Imaginarium Science Center, Fort Myers, Florida

Today we went to look at RV's for my mom and while we were out I realised we were fairly close to
Imaginarium Science Center.So we took a break from RV hunting for a little fun for the girls. Imaginarium is part of the reciprocal ASTC program so we were able to spend the afternoon here for Free... well actually we got in for free but we did have to pay $1 each for the 3D movie. Regular prices were Adults $12, Seniors $10 and children $8...so almost free and we saved $34.

The first stop for us was the touch tank. This tank had both sting rays and horseshoe crabs.

Imaginarium isn't the largest Science Center we have been to but my girls enjoyed quite a few stations here. Of course as soon as they saw the Minecraft area they were all over it!

Another area they really liked was the mock weather station. They spent a fair amount of time laughing and making up weather skits and watching themselves on the News screens.

Some other fun areas in the Science Center...

We then headed to see the 3D movie. It was short but really cute and I definitely recommend you watch it.

Afterwards we took a walk around the outside area of the science center and fed the Koi.

We really enjoyed Imaginarium. It was a great place to spend an afternoon.

On our way back to the RV park we spotted a little park just up the road and stopped in for a bit.

Of course finding locusts was more fun then playing on the playground

Next stop Punta Gorda, Florida

After leaving Pine Island we didn't have to travel too far before we arrived at Gulf View RV in Punta Gorda. We set up, checked out the pool and played some ladder ball.

This first night it rained... and I mean rained A LOT! The girls were happy to wake up to puddles. The puddles were more like mini lakes on the road in front of us. Somehow the actual site stayed pretty dry.

Tomorrow we are off to Imaginarium Science Centre.

REVIEW Fort Myers / Pine Island KOA / Encore, St James City, Florida

We spent a week here and really we could have stayed a month! We were really unsure about this resort before booking as we felt it was too far away from the main land and we would feel cut off from the excursions we wanted to do. We didn't expect to like the resort as much as we did.

The Fort Myers / Pine Island KOA (Encore resort) is located on Pine Island and is about an hour away from Fort Myers. It is located at 5120 Stringfellow Rd in St James City on Pine Island.

VALUE 3.5/5
We felt this was on the pricey side at $46 a night plus $4 night resort fee. We did get a 20% discount being a Thousand Trails member but still ended up paying $340.10 for the week (alomost $49 a night). That being said we did have a cement pad for the RV and under the picnic area. This isn't an important feature for us but it is for some. There was free wifi and cable here. The wifi was good most of the time but busy times of the day it was slow.

SITE QUALITY 4/5
Our site had a very level cement pad under our rig which extended under our picnic table area too. The site was fairly close to our neighbours but there was still some grass space between us. We backed in along a marsh area so the "noseums" were really bad at our site #125.

FACILITY FUN 3.5/5

There were no scheduled children's activities while we were here but our kids loved the pool and the playground. They also loved that they were allowed to ride their jeep around the whole park. Being a KOA we felt there should have been some planned activities and would have scored much higher in this catagory if there were even just a couple activities during the week for kids. A lot of snowbirds call this park their winter home so there are activities for adults.

NATURAL SURROUNDINGS 3/5

With the marsh area behind us we saw many birds and even a few tree frogs. The resort has some palm trees and three non-swim able ponds. Even though there were a lot of crammed in RV's, where we were parked it still felt open with a view of the pond and the marsh area behind us.

BATHROOMS 4/5

Bathhouse and showers by the pool were very clean and well maintained.

STAFF 5/5

We found the staff here to be very friendly and helpful. We had some very large parcels arrive here for us and they arrived way earlier then we did and the staff were very gracious about storing them until we arrived. We were given a staff escort to our site when we arrived which was a first for us and a nice touch. I can see this being very beneficial to some visitors. He even stayed to make sure we were backed in and set up. Front desk staff were also very pleasant and helpful. Everyone here looked and sounded cheerful throughout our weeks stay.

LOCATION 3/5

Location was our main concern when booking here as we wanted to be in the Fort Myers area and Pine Island is about an hour from Fort Myers. It ended up not being that big of a deal for us in the end. We loved visiting the Bookelia Wharf and watching the dolphins. The kids got to catch hermit crabs. We spent two evenings here and could have spent many more nights watching the sunsets here. My girls were happy to spend a few days just in the pool and of course we took a day trip to Sanibel Island to collect shells.

OVERALL 4/5

We were very happy at this resort. The pool was great, the staff were friendly, the wifi was better then most, close enough to spend the day at Sanibel and the Bookelia wharf was more fun then expected and we spent two evenings there watching the sunset. Although this place was a bit more expensive at about $48 a night with discounts, fees and taxes we would still return here as we loved the atmosphere. The pool was always busy with snowbirds and families and everyone mingled very well together. There was no separation of the two sides (snowbirds vs kids) as we have seen in other parks.

site 125

Playground. There were also swings.

Library room available during office hours.

Cleanest laundry facilities I have ever seen.

Pool and hot tub were very nice. Lots of chairs to lounge on.

Sometimes you just need a pool day

The pool here at the Fort Myers / Pine Island KOA was actually very nice and we spent quite a few days just lazing around in it and meeting new friends.

We even spotted a mermaid again.

Riding home from the pool with new friends in the jeep was always fun too.

Sanibel Island, Florida: Tarpon Bay Road Beach

Tarpon Bay Road beach is located at the end of Tarpon Bay Rd, at the intersection of Tarpon Bay Rd and West Gulf, on Sanibel Island, Florida.

This beach was more of a local beach with fewer visitors (other then those staying in the condos along the beach so a lady we told us). This lady vacations here every year here and each year they spend the week making a group sculpture. This year they built a labyrinth. Ian gives it a try below.

We saw a few other sand sculptures a long this beach but this mermaid was our favourite.

My mom and I at Sanibel Island

 We are so glad Scout could join us today too. She went home with  sunburned legs but I hope her memory of the day with us is as wonderful as ours is. Thanks again for spending the day with us!

 Is that a snake on the beach? No learn what it is HERE.

If you read above you would have learned it was a Lightning Whelk egg sac. Aayla returns one to the ocean just in case any are still alive.

 Shelling in Florida is legal. However removing shells with live creatures in them is not so always be careful to not remove anything with a live animal in it. Here is our haul from all three beaches for the day. We found some beauties!

We loved our day at Sanibel Island but will return again for sure as we didn't hit all the beaches and of course I want to return to my favourites and do some more exploring around the island.

Sanibel Island, Florida: Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum

After visiting Lighthouse Beach and Bowmans Beach we got dried off and headed to the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum. It is located at 3075 Sanibel-Captiva Rd. Admission was $11 for adults and $5 for children. Four and under are free. (If you have a NARM membership this is currently listed as a reciprocal participant. We will be upgrading our membership to include NARM next year and that membership would allow you in for FREE).

I totally dropped the ball on this visit. They offer so many different outings and programs daily with paid admission but we showed up late in the day and had very little time before closing.

They also offer different events on each day of the week. Some free and some at an additional cost. If you go be sure to pre-plan and take a look at their schedule of events. I know I will next time.

We arrived just in the nick of time to see their last  Live Tank Talk for the day.

 It was a very informative hands on talk. Afterwards everyone was allowed to touch the animals in one of the tanks following the two finger rule.

Looks like these guys are planning an adventure

After the tank talk we were off to explore the rest of the museum.

There was a hands on learning area for the kids.

And so many educational displays throughout this jammed packed little museum.

I always wondered how these buttons were made.

A whole bouquet of flowers made from shells.

Not only was there information about the many local shells but there was a ton of info about worldwide shells as well.

I so wish we could have participated in some of the other daily activities. Next time I will pre-plan ahead of time so we can get the most out of our entrance fee. It was a very interesting little museum and I look forward to returning some day down the road. I really want to participate in one of their guided walks.

Have you ever visited Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum?