Family Vacation, Sanibel

The only thing Marsha wanted for Christmas was to be warm. So, we arranged for a week's stay for the family on Sanibel, a charming island off the coast of Florida.

The ocean was a little colder than some might have liked,but the resort offered several swimming pools with heated water, and the weather generally was perfect for strolling on the beach.

We were pretty busy for most of our time on the island. Arising at the crack of dawn, we set about serious shell collecting. Sanibel is known as one of the most rewarding sites for finding sea shells.

That might be followed with a vigorous walk. Roughly 15 miles of beach offered a variety of settings for the walk.

Later in the day might be a good time to test the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and engage in a little water play. The boys managed to get in lots of swimming time in the pool, and Alban achieved some success as a moth collector.

Evenings were a time to relax on the porch. We were joined by Mary and Jim Napoleone for a couple of days.

Usually the boys were tired enough to settle down early for a story and bed.

Most of the entertainment each day was provided by the brown pelicans, who were abundant. On one island near Sanibel they gathered in the trees in large flocks.

Obviously accustomed to tourists (who constitute their primary topic of conversation), they were quite happy putting on a display for us, and did not seem to mind being stalked by curious children.

The average elevation of the island is 4 feet, which makes it a great place for cycling.

A more leasurely way to pass the time is to take a boat ride looking for dolphins. It's a pleasant but chilly way to see the sea. We came across a few dolphins, although not many.

One attraction that is not widely publicized is the bird collection. A woman who has set up a refuge for exotic birds opens up her collection each morning for visitors. The birds seem to be happy exploring new opportunities and meeting new friends.

Better known is the wildlife refuge named after J. N. "Ding" Darling. Visitors to the refuge are likely to be greeted upon arrival by the ibis crossing, and adjacent to the car park may find a dozing alligator. The really big alligators are found deeper into the refuge.

Birds are abundant - blue herons and tricolor herons are found fishing in the mangrove swamps, along with snowy egrets. Nesting in the trees are several ospreys. In the shallow waters one can see roseate spoonbills and several other water birds. A variety of turtles frequent small ponds.

With such a fine beach outside our apartment, it was inevtiable that building a sand castle would occupy much of people's time. A master mason was employed in creating the most elegant structure possible, and watchful supervisors monitored every phase of the construction process.

It took several days' work to finish each small detail, but the final result turned out to be a masterpiece that caught the attention of everyone strolling along the beach.

We spent one morning with Bruce, the director of the Sanibel Sea School, who led us on a walk around the island, explaining the various flora and fauna we encountered, introducing the boys to sea cucumbers, and answering their many questions.

We ended up at a spot suitable for a little fishing. Bruce showed Oscar how to use a drag net, and even allowed dad to take a turn. Everyone had to check out the catch.

By each day's end, we were ready to relax. Even the full moon could not keep us alert for very long once the sun had set.

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