Oceans Reach – Vacation in Paradise!

Sanibel Island! The beach! The shells! The fishing! The sun! We found paradise at Ocean’s Reach Condominiums! The resort greeted us with a lush landscaped area abounding with the untamed natural beauty of flowering hibiscus, palms, and sea grapes. Ocean’s Reach Condominiums is the place where it all happened for us. We were greeted by the friendly Guest Services Team in the office as we stopped to register and get our key. After making sure we had all we needed they directed us to our unit on the second floor. We cheated a little and used the elevator instead of lugging all of our bags up the stairs (I always over pack just a tad). What a wonderful surprise it was to step inside! We had been here a few years back, before Charley hit, and the condos were wonderful, but now they are exquisite! Everything, the bathrooms, the furniture, even all of the appliances were new! We were told later that all of the units had been stripped to the studs after the storm and nothing had been salvageable, so that explained our surprise. The view from our private lanai was just as we had remembered it, and you could smell the salt in the air and the sound of the surf was just pure heaven. We didn’t spend much time getting settled, just found our suits, grabbed a couple of beach chairs and headed out to the waters edge. They told me it was just 19 steps to the beach and they were right. Can you imagine a Sanibel Island Rental being that close?

Later we decided to head to Jerry’s to stock up on a few things like juice and coffee, and maybe a little beer and wine. Just a few essentials, and as always I had to walk past all of the bird cages and check out all of the beauties. We drove this time, but from now on we will take the rental bikes and go for breakfast. Don’t get me wrong, the condo is stocked to the gills with all of the eating and cooking utensils and appliances you could need, but we love to eat out when we are on vacation. But now it is time to get ready to watch the sunset, and then on to dinner somewhere. The sunsets are incredible, and I always go home with many pictures of each one. Try and imagine sitting on a couple of towels with a nice bottle of wine and hoping to be the one to see the green flash just 19 steps from your condo! I get goosebumps every time I think of it! But now, we need to decide where we are going to eat. There are so many choices and so many types of food available, with seafood being high on the list. I think I have to go back to the Lazy Flamingo, the original one on Pine Avenue. I love that place! It is just so rustic. Tomorrow, coffee on our lanai, check our email (all of the condos have high speed wireless) and then 19 steps to the beach and a full sun day, and lots of shells to take home. Just think we have six more days to luxuriate at Ocean’s Reach.

Tomorrow evening, we have some friends joining us at the condo, so I think we will do a little grilling on the Ocean’s Reach patio. Then, maybe a fun game of shuffleboard or even a game of tennis. I will have to see how much energy I can conjure up after all that work on the beach. But for now, I am ready to do a little dolphin watching. A few years back I was lucky enough to have one swim right along side of me as I was walking. That was a thrill I will never forget, and of course my camera was back in the condo. Well, on with my dolphin watching and I have always had great luck doing that in front of Ocean’s Reach.

Ocean’s Reach is really pretty to look at from the beach. It looks as if it has always been there, snuggled in amongst the grasses.The four buildings are four stories high and four units to each. Not so big that you loose the friendly atmosphere. Each unit is brand new, courtesy once again of Hurricane Charley, and uniquely decorated with a flair for individuality. The units are all one and two bedrooms and each is equipped to sleep two to four guests. I really prefer the two bedroom units even if it is only for the two of us, because the master bedroom is situated at the front with a slider to the lanai. That means you can listen to the roar of the ocean as it gently rocks you to sleep. And if I am going to the beach, I want to be as close as possible to the sand and the surf. There is that little voice again, saying “19 steps”. Both the one and two bedroom units are available for rent year round and you can view the condo interiors of each unit. Check out unit 2D2, that is where we are staying and I love the colors and decor. They are all truly beautiful! Ocean’s Reach also has an assigned car port for your use, a lovely heated gulf front pool, a championship tennis and shuffleboard courts, gas grills, elevators and handicapped ramps. They really have everything you might need and they make you feel so at home. If you need something or have a problem, the Guest Services Team in the office is always there to help in any way.

The beach in front of Ocean’s Reach is a great place to go shelling! The best time for shelling is during a low tide when more of the beach is available and the receding tide has left many new finds. I have been know to get up in what seems like the middle of the night to me and flashlight in hand, trek out to the beach to look for the real gem and believe me I find a lot of gems that have to go home with me. No matter how many times I sneak out to do this, I am amazed at how many other Ocean’s Reach guests are out there with their flashlights in hand also. You are never really alone on the beach at Sanibel, and it is never more obvious than as the incredible sun starts to slowly rise, and you see all of these huddled people doing the same as you. What an awesome thrill it is!

OK!! I am going back to my Sanibel vacation in paradise at Ocean’s Reach. You, my friends, need to go to the website and check out this wonderful place. I am sure you will find your little bit of whatever you are seeking, here at the beautiful Ocean’s Reach Condominiums. Happy shelling!