Fort Myers Beach

June 25, 2011 By Kelle

Today, we celebrated summer.

Balls to the walls, Baby.

Nella woke up Thursday night probably eight times. Low grade fever, teething, who knows. If you added it all up, I’m sure I spent a good two hours slumped over the railing of her crib with my eyes closed, patting her back and praying, for the love of God, that she wouldn’t cry when I made the decision to finally withdraw my hand (gradually, of course, because any mom knows a full-on patting session must first decrease to a slower pat, then slower, then slow plus light, then lighter–until your fingertips are barely grazing their back. Then and only then can you quietly pull away with the chance they won’t realize you’ve dismissed yourself).

She woke up for good when the sun was barely spilling its light into our bedroom window, and for a moment–in my squint-eyed, slow-to-rise wake-up mode–I considered canceling our plans for a day trip. A cup of coffee later though, I was psyched. We were off.

From Naples, if you wind north on Bonita Beach Boulevard, you’ll first pass a stretch of stately beach houses on your left–many of them empty and for sale–their faces bedecked with double staircases, ornate balconies and terra cotta colored stucco. Just past the bridge at Lover’s Key, the scene shifts a bit as opulence fades into vast and vacant lots, natural beach front and finally, the retro vacation vibe of Fort Myers Beach.

Yellow retro suit, Popina Swimwear.

Fort Myers Beach is a nice daycation destination, different from Naples and reminiscent of my childhood memories of Florida, like visiting my grandma and grandpa’s Airstream at the K.O.A. or shuffling through tourist shops in Tarpon Springs, in search of the perfect fisherman’s hat.

Old resorts, their pink and mint green paint faded from the sun, pepper the beach while shell shops and fan-cooled beach bars fill in the gaps. There’s the Dolphin Inn, the Shipwreck Motel, Lani Kai and The Seawatch–their rooms and restaurants filled with the same vacationers who come back every year.

We (my friend Andrea and I) found a quaint cafe, The Heavenly Bisquit, hidden between a t-shirt shop and a parking lot, and we inhaled the world’s best BLT–thick strips of crisp bacon sandwiched between fresh tomotoes and buttery grilled bread–on the front porch because that’s how it’s done in the summertime.

And for the rest of the day we watched from our blanket, outstretched in the cold shaded sand under the pier, as our girls braved waves and traded mermaid tails.

You like summer?
Say hello to the beach side ice cream truck, also known as a stocked freezer fastened to a bike and outfitted with a real palm tree.

How ’bout them summer apples?

Outside the beach, the sun scorched this touristy town so much my feet actually burned through the wood soles of my sandals as I stood on the parking lot pavement just long enough to unbuckle Nella from her carseat. But the camp we set up under the pier was the perfect escape–cool and damp and close enough to the water’s edge, Nella could crab crawl a few feet to rinse off.

Going to the beach is not in any way an easy task with two toddlers and a baby. In fact, just visualizing our entrance is a bit embarrassing–dragging towels and bags and sand toys, loaded up in a beach cart that might as well be a grocery cart; dropping random shovels and pails; steering wandering kids; hoisting camera cases and diaper bags, dodging “Mam, could you use some help?” offers with forced smiles and fake “No, we got this” responses. It’s a lot of work. But then there’s this.

…which is undeniably worth it.

*****

Looking forward to some weekending.

And I’m thrilled to introduce a fabulous summer sponsor, eSWAK.com, the original camp care package company.

Know any kids off to summer camp this year? Here is an awesome, easy way to let them know you are thinking of them and give them the opportunity to have a little more fun. You visit the site, choose a care package (or let them create one for you), customize it, and eSWAK takes care of the rest. And if you don’t know any kids off to summer camp, how about creating camp in your own home?

Our Teen Spa Party pack arrived the other day and, knowing what was inside, Lainey was making big plans for our day before the scissors even kissed the cardboard to open the box.

Our pack was stocked with everything we needed for the spa experience–nail polish, remover, files, pedicure sandals, brushes, nail stickers, etc.

We upped the ante with a homemade oatmeal mask, a British accent and the offer for some apple “kid wine.”

Sister eats the cucumbers.

And ten minutes after rinsing off the last remains of crusted oatmeal, she wanted to do it all over again, so we packed everything up and headed over to Nana Kate’s to repeat the fun with her grandkids.

We were completely impressed with eSWAK’s package, we have plenty of goodies left over for more fun, and we are so excited they’re on board as a new sponsor. Make someone at camp happy or bring camp to your own home this summer (erect a living room tent!)

There are plenty more packages for all ages, both boys and girls, to check out.

One lucky reader will win a $200 gift certificate from Sealed With a Kiss , the Original Care Package Company. How to register: Email name, phone number and email address to bpetty@eswak.com. Value is limited to $200 retail value including shipping. Everyone who registers will receive a coupon code for 10% off shipping. Must register by 11:59PM (PST) July 5th. Winner will be notified on July 10 via email.

Have a wonderful weekend! Hoping to make up for last night…keeping my fingers crossed.

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