October 03rd, 2018

This past Sunday we decided to head on down to Sanibel Island.  No particular reason, just felt like a good day to check it out.  We had heard much of it's shell strewn beaches and that it had more than a few fun museums.  As there was nothing else on our Sunday agenda, off we went.

It was a pretty day for a drive anyway and not too much traffic so we filled the roughly two hour trip by admiring things out the window, giggling at funny and clever license plates, and searching wet areas for 'gators.  Apparently that is a car game in Florida, 'Seek-a-gator'.  I read the interesting parts of the Sunday newspaper out loud to us both which then diverted us into other conversations and by now it should be obvious to you that we are both easily amused.  The time and the miles passed quickly.

Eventually, we followed the signs up and over a big bridge to Sanibel.  Once arrived, we followed the signs to the 'Historic Village and Museum'.  The signage was great! We found it with no problem.  And if it wasn't closed for the season, I'm sure we would have enjoyed it tremendously.  Dang.  Closed for the season.  That didn't even dawn on me as a possibility.  I mean here on Venice Island, nothing is closed for the season.  Well okay, wait. That isn't true.  There is one jewelry store on Venice Avenue that hangs a 'Gone Fishin' sign up at the beginning of every summer and doesn't take it down again until  October.  But otherwise, we are open for business.

Well Ratz.  That was one of the things we really wanted to visit. Oh well, change of plans. Be Flexible.  Off we go then to one of the other things we really wanted to see,  the Shell Museum!  Set GPS and head out.  AAANNNDDD.....Also closed.  Dang again. So now what?  Well as is our way, it slowed us down but it didn't stop us.  We just drove around the island and checked it out.  Lots of restaurants and shops.  Lots of houses.  Lots of beach access points although most of them had parking specific to residents and required some sort of sticker.  Lots of parks and preserves and honestly if it hadn't been so very hot and humid out, we would have hiked some trails. But alas, we did not come prepared for that.  We were museum dressed, not hiking dressed.

And then we found the lighthouse!  Awesome!  I do love me a lighthouse!  Of course this lighthouse looking nothing like traditional New England lighthouses with which I am far more familiar, but it is still, no question about it a lighthouse. And that is always a treat.  We checked out the pier first and then the beach.  There were indeed a lots of shell on the beach but none of them were particularly remarkable although I found a beautiful piece of driftwood and managed to restrain myself and not bring it home.  I am so proud of me ;)

Once we had our fill of walking on the beach, we drove the island loop once more just for fun and headed home.  Over all we determined that Sanibel Island was lovely.  Very pretty, very nicely appointed, great signage, loads of eating options, clean beaches, and some interesting things to do (when they are open).  Here are some of the things we saw ;)

We had a great time.  But then, we always do :)  And you know what, we have checked out a lot of beach towns since we lived here.  And every single time, no matter how cute or charming the the other towns are, no matter how much fun we have and how much we enjoyed ourselves, we are still glad that we chose Venice Island as our new home.  Isn't that nice :)

Here you go, Tim and I enjoying our visit to Sanibel Island.  Byebye Sanibel, we had a good time