Last month I took a quick trip down to Ft. Myers, FL to see Grandpa Gus and Jane. I hadn’t seen them since Grandpa’s surprise 85th birthday party two years ago and have been meaning to get back ever since.

I flew down on a Friday and came back Monday, so it was quick but packed with lots of time together.

I squeezed in two quick touristy stops during my time in Florida — the first was a 90 minute walking audio tour of the Edison and Ford Winter Estates in Ft. Myers (separate post coming tomorrow). Here’s a sneak peek:

And the second detour was a sunset drive over to Sanibel Island. It was super quick since tourism wasn’t the focus of this trip, but I was glad to get over that way for about an hour.

I literally drove over the bridge ($6 toll) and stopped at the first beach I could find parking — a hotel with a restaurant. I ran out to the water just in time for sunset.

And I spotted this shell mermaid! Pretty neat, right? The “photo op” light went off in my brain and I spent five minutes shooting this sand lady from every angle. Typical me.

A few more sunset shots:

Most days we ate our meals at the senior living center where Grandpa and Jane live. But one night I picked up pizza for all of us from downtown Ft. Myers, which is close to the Edison and Ford Estates. I had to wait about 15 minutes which gave me a chance to walk these charming blocks and admire the shops and restaurants. I remember coming to this area with Grandpa and Jane years ago to attend the Arcade Theater for plays and musicals.

Jane’s birthday was about a week later so we all celebrated by splitting a cupcake and giant cake slice.

My visit fell a few weeks before Christmas so I used the opportunity to prepare gifts to leave behind for the holiday. I proudly put together this photo album for my grandpa (as referenced in my New Years resolutions post) featuring the best one hundred photos I’ve taken on my travels. (It’s silly that the album cover reads “Unforgettable,” but I picked it because the interior layout fit what I was looking for.)

I labeled each photo with the location where it was taken:

Just before I left for the airport, Grandpa took a spin outside near the gazebo.

And before I knew it, I was on a plane back to chilly New England.

It was really special to spend this time with Grandpa and Jane. I don’t get down to Florida nearly enough but when I do, it makes those visits all the sweeter.