I still remember the long car rides following the very last school bell of the year. School was out for the summer and that meant it was time to go to the beach. All packed with my necessities; a bag full of new books recently purchased from the school book fair. Oh, life was so simple back then. And this was a yearly tradition, since before I can even remember, on the last day of school we would make the 3 and a half hour drive down to Captiva Island, Florida. My second home for the summer. 4 weeks spent in paradise.
Actually, I do know my mom was 5 months pregnant with me the first time I was in Captiva and I haven’t missed a year since, except for the year Florida was struck by 3 hurricanes all within a month and South Seas Resort was closed during our summer visit, not my fault. We did spend the summer in Sanibel, but it just wasn’t the same.
For me, our Captiva vacation marked the best time of year, summer break. For a young kid in school, what is better that summer break? Ice Cream maybe?
As I grew older, it became more of an escape, I was finally able to just relax and do nothing. No more studying for finals, no more papers to write, no more school drama, just peace and paradise.
Of course, I have now grown and have to be a responsible adult, so spending 4 weeks at the beach isn’t really possible, so I feel blessed to be able to escape for one week. It’s a chance for me to turn off my phone, not check my emails and just soak up the sun and splash in the waves. For me, this is paradise and I look forward to this one week all year long.
Just look toward the sea…
9 Comments
worldjourneysdiscover
June 26, 2014 at 10:31 pmreading this and looking at the pictures, stuck in the middle of winter here, I am suddenly dreaming of a beach somewhere with warm waters and sunshine… thanks for sharing
Rochelle Siegel
June 26, 2014 at 10:39 pmWhere are you that it is winter. Glad you enjoyed the post. It’s my favorite place on earth.
worldjourneysdiscover
June 26, 2014 at 10:45 pmbrrr windy and cold Melbourne! it was ok until about 8 days ago and since then, too cold for me! Then again, I am Australian and therefore have low tolerance to the cold. It’s about 12 degrees here. plus. Mind you I came back from Japan where winter was a LOT colder. I year, 2 winters!
Rochelle Siegel
June 26, 2014 at 10:47 pmI’m a born and raised Floridian so I don’t do very well in the cold but I do hope visit Melbourne one day and all of Australia, just not in the winter 🙂
frugalgreenmama
July 25, 2014 at 12:13 amI love Captiva & Sanibel! My husband and I were married in Mt. Dora and honeymooned there. The beaches are perfect and I would agree it is a total happy place!
Rochelle Siegel
July 25, 2014 at 9:50 amTrue paradise! Perfect spot for a honeymoon 🙂
adriennesender
August 19, 2014 at 4:25 pmLooks wonderful! 🙂
Rochelle Siegel
August 19, 2014 at 5:46 pmIt’s the most amazing place!
Enough with the Rain, Florida | My Little Life's Journeys
June 10, 2017 at 4:45 pm[…] look forward to this trip to Captiva Island all year long and the last place I want to be in sitting in my room, listening to the rain fall ALL […]