Passing the Toll Bridge to Sanibel Island.

Almost there!! After almost 4 hours drive from Orlando FL, before you get to Sanibel Island there is a toll bridge of $6 that connects to the island. Once we passed the bridge we wanted to visit the lighthouse that is on the eastern tip of the island. We found our way around, we parked, ready to explore the lighthouse, by the way the parking is $2 dollars. The 120 year old lighthouse also have access to the beach, a little detail that I didn’t know until we got there.

Check this link out! It has the history of the lighthouse, very interesting. I always like to know at least a little bit of the places I go, specially if am writing something about it.

We decided it to take a look at the beach by the lighthouse, that was not in our plans because I didn’t know that the lighthouse had access to the beach. Below you can see the bridge we passed minutes ago, this view is from the tip of the island..

The views were pretty but the water wasn’t very inviting, at least not enough to make us wanted to stay. It looks to me like a wide open bay, not that intimate, peaceful look, the one we that we were looking for. But it was ok, because our plans were to go to Bowmans Beach Regional Park. Racing with the heat we got to the car again for 30 more minutes drive to our new destination, hoping that we could get as soon as possible to the refreshing waters of the gulf.

It is funny when you realize that a little bit information and research of a place you want to visit could make the experience completely different. I wanted to visit Sanibel Island but I didn’t do much research about it. I looked at the map and I only saw Bowmans Beach Regional Park as the only beach identified as a beach on the map, so, that was enough for me. I didn’t complicate my life digging into it.

Thirty minutes later, like always we decided to take a look at the beach first before getting the stuff out of the car. We like to study the area to see where we could make our little temporary resting nest. We started to walk through a trail, we followed the sign and kept walking, then the restrooms, more signs, then a wooden trail, and then a bridge that goes over fresh water… We looked at each other wondering how much longer we had to walk to get to the beach. Later I found out that the walk from the parking to the beach is .25 miles. When we finally reach the beach we saw a nice view, not too many people, the water it was inviting and look very refreshing. I don’t know if it was the heat that it was driving us crazy but we all wanted to get in the water. The only problem was that we had to walk all the way back to the parking to get our stuff and walk back to the beach. At the end of the day we walked one whole mile just going back and forth to and from the beach. 🙂

Later on, once we were back home I found this website that list and describe all the beaches that Sanible Island have. I wish I had found it earlier, but here I have it to share it with you. SanibelTrails.com

The Funny Part of This Story!

Once we were settle, that we already enjoyed the warm water of the gulf, play and talk with the kids we sat under our umbrella to relax and read. My son Jay went for a run and my daughter, Jorge and me were ready to read each of us our own things. When suddenly Jorge tells me with a calm/hysterical voice:

Jorge: A shark! There is a shark! (I look at him, and I said)

Me: Jorge stop! That is not funny you could scare people!

Jorge: I am not kidding! I saw something on the water…

Me: It could be a dolphin, let me see.

I started to pay attention to the water, when I saw it!!!! I took my camara and run to the shore to recorded. Here is the video! Take a look! While I ran to the shore, I looked back saying… “Oh Jorge!”

View over the wooden bridge that takes you to the beach.

Next day we wanted to visit another beach on our way back home, I looked at the map and my eyes stop at Manasota Beach. After breakfast, we set the GPS to that direction, it was one hour drive. First thing, the parking is free!!! And there is plenty of it. Second, it was only 2 minutes walk or less, third there is live guard, (for those that like to feel secure) . Also had nice bathrooms, gazebos, and the best thing it wasn’t crowded. The water was nice and warm, the day was beautiful, the sand didn’t have as much shells as Bowman’s Beach. It was perfect! The wild blue yonder and the clouds were decorating the skies giving us a soothing view.

There is nothing better that have a calm and relaxing view, listening to the hypnotizing pattern of the waves, a book and all the people you love the most there with you.

Late in the afternoon we packed our things and headed back home…