Girls Florida vacation Day 8: On to Punta Gorda

Good bye Cape Coral On to Punta Gorda.
April  2017

Our last full day in Florida with these girls, and I think it may have been one of my favorite days.


We had spent the morning cleaning the rental house. All clothing was washed and the house looked spotless. Soon we were saying goodbye to our vacation home and heading to find a place for lunch before we said last goodbyes to Kelly's son.

We dropped off Matt and then headed to our hotel in Punt Gourda. The hotel was right on the bay and we quickly settled in and headed to the bar. (imagine that).

Hurricane Charlies is the restaurant/bar attached to our hotel. We ordered cocktails, I had a bucket of something yummy and filled with rum.



Punta Gorda was one of the areas hit pretty hard by Hurricane Charley in 2004. Thus the name of the place. It was pretty devastating, New York may have snowstorms and it can get pretty cold, but we've never seen what damage a hurricane can do.


We thought about relaxing by the pool, but there was an overcast and we wanted to see what was happening in Punta Gorda.






The skies over the bay was looking dark. The rain never came however.

We were told about an area called Fishermen's Village. Although it is a marina, there are also several shops and eateries.


We enjoyed the opportunity to purchase souvenirs and had dinner.


Of course we had to have a cocktail. I found it so incredible that nearly everywhere we went there was always a place to score a drink with a piece of fruit sticking out of it.

We decided on dinner at Harpoon Harry's right on the dip of the dock. We were able to seat ourselves and found a location right on the water. I am so glad we did too.

Shortly after we sat down...we saw two (maybe three) dolphins dancing in the waves next to us. I was THRILLED!!!
I took several pictures through out our dining experience as they stay in the area for most of our meal. I never caught a good shot as they were so quick. Its not like those trained dolphins one see's at Marine Land and they were not performing for all of us gawkers having our meals.


The meal itself could have been S&*% on a shingle for all I could have cared. I think I had a chicken Cesar wrap but most of my attention had been out on the water. My eyes would span the vast water and I would get excited when a wave would glimmer off the setting sun tricking me into thinking I was seeing those incredible creatures, then just when I thought they may have left, I would catch them playfully jumping with one another and I would be all excited again.

Perhaps I'm like a silly little girl,  but this had to be the best part of the trip. To think this is simply an everyday occurrence for some people amazes me. Is it like seeing a deer run by in NY? Who am I fooling, I always get excited when I see a deer in a field in NY anyways,



The sun was setting beneath the clouds illuminating the sky. It was incredible.

The whole evening was simply the best. Although I missed my family and I was actually kind of missing my routine back at home. I could have stayed here forever.

After dinner we did a little more shopping. We tried several skin care products in one of the stores and spent several minutes after application trying to decide if the wrinkles were really fading,

The evening did not end with the setting sun although Fishermen's village was pretty much closing for the night. Back at the hotel however there was a band at Charlie's and while making a wrong turn returning to the hotel I spotted what looked like a a beach party including flaming torches. We did not know what it was or if it was a private party but after deciding that the band was not for us we walked the Punta Gorda walking path which eventually led us right to the Tiki bar, Say What?

This is paradise. This cute little outdoor bar featured colorful wooden loungers and a fire pit and the NY Rangers playing on tv. 

A couple cocktails, and cool breeze and some good conversation. WOW!!!

We sat with a very nice couple who lived in Miami. They informed us that they take small vacations around Florida and were spending a few days away from work. They also once lived in NY.
Could it get any better then this?

We soon tired and decided to call it a night. The trail runs right along the water and although I did not have my camera with me I attempted to get a picture of the night sky over looking the two bridges.

It was most certainly an incredible unforgettable day. Nice that our last was one of the best.  

Girls Florida vacation Day 7

Captiva Florida
April 11th 2017


Day 7:Our very last full day in the house....nothing to eat in the fridge so here is breakfast. Sad? Maybe!

Kelly's friend Mike was coming to visit from Tampa (he lives in NY and was visiting his family) so we spent most of the morning waiting for him to arrive. The morning was filled with cocktails, lounging by the pool and being silly. (Patti would/will kill me if she saw these pictures on here.)

We were having such a good time being silly. We all had expected Mike to arrive so much earlier then he did so we had a whole morning to hang around the house.

The girl definitely is flexible.

Beverages by the pool.

Mike finally arrived close to early afternoon. After some catch up we were soon ready to head to Captiva.

It was a little bit of a hike to get out to this incredible island...but once we headed over the bridge it was worth everything....BEAUTIFUL is all I can say!!!

I would have been content to stop along the several pull off's along the way, but we were going to the end.

I fell in love with some cute little bungalows we saw as we were coming in. Kelly informed me that was where she had her honeymoon. (I may have to do some investigating, they were darling,)

Navigating this stretch of the road is tedious. There is pretty much only one way in and one way out. This makes the roadways just a little congested.

We had discussed meeting at this "strange" little place called the Bubbleroom, but when we got there it still had a bit of time before it opened. Stacey and LeighAnne were already at the beach by The Mucky Duck, so we were soon off to meet with them.

Once we got a little farther down in Captiva, we found the Mucky Duck and the beautiful beach.

Stacey's kids enjoyed the water.

There were tons of people at the Mucky Duck, Although they were not open for dinner quite yet, their beach seating and bars were open. We put our party of 6 in for dinner and enjoyed the breeze with a cocktail.

Our party was finally called for dinner, A few things I should comment on about the Mucky Duck. It is a popular place with not much room. We were packed tightly. It is also a place known for its FISH, and I am not a fish eater. Basically it was really expensive steak or fish. I struggled to find something on the menu that I could eat. I finally settled on a pasta dish that was yummy but very expensive which I split with Alexis and a kids chicken finger meal, also split with my daughter.
If you enjoy fish, or sea food...you will love The mucky Duck. The rest of our party enjoyed this meal.

Stacey offered her son his very first clam.

What can anyone say? Florida is beautiful and the gulf coast is amazing,

Another great day!!! Think I am going to take a look at the cost of one of those bungalows on the beach maybe some day that can be an overnight for me and hubby while I park my RV somewhere close. TTFN