Every year I take a week long vacation with a group of women that always includes my sister, daughter, and best friend from high school, who is my daughter's Godmother. One of our favorite places is the Sanibel, Captiva Island area of Florida. To get there, you fly into Fort Myers (RSM Airport), drive about a half hour, cross a toll bridge and you're in a tropical paradise. When we go there, we never cross back over the bridge until it's time to go home.
This year we are in a spacious three bedroom rental at Captiva Shores, which is toward to end of Captiva, a short walk from the village with all of the shops, restaurants and even a Starbucks Our unit is right on the channel and I advise that, if you look for a condo here or somewhere nearby, you ask if it is right on the channel or beach because I would have hated to be in that back row with a view of the cars of the people with the good scenery.
From our oversized screened porch, we have a view of boats coming and going, pelicans and cranes flying and a huge Ospra nest (a constant drama with the parents defending their young from pelican attacks. Yesterday we saw three dolphins right outside our place. Today we watched an otter raid our neighbor's baid bucket that was hanging from the dock.
When we want a change, we walk three minutes from our unit, pass the pool, cross the road and we are on the Gulf of Mexico walking long sandy beaches for miles and diving in and out of the crashing waves of the Gulf of Mexico.
What to bring in your Wise Pack travel purse to Captiva:
1. Sunscreen. It's tropical there. We always stock up on Ocean Potion at Jerry's (the best grocery store in Sanibel) on our way by. It's great- smells like Orange Cremesicles. Note: I just read an article that advises women to get 20 minutes of sun before they apply sunscreen so they can absorb some vitamin D into their bodies. Before you abstain, check it out for yourself.
2. Camera. Put one in the outside pocket so it's handy for those 'nature moments'.
3. Hat or visor and sunglasses. That sun is fierce, but does it feel great after a long Minnesota winter.
4. Binoculars. Get a small pair and leave them in your Wise Pack. I wished I have a set every hour or so that we've been here so far.
A last Captiva hint. In my opinion, the water that comes out of the tap tastes horrible! So, while you're at Jerry's get lots of big bottles of water.
Next time: Comparing Sanibel to Captiva
We usually stay in one of the many condos on Sanibel right on the Gulf. We are having an ongoing debate about which is best. Tomorrow I'll share the pros and cons of each.
