Farewell! To Ft. Myers Beach We Go!

It is with great sadness that I write my final blog post for my loyal travelers. If you began reading my blog after my first post, I cannot thank you enough for sticking with me. This was a very exciting experience and I am happy to have shared my traveling enthusiasm with you. I hope that you have the opportunity to visit at least one of the breathtaking destinations we discovered in that last twelve weeks. With that said, let's 'sea' one more place!

Not to continue referring to my first post, but it was in that post that I had mentioned the only beaches I had ever been to. Included in that list was today's destination: Ft. Myers Beach, Florida. I am sure you are a little disappointed that we are not discovering somewhere more exotic, but Ft. Myers was my first beach experience and I am feeling a little nostalgic.

So for those of you not familiar with southwest Florida, I am sure you want to know where exactly Ft. Myers Beach is located? Ft. Myers Beach is located on on the barrier island of Ernesto Island on the Gulf of Mexico, thirty minutes from Bonita Springs and forty-five minutes from Naples.

One of the very nice parts about traveling to Ft. Myers Beach, is that the Southwest Florida International Airport is located right in Ft. Myers, making the travel time from the baggage claim to the beach less than thirty minutes. And, if you are traveling from inside the United States, no passport is needed. Could it get any better? Yes! Now let's check out the beach.

According to the Town of Ft. Myers Beach, the island of Ft. Myers Beach boasts miles of white, sandy beaches along the Gulf of Mexico, where the ocean floor gently slopes toward the horizon with no drop-offs or big waves. It is the perfect spot to spend the day and the sunsets are well-known around the world. I will have to agree with that! Ft. Myers Beach is the perfect spot to vacation with your family or to go on Spring Break with your friends.

The beach also has an impressive 560-foot pier that vacationers can walk to get a better view of the ocean. The park at the beach also features public access to restrooms, showers, picnic tables and a new playground for children.

If you are looking for somewhere to stay, do not worry. There are different options for every person and price point. There are condos that families can rent out, as well as hotels known for the Spring Break, partying lifestyle. Trip Advisor provides a nice list, as well as reviews of the many hotel options.

From personal experience, I love the atmosphere at Ft. Myers Beach. All along the beach there are many different bars, restaurants and shops to entertain you when you need to get out of the sun for a little while. You can buy a souvenir or grab some brunch, and you are sure to have a good time.

This is where my family vacationed when my brother and I were little. It has been a few years since I have gone, but the memories are so good. I hope you can make some memories of your own in Ft. Myers Beach, Florida!

Farewell! Go 'sea' the world!

Seychelles

Welcome back to the 'Sea' the World Blog. Because I want to make sure you get a wholesome experience when reading my blog posts, I decided to do more research on what some of the best travel sites define as the best beaches in the world. So today, we will discover Seychelles. Have you heard of it?

The U.S. News and World Report named Seychelles the number one beach in the world on their list of the top twelve beaches in the world list. National Geographic online also named Seychelles number one. So what does it have to offer?

Well for starters, we need to locate Seychelles. Seychelles, which is actually a chain of 115 islands, is located in the Indian Ocean off the coast of eastern Africa.

According to travel.usnews.com, Seychelles offers seemingly endless white beaches, giant boulders and swaying palms that are the stuff of postcards, television commercials and desktop backgrounds. While lounging on the island, the only other life forms you are likely to come in contact with are the islands' colorful birds and humongous tortoises.

The island nation recognizes three official languages: English, French and French-based Seselwa Creole. Many Seychellois can also speak Italian or German.

If you are considering traveling here, you will need to have your passport ready when flying into Seychelles International Airport (SEZ).

It is also advised that you travel to Seychelles during their off-season. Prices on the islands increase from May to September and in December and January. If you can go in April or November, you can save a lot.

Another travel tip from travel.usnews.com is to avoid the big resorts. Their prices are extremely high and you can get more bang for your buck by staying at a small inn and dining at local restaurants. 

Is this post killing you as much as it is killing me? I think it is definitely time for a vacation. Check back next week for our final excursion. 

Kincaid Beach: Anchorage, Alaska

If you just read the title of this week's post, then I am sure you are thinking you must have stumbled upon the wrong blog. Why in the world would anyone go to a beach in Alaska?

Please, bear with me. Someone very close to me has been presented with the opportunity to move to Anchorage, Alaska. After spending all of the last night researching Alaska and all that it has to offer, I figured why not checkout the beaches as well?

In a google search, I found Kincaid Beach, a short drive outside of downtown Anchorage, to be the only location with a big, long, sandy beach.

But let us first locate Anchorage, Alaska. Anchorage is located in south-central Alaska.

Now although we are talking about beaches in this blog, you probably are going to want to pack more than a swimsuit for this beach. The climate in Anchorage, Alaska is subarctic but with strong maritime influences that effect a relatively moderate climate. According to wikipedia.com, "Average daytime summer temperatures range from approximately 55 to 78 °F; average daytime winter temperatures are about 5 to 30 °F." Burrr!

However, if the weather wasn't so chilly, Alaska.org tells us that "it'd be easy to think you were in Southern California." I'm not too sure about that, but let's see what else they have to say about Kincaid Beach.

"The sand is fine and very little mars its surface other than the occasional piece of driftwood. Flanked on one side by tall bluffs and on the other by gorgeous views of the Cook Inlet, Kenai Peninsula and nearby Fire Island, Kincaid Beach offers fun and tranquility. You won’t find surfable waves here and the water is too cold for all but the bravest of souls, but other activities abound. Picnics, bonfires, mud fights, and all manner of games go equally well. Keep your eyes peeled for Japanese glass fishing floats, one of the most cherished finds for new and seasoned beachcombers alike. The mud flats can be dangerous and the waters of the Cook Inlet are prone to extreme tidal shifts so don’t venture too far out." 

Another positive, if you are from the United States you won't need to spend money on a passport. And from the picture above, it looks like it would be a great destination for young families.

Anchorage offers a variety of different lodging options if you should decide to visit. They have everything from fancy hotels to bed and breakfasts to RV campgrounds. 

If things work out for my special family member, I am sure I will end up visiting. I will let you know if there is more to 'sea.'