Exploring the Luxury and Artistic Side of Palm Beach, Florida

Palm Beach, located on the east coast of Florida, is best known for its extravagant estates, upscale shopping, Palm trees, and beautiful beaches.

It is home to the rich and famous, including President Trump. Trumps “winter home” (including the Mar-a-Lago) is located water front on Ocean Boulevard along with other massive estates.

Our fist stop was the Ann Norton Sculpture Gardens. It is two-acres of lush tropical grounds with sculptures throughout. Read more about it in my post here.

After spending the morning at the gardens, we headed to Worth Avenue for some serious shopping.

Worth Avenue is a downtown area with upscale boutiques and restaurants.

Parking is a nightmare! I did notice valet parking carts in front of some of the stores, but we finally found parking about six blocks away.

I have to say, it was worth all of the trouble to get to it! Worth Avenue is beautiful!!!

And of course, my daughter had to shop in the Lilly Pulitzer store.

We had so much fun in Palm Beach! We were not able to stay in Palm Beach for the night, but we can not wait to go back and explore more of this beautiful city. We are looking at staying at The Colony Hotel, The Brazilian Court, or The Chesterfield for our return. They all are beautiful!

Location:

Palm Beach is located in southern Florida about 2 hours north of Miami and about 2 1/2 hours east of the FortMyers/Sanibel Island area.


Happy Travels!

Discovering the Charm and Beauty of Bokeelia, Florida

I had looked at Pine Island many time on the internet, thinking that I would plan it as one of our places to explore on the way to Sanibel. We had visited Matlacha before, but didn’t go past there.

We usually do “all girl” trips to Florida, but my husband was with me this time and I wanted to show him Matlacha. So, after looking around Leoma Lovegrove Gallery, we decided to drive to Bokeelia.

Funny thing, after you hit the island, all cell phone reception and GPS signals are lost….

Well, I wasn’t sure exactly where Bokeelia was or how to get there. As a matter of fact, I had no clue about any of the roads on the island. So, I pretended I knew where it was and guessed on telling my hubby where to turn! After about 3 miles:

Hubby: How much farther?

Me: Well, I don’t really know.

Hubby: What do you mean you don’t know?

Me: Well, I’m not really sure if we are even on the right road, I just know it’s north…

I won’t tell you the rest of the conversation. Let’s just say that a man without a map or GPS gets a little grumpy! 😐

We finally made it to Bokeelia. It was 13 miles from the main road where we turned for the record.😉

It was so peaceful and relaxing! I think the nice fishing piers and watching all the guys catching fish helped the hubby chill.  

Two fishing piers, a restaurant, and a gift shop pretty much make up the area. There are many adorable cottages and tons of palm trees everywhere though. 

So, if you are looking for a quite place to relax and view nature, Bokeelia is the place. Tropic Star also offers cruises to Cayo Costa, Cabbage Key, and Boca Grande leaving from the area.

    Happy Travels! 

Unveiling the Charm of Lovers Key State Park in Fort Myers Beach, Florida

 One of the most beautiful beaches in Southern Florida is located within Loves Key Sates Park. 

 The 2.5 miles of sugar white sand and beautiful turquoise water are simply a paradise. The park is located about 18 miles south of Sanibel Island and just 7 miles from Fort Myers Beach.

The south end is about a quarter of a mile walk to the sand or you can take the tram if you wish. I would recommend taking the tram if you have a lot of beach gear.

The north beach is accessible through the gate at Big Carlos Pass. I would advise getting a map as you go into the park. We were still kind of lost with the map. Lol

 

It’s a great place for finding sand dollars, shelling, and bird watching.

Hours:

The park is open from 8:00 a.m. until sundown, 365 days a year.

Admission:

$8.00 per vehicle. Limit 2-8 people per vehicle.

$4.00 Single Occupant Vehicle and Motorcycles.

$2.00 Pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers, passengers in vehicle with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Pass.

Hope you enjoy this beach as much as we did!

Happy Travels! 

Discovering Shells on Sanibel Island, Florida: A Guide to Where and How to Find Them

Sanibel Island is known as one of the best shelling places in the world. The island's sloping incline and East West positing make perfect conditions for sea treasures to wash upon the beaches without damage.

I remember preparing for my fist trip to Sanibel. Reading all of the articles and watching videos on shelling had me so excited! I envisioned walking out to the beach and picking up tons of beautiful large shells all day long.

Well, that’s not exactly how it works. There are beautiful shells and some large ones, but timing and luck play a big part in finding them. I have walked out on the best beach at prime time and not found a single shell. Not even a tiny one!

Shelling is serious business on Sanibel! Lol No matter what time of year you go, there will be a lot of people from all around the world there too…and they are looking for shells!

 But there are several things that will increase your chances of finding shells.

Best times for shelling:

Low tide in the morning

Be out there at the crack of dawn – you will see people with flashlights way before daylight (Yes, I have been one of those people! :) )

A day or two after a storm – this stirs things up and brings in a bigger variety of sea treasures.

Cooler months - November thru February

Best places for shelling:(Information on beaches)

Lighthouse Beach

Blind Pass

Turner Beach

Captiva Beach

Bowman Beach

Don’t be discouraged if you walk out to the beach and don’t see any shells. You just need to go to another beach. The last time I was there, I tried Turner Beach and Blind, not a single shell. Then I drove down to Bowman Beach, not a thing. I decided later to drive down to Lighthouse beach and there were so many shells it was crazy!

Luck:

One day you may not find anything and the next day may be excellent. But no matter what you find, it’s a great day if you’re on the beautiful Island of Sanibel!

Have fun shelling and making great memories!

Below are two short video with some shells on Lighthouse Beach, Blind Pass beach, and Turner Beach.

Exploring Sanibel Island, Florida: 10 Must-Do Activities

1.  J. N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge 

The J. N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge is a great place to see birds and wildlife in their natural habit.The 6,300 acre refuge has many trails for hiking and biking or you can drive along the 4.5-mile Wildlife Drive.(More information here)

2. Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum 

The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum is a great place to learn about sea shells found on Sanibel and from around the world.  Guided beach walks with a marine biologist are offered in addition to the daily programs.  Advanced booking for the beach walk is required. (More information here)

   3.  Sanibel and Captiva Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center

The Sanibel and Captiva Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center is a good place to find out about restaurants, lodging, and tours available on the island. (More information here)

   4. Shelling

Looking for shells is the most popular thing to do on Sanibel Island. Over 100 different shells can be found on the beaches. (More information on shelling here & here)

5. Sanibel Lighthouse 

It is a 120 year old lighthouse located on Sanibel Lighthouse beach. It is not open to the public, but you can walk around it.

   6. Dolphin Cruises

Leaving from the Sanibel Marina, you can choose either the The Sanibel Thriller, the “Stars & Stripes” Motor Launch Cruise, or a private cruise.  All are great for viewing dolphins. (More information here)

   7. Sunset

Watching a Sanibel sunset is a great way to end each day.

   8. Fishing

The fishing is fantastic on Sanibel!  You can choose to fish offshore with one of the fishing charters, rent your own boat, or fish from one of the beaches, bridges, or docks. The Causeway, Blind Pass Bridge and the pier on the bay side are some of the most popular places to fish.

   9. Cruise to Cayo Costa

The Cayo Costa Beach & Shelling Cruise is a fun way to spend a few hours. Shelling, snorkeling, exploring, and relaxing on the beach are just some of the things to do on Cayo Costa. (More information here)

   10. Pinocchio’s Italian Ice Cream

A great way to cool off in the afternoon is by enjoying a Pinocchio’s ice cream. The place is so colorful, the ice cream is delicious, and they always put an animal cookie on top. (More information here)

Happy Travels!