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Sanibel Island - Part 2
A Respite from Reality
Written by: Dominick A. Miserandino
Photography by: Margherita Miserandino
A short, but beautiful respite from the cold New York winter can be found in Fort Myers and Sanibel Island, Florida, complete with a seashell heaven and outdoor haven for creatures of all kinds.
Day 2
We regrettably had a change of plans and had to leave early. This was one of our favorite destinations so far, so it was with even more regret. In addition, our last few hours were covered with tropical storms, so there was a bit more of that regret I mentioned. Lastly, in Sanibel Island, it rarely rains for too long or encounters many tropical storms, so my bad odds made for even more regret.
We started the day by running over to the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife. It has an odd name, but it's an extremely beautiful place. The refuge is made up of Wildlife Drive, Canoe Trails, Walking Trails, and a Center of Education. I mention all of these because you really should allocate your day accordingly. Of course, you have to be a bit of a nature buff, and if you're a bird buff, you're set. There's literally hundreds of different species over the course of these few thousand acres.
In the visitor's center, they were showing the results of a photography contest they ran, and it displayed a sampling of the birds that can be found in the area. This activity can be shown to both kids and adults.
After the Ding Darling, we headed down the road to the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum. It's the only seashell museum in the U.S.A., and they certainly love their shells. They have a rather large exhibit, plus movies and demonstrations going on, all of the time. If you want to learn about the "brown-speckled junonia" or another shell such as this, this is the place to go. They will answer all of your questions about shells that you wanted to know, but were too afraid to ask.
If you ever wondered why there are people flying in from around the world to pick up shells, here's where you'll find the answers. Every variant of shells and shell-related products can be found here to the point it would be ad nauseum, but it's presented so well you don't think, "My God, I've been looking at shells for two hours."
Well, as I said, it was a short visit to Sanibel, but well worth it. The island is one of the most beautiful and relaxing places we've seen and a welcome respite from reality. Regrettably, we had to leave early, but going to Sanibel Island made me feel as if I was in another world. Okay, not in another world, but certainly another country. Everything was excessively relaxed, and the people were just as kind. Our biggest regret was that we were only there overnight, as it's a welcome retreat from the fast-paced and cold winters of up north!
Read part 1
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