I flew down to visit my parents at their motorhome in Estero. This time I took Saffron with me! It was her first time on an airplane. Saffron's favorite food is pizza, so the day we arrived, we took her to Cici's, and then we swam in the pool. Saffron also tested her Yahtzee skills against her grandfather, the Yahtzee master. Unlike the year before, the weather was actually fantastic. Sunny and in the mid 70's.
We drove down to the Everglades for a fan boat tour. But first, Saffron got to hold a baby alligator!
The first part of the tour was through the mangrove tunnels. Fan boats aren't allowed in the Everglades National Park, so these tours run through private land adjacent to the park. I had my new 50-230 mm lens with me, and got a great picture of the first wild alligator I've ever seen.
The fan boat captain brings some food to feed the fish, and some raccoons have caught on and come out and try to catch some. The raccoons in the mangroves also eat crabs. Raccoons are one of Saffron's favorite animals so she was just delighted to see them come out to meet the boat.
We drove inland for the grasslands part of the fan boat tour. You can't really wear a sun hat on an airboat and at the same time take the earmuffs on and off, so I got a bit sunburned in January! Saffron got more than a bit sunburned; the rest of the trip we were more careful with sunblock.
Adjoining the grasslands is a refuge for rescued animals. A couple crodociles, many alligators, and even some furry friends. I think the birds were just hanging out there. Everglades City is pretty far from civilization, so we grabbed some Subway subs and had a picnic lunch by the Tamiami Trail.
We drove back to Estero, where Saffron met the perfect souvenir her grammy had found for her: a rainbow chameleon (this is seriously the most appropriate stuffed animal for Saffron), and learned how to play shuffleboard!
The Everglades Wonder Gardens isn't actually in the Everglades--it's in Bonita Springs. It started out as a Tamiami Trail roadside atraction in the 30's, but now is a nonprofit botanical garden with lots of rescued wildlife. It's a great mix of roadside tourist nostalgia and beautiful plants and animals.
We bought a cup of food for the peacocks, and another for the flamingos. Saffron tried to feed just about any bird she could reach. And some she couldn't.
It was an overcast day, but very comfortable compared to Pittsburgh. The lush green garden was so rejuvenating coming from the brown and gray winter at home. Plus: flamingos! I love flamingos.
The sulcata tortoises were having lunch.
Just the right amount of memories from its roadside attraction days.
We left the Wonder Gardens and had a late lunch at Pita Pit in Fort Meyers, where we found out that was the last day it was open before closing for good the next day. My parents were sad because they love Pita Pit.
We returned to the Six Mile Cypress Slough. This year, it was sunny and 70 degrees, instead of overcast and barely 40 degrees like last year! We made it in time for the guided tour, which went around the boardwalk clockwise this time.
This year we went on a day the visitor center was open.
After lunch, we headed for the beach!
When I suggested we stop for ice cream, my parents knew the perfect spot. RaceTrac convenience stores have a sundae bar in them called Swirl World! Saffron was amazed. I was too. They were out of small cups, so they were charging the lower price for big cups.
After some more shuffleboard, and some more Yahtzee, it was time to end our last full day.
Our flight didn't leave until afternoon, so we had time to check out the amazing playground in Estero Community Park.
Then we returned to the motorhome, and packed all our stuff, including Saffron's new friend, eager to meet all Saffron's other stuffed animals back home in Pittsburgh.
