Thursday, January 14, 2016

North Captiva Island ~ Week between Christmas and New Years

The day after Christmas, we woke up in Jacksonville, Florida and continued our journey southwest to North Captiva Island.  NCI is much like Bald Head Island in North Carolina.  There is no bridge over and no cars...only golf carts.  There is no grocery store and only a couple of restaurants.  It is a beautiful paradise.  This was our first experience staying on an island like this.

We met our water taxi on Pine Island at this dock.

Untitled

The captain's name is Andrew, and he was super nice.  Emma even got to drive the boat.

Untitled

Untitled


Untitled

When we got there, the management lady for the house we rented, met us so that we could get our luggage and supplies to the house from the dock.  Unfortunately, the golf cart battery died so the boys had to get out and push!

Untitled

We quickly unloaded and headed to the beach to see the sunset.  The sunsets on the gulf coast of Florida are so spectacular!!!

Untitled

Untitled


Our first full day on the island was absolutely beautiful.  We got very lucky with the weather.  It did not rain any day that we were there, and the highs were in the low 80s...perfection!

Untitled

On one end of the island, is a state park so there is a lot of natural area right on the beach.  Great for finding sea shells!

Untitled

Untitled

Untitled

Even though we could walk to the beach, we did decide to take the golf cart so that we could take the cooler, beach chairs and all of our stuff with us.  I just love the little golf cart parking area.

Untitled

Our golf cart is the red one.  It was kind of pitiful.

Untitled

Our second night, we went to eat at a little restaurant on the water named Barnacle Phils.  The shrimp was delicious!!!

Untitled

Untitled

Untitled

Monday was more of the same...beach...sunset...relaxation!  A few nights we also managed to play board games.

Untitled


Untitled

Untitled

Untitled

On Tuesday, we actually left the island to drive to Orlando to watch Carolina play in the Russell Athletic Bowl.  I will post more on that later.

On the way back to the island, we stopped in adorable Matlacha, FL to get some shrimp to make Frogmore Stew.


Untitled

The area where the ferry docks is super cute.  There are a couple of small restaurants and the North Captiva Island Club.

Untitled

Jackson spent many hours skim boarding.

Untitled

Untitled

Untitled

Untitled

As I said earlier, the sunsets are so beautiful.  We went out every night that we were there.  Some nights there were too many clouds, but on the clear nights, it was such a show.  A lot of people did the same thing...lots out to watch.

Untitled

Untitled

Untitled

Untitled

Untitled


This year they had the 3rd annual North Captiva 5k Fun Run on New Year's Eve to benefit the fire station on the island.  We decided to sign up even though we did not pack running shoes for Emma.

Untitled

Untitled

Untitled

Here's my girl running barefoot.  She did have her slides for when we went on some not so sandy paths.

Untitled

We all got a T-shirt, and we all got a medal!!!

Untitled

After the race, Emma was beat!  She was so funny...she said that if she had had shoes and headphones with an iPod, she probably would have won the whole thing.


Untitled

Untitled

After we got cleaned up, we spent the day on the beach and then had a nice dinner out!

Untitled

Untitled

Untitled

Unfortunately we were all so tired we did not make it to see the ball drop and to welcome in 2016!!!

New Year's Day was our last full day on the island.  Emma and I built a sand snowman.

Untitled

Untitled

The kids found a coconut on the beach so JC cracked it open for them at lunch...

Untitled

They did not think the coconut milk tasted too good.

All three brought their snorkel gear, but the water just a little too murky to see anything.

Untitled

Untitled

Untitled

I think I could live for a while on this little island.

Untitled

Untitled

Untitled

Untitled

Untitled

Untitled

New Year's Day we had dinner at the last restaurant on the island.  It was tiny, but the food was very good.

Untitled

Untitled

After dinner, we went back and started packing to leave the following day.  My heart was sad.

Just before we boarded the water taxi to the mainland, we finally got to see a manatee!  It was amazing and so much bigger than I was expecting.

Untitled

We got back to the mainland around 10am and started home.  We drove the entire way.  It took 13 hours since traffic was just so bad!!!  It was worth it for the amazing week that we had.  I cannot wait to go back!

No comments:

Blog Design by Caked Designs