Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dreamscapes.ca/i/776538
WINTER/SPRING 2017 DREAMSCAPES 39 SANIBEL The next "hop" took us to Sanibel Island and the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, a 24-square-kilometre property that's home to scores of wildlife including a wide variety of birds and native plants you rarely get to see. In fact, USA Today named the area the top birdwatching destination in North America. A rare but unassuming gem along the route is the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum. Although it is relatively small by museum standards, it houses a spectacular array of rarities as well as common findings gathered from beaches in the region. Actually, this island is famous for its seashells and col- lectors spend hours combing through the refuse washed up onto the shorelines. Take care however. The island has very strict rules and prohibits any collection of live shells. Our final "hop" was the Sanibel Lighthouse Boardwalk and Beach, a popular shell- collecting site complete with a beautifully preserved late 19 th -century lighthouse where shells were so plentiful and literally crunched under our feet. FORT MYERS Back in Fort Myers, we settled in at the Sanibel Harbour Marriott Resort & Spa, a well-appointed property, which features a luxurious spa in a massive 3,716-square- metre building. There are plenty of walking and running trails, along with a fishing pier, water sports and a yacht you can book for a romantic sunset dinner cruise. One more-than-pleasant surprise was the Edison & Ford Winter Estates complex, which ranks among the 10 most-visited his- toric homes in the USA. Kids might not be chomping at the bit when you suggest it, but they'll soon change their minds. The build- ings on the property exhibit ample evidence of Edison's endless creative genius, from the first electrical cables to gramophones and early projectors. If you time it right, be sure to take in a demonstration in the gramo- phone room, where you can step back in time and experience what it must have been like to hear them for the first time. Edison spent a great deal of his time at this stunning riverfront estate, where he worked his magic on more than just mechanical and electrical inventions. He and his wife also created one of the most complete botanical gardens in the country. And literally a stone's throw away is the home of Henry Ford where car buffs get an eyeful of models dating back to the early 20 th century. One can just imagine the two inventors having a relaxed chat over the fence while tending to their gardens. All in all, our visit may have been short, but it didn't take long to realize the Fort Myers and Sanibel area has much to offer folks who prefer a more leisurely escape surrounded by nature. DS T R A V E L P L A N N E R WestJet (westjet.com) and Air Canada (aircanada.com) offer direct service daily to Fort Myers from Toronto. Plan your Gulf Coast getaway in the Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel area at: The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel: FortMyers-Sanibel.com Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce: fortmyersbeach.org Cabbage Key Inn and Restaurant: cabbagekey.com Edison & Ford Winter Estates: edisonfordwinterestates.org J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge: fws.gov/refuge/jn_ding_darling Sanibel Harbour Marriott Resort & Spa: marriott.com South Seas Island Resort, Captiva Island: southseas.com The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum: shellmuseum.org