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Travel Information:
South Seas Resort:
Reservations: 1.800.965.7772
Click HERE and visit the Website:
Captiva Cruises:
Reservations: 941.472.5300
Sample cruises:
Island Beach and Shelling Cruise: Adults $35 Children $17.50
Cabbage Key or Useppa Island Cruise: Adults $27.50 Children: $15
Learn more about Lee Island Coast:
Lee Rose 1.800.237.6444
Clyde Butcher tour and museum
Telephone: 888.999.9113
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Welcome to Lee Island Coast,
home of dolphins, alligators and manatee.
When I arrived at Ft Myers airport, the closest airport to Captiva Island, my first destination, I didn’t know what to expect.
What was there for one to do, without a theme park within spitting distance? Lee Rose, from the Lee Island Coast Convention bureau and Rachel Braye Styles of Visit Florida, had my answer – plenty.
While at the South Seas Resort in Captiva, one of the finest beach resorts on the island, you can scour the beaches for some of the most beautiful seashells ever seen.
Captiva is where true shell collectors come to indulge their passion. Here they find a selection that includes everything from the Sunray Venus to the Calico Scallop, and their passion is well satisfied.
One has to be careful though. Lee Island coast is stringent in its protection of wild life. Only dead shells can be collected. Any shell that has a creature still living inside must be put back. Mr. Rose stressed this by pointing out that the latest offender had been fined over $5000.
For those of you with children, there is a wonderful kids club at the South Seas Resort, that entertains as well as educates children on the local sea and wild life. Your kids can learn about and compare the shells they collect with the ones available at the center.
There is also a wonderful aquarium that they can view and learn the names of the different fish that inhabit this area. And finally they can participate in group events from outdoor sports to indoor crab races.
The entire facility is accessible, plus if you call ahead and let them know of any special needs that your child may have, they will put together activities specially geared toward their abilities.
As to the actual resort, it has several accessible rooms, with wheel in showers and well placed bars. They are all decorated beautifully, in relaxing colors. With the amount of activities available at this resort though you probably won’t be spending much time there. From the activities center for kids, to kayaks, powerboats, wave runners, fishing gear and much much more, your days will be filled with excitement and enjoyment.
Not enough to do?
Take your family on a jaunt aboard Captiva Cruises, which has a ramp for boarding. The lower level is accessible, although there didn’t appear to be a way up to the second level without using the stairs. The view is still incredible from this lower level, and as an added perk, that area is air conditioned.
| Don't miss the cruise to Useppa Island. This is a private island that hosts one of the finest history museums in the country, dedicated to the Bay of Pigs Invasion. |
During my second day I had an experience that filled me with awe, thanks to Captiva Cruises. As we sailed along toward Useppa Island the captain motioned for me to look toward the back of the boat.
There, jumping happily behind us, was a family of dolphins. Apparently
their hearing is so acute that they can tell when families are talking or
whistling from above board. They then come up and greet you by jumping and
splashing through any waves that the boat leaves behind.
Seeing those glistening, smiling faces jumping after us made me realize that,
after living in Florida for almost eleven years, I had missed what it was truly
about. These animals revel in their environment. They splash and play in a way
that I haven’t in years.
In that heart-stopping moment I understood why Captiva and Sannibel Islands are so stringent in their rules.
There is only one gas station on the island and almost no fast food. All construction is done with the strictest care so that the ecology is preserved.
Even the native plant life is preserved by weeding out foreign plants.
It is no wonder that the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge was created on Sannibel Island, just a couple of miles away. With over 6400 acres, this refuge is dedicated to preserving wildlife, maintaining the environment and researching ways to bring back nearly extinct populations of endangered species. Here you can see everything from the red eyes vireo to the American alligator.
Tours operate Saturday to Thursday from sunrise to sunset. You can ride bicycles, walk, canoe, and bird watch.
Low tide is the best time to tour and get an incredible view of local wildlife. The park and museum are both handicapped accessible and the watch towers, where you can go up and birdwatch are being torn down and rebuilt with ramps.
Do you have a little extra time and nerves of steel?
Drive out to the Big Cypress Gallery, located in Ochopee, Florida. Here you will see some of Clyde Butcher’s internationally renowned photographs of the Florida Everglades, which range in size from 16x20 inches to 5x9 feet.
Plus, if you happen to be traveling during Labor Day, Mr. Butcher will take you out personally, for one of his infamous swamp tours. This isn’t on a boat, folks.
You actually walk through the swamp with Mr. Butcher to some of the very spots where he takes his magnificent photos.
This year Mr. Butcher has agreed to begin taking individuals with some disabilities out on his swamp walk. If you can use crutches, there may be an opportunity for you to participate. Check out his website for more info: http://www.clydebutcher.com
Caterina Christakos is an accomplished actress and model. In addition to
starring in the feature film