Florida Gulf Coast - question for birder and kayakers
 

Hi - I'm hoping for a week in Florida in January or February. We mainly love to walk, bird watch and especially kayak. I have various options and wonder if we would be better going to Marco Island or somewhere nearer to Ft. Myers. We are not campers and will only be doing day trip kayaking. Any opinions on the best area for our interests would be appreciated!
Thanks,
sue

Sanibel Island.
Ding Darling...http://www.fws.gov/dingdarling/
Although it is cold in Jan/Feb from what I remember..we went more often in early spring and it was very pleasant..so nearer to Ft Meyers is my guess. Marco Island seemed to sterile for good birding.

I just got my annual Naples Conservancy activity guide and calendar. Starting in January, they offer a number of kayak "expeditions with guides", as well as various bird walks and watches, including daily 2 hour sunset birding cruises in the Rookery Bay. It's a pretty complete program. They also have some special birding expeditions with some nationally famous birders/authors.

Go to www.conservancy.org or call them at 239-403-4236 and I'm sure they'll mail you the complete guide.

The Naples Conservancy has rapidly been developing into a really great organization.

I'm also planning a trip to Ft. Myers Beach at the end of Dec. through the first part of January. I was just reading in the 2005 edition of Moon Handbooks Florida Gulf Coast about the various places to kayak in the area. They list several: Great Calusa Blueway http://greatcalusablueway.com, Mound Key Archaeological State Park ph 239-992-0311, Adventure Sea Kayak 239-437-5161, Captiva Kayak Company & Wildside Adventures 239-395-2925, Tarpon Bay Explorers 239-472-8900, Gulf Coast Kayak 239-283-1125, and Estero River Canoe & Tackle Outfitters 239-992-4050. Most have websites listed.
Good luck and have a wonderful vacation,
Shannon

Ding Darling.
A friend who lives in Mt Dora loves it and always comes back with GREAT bird pics.