As I adjust into my daily routine post vacation, it is nice to sit down and write this blog and remember all the fun that was had. John and I vowed to plan yearly vacations for our family. Not only because we love to travel, but also to provide our boys with memories and experiences they can’t get at home. Some of my most fond memories are trips near and far with my family.
This vacation, we traveled to Captiva Island, FL. It was so special because we were able to enjoy it with my parents and sister, Rachel. The boys loved having them with us and it helped us to enjoy it more as well. Scout had a bunch of first, and so did Sawyer. All of us got to relax and check items off our bucket list. The location is a great destination for families, but would also make a very romantic getaway. We saw a wedding on the resort and it was gorgeous! We honestly had ZERO issues (which is a first for me) until our way home when Scout got sick. So overall, I say that is pretty darn successful.
Special thanks to our travel agent Debbie Taylor from Holiday Planners, who found us a killer deal and made the trip super easy to plan! (reservations@holidayplanners.com or 877-338-8747)
Below are some of our favorite photos from the trip, but you can see them all here: https://karitravels.shutterfly.com/4697
A little about Captiva Island
(from visitflorida.com)
Located near Fort Myers off Florida’s Gulf Coast, Captiva Island is often associated with the neighboring island of Sanibel to the south. Both are all about the outdoors – biking, sailing, birding, and water activities abound. A sliver of land nestled against the state’s southwest coast, Captiva Island has a slightly off-kilter and almost magical feel, with only a little over 350 residents. You might discover a giant frog there, a restaurant where it’s Christmas all year long (Bubble Room), or even a tiny starfish.
A little about our resort: South Seas Island Resort
South Seas Island Resort and Yacht Harbor, located on the tip of Captiva, boasts 2.5 miles of beaches and a menu of children’s programs tailored to the sea – from sailing school and mermaid- and pirate-play sessions to on-the-beach day camps and a popular catch-and-release fishing program.
The 330-acre wildlife preserve spans two and a half miles of pristine white-sand beaches framing the tranquil waters of the Gulf of Mexico. As a quiet retreat, the resort is a destination rich in recreation and wondrous natural beauty. It has a variety of accommodations, ranging from hotel rooms, condominiums and cottages, to private homes and villas. A Top 10 Beach Resort for Families by Parents Magazine.
Arrival Day: Wednesday
Poor John looked like a camel with the amount of items we had to bring with two small kids. Our friends, the Weavers, let us borrow their big carseat cargo bag for the plane, it was a so helpful! We flew Allegiant (special shout out to them for letting Sawyer hang out in the cockpit!) into Punta Gorda, so we had about an hour and a half drive to our resort at South Seas. We were starving when we arrived so we enjoyed an early dinner at the resort restaurant by the pool, The Point. While we waited for our food, John and Sawyer were able to take a quick swim since the balcony overlooked the pool. After dinner, we walked around the marina at the resort, which is known for manatees and dolphin sightings. We were able to see a few manatees that would come up every few minutes to say hi.
After the marina, we visited one of the private beaches on the resort, Sunset Beach, for Scout’s first time seeing the ocean and putting his toes in the sand.
Thursday
After dinner, we headed back to Sunset Beach for their nightly sunset Shell-abration, where visitors get a shell and make a wish before throwing them in the ocean as the sun disappears into the horizon. The sunset was breathtaking!
Friday
We were all hot and sweaty so as soon as we made it back to the condo, we changed and headed to the resort pool closer to our room. My mom and Scout had a fun day of lying by the pool, she said Scout was a pretty lazy date and slept most of the time. That evening we went to another local favorite, The Mucky Duck, on the beach. It was a really neat vibe, with live music out on the patio, tiki bar, and of course the ring came for guests to play while they waited. Sawyer really wanted dessert so we drove back to the resort for frozen yogurt at Scoops & Slices, which is not only a ice-cream/pizza parlor, but has a wall of self-serve candy for the kiddos. Then we checked out the resort’s kids’ activity area, Scully’s. It has an arcade and game room for older kids and a discovery center for infant/toddlers. We finished the night with a hilarious game of Cards Against humanity.
Saturday
Sunday
When we returned back to the condo to clean up for dinner, my mom and John fried up the Fish we caught. Holy smokes, was it delicious! Super flaky and buttery. Sawyer and Scout even liked it. We decided to walk to the Doc Fords Rum Bar & Grill, which was right on the resort. We decided to sit out on the patio and we all ordered fancy drinks for our last night. I sampled their Rum Punch, which was a little different than ones I had tried before, but still good. For dinner, I had the Shrimp and Grits and probably my favorite meal of the trip, just the right amount of spice.
We went back to the condo to get all packed up for our early morning flight. Unfortunately, this was about the time Scout starting getting cranky. He ended up not sleeping at all that evening, so it was a very long night for John and me!
Departure Day : Monday
Our Review
We really loved everything about the trip, especially where we stayed. Flying into Punta Gorda was easy; picking up our rental car was even easier (I recommend calling the day of to pre-register your car so you don’t have to wait in line). We were in a 3-bed, 2-bath condo that fit our needs perfectly and was clean and well kept. We talked about renting one of their beach houses next time. There is so much to do on the resort; you will never get bored. The staff at the resort was friendly and abundant.
Only downside for us as a group was you have to charge every purchase at any of the resort businesses (food, drinks, activates, etc.) to the room. You can rack up a pretty big bill you will have to settle up for later. It is convenient so you don’t have to carry money, but it is easy to spend a ton!
We went right before busy season, so snagged a great deal but we heard from other guests who had been before that during season it can be double or triple what we paid. Sanibel is a short 15-minute drive if you want more to look into their beaches and activities. Flying out of Punta Gorda was more troublesome as their lines and security are long. I would recommend arriving at least 2 hours prior to departure.
See all our photos here: https://karitravels.shutterfly.com/4697
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