Red Tide -Southwest FL Beaches

[silentg]

Not silly. We go to resorts close to home too. It’s nice to get away and still be close by. Staying at a resort is always a nice change of pace.
Silentg

 

[Panina]

Traded through rci, I put in an ongoing search including three resorts on Marco and two resorts on siesta key, I used my last combined tpu which was 75, and have a lot left. Red tide may have scared someone else off.
May I add that this is twenty to thirty minute drive from our house, so it may seem silly to take as an exchange.

How great to have a wonderful vacation so close to home. Traveling is the worst part of going on vacation.

 

[Sugarcubesea]

Traded through rci, I put in an ongoing search including three resorts on Marco and two resorts on siesta key, I used my last combined tpu which was 75, and have a lot left. Red tide may have scared someone else off.
May I add that this is twenty to thirty minute drive from our house, so it may seem silly to take as an exchange.

I don't think it's sill at all, its in a great location and these are difficult to trade into

 

[Jan M.]

Not silly. We go to resorts close to home too. It’s nice to get away and still be close by. Staying at a resort is always a nice change of pace.
Silentg

We've done that too. Last summer we stayed at a resort in Boca Raton on the beach for the 4th of July week. We call it our version of a staycation.

The week after next we are staying at Caloosa Cove in Islamorada down in the Keys which is only about 2 hours from us. Last week we were at Wyndham Glacier Canyon with our DIL and two granddaughters. Due do delays on the construction of a new building the 7 year old's school doesn't start back until September 6th so we brought her home with us. We usually go to Sanibel for a week when she comes for her vacations with Grandma and Papa but not this time thanks to the red tide. We really enjoy going to Naples and Sanibel on the opposite coast of Florida from where we live.

We are at Wyndham Bonnet Creek doing Disney this week. Met up with a fellow Tugger who has a daughter for our granddaughter to play with in the pool and lazy river and we have been going to the Disney Parks together too. We've been having a wonderful time. Our son and DIL were teasing me about what a tough life it is when I told them since we can't go to Sanibel so we are going to the Keys. We had 6 days at Wyndham Glacier Canyon with all the waterparks, now 5 days at Bonnet Creek with Disney, then a week at home with us with the pool, different playgrounds close to us and things we will do that week and finish up with the week in the Keys. Our son and DIL said anyone of the those would be a major vacation for an entire family but thanks to us having the timeshares their daughter has no idea of what normal is. Gotta love timesharing!

 

[silentg]

So did you have a vacation booked in Sanibel? Is the resort closed? If you booked thru RCI, they are saying “tough toenails” not giving credit unless you bought travel protection?
Sounds like you have booked some nice stays for your grand daughter!
Silentg

 

[rapmarks]

It was nice meeting you jan, and let us know when you visit the west coast. We are at exit 123.

 

[Jan M.]

So did you have a vacation booked in Sanibel? Is the resort closed? If you booked thru RCI, they are saying “tough toenails” not giving credit unless you bought travel protection?
Sounds like you have booked some nice stays for your grand daughter!
Silentg

We only decided last Friday on our way back to Ohio from Glacier Canyon in Wisconsin to bring our granddaughter back with us on our flight home on Monday. So I didn't have anything planned ahead of time for Sanibel. On Monday night I found the reservation for Caloosa Cove. They aren't having any problems with the red tide or algae blooms. The resort got hit by Hurricane Irma last Fall so all the units have been redone. I think they might still have some work to do on the outside and maybe the marina too but the pool and beach are fine.

There were also reservations available for the resort in Jupiter and the Plantation Beach Club on Indian River in Stuart but I knew that area is getting hit again this year with the algae bloom as a result of water begin released from Okeechobee. That area has lagoons and inlets and they get hit hard with the algae bloom. My husband's brother and SIL rent a condo in Stuart facing the inlet for February and the first week or two in March from a relative of friends of theirs. The people who own the condo are thinking of selling it and buying somewhere else because they are fed up with not being able to use their place for so much of the summer when their kids are out of school because the smell is so foul. Not to mention it is unhealthy.

 

[Duanerice]

Posted this in a another thread too. I swam at Ft Myers beach this morning. I swim at FMB or another close beach every week with a few other people. We have only missed one week due to the water condition. And no, it wasn't crystal clear but FMB never is. Didn't smell and no dead fish. Now, they have been doing extensive clean up so that helps. Oh and it's not crowded at all so that's a good thing for vacationers. Bad for business of course.

All the real nasty green sludge you see on TV is mostly in canals, not the gulf. We are amused because there are people going on TV with gas masks on saying the smell is so terrible. Maybe it is in some places but not the beach. Some people like theatrics for TV.

I'm not downplaying it because this is bad for the environment. Lots and lots of dead fish, turtles, manatees, etc. It's not pretty and there is no end in sight. But, I wouldn't cancel my vacation because of it.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Check out visitbeaches.org for the status of Red Tide along the Florida Coasts.

It hasn't been this bad for years. We've hardly been to the beach at all this summer, mostly just staying in our pool. We live on Marco Island.

 

[rapmarks]

Free parking right now at fort Myers beach

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

Free parking right now at fort Myers beach

Be sure to wear a gas mask!



.

 

[Laurie]

And now, brown tide:

www.newsweek.com/what-brown-tide-outbreak-red-1090429

 

[Talent312]

I'm at FMB (South end) now, and the effects of red tide can be seen.
We saw dead fish on the beach every few feet and very few people.
No one was in the water. The front desk said it could last to November.

Fortunately, hanging at the pool pleasant is very pleasant.
We'll also finds some tourist-type things to do.
.

 

[Kozman]

Currently at Sea Watch on the Beach in Ft. Myers Beach. There is minimal problems on the beach.

 

[Panina]

Update Pinellas county

https://www.wfla.com/weather/red-ti...d-fish-wash-up-on-pinellas-beaches/1428087169

 

[mbh]

https://www.visitbeaches.org/

Above is a link to status of the beaches that is updated daily

 

[Laurie]

Another update Pinellas County:

https://www.tampabay.com/news/envir...across-most-Pinellas-County-beaches_171817626

 

[Laurie]

Here's a video about testing for toxins in the air:

www.facebook.com/ChrisGrisbyWINKNews/videos/320288015440947/

 

[silentg]

Looking good today.Anyone in Fort Myers now?

 

[LMD]

Watching the local Ft Myers news station. Higher concentrations in Lee County, and lower concentrations in Collier County. Winds this weekend supposed to push it offshore a little. Here is a good link

http://www.myfwc.com/research/redtide/statewide/

 

[Sugarcubesea]

My aunt spent the day at Ft Myers today and just texted me the following:
We were just notified the water tested zero! Yay! We’ve walked the beach today and saw no dead fish nor smelled any effects of the red tide. 86 and sunny here and tons of people in the water today!
it’s as beautiful as ever. No worries today either about red tide!

Just wanted to give everyone an update. She’s at the Lighthouse Tiki Bar

 

[LMD]

I don't see any threads specifically about this but wanted to make people aware if you have travel plans to SW FL. Its bad from Sarasota all the way down to Naples. Marco not as bad but still dead fish washing up on shore. The neuro toxins are irritating to the respiratory system and the bacteria levels in the water can cause deadly infections. Its really a sad situation.

http://collier.floridahealth.gov/newsroom/2018/10/20181010beachadvisory.html

 

[LMD]

http://collier.floridahealth.gov/newsroom/2018/10/20181010beachadvisory.html

 

[headoflife]

Does anyone have an current info on red tide/green algae on Sanibel Island? I have a week on hold from 12/15. My daughter has asthma(not severe and rarely needs an inhaler), and if we can't enjoy being on the beach or at the pool, which is near the beach, I will pass. Thanks for any info!

 

[Bwolf]

headoflife: All reports are that red tide is not active on Sanibel Island. When we were there in mid-October, it wasn't. Those who've visited in November report it wasn't. Those visiting now or who live on the island report red tide is not active. The Sanibel forums on TripAdvisor are a good source of information.