A year ago, we loved our restful time on Marco Island, Florida with Walker's parents, so we were excited for another trip down there this February thanks to their generosity.
It was fun to arrive at a house we're familiar with and no pressure to go anywhere with the pool and estuary behind the house. And so different than most of my over-planned itinerary-heavy trips!
Similar to last year, Walker's dad rented a boat for an afternoon (after breakfast at Doreen's for key lime pancakes!) and we scooted through canals as the sun shone on the green channels.
There were so many types of birds in the mangroves (maybe types of eagles and egrets, but I really don't have a clue what these are!)
but really, all we wanted to see were these!
And when at last they swam near the boat, we held our breath and pointed and waited for their graceful spines to arch back up out of the water.
The following days, we'd bike
to the Marco Island resident's beach and walk along the seafoam, studying the shells and looking for ones that were filled with life
and generally just enjoying the pure sunshine on the sand. The temperatures were absolutely perfect--not too hot or windy--and breathing that wet sea air is always so cleansing.
At night, we feasted at restaurants now familiar after several years. Our perennial favorite on Marco Island for dinner is Sale e Pepe whose sea bass is delicate and tender every single time.
We'd also visit Naples, that sherbet-colored town that always makes me feel happy.
Sadly, the colors this time were accentuated by a nearby forest fire.
In Naples, we love every D'Amico restaurant, but this year, we visited The Continental for wagyu and foie gras (Walker) and fresh halibut (me). And for our final dinner of the week, Cafe Lurcat, where I simply cannot resist getting the miso-glazed bass every time. And! Adelheidi's ice cream has organic, homemade gelato and GLUTEN FREE CONES! I was beside myself with a real ice cream cone for my salt flower ice cream.
So grateful for this wonderfully relaxed time together this spring and warm breezes before back to the end of winter in NYC.
