When I first moved to southwest Florida from Kansas City in 2001, I had heard Fort Myers Beach was the happening place to be. It had waterfront restaurants, beach bars, live music and damn good rum runners. Fort Myers Beach is actually the City of Fort Myers Beach and is an long barrier island. Only two ways on, only two ways off. A true "gone coastal" type of place. At the time I lived down in … [Read more...]
Beaches are fantastic, they relax the soul and offer beautiful vistas. Another thing that makes beaches so wonderful is the wildlife that calls them home. The transition from sea to land is home to all sorts of critters; dolphins, crabs, sea birds, bait fish, pale-white tourists, all these things can be found on or around the beach. This story is about one particular bird, a friendly White Egret … [Read more...]
Fort Myers Beach is my local slice of paradise. It's an 8 mile long stretch of sand with one main road. Yes, traffic gets backed up like a bear, but I really don't mind it. Put a little Mishka on radio, roll down the windows and turn your clock to island time. If you're going to be stuck in a slow moving mass of steel and rubber, this is the place to do it. Just a quick glance over your shoulder … [Read more...]
You see them slowly paddling their way across the water. At first it may look like the person is literally standing on the surface of the water, Jesus style. They glide through the shallows, they glide through the surf. They are standup paddle boarding and they enjoy everything the water and landscape has to offer. The sport has been growing in popularity and it was about time to see what all they … [Read more...]
Top down, wind blowing and Buffett singing a cover of Marley's Redemption Song was streaming from the speakers as I climbed over the New Pass bridge. On the other side awaits a maze of mangroves, seashell covered beaches and unspoiled paradise, all surrounded by water. On the other side awaits Lovers Key State park. One of my favorite places in all Southwest Florida. I've done an Island Lime … [Read more...]
After one sip, you'll be a puddle of relaxation. Question, is your flass empty and ready? I hope so because I'm about to fill it with liquid awesomeness. Watch as Charles, A.k.A. BigKahunaBrew, and I mix up a special Boat Drinks recipe and talk about the upcoming Conched in Key West Charity Bar Crawl. This Boat Drink isn't a new one on RSR and I didn't even create it, but it's a tastes so good … [Read more...]
Everyone wants to go to Key West. It's tropical, has a crazy personality and is America's own little slice of the Caribbean. But what's the best way to get to this sun soaked rock? You could drive. You could fly. You could take a boat. The drive is spectacular. There's nothing quite like cruising down US 1 with the windows down, tiki bar hoping your way all the way to Key West. But unless you … [Read more...]
You've walked Duval until you're feet hurt, partied at Irish Kevin's until you forgot your name and sunk your face into Blue Heaven's famous Key Lime Pie, now it's time to catch your ride back to the real world. Leaving Key West is always a hard thing to do. Seems like that crazy island knows how to set its hooks deep into people. But when your transportation back to the real world is the Key West … [Read more...]
Watch the video of Barefoot Beach below and I'll show you the reason I left Kansas to live by the sea in Florida. Bonita Springs, ever heard of it? Many haven't. My town sits snugly between Naples and Fort Myers on the Southwest Florida coast. It's small, has character and home to some beautiful beaches. One of those beaches is seductively named...Barefoot Beach. Head West along Bonita Beach … [Read more...]
What's your ultimate beach fantasy? Let's see if I can take a guess, does it have something to do with blue water, spectacular natural surroundings and a feeling as if you're the only person in the world. Did I come close? In the US it's hard to find that secluded feeling, but if you look in the right places you can find it. One of those places is Cayo Costa State Park in Southwest Florida. Cayo … [Read more...]
When people think of Florida, images of Micky Mouse, space flight, Duval Street, the glam of South Beach and miles of beaches most likely come to mind. The first thing that pops into my head when I think of Florida is home. When I first landed in Southwest Florida over 10 years ago I didn't know much about the state and even less about the Naples and Fort Myers area. Ten years later, I wouldn't … [Read more...]
Why I Write Close your eyes and remove yourself from the everyday. Picture your toes sinking into the sand as the waves kiss your ankles. It's a serene feeling that everyone should experience. I live a little bit of that life, living on the coast of southwest Florida and escaping to Caribbean to find adventure and inspiration whenever possible. If you have a love of the Caribbean and the island lifestyle then you have come to the right place. It's my passion to share the beauty of the island with … Read More
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