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2025 Sanibel Island
  • Heinz Imhof

2025 Sanibel Island

Fall vacation on Sanibel Island, FL. Read more
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  • Trip start
    November 2, 2025
    Heinz Imhof2025 Sanibel IslandTraveler
    Balcony East View
    1Sanibel Sunday Farmers' MarketGerman-style Bakery Trailer211112Melida & Ernesto with Ursula

    Sunday 11-2

    November 2 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 68 °F

    I got up early, brewed myself a coffee, and enjoyed the sunrise from the balcony. Afterward, I had a protein banana smoothie with fresh persimmon slices. Then we drove to the Sanibel Sunday Farmers' Market, where we stocked up on vegetables, fruit, fresh red snapper, and Polish sausage. We were happy to see the German couple again — they’re still selling their homemade breads and treats, now beautifully displayed in a European-style food trailer. The wait line was too long, and we decided to postpone our visit for another Sunday..

    Anina & Jeremy will be joining us next week for a week of sunshine. We have been visiting this island every year for the past 20 years.

    This is our first visit to Sanibel Island since Hurricane Ian devastated the area in 2022, when our timeshare at Shell Island Beach Club was severely damaged. It’s emotional to be back, yet heartwarming to witness the island’s resilience. It feels good to see life slowly returning, even though a full recovery and rebuild will take many more years to come.

    The drive from Texas is roughly 20 hours, but this time it felt much longer, even though a significant amount of roadwork has been completed over the years. The ride in our small Toyota Prius was nice and smooth. When we were younger, we always made the trip in one day, but in recent years, we’ve been splitting it into two — I guess we’re getting older.

    The first 10-hour leg took us through Mississippi into Alabama, where we spent the night in Daphne, just across Mobile Bay. The second 10-hour leg usually carries us east through the Florida Panhandle and down to Sanibel via Interstate 75.

    This time, however, we stopped about 90 minutes short, in Nokomis, to visit our friends Melida and Ernesto. Both grew up in Cuba and immigrated to the U.S. after Fidel Castro came to power. We were reminiscing about many fond memories of working together for 14 years at Ebel USA, along with our mentor and service director, Francois.

    After a quick afternoon nap, we went down to explore the beach for a bit. It was as beautiful as ever, and we noticed that the hurricane had added nearly fifty feet of new sand. We didn’t get far before running into some old friends — Pam and David from Canada, and Felix with his daughter from Switzerland. Time flew as we caught up, but we still managed a pleasant two-mile walk — just short enough to avoid a sunburn!

    Dinner tonight will be grilled red snapper with potatoes and fresh vegetables.    Read more

  • Heinz Imhof2025 Sanibel IslandTraveler

    Sanibel 11/3

    November 3 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F

    Today, we explored several areas of Sanibel Island and were amazed to see how many homes have been rebuilt and how much the vegetation has recovered since Hurricane Ian’s devastation—especially considering that large portions of the island had been completely submerged.

    Not everyone was as fortunate. One striking example is Bailey’s Food Market, which was inundated by 14 feet of water. Sadly, it was destroyed beyond repair and had to be demolished. The site has since been designated a flood zone.

    We made a brief stop at the new store that the Bailey family recently opened. Located at the end of Rabbit Road, it’s about one-tenth the size of the original and fittingly named “A Bit of Bailey’s.” A fragment of the old store’s sign now hangs by the entrance as a nostalgic reminder of what once was.

    For tonight’s dinner, we’ll be enjoying grilled lamb chops 😋.    Read more

  • Heinz Imhof2025 Sanibel IslandTraveler
    1Sunset over Sanibel Island

    Jerry's Food

    November 4 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 79 °F

    Sanibel 11/4/25

    The night was windy, and I couldn’t sleep well because of a persistent noise just outside the bedroom window. Not wanting it to ruin my rest, I grabbed a flashlight to investigate. It didn’t take long to find the culprit — a box containing a fire extinguisher was mounted on the wall, and the small hammer used to break the glass was dangling on a string, swaying back and forth, tapping against the wall.

    The sun rose at 6:40 AM just as I snapped a picture of the beach — what a view and a perfect start to our beautiful Day #3 on Sanibel Island. My breakfast smoothie hit the spot, made with organic soy protein, banana, avocado, milk, and water.

    Later, we strolled along the beach to the Sanibel Lighthouse and fishing pier. Quite a bit of seagrass had washed ashore overnight — nature doing what nature does! A large colony of seabirds seemed to be holding a convention on the sand. Fishermen were out, hoping to catch something for lunch. I overheard a family speaking Swiss, while children nearby were busy building a sandcastle decorated with seagrass. A pleasant breeze kept the air moving, though I could still feel a little sweat trickling down my sideburns.

    Lunch was a delicious sandwich made with Black Forest ham and capers. After a brief nap and a few online chess games, I drove to Jerry’s Foods to pick up some fish for dinner. They had fresh-looking Triple-Tail for $23 a pound — I remember when it used to be much more affordable!

    Now I’m watching the news coverage of the NYC mayoral race and looking forward to a tasty dinner paired with a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon. What an amazing sunset on the beach and what a life!    Read more

  • Heinz Imhof2025 Sanibel IslandTraveler
    Our timeshare is the second balcony from the left.
    1East Gulf Drive Shores1Royal Terns2Full Moon

    Beachwalk +

    November 5 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 81 °F

    Nothing exciting to report today, but it was a pleasant and peaceful one nonetheless, so far, and it's only 2:31 PM.

    Ursula took a stroll down the road to the Periwinkle Shops, browsing through the small boutiques. Meanwhile, I headed in a south-easterly direction, along the beach — exploring the stretch I hadn’t covered the day before.

    Pelicans were gracefully diving for fish just offshore, while sandpipers scurried along the waterline, feeding on tiny insects. A novice windsurfer bravely battled to stay upright against the breeze, clearly determined but not yet in control.

    After a few miles, my legs began to feel the strain of walking in the soft sand, so I turned inland and made my way back through one of the beach resorts along East Gulf Drive and took a couple of flower pictures.

    Before heading home, I rewarded myself with a refreshing ice cream from the Lighthouse Coffee Café — the perfect sweet ending to a lazy, sunlit morning before noon.

    Ursula put me in charge of grilled NZ lamb chops for tonight's full moon dinner. 😋    Read more

  • Heinz Imhof2025 Sanibel IslandTraveler
    Yummy 😋

    Pam & David

    November 6 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 73 °F

    Today was another beautiful day on Sanibel Beach.

    The day ended perfectly with a dinner invitation from our dear friends Pam and David from Ontario, Canada. They have been visiting this lovely island for the past 25 years, and we have been friends since 2012.

    We like them a lot. Despite all they have achieved in life, they remain wonderfully down-to-earth and modest. David built a successful career as an expert advisor in the financial sector, while Pam worked in customer service, became a registered nurse, and later a fitness trainer specializing in indoor cycling.

    Now both retired, they divide their time between traveling, sailing their yacht on Lake Huron, and flying their private airplane.

    As passionate travelers, they’ve explored much of the world — even venturing to the Arctic and Antarctica. Ursula and I could listen for hours to their captivating stories and adventures. David is in excellent shape and is currently training for his Orange Belt in Karate.    Read more

  • Heinz Imhof2025 Sanibel IslandTraveler
    1

    Doc Fords

    November 7 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 75 °F

    Today was a perfect Sanibel day, beginning with a spectacular sunrise, warm sunshine, and a clear blue sky.

    In the morning, a rental company delivered two bicycles that will be at our disposal for the next two weeks. Later, we went for a refreshing swim in the gentle Gulf waters.

    The day ended beautifully with a delightful dinner at Doc Ford's Restaurant, where we enjoyed oysters on the half shell, clam chowder, baby back ribs, and Yucatán shrimp tacos. And yes — guess who couldn’t resist the baby back ribs!    Read more

  • Heinz Imhof2025 Sanibel IslandTraveler
    Sanibel LighthouseFresh GrouperPumpkin-Potato Pureé1.... served with Bok Choychiiling ... cuddling, and watching Videos

    Windy Day & Colder

    November 10 in the United States ⋅ 🌬 66 °F

    Today was quite a windy day, and only a few people were walking on the beach.

    I took the bicycle to Jerry’s Supermarket to do some shopping. Ursula and Anina looked around the shops on Sanibel, while Jeremy spent the afternoon playing golf.

    In the evening, we had a delicious Grouper dinner. We later watched a few of my 2025 videos from Switzerland — a good reminder of the fun times we had in the mountains with fresh air, as well as the river cruise to Budapest, Hungary.

    The weather forecast predicts a cold and windy morning tomorrow, so we plan to start the day with some exercise at the Recreation Center.    Read more

  • Heinz Imhof2025 Sanibel IslandTraveler
    Morning Sun poking through the window
    The cleaning person ....Poison Oak1Stretching 😎2Pam & DavidGarlic bread, shrimps, polish sausage, mixed veggies2Mango, papaya, grapefruit, roasted pistachios

    Veterans Day - Still cold

    November 11 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 59 °F

    We completely overlooked that today is Veterans Day.

    Naturally, the Sanibel town offices were closed, and so was the Recreation Center—bummer! Instead of working out at the gym, we opted for a brisk 5-mile walk in the Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge.

    At only 9°C, the first 15 minutes felt downright freezing. But once our bodies warmed up and the sun began to peek through the clouds, it became quite pleasant. We spotted several kinds of wildlife, mostly birds, though no alligators—they were probably keeping warm underwater.

    Back at our condo, we had a late and healthy breakfast, and I was able to do some badly needed stretching.

    This evening, our dinner guests are Pam and David from Canada. Ursula and Anina are preparing a delicious meal, while my contribution is the mixed fruit salad—and, of course, I’m on bartender duty 😂.

    Island life is good!    Read more

  • Heinz Imhof2025 Sanibel IslandTraveler
    Bowmans' BeachCantina Restaurant3

    Bowmans' Beach

    November 13 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F

    Today was warmer again, and we spent almost the entire day at Bowman’s Beach.

    The weather couldn’t have been better: sunny, comfortable, and just breezy enough to keep things pleasant. We seemed to be among the few brave souls willing to take a swim in the Gulf.

    Our leisurely day wrapped up with delicious shrimp tacos at the Cantina Restaurant on Captiva Island, followed by a spontaneous stop for ice cream at the Sanibel Shops.

    We made it back to our condo just as the sun was setting, took a refreshing shower, and settled in for a couple of card games.

    Island life is good!    Read more

  • Heinz Imhof2025 Sanibel IslandTraveler
    Sanibel Light Tower
    1The Dunes Golf Course2My morning walk

    Lighthouse Beach Loop

    November 14 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F

    I slept like a baby. By the time I got up, Anina had just walked back in—she’d already driven Jeremy to the golf course for his early tee time.

    With the day starting beautifully sunny, everyone felt like doing something active. The two ladies headed out for an extended beach walk, and I did the same, but in the opposite direction toward the lighthouse and the eastern tip of Sanibel. The old fisherman’s pier was closed for reconstruction, lined with pelicans and seagulls—only a few bothered to dive for fish.

    The warm afternoon invited us to relax: some sunbathing, a few refreshing dips in the Gulf, and a nice chat with our friends Pam and David, who are leaving early tomorrow. Meanwhile, Jeremy will soon be busy preparing two ribeye steaks on the grill, using the reverse-sear method. We’re all hungry and curious to see how they turn out.

    Anina and Jeremy are leaving early tomorrow as well. Next week, we might feel a little lonely with our loved ones gone, but we expect Melida and Rolo to visit on Monday. And on Tuesday, we’re planning to have lunch with Yolande over in Cape Coral.    Read more

  • Heinz Imhof2025 Sanibel IslandTraveler

    Gulf Schrimp

    November 16 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F

    We dropped off Anina & Jeremy at the regional Airport, and explored Fort Myers Beach.

    On the way back, we stopped at Erickson & Jensen Seafood.

    It’s a family-run business dating back to 1950, operating a fleet of shrimp boats and a small seafood shop on San Carlos Island, selling directly to customers. The friendly staff offer bags of shrimp right on the dock, loaded straight off the boats — no processing, no chemicals, no frills. Just the freshest, most delicious wild-caught Florida Pink Shrimp.

    After some sunbathing and refreshing dips in the Sanibel water, it was time to get ready for our shrimp dinner.

    Yummy 😋😋😋.    Read more

  • Heinz Imhof2025 Sanibel IslandTraveler

    Ernesto & Melida's Visit

    November 17 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F

    After a spectacular sunrise and Heinz’s favorite breakfast combination 😂, we had the pleasure of a visit from Melida and Ernesto.

    Our island excursion took us to two beaches—West Gulf Drive and Bowman’s Beach—before continuing to Captiva Island. There, we enjoyed lunch at the Cantina Restaurant, savoring guacamole, ceviche, and shrimp tacos, accompanied by a few beers. And of course, no outing would be complete without an ice cream cone from our favorite spot on Sanibel.

    We are very fond of Melida and Ernesto. They immigrated to the United States from Cuba in the late ’60s after Fidel Castro came to power, starting with very humble beginnings in New York.

    We first met them in 1986 after I joined Ebel USA, and we’ve been friends ever since. In 1988, they moved to Miami to manage the Ebel service center for me, and later, Ernesto moved on to run the Breitling service facility until his early retirement.

    Another memorable day on the island! 🏝️    Read more

  • Heinz Imhof2025 Sanibel IslandTraveler

    Yolande Welch

    November 18 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 82 °F

    Today we visited Yolande Welch in Fort Myers. She used to live on Sanibel Island, and I’ve known her for many years. At 98, she is still active, remarkably sharp, and wonderfully witty.

    We took her out to lunch and afterward spent some time chatting in her new apartment at the assisted living facility. She lives there alone with her adorable cat, Abby, which she was fortunate to save when she had to evacuate after Hurricane Ian. In her own words: “The only things I managed to save besides my cat were the clothes I had on—bra, underwear, shorts, blouse, flip-flops—and my handbag.” Absolutely hilarious!

    Yolande had to endure quite a bit from the chaos of Hurricane Ian and its aftermath, including a serious leg injury. Thank God she had good support from her family, and things have finally settled for her. We were delighted to see her thriving in this lovely new situation.

    She is a tough and determined lady. When I asked her why she stayed on the island during Hurricane Ian, she replied, “I figured I could manage. I’ve slept with a gun under my pillow in Brazil … What’s a little wind?”

    We so enjoyed our visit together and are already looking forward to seeing her again next year!    Read more

  • Heinz Imhof2025 Sanibel IslandTraveler

    Eye Scare

    November 20 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 84 °F

    A bit of a scare — but everything is fine.

    I had to see an eye doctor today because of an ocular migraine I experienced last night. I had never heard of it before, and certainly never experienced anything like it. When I woke up in the middle of the night, I saw a very bright, jagged white shape in my left eye that stayed for about 20 minutes. When I closed my eyelid, it became even brighter.

    Fortunately, it turned out to be nothing serious. My vision is still 20/20, and there’s no sign of retinal detachment. The only unusual finding is that the pupil in my left eye is no longer perfectly round — it’s slightly elongated. Dr. Crandall assured me this isn’t related to the migraine and isn’t dangerous, though she recommended having it examined more thoroughly by my regular ophthalmologist.

    I was ready for a swim this afternoon, but with my left eye still dilated, I’ll had to skip it and played some online chess games instead 😵‍💫😎.    Read more

  • Heinz Imhof2025 Sanibel IslandTraveler
    2
    1

    Happy Hour etc...

    November 21 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F

    Early this morning, I had another episode of ocular migraine—thankfully not as intense as yesterday’s. Afterwards, I felt dizzy for several hours, and finally felt normal again after lunch.

    Later in the afternoon, Ursula and I biked over to Gramma Dot’s Marina for Happy Hour drinks, and in the evening we continued to Doc Ford’s for dinner.

    My quinoa shrimp salad with guacamole tasted absolutely delicious! 😋😋😋    Read more

  • Heinz Imhof2025 Sanibel IslandTraveler
    2
    I found Wilson 😂

    Noah's Ark 😊

    November 22 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 75 °F

    Today would normally have been our departure from the island, but plans changed in the best possible way.

    Ursula is still determined to conquer her 1,000-piece “Noah’s Ark” jigsaw puzzle, which has now become a mission of pride and persistence. So we made the tough decision to extend our stay until Monday.

    Of course, that’s only part of the story. Our attempt to rent out our unit for next week fell through — and honestly, why rush home when the island is treating us so well? Staying a few extra days felt like the smartest (and most enjoyable) choice.

    This morning was absolutely gorgeous: clear skies, soft breezes, and that warm, gentle sunlight that makes you want to be outside as long as possible. I decided to take advantage of it and head out for a long walk along the beach.

    My path took me once again around the lighthouse point, but this time I continued farther, all the way to Grandma Dot’s Restaurant, before looping back to the condo.

    The walk took just about an hour, giving me plenty of time to enjoy the scenery — and to snap the photos you see in this post. It was the perfect way to start an unexpected bonus day on this beautiful island.    Read more

  • Heinz Imhof2025 Sanibel IslandTraveler
    1

    Morning Beach Loop #2

    November 23 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F

    When I woke up this morning, Ursula had already returned from her daily walk on the beach.

    After my coffee and protein smoothie, I decided to head out as well—but in the opposite direction from yesterday. I walked along the beach toward the Tortuga Resort, then looped back along the West and East Gulf Drive - it is the black route in the attached photo.

    While I stopped at the ice-cream shop, I met two road bikers from Chile who rode here yesterday from Miami. I asked them what’s new in bike technology these days. They were very eager to show me their bikes and explained that bikes now have electronic shifting, which changes gears at the push of a button, and disc brakes, which stop the bike more smoothly and safely. They also mentioned tubeless tires, which seal small punctures on their own, and carbon frames, which make today’s bikes lighter and faster. In short, modern bikes have become smoother, safer, and surprisingly high-tech.

    Of course, all this comes at a steep price!

    Ursula is making a last effort to complete her "Noah's Ark" jigsaw puzzle, and we are planning to round up our last evening on Sanibel with an early Shrimp Tacos dinner at the Catina Restaurant on Captiva Island.

    Our road trip to Dallas will take two days with an overnight in Daphne, AL. Departure is planned for 6:00 AM tomorrow. We should be home in Dallas around 4:30 PM.

    Life is good!    Read more

  • Heinz Imhof2025 Sanibel IslandTraveler

    Daphne, Alabama

    November 24 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 68 °F

    It was still completely dark at 6:00 AM when we packed the car and left Sanibel Island, crossing the quiet causeway bridge. Fort Myers was just waking up as we headed north on Highway 75 toward Ocala.

    After about two hours on the road—including a 36-minute, bumper-to-bumper traffic jam near Tampa—we stopped for breakfast at Bob Evans. The break, hot coffee, eggs, and bacon, were just what we needed.

    Around noon, we left I-75 and continued west on Highway 10 toward Tallahassee. Traffic was light, the drive was easy, and we made great time, switching drivers every two hours.

    By late afternoon, we arrived in Daphne, Alabama, checked into our hotel, and took a short drive to The Waterfront Yacht Club for Happy Hour and dinner.

    We happened to arrive right as the sun was setting over Mobile Bay—perfect timing. The view was breathtaking.

    Our shrimp dinner hit the spot and wrapped up the day perfectly. Yummy!    Read more

    Trip end
    November 25, 2025
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