belated trip report to NW Florida - pt 1
 

We spent 2 weeks in Florida in early January.

Weather was great - mostly around 80. We are into nature type things - photography and birding - so the trip reflects that.

Started in Homestead near the everglades - Can never find a great motel here.
We stayed at the Best Western - musty - rooms large. front desk so -so. but probably one of the best of the choices.

Ate at Mutineer - ceasar salads which were great ( have never tried their seafood). and an Italian restaurant - Capri - which was good.

Lunches for most of the trip are on the go. salads or sandwiches we pick up in the morning or the night before.

Sat. went to Anhinga birding trail - - in the Everglades. good birding - nice place to visit. Afterwards drove about 10- 15 miles down making various stops. (played music from "out of Africa on the CD player - waving grass, etc. seems to fit ).

Next day went to Fairchild gardens - first time. gorgeous. have trams to take you around. beautiful place. nice lunch. Had a chihuly glass exhibit. Spent the day.

Monday left for Naples - stopped at shark valley - a little light on birds. saw a gallinule (sp) herons. alligators. etc. Didn't take the tram ride this time.

Outside of Naples stopped at Eagle Lake - nice site.

In Naples stayed at Staybridge Hotel. (Had computer available for free for you to pick up your e-mail.) Very nice rooms - newer. will stay here again. Visited Corkscrew swamp sanctuary - a beautiful place. Not tons of birds - but if you walk slow and listen you see more than you expect - if you whiz thru you will be disappointed.

Noticed that the highways are being widened all over and getting closer to the sanctuar - a shame.

Ate a Randy's Fish Market twice. on Rt. 41. great fish, good prices.

Wednesday - off to Sanibel - our favorite.
Stopped at Calusa nature Place - disappointed. took shorter trail. didn't see or hear one bird, squirrel,or living thing. etc. exhibits ok - better for kids. they have a planatarium show later in the day.

At Sanibel we stayed at the former best western. Sunset something it has been renamed and totally remodeled. Large room with small kitchen, table, etc. etc. Very nice place. Had an early season special.

Ding darling is our favorite. have to go at low tide and be patient. saw some great birds. spoonbills, all types of heron., egrets, ibis, shore birds, etc. etc. (got some pics of them eating and flying - will post later).

Ate at matzaluna, andrea's take out. Jerry's dinner once - and salad bar take out almost everyday. fantastic salad bar. Rosie's for chicken salad. Pleased with all the restaurants.

Went to audubon sanctuary talk the thurs night we were there. good.

Nice walks on the beach - some red tide.

took a day trip to the island that has burrowing owls. (forget name) didn't see anything - except the burrows. -probalby too early in the day and seaon. then on to pine island which we found disappointing - lots of driving - not much results.

More later

Part 2.

On to Sarasota - Stayed at Lido beach Resort - very nice place. Beach ok. not fantastic. Went over to siesta key - nicer sand. big beach.

BIrding is more spread out here.

Stopped at Venice rookery on the way to Sarasota. A few herons nesting - a bit quiet for this time of year we were told. One baby. - hard to see.

Also the Laurel? landfill. Saw our first Sandhill Cranes. gorgeous. also vultures, spoonbills, eagles, alligators ,etc.

Selby gardens is lovely - worth a visit.
Myakka state park ok. good for hiking if into that. a few birds but far away. RIngling bros place. very interested -can take the whole day to see house, art museum, circus museum, etc. The roses were still blooming in mid Jan!. they were going to cut them back in a week or so.

Saw a flock of skimmers at the one public beach area in longboat key - on florida birding trail I believe. -

ate at fin and claw - for late lunch - piano player - ate outside. - very good and nice atmosphere. and the chart house in longboat as well - very good also.

used library - gorgeous building to pick up e-mail ( also in sanibel used the library which is fantastic as well for e-mail).

Bit foggy at times in sarasota but mostly just at the hotel or island areas.

GOod trip. came home to cold weather. Wish we were back.

Pictures finally at:
http://www.pbase.com/joanel/southwest_florida_2007

Joanel, did you hear the sandhill cranes trumpeting? It's quite a sound! There's a photographer in Gainesville, John Moran, who captures Florida wildlife and landscapes well. He has a gorgeous photo of the cranes at Myakka reserve that you might enjoy. http://www.johnmoranphoto.com/ I loved your anhinga photos, and the "roots" photo you took at the Marie Selby garden (lovely place, isn't it?). Great work, and thanks for posting.

Nice report but shouldn't the title read SW Florida not NW? It might be helpful to change the title so people who are looking for information in the future will be able to find the correct area.

right but not sure how to change.