Daily Itineraries
Dear Diary...
Day One
Never felt so relaxed. Slept in ‘til 9:45 and indulged in bacon and eggs at the resort’s Deckside Cafe. Afterwards, I wandered out to the Outrigger’s white-sand beach to read the newspaper on one of their comfy cabanas. The white herons kept me company while I worked the crossword puzzle. (What’s a five-letter word for “quiescence” that starts with a “p”?)
Mid-afternoon we headed to downtown Fort Myers, past the hundreds of royal palm trees that line McGregor Boulevard, to tour Thomas Edison’s estate and laboratory, as well as Henry Ford’s home. Just outside Edison’s lab stands a spectacular Banyan tree, which was a gift from Harvey Firestone in 1925. If you’ve never seen a Banyan tree, you’re missing out on one of the wonders of nature. Dozens of shoots reach down from the branches and then take root themselves, becoming new trunks. A singular Banyan tree is a forest unto itself. The estate also includes beautiful and colorful botanical gardens, which Edison himself designed over the course of 40 years. There are trees from all over the world including specimens from China, Japan, India, Africa, Java, Panama, Mexico and Australia. We took lots of pictures for the scrapbook.
That evening, we decided to stay downtown for dinner and found a great restaurant on the Caloosahatchee River. As the boats drifted by, we made a toast to sunshine, water, and friendship. Back to the Outrigger and in bed by 10 p.m. And that’s when the crossword puzzle answer hit me – “peace.”
Shopping extravaganza! First, we drove just a few miles from the Outrigger to shop at the Tanger Factory Outlet Shops. There are 50 brand-name stores there, including Coach, the Gap, Fossil, Jones New York, and Zales.
Then we scooted up to the corner of US 41 and Cypress Lake to hit the Bell Tower Shops. There, I did my best to restrain myself at Williams-Sonoma, Banana Republic, and Saks Fifth Avenue. Our toughest decision at the Bell Tower Shops was where to eat lunch. There were so many choices – Bistro 41, TGI Friday’s, Johnny Rockets, Taste of New York Pizzeria & Cafe, and more.
Just north on 41 is Page Field Commons complete with Men’s Wearhouse (the guys shop too!) and Michael’s for arts and craft ideas for the shells. Further north is the Edison Mall, with Dillard’s, JCPenney, Sears, and Macy's as the major department stores, plus a great array of shops like Victoria’s Secret, Bath & Body Works, Bailey Banks & Biddle, The Disney Store, Footaction USA, and a slew of restaurants.
And finally we headed south to the Miromar Outlets, which is just lovely with its European architecture, fountains, and landscaping. There are 150 top designer and brand name outlet stores, including Off 5th Saks Fifth Avenue, Polo Ralph Lauren, Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, and many more.
At the end of the day, we were exhausted but happy. And we could hardly fit all the bags into the rental car! (I knew we should have rented a mini-van…)
The Outrigger offers very affordable bike rentals, so we spent a leisurely morning pedaling up and down the beach and then into downtown Fort Myers Beach. Then, I bought a giant kite with a curled yellow tail at the Guest Service Center, just like one I’d had as a kid. We were excited to launch it on its first flight, but decided that lunch on the Outrigger’s deck was more important. I’d been craving a juicy burger and french fries from the Cafe, and when our server set my plate in front of me, I was in heaven. The kite flew spectacularly. I felt a kinship with it, flying so high, free and dancing in the wind. This is what a vacation is supposed to be like. This is what life is supposed to be like. Later that night, we settled in at the Outrigger’s Tiki Bar to listen to the live entertainment. Everybody limbo!
Adventure! We rented kayaks and spent the day paddling along the Great Calusa Blue Way, a series of water trails through Southwest Florida’s back bays and estuaries. I brought my bird book along, and was thrilled to see four roseate spoonbills – a vibrant pink bird – as well as a bald eagle. There are some 300 bird species to be seen. Life below the surface of the water was just as exhilarating. We saw two manatees, which are also known as “sea cows” for their enormous size. These gentle animals weigh over 1,000 pounds and are an endangered species. We also had the sheer joy of seeing several dolphins racing through the water. The urge to jump in and swim with them was overwhelming, but we knew we wouldn’t be able to keep up!
Can I stay here forever? I met a couple on the beach who’d been married at the Outrigger three years ago. He wore a tux; she wore a formal gown. But neither of them wore shoes! All in all, it was a low-key day for us. Just naps on the beach, a dip in the pool, and drinks at the Tiki Bar. We also met the resort’s managers at a wine and cheese “rendezvous” party, which was open to all guests. The snacks there were great appetizers before we hit the Deckside Cafe for dinner.
Our exploration of Southwest Florida beaches wouldn’t have been complete without going shelling. Our tour guide showed us the difference between “wentletraps” and “drills,” and “tulips” and “cones.” Being on the beach early in the morning was wonderful. There was a light breeze coming off the Gulf of Mexico, and the water was warm on our bare feet. Afterwards, we decided to educate ourselves further by making a trip to Sanibel Island to tour the Bailey’s Matthew Shell Museum. And as if the day weren’t perfect enough, I was thrilled to find that I was back just in time to take one of the Outrigger’s many arts and crafts workshops. I learned how to decorate the sand dollars I’d found on the beach that morning. They’ll make super Christmas tree decorations.
Later that afternoon we freshened up and caught a matinee at the Beach Theater, which is right across the street from the Outrigger. Then off to dinner, also across the street from the resort, at Charley’s Boat House Grill. I can’t decide if I love grouper (a favorite local fish), stone crab claws or prime rib better. Of course we had dessert, too – key lime pie.
Day Seven
All good things must come to an end, and so we had to check out this morning. The staff was so friendly. They’ve already got us booked for a week next year, but I’m thinking we’ll need to stay a bit longer…maybe ten days…maybe two weeks…
And maybe we’ll bring the whole family the next time. It would be wonderful for all of us to make Outrigger family vacations a yearly tradition!