We arranged to have a charter boat ride to do some dolphin-spotting and more shelling, so we headed back to Fort Myers. We learned about sea life and the history of the area.
Audrey and Nora, Boating Beauties.
Here is our captain, Dwight. He was funny, knowledgeable, and wonderful with the kids!
William loved being on the boat. He had a constant stream of questions for Dwight (and Dwight is convinced that William will someday be a lawyer).
The mother osprey set up her nest here. Her babies are 2 weeks old (and nearly the size she is).
A mangrove forest.
Estero Bay with Fort Myers in the background.
Audrey and William looking for dolphins.
---and there are the dolphins!
Grandpa Jeff and Nora taking it all in.
A pair of pelicans keeping watch.
The private island where we docked to go shelling. The island has fine sugary sand that is perfect for sand castles and sand sculptures.
Darin and Audrey, searching for shells.
When Audrey realized how great the sand was, she was done shelling!
Captain Dwight let the kids explore the boat.
The sisters!
We found more dolphins!
A pair of dolphins very near the boat.
A dolphin right behind the boat!
Our crew.
Captain Dwight let the kids take a turn driving the boat. William was thrilled!
"I drive!!!"
The three at a fountain at the marina. Audrey was pretending to be a dolphin!
This was a storage building for boats at the marina--check out the huge fork lift---a little boy's dream!
The next day we went to the J.N. 'Ding' Darling Wildlife Refuge. We first checked out the Education Center. Here are the kids at the Build A Bird Exhibit.
Audrey in the bird lookout room with her binoculars.
Nora, Audrey, and William, and the centenarian volunteer (yes, she is 100 years old!). She wanted to make sure the kids got special frogs to take home!
In addition to the Education Center, the Ding Wildlife Refuge has a Wildlife Drive, complete with observations towers and viewing platforms to see animals in their natural habitat. Below, the 5 of us. We saw many birds, but no alligators!
After all the learning we did at the Wildlife Refuge, it was time to take a break and enjoy the beach. This is the beach in front of our condo.
William found a shell-collecting tool.
Audrey dipping her toes in.
Nora had no fear on the beach, and very little desire to stay close to the group.
Audrey and Grandpa Jeffery.
The group, but Alice is behind the camera!
A rare family photo, with only 2/5 of us looking in the right direction!!!
My Audrey Girl, a favorite photo of the trip.
The boys constructing something great.
Alice and Jeffery join the effort.
We had to catch a sunset at Bowman Beach.
Love the golden color!
Jeffery and Alice, another favorite picture of the trip.
Jeffery, Darin, Nora, and Audrey, picking shells and waiting for the sun to set.
William making a tunnel in the sand. This child is always constructing.
My girls.
Perfect.
GASP--another picture of the 2 of us!
Cute-Cute-Cute!
It was a beautiful sunset on a beautiful evening.
Look at this precious, sandy little face!
We played at the playground on the way to the van. William scaled the climbing wall!
This girl was meant to climb.
Pretty sure Nora was giving instructions here.
What better way to conclude a romantic sunset on the beach than with homemade ice cream? Best ice cream EVER!
It was time to settle in and get ready for the next few days of beach--
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