Sanibel’s Treasures

Posted on Wednesday, June 12th, 2013 at 17:11

SEASIDE INN SANIBEL POOL

(The following is an excerpt from a letter I wrote myself last October…so I wouldn’t forget)

 

Sanibel Island…for years I’d heard about the allure of this gulf coast isle famous for it’s shelling and had been dreaming of finding my way some day. The opportunity arose, quite unexpectedly, just a few days ago. You see in our job, my significant other (my Mr. PIBB-Partner In Beautiful Bliss) and myself are each other’s relief. We are always either together at work or spotting the other’s days off. I can count on one hand the days off we’ve had together in the past few years. So when the schedule came out and we saw that we had two days off together, two voices shouted in unisonROAD TRIP!!! I had just a few hours in the middle of the night to put a plan together and began by searching the web. Working at a posh resort on the east coast of Florida, I knew I didn’t want THAT type of experience. I heard Hemingway whispering in my inner ear…”Vintage Florida awaits…”

HEMINGWAYS FLORIDA

HEMINGWAY’S FLORIDA-SUNLIGHT FLOODING IN FROM THE VERANDA-WARMING HIS BACK AS HE WRITES…

I stumbled over the Inns of Sanibel web site and was charmed by the photo gallery of the Seaside Inn. One of four properties that make up the Inns of Sanibel collection. It seemed just the thing, but I wanted to be sure. It was about 3am when I called the reservations number for the hotel and was routed to the night auditor who was on call for all of the properties. His name was Jack and he was wonderful with all of my many questions. Even the ones that weren’t necessarily specific to the hotel. Bless his heart! I hung up the phone with the certainty that this was where I wanted to stay.

MY FAVORITE TIME OF DAY-SUNSET ON THE BEACH AT THE SEASIDE INN

MY FAVORITE TIME OF DAY-SUNSET ON THE BEACH AT THE SEASIDE INN

 As soon as our shift ended, we rushed home to pack. We didn’t want to waste a moment. 

BEACH PATH TO SEASIDE INN'S BEACH

BEACH PATH TO SEASIDE INN’S BEACH

A few hours later, on the road, I made a phone call to the Inn , to confirm our reservations. I spoke with Jim, who ended up checking us in upon arrival. What a sweetheart! He hooked us up in the ‘Green Room‘ which was personally designed by Kathy Ireland. She did a special room for all of the four sister properties. I was completely charmed by the ‘shabby chic beach’ decor. It was the warmest welcome…a great start to our two day getaway. We found a breakfast basket in the fridge and a more than ample array of kitchen items to go with the mini fridge, microwave, toaster and full size coffee maker. My delighted eyes sparkled as much as the green crystal knobs on all of the furniture when we got our first view of the inner courtyard and beach. We stepped out onto the community balcony and immersed ourselves in the essence of what Florida used to be like before the invasion of glass and brass ‘super resorts’ (No THANKS!)

 

FREE BEACH CHAIRS AND UMBRELLAS

FREE BEACH CHAIRS AND UMBRELLAS

We had the most blissfully satisfying stay ever and we can’t wait to come back!!!

Seaside Inn  |  541 East Gulf Drive  |  Sanibel Island  |  FL  |  33957  |  Reservations: 239-472-1400  |  www.innsofsanibel.com

Youtube video of The Seaside Inn by a former guest


 

SHELLING TIPS-GREAT BLOG SITE

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