Something to C.R.O.W. about on Sanibel Island

Though I have written blog posts about it before, I was just once again reminded of the extraordinary wild life experience Sanibel Island provides.

Our vacation rental guests at Toucan House had us over the other night and talked extensively about their volunteer work for the Center for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (C.R.O.W.). Now it's remarkable to me that vacationers will come to the island and spend a great deal of their time not at the beach, biking, shell collecting or shopping but actually helping not just the Island's wild life but the whole area's wild life.

Of course we have known about C.R.O.W. for quite some time, but being only temporary and fleeting visitors to the Island ourselves, we have yet to make a visit there. That will soon change.

John and Deborah, who have been renting Toucan House every March and April for 5 years, told us charming tales of how they will----as volunteers for C.R.O.W.---- pick up injured or sick birds and animals from around the whole area, and drive back to the island with all kinds of chirps, squeaks and honks coming from the cargo area of the van. Their descriptions had me laughing and curious.

So I went to the C.R.O.W. website, which may be newly designed as I have seen it in another form, and was so impressed with the mission of the organization. In the success story file, they had a picture of a magnificent frigate that was one of the "patients" at the Center and this description of the bird's rescue and recovery:

"The 1.43-kilogram bird had previously had a hook in her wing and line entanglement. "It's hard to evaluate their flapping and symmetry because they are so big," said Dr. Amber McNamara, the vet who supervises the clinic. "But I was able to feel along the length of her wing with my fingers, and there was no swelling or lacerations. She was just beaten down and exhausted from the struggle with the fishing line." Staff placed her in a double-wide cage in ICU and provided her with fluids and pain medication. She wasn't interested in eating any fish the next so staff tube-fed her fluids and the Chinese herb Four Gentlemen. Later they gave her a high-calorie carnivore formula. Dr. Amber said only about 25% of the frigate birds will eat in captivity."

Fortunately, this great bird did survive and regained its strength to successfully be re-introduced back into the wild. Other cases of successful rehabilitation of various birds, mammals and reptiles were told at the site, as well as how the Center offers adult and youth educational programs, nature walks, lectures and kayak/canoe eco tours.

When it comes to nature, its study and preservation, C.R.O.W. is certainly a great ambassador and icon for Sanibel and one of dozens of reasons a vacationer may want to come to this unique barrier, tropical island!

Gone Fishin' on Sanibel

If the thought of being on a boat in the middle of the ocean makes your stomach turn over, then you might be up for a Sanibel Island fishing experience.

Our Gulf of Mexico waters are generally calm, and anglers can be out as far out as 30 miles in water only 50 or 75 feet deep. Nice and peaceful does it!

In addition, on and around Sanibel and Captiva there are many other ways to experience the joy of fishing without tempting fate with mal de mer.

Inshore, back bay fishing is very popular and relaxing. One of the grand catches in these waters is the tarpon. And we are entering the period when tarpon will be migrating and in their greatest numbers, beginning in mid April.

Fly fishing (you know the type, the zen activity of the movie, A River Runs Through It) is often done from the shore line and in the mangrove swamps. The snook around Sanibel, though elusive, are numerous and are prized by knowledgeable fly fisherman all over the country. Though Sanibel's fly fishing is still a well kept secret so you won't find hordes of fly fisherman on the Island and can most likely manage to find a spot just to yourself.

But if you seek some socialization with your fishing, you can fish along with others at the Sanibel Pier, located next to the light house and a great place to meet up and compare notes with other fishing fans.

Whatever your game, Sanibel will give you the right spot and the right fish.

And should your greatest desire be to teach you grand son the ins and outs of fishing, there are plenty of pretty, safe places to do that as well...even if you both choose to catch and release and just savor each other's company in our brilliant sunshine and gulf breezes.

Sanibel Treats for Discriminating Tastes

There is little we miss about New Jersey since moving to Southwest Florida.

Yes, friends and family to be sure.

But Sanibel Island and the surrounding area offer so much to see and do--- and in sunshine most every day--- that it is difficult to feel nostalgic.

But one thing, til now, that was missing on the Island and throughout the state was authentic Italian bread. There are approximates, and they come close, but no prize I'm afraid. But along comes Dolce Tesoro and a whole new world of the staff of life springs into being.

Dolce Tesoro is a tiny space with so much in the way of good smells that just opening the door is an incredible deja vu. It takes us back to the best of bakeries that dot the northern New Jersey and New York City map. The diminutive shop sells sweets of all kinds from tiramisu to a variety of gelatos, but the most exciting of the offerings is the Italian bread. Yes, it's that good according to all who have sampled it, even the most discriminating and knowledgeable of culinary enthusiasts !

The owners claim to have wanted to create a little taste of Italy, and they have accomplished their mission beautifully.

And speaking of Italian taste, for those not able to eat the bread at Dolce Tesoro, they have another kind of treat. The expanded gluten free menu at the delightful restaurant Matzaluna has been expanded. The once sampled and raved about gluten free eggplant parmigiana is now joined by such delicious menu items as pasta fagioli, stuffed mushrooms, shrimp fra diavolo and a variety of gluten free pizzas. So take heart you wheat intolerant and celiac diners...there is something on the table for you with no compromise in taste value.

On a diet and staying away from bread and high carb options? Well maybe the new Sanibel Perfume will please your nose as much as the smell of food. A blend of spicy citrus and tropical flora and is available to you as a perfume, body lotion, bath gel, and bath and body oil. It's a delightful scent and comes in a lovely box and bottle with, of course, a seashell design on the packaging.

Several shops on the Island sell it, and we bought a few bottles as gifts at Pandora's Box at its new location. Pandora's, old and new, has lovely merchandising in the shop. There is a wide variety of "treasures" that can be purchased for your own use or gifts to take home.

For a small island, mostly a nature preserve, Sanibel offers up a wonderful and engaging way to spend non beach time with its variety of restaurants and specialty shops.

Money and Sanibel Vacation Rentals: Five Reasons Your Offer Won't Work This April

In a much earlier blog post, I wrote about the difference between a seat on a plane and a vacation rental. The key factor is that a plane will fly with few people because it is a scheduled flight. A vacation rental can remain passive...and empty. There is no reason it must be rented or occupied.

With a rash of inquiries for April weeks, still high season on Sanibel Island because of the late Easter week, I find myself with the last 3 weeks still vacant. The obvious reason is that rental guests are seeking significant discounts, sometimes as much as 50% off the list price. As a rule, I do not discount at all until 3 weeks out of an arrival date, and then not usually deeply.

When I politely refuse these offers of 20 to 50 percent off my posted rate, many guests will ask why I won't take their offer. After all, wouldn't I rather have some money than no money?

I respond always and succinctly in most instances that I hope I will get my price since so many people are looking for those weeks. I also suggest that they should contact me in a couple of months if they have not found anything that they like better than my own properties.

But I don't usually have the time to give them the real reasons why I prefer not to rent for less than what I post as my rates. And here they are:

1. High season on Sanibel Island, when I and other owners make most of our money, only lasts 3 months at best. The rest of the year, shoulder or low season, the rate is significantly less and even half price. My opportunity to get my maximum rental is short lived.

2. Having people in a property always has a cost. Utilities, commissions, cleanings and the infrequent but still real damage that occurs are all deducted from the rent. It is the price of doing business, but a low ball rental offer is no incentive to take on the cost or the risk.

3. The rental property has a value. When the value is diminished with a very or even somewhat under market offer, I might do better swapping the property for a home exchange with another rental of equal or even greater value. A week in the Caribbean or the French country side is infinitely more appealing than the money being offered.

4. Because I don't even discount for repeat guests in almost all instances, I find it most discomfiting to discount for someone who has never been in the property. Additionally, I would not want a guest who paid full freight to know that another guest came in with a low ball offer. I would understand if my full paying guest did not appreciate the situation and I would prefer not to create it.

5. I work hard at keeping my properties inviting and up to date. I don't want to be perceived as a bargain basement owner and would not want anyone expecting next year what they got this year in the way of a discounted rate. So better not to even open up the door to possibility on that one.


By and large I love our guests and am particularly happy when they have a good time and tell me about it or celebrate a special event in our rentals. But this is a business and I endeavor to keep it a business. Accepting low ball offers this far in advance flies in the face of every business principle I know.