Sanibel Island

We survived enjoyed our first vacation as a family of four!  We went to Sanibel Island, on the southern Gulf coast of Florida, and spent a few days enjoying the beach and the pool and just spending some relaxing time together.  Here are some of the highlights: 

We stayed at Sanibel Moorings, which we LOVED!  They have 1, 2, and 3 bedroom condos, 2 pools, complimentary canoes and kayaks (we didn't try that with a baby), and best of all the landscaping was beautiful.

Right on the Gulf of Mexico...or as Eleanor called it, "The Mexican Beach"

There were all kinds of flowers everywhere!

They loved playing in the sand.  And eating it.

Look who's really sitting up now!

She loved building sandcastles

Eleanor REALLY enjoyed the pool more than she has in the past.

Arthur's first time in the pool!  I think he liked it.

We rented bikes for a couple of hours.  Eleanor LOVED her "Weehoo" bike!  She even had her own pedals.

Arthur got to ride in his own little trailer.

All that bike riding made her hungry!

Just hanging out back at the condo

Eleanor LOVED the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum.  We only went because it was raining and we couldn't think of anything else to do, but we're so glad we did!  She especially enjoyed the live snails and mollusks still in their shells.  There was a whole room just for kids with two teenage volunteers who were so great with her.

Cool but slightly creepy people made out of shells at the shell museum.  Somebody spent a lot of time on this!

Finally, on our way out of town we visited the J.N. Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge.  It was pretty, but we like the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge better.

Also, for anybody going to Sanibel and for my own future reference, here are other recommendations:

Timbers Restaurant and Fish Market - Delicious seafood!!  This is where we had our one dinner out and it was sooooo good.

The Island Cow - great breakfast (they also serve lunch and dinner), great kids' menu, a parrot out back to keep kids occupied while you wait for your food

Cip's Place - Beautiful garden setting if you sit outdoors, tasty grouper tacos

Schnapper's Hots - Really good burgers.  We got these to go for lunch one day since they don't really have seating.  They were a bit on the pricey side, but very good.  They also have hot dogs and pizza.

Island Pizza - "The Islander" pizza comes with everything on it and is really good.  This was great for our first night there when we were just trying to get settled in.  They have one location for dine in and a separate one for take out.

Pinnocchio's Ice Cream - best ice cream ever, made right there on the premises.

Billy's Bike Rentals - where we rented our bikes.  Huge selection, very friendly and helpful.  We showed up at 3:45 for a 2 hour rental and they were closing at 5, but they said we could just take the bikes and lock them up whenever we came back.