Happy Anniversary to US!

16 years!!

we went down to Sanibel Island for a couple days

about 50 miles south of us and just west of where my parents live

we decided not to drive a long way to vacation

when there are so many really nice beaches nearby

plus it is off season and us thrifty locals got more than half off on the room....

we took our kayaks and put in at the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge

as pointed out on the above map

we paddled out to an island and saw about 20 Rosetta spoonbills sitting in a dead tree

they were spectacular

and no this is not my photo, wish

Sanibel is known for it's shells

talk about abundance!

this is where Anne Morrow Lindbergh wrote, Gifts from the Sea

the hotel was about where the "o" is in National Wildlife Refuge on the map above

we had a great view from our room

through the screen of course - this is Florida in the summer

we stayed at an older property, that had lovely access to the beach

and had some real history and charm

and the beach was gorgeous

16 years and counting!!