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The J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel has announced the release of its post-Hurricane Ian reopenings in honor of the National Wildlife Refuge System’s 120th anniversary on March 14. Following the devastating storm on September 28, which severely damaged the refuge’s habitat and facilities, public access to all its waters and land was prohibited. However, the Tarpon Bay Recreation Area was reopened on February 1. On April 4, the gate to Wildlife Drive will be reopened for the first time, accompanied by a ribbon-cutting ceremony by the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce. The refuge’s Visitor & Education Center will also be reopened on that day.

The Wildlife Drive hours will start out on Saturday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entrance fees remain the same as pre-Ian: $10 for vehicles, and $1 for pedestrians and cyclists older than 15.

Along with the exhibit area in the Visitor & Education Center, the Refuge Nature Store will be open on Saturday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The center’s auditoriums and classroom will remain closed until further notice.

Facilities also to remain closed will include: most of the Indigo Trail, except for the segment between Wildlife Drive and the Wildlife Education Boardwalk; Mangrove Overlook; Calusa Shell Mound Trail; and the trails of Bailey Tract. Staff continues cleanup efforts in these areas with the help of volunteers. No reopening dates have been set for these facilities.

At the Tarpon Bay Recreation Area, the Tarpon Bay Explorers recreation concession is offering limited facilities, rentals, and tours. Hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, with last rentals issued at 3 p.m. Guided kayaking tours of the Commodore Creek Trail are available on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 10 a.m. Click here for the full article

Due to factors such as exchange rates and climate, Canadians are currently primarily purchasing homes in Florida for the purpose of enjoying its sunny and warm weather. This desirable climate continues to attract 45% of Canadians’ neighbors to the North to invest in Florida real estate.

Calgary.com analyzed data from the National Association of Realtors’ 2022 International Transactions in U.S. Residential Real Estate report to determine the preferred destinations of Canadian snowbirds in the United States. According to the report, foreign buyers acquired 98,600 homes in the U.S. from April 2021 to March 2022, accounting for 1.6% of all 6 million existing-home sales. These buyers can be classified into three categories.

• non-U.S. citizens who have permanent residences outside the U.S.
• non-U.S. citizens who immigrated less than two years before the time of the purchase
• nonimmigrant visa holders who live in the U.S. for more than six months of the year for professional, educational, or other reasons

The top three countries of origin for foreign homebuyers in the U.S. are Canada, Mexico, and China. Canadians constitute the largest group of foreign purchasers, accounting for 11% of all such buyers and spending around $5.5 billion on U.S. properties.

Since there are no citizenship requirements for purchasing a home in the U.S., individuals from any nation are eligible to do so. Moreover, citizens of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) member countries, including its successor the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), have access to special U.S. immigration status options, which make it even easier to own a home across borders.

However, the reverse is not true, as Canada has banned foreign buyers from purchasing homes starting in 2023 in an effort to address the country’s housing price crisis.

According to a survey by the National Association of Realtors, the most common reason why Canadians buy homes in the U.S. is for use as vacation properties.

One reason for this trend could be the declining affordability of U.S. homes for Canadian buyers. While housing prices in Canada became unaffordable in 2022 due to higher mortgage interest rates, the median housing cost in the U.S. has also surged. The COVID-19 pandemic led to limited home building and a sharp rise in housing demand. Additionally, the Federal Reserve’s efforts to combat record inflation by raising interest rates have further reduced the affordability of American homes.

Despite these challenges, data suggests that Canadians seeking homes in the U.S. are still targeting many of the same popular destinations favored by American buyers over the past decade.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadians have become the largest group of foreign homebuyers in the U.S., surpassing Chinese buyers.

In 2022, Florida, Arizona, and California emerged as the most popular states for Canadian homebuyers. These locations are also popular retirement destinations for Americans and feature fewer cold weather days compared to northern states.

For instance, the Phoenix metropolitan area has been a popular destination for both American and Canadian “snowbirds” who reside in northern regions during summer but prefer to spend winters in warmer climates. It’s a widespread trend, and businesses in the area cater to and rely on the influx of customers during the winter months, often welcoming “snowbirds” with signs and advertisements.

Canadian snowbirds spend approximately $1 billion each season in Arizona, while Florida’s economy benefits from around 350,000 Canadian snowbirds who call the state their home for a portion of the year.

• Florida: Share of all Canadian purchases: 45%
• Arizona: Share of all Canadian purchases: 23%
• California: Share of all Canadian purchases: 12%
• Washington: Share of all Canadian purchases: 4%
• Michigan: Share of all Canadian purchases: 3%
• South Carolina: Share of all Canadian purchases: 3%
• Nevada: Share of all Canadian purchases: 2%
• Utah: Share of all Canadian purchases: 2%
• Illinois: Share of all Canadian purchases: 2%
• New York: Share of all Canadian purchases: 2%

It’s was big day for fans of the iconic Bubble Room Restaurant. The restaurant itself is still closed due to Hurricane Ian. However, the lights are on once again at the restaurant’s sweet outpost. Boop’s By The Bubble Room has re-opened on Captiva.

Located in the parking lot of the iconic Bubble Room restaurant on Captiva, Boop’s By The Bubble Room is a vintage soda fountain and dessert shop. The shop began operating on March 26, 2021, taking over the building that previously housed the restaurant’s emporium. The Bubble Room itself is a well-known landmark on Captiva, featuring a cozy yet expansive interior that is rich in nostalgia. The walls are adorned with photos from Hollywood’s Golden Age, while the nooks and crannies are filled with antiques, old jukeboxes, bubble lights, and shadow box tables that are brimming with vintage trinkets.

The Bubble Room restaurant was not only famous for its unique atmosphere but also for its delectable desserts. In fact, the popularity of the desserts was causing a pedestrian traffic jam as many people would show up at the small entrance just to get desserts to go. To address this issue, the owners came up with the brilliant idea of opening Boop’s By The Bubble Room. This vintage soda fountain and dessert shop is entirely dedicated to all things sweet, featuring a range of treats such as ice cream, handcrafted sodas, cookies, muffins, and donuts. However, the main attraction at Boop’s is undoubtedly the restaurant’s famous cakes.

We received the latest newsletter from South Seas Island Resort providing some insights into The Next Chapter of South Seas Island Resort.

The Tower Gallery, located at 751 Tarpon Bay Road on Sanibel, has been reopened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony organized by the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce. The gallery was originally established 40 years ago at the Bell Tower shopping center in south Fort Myers but was relocated to a beach cottage on Tarpon Bay Road in 1993 by the late Sanibel artist Ikki Matsumoto. The gallery currently showcases the works of 26 local artists across various mediums including oil, pastels, ceramics, and photography. Although Hurricane Ian did not damage the art, the gallery required the replacement of its deck railing and air conditioning. The gallery is open from Tuesday to Saturday between 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Introducing Captiva Landing, South Seas’ 7-acre resort amenity, providing fun experiences for all ages.

JUST ANNOUNCED… The Next Chapter at South Seas Island Re

Hot off the press! South Seas recently announced on their Facebook page; The Next Chapter Begins with introducing Bottlenose Bay, an all-new waterpark…

It will feature six slides, tipping buckets, water cannons, splash zones, and expansive cabanas. A wholesome sun and water-soaked time ahead… can’t wait.

Click here to learn more

Tomorrow, February 28, 2023, at 6 am, the Sanibel Lighthouse will officially be relit by the City of Sanibel. Following damage caused by Hurricane Ian in September 2022, one of the lighthouse legs was replaced with a temporary wooden support. This month, electrical repairs were completed and the US Coast Guard replaced the light. City officials will gather to celebrate the relighting of Sanibel’s iconic lighthouse, which began operating in 1884. The lighthouse parking lot will be open only for the morning ceremony with limited parking available due to ongoing repairs. Attendees should apply insect repellent and consider bringing a flashlight. After the ceremony, the parking lots will be closed to the public until further notice.