If you are planning on staying with us in mid-March, here’s a neat excursion to take:
Just across the Pine Island Sound, the non-beach side of Sanibel, lies Pine Island and the Randell Research Center. It’s a major resource for information about the Calusa Indians.

Coming up on March 10 is Calusa Heritage Day, with activities starting at 10 AM and ending at 4 PM at the Calusa Heritage Trail, Randell Research Center, 13810 Waterfront Drive, Pineland. The Calusa Indians, of which there is almost no historical record, were the dominant people in Southwest Florida and beyond, before the Spanish arrived.

Captiva Cruises, sailing from Captiva Island’s McCarthy Marina, has scheduled a boat ride across the sound with landing at Tarpon Lodge, directly across the street from the Research Center.
The boat ride will include narration about the harbor and its historic fish shacks. Lunch will be available at the Tarpon Lodge before attending the festival.
Adult admission to the festival is $5, kids get in for free. Members of Randell Research Center also are admitted free. Free water will be available throughout the day; it’s a good idea to bring a refillable water bottle. Food also is available from Pine Island’s Little Lillie’s Island Deli and Mel Meo’s fish wagon.
Cost for the boat ride and tour is $45; lunch is not included, but admission to Calusa Heritage Day is included for passengers. Reservations are required since there will be limited space aboard. Call Captiva Cruises at 472-5300 to sign up.

The more we learn about the Calusa Indians, the more intrigued we become about life in Southwest Florida and the barrier islands before Europeans settled here.