Most of our vacations are planned around races or rides, but this time we decided to plan a quiet and restful trip.
Sanibel Island off of the Gulf Coast of Florida was the perfect place. Aside from great lodging and the beautiful beach at
The Song of the Sea, we found some wonderful restaurants with
Grandma Dot's being our favorite (especially their homemade Key Lime Pie).
 |
| Grandma Dot's |
Along with all of these pleasures, the highlight of this trip for me was the incredible wildlife we got to see at the J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge and on the beach. Our first afternoon found us on Wildlife Drive where we spotted jumping Mullet, Wood Storks, a Roseate Spoonbill surrounded by Willets, countless other birds and an alligator sunning itself along the edge of the road. Did I mention that they can run as fast as 25mph........yikes!
 |
| Roseate Spoonbill with Willets |
 |
| Gator! |
A sunset cruise lead by Tarpon Bay Explorers was a great way to end our second day there as we saw hundreds of ibis, brown pelicans roosting for the evening, osprey, egrets, cormorants, herons, horseshoe crabs and manatee (well, manatee noses that is) and a great sunset over the bay!
 |
| Horseshoe Crabs |
 |
| Brown Pelicans roosting |
 |
| Brown Pelicans and Ibis roosting |
 |
| Double Crested Cormorant |
 |
| Sunset over Tarpon Bay |
The beach is a mix of super soft white sand and more seashells than you can imagine. We were also treated to daily shows by shore birds, pelicans, bald eagles and osprey that kept us smiling.
 |
| Royal Tern |
 |
| Brown Pelicans in flight |
 |
| Snowy Plover |
 |
| Black Skimmer |
 |
| Willet |
 |
| Least Sandpiper |
 |
| Sanderling |
The next morning we were back at the Preserve for a guided kayak tour with Tarpon Bay Explorers. The tour began in Tarpon Bay and passed through mangrove forests along the Commodore Creek Water Trail. What a truly incredible experience! We were treated to great views of Little Blue Herons, Cormorants, Anhingas, a Roseate Spoonbill dancing around with a Tri Colored Heron, a Black Crowned Night Heron and a Yellow Crowned Night Heron that looked sound asleep while drying his wings!! We got so close that we were afraid we would bump into him! (Please forgive the poor quality of a few of the photos-the lighting wasn't always the best.) Luckily we missed the mangrove snake that a few people saw in the water with us!!
 |
| Little Blue Heron |
 |
| Anhinga |
 |
| Along the water trail |
 |
| Double Crested Cormorant drying his wings |
 |
| Roseate Spoonbill on mangrove roots |
 |
| Tri Colored Heron and Roseate Spoonbill feeding |
 |
| Yellow Crowned Night Heron |
 |
| Yellow Crowned Night heron |
 |
This is the life!!
|
A few rides on the tandem for dinner and ice cream or to the historic Sanibel Lighthouse, some long walks and a swim in the bay were just enough to balance out the lazy afternoons reading on the beach, sleeping in and time at the pool and hot tub. Throw in a walk at sunrise and a dash to catch the sunset and you have a great vacation!
 |
| Sanibel Island Light |
 |
| Snowy Egret |
 |
| Sunrise and Pelican facing Fort Meyers |
 |
| Sunset at Bowman's Beach footbridge |
We saw many signs throughout the island that cautioned "Gopher Tortoise Crossing". Each time we were out on the roads we would carefully scan ahead and to the sides watching for these creatures. On our last morning there, we took the tandem out for one last spin. When we reached the driveway to our inn we were greeted by the mighty Gopher Tortoise or so we thought!! (That's not me holding him-it was a worker that happened by)
 |
| I think it is actually a baby Florida Box Turtle |
I highly recommend Sanibel Island to anyone looking for a quiet getaway filled with some of the best nature has to offer. Pack light, bring a good book and relax!!
