

A Walk Down Memory Lane on Sanibel

Although we did not know Sanibel, pre-causeway (1963)----the biggest influencing factor in the evolvement of the Island---we have known it long enough to gather some great memories.

We share these with you in the hopes you may share some of your own.

Our first big recollection was the creation of Jerry's supermarket. 

Jerry Paulsen, founder of Jerry's Foods in Edina, Minnesota worked during four of his winter vacations to get a supermarket built on the island. Having wintered at the popular "snowbird" getaway for 10 years, Jerry had long seen a need for a grocery store in the area. The public, which questioned in 1983 whether the new store would change the island's character, recently named the Jerry's "Best Grocery Store on the Island." The 27,000 square foot supermarket had many features unique to the area but similar to Jerry's other stores in Minnesota. News articles went into great detail about the unheard of practice of drive-up parcel pickup.

Jerry's in Sanibel, in turn, has many features unheard of in Minnesota. The store is built on stilts 13 feet above ground level because of frequent flooding by tropical storms. Although more expensive than the typical waterproofing construction, the stilts offer the side benefit of underground parking.

The out-of-state location can sell wine, which is prohibited in Minnesota. And it does offer a sizable section of tanning aids and snacks than the Edina store - for those folks who do golf, walk along the beach and relax during their vacations. 

Another milestone was the creation of the award winning Sanibel Library.  Built in 1994, less than three miles from the Gulf of Mexico, Sanibel's Public Library has the distinction of being Forida's first library constructed to withstand 155 mph winds.  Knowing the risks of being so close to the hurricane-prone Gulf of Mexico, library administrators hired engineers to calculate the wind loads and document design specifications to withstand those loads.  When library officials decided to expand the original structure in 2003, they maintained proactive engineering for the addition and used the same architectural firm to match the Category 5 standards of the original design.

Though the creation of both the old causeway and the building of the new causeway have had a major impact on Sanibel, having two great grocery stores (Jerry's and Bailey's) right on Island and an outstanding library make the island a great place to live and vacation.

Feet with the Beat on Sanibel Island

Not long ago, we wrote a blog post on pampering your pooch while visiting the Island.  Now we are going to make some suggestions as to how to pamper your other "dogs"...the ones you walk, dance and stand on.

For a tiny, tropical island, it is quite impressive that there are so many ways you can cater to your feet, making them feel and look better.

For a start, there are the various shoe shops on the Island, many of them unique.

Begin your shoe hunt at Footloose Sandals and Shoes, with a location on both Sanibel and Captiva. This one-stop island outfitter boasts the largest selection of fashion and functional footwear. Bring the family for a host of wonderful brands including Reef, Teva, Sperry, Crocs, NAOT and many more sought-after selections. They also carry a wide array of beach socks for shell seekers and beachcombers.

Are you more the Ugg type?  Then you might want to take a look at Synergy, located in the Tahitian Gardens. 

At Sanibel Sole, also in the Tahitian Gardens, you will find a wide variety of walking and beach wear, including the popular Chaco Sandals by Chaco, Inc. featuring the Devotee Gunnison, Enigma Yampa, Enigma Vibram Yampa, Irony and Irony.   Yampa lines carry the Seal of Acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical Association.  Chaco flip flops such as the Ecotread and the Flip Ecotread also provide good arch support. Chaco sandals feature soft polyester adjustable straps that maintain a consistent fit, providing durability and comfort in addition to arch support.

But our personal and emotional  favorite of the many stores offering food wear is Rinaldis' Fashion Shoes on Palm Ridge Road.  The merchandise is aesthetically appealing, as is the individualized attention from the owner.  A variety of pretty sandals and casual foot wear can be found and tried on, many designs from Spain and Italy.

And speaking of personal favorites, though there are several nail salons and  beauty parlors on the Island, there is one that has decidedly caught our imagination, though we have not yet tried it.  Called the Spatini Teabar and located on Periwinkle Way, this trendy delicacy offers "Nail-tinis" ranging from "Man-tini's" to Teeny Winis.  And all their enticing services include complimentary Iced Tea, hot tea, beer or wine.

Water front dining on Sanibel? Absolutely!

For a small island that is largely a nature preserve, there is an abundance of places to eat on Sanibel Island. There is fine dining, casual dining and even fast dining. But on that last, there is really only one that qualifies as fast food, our local Dairy Queen, though no drive through!



But the one question we get most often is where can you eat on the water?



The answer is easy, but not obvious.



The Gulf of Mexico is not dotted with commercial enterprises as you might find in other vacation destinations. There are no direct waterfront public breakfast restaurants on the Sanibel-Captiva Islands corridor, so a beach breakfast picnic is a most scenic start to the day. There are some gulf front condo complexes, but restaurants, cafes, and shops are largely located in the interior of Sanibel and on neighboring Captiva. That keeps the Gulf a much more pristine environment, and throws the challenge to the visitor to find water front dining.




So we will take the mystery out of the search and list a few of the places you might want to consider for lunch or dinner with a brief description of what you will find at each:




Gramma Dots- This is one of the unique places you don't want to miss and it is open for lunch and dinner. This very casual restaurant is located in the middle of the docks at the Sanibel Marina. The sides of the restaurant are open, leaving just the screened walls between you and the boats. Known for excellent seafood. Has water views of the marina harbor and outdoor dining is available outside the screens. It's a little tricky to find because from Periwinkle you turn down a residential sidestreet, so check a map before you go! (and keep in mind, it is open for dinner but like most restaurants on Sanibel, dinner hour ends on the early side)




The Green Flash Restaurant- Cross the bridge joining Sanibel Island with Captiva Island, glide around the big curve on Captiva Drive, and visitors to the Sanibel-Captiva Islands are led straight into the The Green Flash Restaurant. Delicious lunch and dinner choices are offered in both indoor and outdoor dining areas with perfect waterfront views of the Roosevelt Channel and Pine Island Sound.



Traditions on the Beach has been completely renovated! They have added a full bar and lounge area. We also updated our menu and dining area. These updates are only enhanced further by Traditions on the Beach’s wonderful Gulf view. Dinner selections include fresh fish, choice meats and savory poultry prepared to delight the most discerning palates. Breakfast and dinner are open to the public. Dinner dress code is casual… after all, this is Sanibel.



Thistle Lodge at Casa Ybel Resort Arguably, the most elegant of the water front eateries,the Thistle Lodge http://thistlelodge.com/ is not a stand alone. It is the jewel in the crown of a water front resort. At the Thistle Lodge, delicious cuisine is served in a historical setting overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Swaying palms and gently breaking waves further set the scene for romance.


The Sunset Grill
Though not directly water front, the Sunset Grill does offer breakfast as well as lunch and dinner. And the breakfasts are no ordinary ham and eggs, to be sure. A look at the breakfast menu will have you craving for something special, like the Key Lime Pie French Toast: A thick sourdough bread, dipped in sweetened condensed milk and a fresh keylime egg wash, rolled in Graham cracker crumbs and grilled. Served with a creme of coconut sauce and fresh sliced strawberries. CRAB AND SPINACH Omelet: (All omelette's made with three eggs and served with hash browns and whole wheat toast) Blue crab meat with fresh spinach and Swiss cheese Extra special: The Sunset Grill is open 7 days a week.



And if the above is not sufficient, there are several water front restaurants on Captiva as well, including The Green Flash, The Mucky Duck and Old Captiva House.

It's A Jungle Out There: A trip to the Zoo from Sanibel

Now a lot of people will ask, why travel off island to go to the Naples Zoo when there is so much wild life on Sanibel living, well, in the wild.

And certainly no one can contest the fact that an Island that is largely a nature preserve does not offer ample sightings of birds and other creatures.

But we do love the Naples Zoo for its wonderful work in helping to preserve species from around the world without taking them out of their natural habitat. The Zoo only takes in animals that other Zoos and wild life refuges can not care for. And the Zoo is dedicated to educating its human guests and treating its non human guests with great dignity.

So we do support the basic concept and premise of the Zoo, and we have to admit, we do enjoy its environment as well as 4 legged residents.

To begin with, only a 50 minute drive from Sanibel, the Zoo really does provide an atmosphere reminiscent of Tarzan movies. It is not a large zoo, but is beautifully landscaped complete with towering tropical flora and charming koi ponds that are crossed with wooden bridges. The feeling is lush and a bit wild.

And as one walks through the zoo, the calls of the big cats and black bears can be heard echoing through the "wilderness". It is always a treat to see the activity at feeding time and a delight when new babies join the adults. Such is the case with the lovely Fosas, a rare predator from Madagascar who now have some adorable and playful cubs. Come and watch them scamper through the trees and leap with the greatest of ease. And the Naples Zoo is the only Zoo in Florida where you can have the opportunity to view Fosas!

And while we love the big cats (lions, tigers, panthers and leopards alike), we greatly enjoyed watching the chimpanzees play on their own Island. Boats navigate a small lake that passes by the chimp island and the viewing is greatly entertaining.

But I must confess to a keen infatuation with a silent large animal that graces the Naples Zoo, the gentle and bashful giraffe. These long lashed beauties are so gentle, you can truly view them up close and personal. And now, for the first time ever in Naples, you can hand-feed the new herd of seven reticulated giraffe at Naples Zoo. You get an incredible view as the world’s tallest animals lean down to nibble fresh veggies out of your hand. For a $5 fee, you'll receive a serving of tasty giraffe treats from Wynn's Market. It's an experience you won't forget.

In fact, when you get right down to it, the Naples Zoo in its entirety is an experience you won't forget!