Fort Myers Journals

Fun in the Sun

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A May 2007 trip to Fort Myers by Jaysour

Quote: Our family took some time to visit the areas in and around Fort Myers, Florida.

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Fun in the Sun

Overview

Quote:

The plane took off early in the morning and the kids were still half asleep as we took aim for the Florida sun, Fort Myers Beach to be exact. It was what this Midwestern family needed. Sun, sea, and sand to make it complete. Our vacation held home base at the GullWing Beach Resort located on Fort Myers Beach. The resort offered spacious condo-like settings with a kitchen, bedrooms, living room, dining room, and even a small bar area. It worked very well with our family having two small children. It allowed them to move around instead of being cramped in little hotel room.We took to the wonderful beaches of both Fort Myers and Sanibel. Th...Read More

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Gullwing Resort

Hotel

Quote:

The Gullwing Beach Resort is located on Fort Myers Beach with perfect access to the large, expansive Fort Myers Beach. Bring your walking shoes. The beach is a nice little jaunt from the resort, but it is such a nice walk with white sand as far as you can see.Needless to say Gullwing made the trip a home away from home with all the facilities you may need. We were able to use the kitchen to cook meals, so bring your own food. Everything else you needed was provided such as utensils, plates, pots, pans, bowls, etc. The washer and dryer did its job like a champ. Some complimentary soaps, dete...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on May 23, 2007

Gullwing Resort
6620 Estero Boulevard
Fort Myers Beach
(888) 627-1595

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Great White Grill

Restaurant

Quote:

Before our trip to Boman's Beach on Sanibel Island, we had to stop and refuel the gas tanks for us and the kids. Driving around we found a kind of whole in the wall little pub/bar and grill place called the Great White Grill . Up close it just seemed like a place to grab a bite but the food was surprisingly good and fast. With two small children who wanted to get to the beach, this was a good thing.My wife and I both got the Sanibel Salad which has grilled chicken, walnuts, garden greens (not the iceberg kind), and great vinaigret...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on May 23, 2007

Great White Grill
2440 Palm Ridge Road
Sanibel Island, Florida

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Pincher's Crab Shack

Restaurant

Quote:

Back from a morning at the SeaShell factory, everyone was starving especially for some seafood. We had seen Pinchers on the first day of vacation and I kept a mental note of that.We stopped in and it was not very crowded. We were seated promptly at a table. I ordered the Mahi Mahi lightly breaded, baked, and served with coleslaw and fries. The fish was very good and not fishy tasting at all. My wife ordered the grilled shrimp, seasoned with Old Bay Seasoning. She is very finicky about seafood and she thought the shrimp were excellent....Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on May 23, 2007

Pincher's Crab Shack
18100 San Carlos Blvd.
Fort Myers, Florida 33931
(239) 415-8973

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Beaches (General)

Attraction | "Sanibel Beaches"

Quote:

We drove early across the Sanibel Causeway ($6 to cross) with dreams of seashells dancing in everyone's heads. It truly was our goal for the day. To gather our booty of seashells.We drove throughout the island, making turn after turn in hopes of running into a beach access point. Finally after several turns we came upon a dirty road that pointed the way to the beaches of Sanibel. The funny thing is that we still do not know what part of the beach this was called. Maybe someday we will find out.The beaches are beautiful on Sanibel and the shells are everywhere. We walked close to a mile down the beach and shells were just about everywhere. It was so much fun watching the ...Read More

We drove early across the Sanibel Causeway ($6 to cross) with dreams of seashells dancing in everyone's heads. It truly was our goal for the day. To gather our booty of seashells.

We drove throughout the island, making turn after turn in hopes of running into a beach access point. Finally after several turns we came upon a dirty road that pointed the way to the beaches of Sanibel. The funny thing is that we still do not know what part of the beach this was called. Maybe someday we will find out.

The beaches are beautiful on Sanibel and the shells are everywhere. We walked close to a mile down the beach and shells were just about everywhere. It was so much fun watching the family look and look for shells of any kind. And the shells were beautiful as well as colorful. It truly is the seashell capital of the United States.

After amassing a large amount of shells we shoved off to one of the popular public beaches on Sanibel, Boman Beach. Now bring your walking shoes because the beach is a good 3/4 mile from the parking lot. Showers and bathrooms are available along the way.

Once we entered the beach, it was beautiful, with the water warm and the sand white, the kids had a blast making sand castles and splashing in the Gulf of Mexico. The beach is so large it can accommodate a large amount of beach goers so no need to worry about being crowded on this beach.

Not only were there shells and swimming but the kids went crazy over the wildlife. Of course the herons paraded up and down the beach but we also saw some other interesting things. We saw the shell remains of a horseshoe crab and a small hermit crab made its way down the beach. But the strangest of all had to be the multitude of millipedes on the walk to Boman Beach. I had never seen so many walking along the path in my life. It was quite a site to see.

We picked up our things, seashells in hand as large storm clouds started to roll into the small island. It was a good end to a great day at the beach.

Note: There were several other beach access parks that we were not able to see due to time constraints. Also there is a large nature reserve, J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, on Sanibel that might be of interest. A lot of good things have been made of it however nap time called for our youngest and it was time to head to the condo. Sanibel has a lot to offer. A must visit when in Southwest Florida. Read Less

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on May 23, 2007

Beaches (General)

Sanibel Island, Florida

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Shell Factory

Attraction

Quote:

The Shell Factory was a morning excursion that took quite a bit of time to get to from Fort Myers Beach. I'm not sure if it was worth the drive.It seems to have aged and I assume it has been around for quite some time. The center is a large complex similar to a western town in layout only. Once you enter the main building that changes. Packed in this long, gymnasium looking building is every shop you can think off the top of your head. Jewelry, T-shirts, hats, glass blowing (Yes, I said glass blowing), trinkets, stuffed animals, refreshments, post office, and of course shells, and lots of the...Read More

Member Rating 2 out of 5 on May 23, 2007

Shell Factory
2787 North Tamiami Trail
Fort Myers, Florida 33903
(941) 995-2141

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Universal Studios Florida

Attraction | "Universal Studios - Florida"

Quote:

Orlando was not a short drive from Fort Myers, it was a good 3.5 hour drive. But we could not pass up the opportunity to spend the day at Universal Studios in Orlando. It began early as we left Fort Myers Beach for Orlando around 6:15am. With both youngsters groggy-eyed we pulled onto the road in search of fun for the whole family. 3.5 hours later we pulled into the massive parking structure just outside Universal Studios. Only a maze of moving walkways separated us from fun.Since we purchased electronic tickets we went straight to the ticketing machine, entered confirmati...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on May 23, 2007

Universal Studios Florida
1000 Universal Studios Plaza
Orlando, Florida 32819
(407) 363 8000

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About the Writer

Jaysour
Maryville, Illinois

"Happily married with two wonderful children. I do enjoy traveling and do try to have one excursion..."
11 journals
132 photos
39 reviews

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Fort Myers Journals

Fun in the Sun

Fun in the Sun

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Gullwing Resort

Great White Grill

Pincher's Crab Shack

Beaches (General)

Shell Factory

Universal Studios Florida

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