Sanibel & Captiva Islands

Anne Morrow Lindberg wrote "A Gift from the Sea" when she was living on Captiva Island.  It has always been one of our favorite beaches for finding shells.  However, when we rode the motorcycle on Monday, we decided to spend most of our time at the "Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge" on Sanibel Island.

We saw this fat otter waddling along the side of US 41 between Punta Gorda and Ft Myers.  As soon as we slowed down to try to get a picture, he dove into the jungle.

We took McGregor Blvd through Fort Myers.  It is a really lovely ride with the entire boulevard lined with palm trees.  We passed the Thomas Edison and Henry Ford winter estates but decided to tour them another day.

Sanibel Island in the distance as we approached the toll booth where we paid $2 for our motorcycle.

The causeway that connects Sanibel and Captiva Islands to the mainland is dotted with beautiful parks,

where people swim, fish, parasail, and build sand castles all through the winter.

The refuge has a four mile drive that is best enjoyed on a motorcycle.  The smells of the Mangrove swamp and the sights can be enjoyed as you make the leisurely drive through the refuge.

In several places, we were treated to clusters of a variety of birds.

About midway on the drive, we stopped and took a hike along the dike between two islands.  

A bridge connects Captiva Island to Sanibel Island.

Final stop, the beach at Captiva Island.