Updated: April 5, 2024
Good morning it’s another beautiful day here on Fort Myers Beach got a bit early to get a morning Beach stroll in before we get a day started we are spending the morning at the J in Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge here on Sanibel Island it’s one of the largest in the country and it’s a place for sanctuary for wild animals and mainly birds so we are going to hop on a tram and explore the grounds I’m gonna get ready to go on an hour and a half long tour yeah take you all down wildlife drive we are going to be making one stops the mangrove overlook that is the part of the tour where we get off the bus take a short walk cross boardwalk now what it means to be a wildlife refuge is that this land is specifically set aside to act on a sanctuary for all of the native plants and animals that live in this habitat and these being estuary waters I mean there are millions of baby fish in here is the white mangrove trees it has white bark distractions on its bark and has these small rounded leaves growing up right next to the salt water line is the black mangrove tree this tree what it does get rid of the salt is it actually excretes it through the tops of its lead from this point on you only true you’re going to see is our red mangrove tree this tree likes to grow directly in the salt water and that is just four miles this wildlife review.
I do want to thank y’all so much for coming out here with me today we’re here at Ford’s garage for lunch this place is known for the burgers and craft beer and after that after they’re super super hot morning we just had I am looking forward to a cold beer we are at the Edison and Ford winter estate these are homes that Thomas Edison and Henry Ford would come to during the winter months Thomas Edison the most important inventor in US history his name is attached to over a thousand patents and we’re going to get the chance to see where he would come during the winter months and also explore his laboratory so this is considered the centerpiece of the entire Edison estate it is the largest bang and tree in continental United States and Edison was actually gifted this tree believe it or not this is one tree and it spans about 400 feet in diameter.
So we were just checking out Edison’s home now we can’t actually go right into it but we can peer through some of the windows all the furniture is original and the light fixtures that you see although we call them chandeliers Edison coin the term electoral ears because to pin chandeliers ran off of candles and his light fixtures obviously for running offices Edison light bulb coming into the laboratory now Edison’s laboratory.
[wl_faceted_search]We are getting exclusive access I mean we’re alone I’m again we’re now checking out Henry Ford‘s winter home and the only reason why he bought this home was that he could be close to Thomas Edison when he was here during the winter months but the funny thing is that Henry Ford would only come down for two weeks out of the year and those two weeks coincided with Edison’s birthday so it’s really cool that the guys were such good friends that Henry Ford would buy a home just to come and celebrate Edison’s birthday Bobby our guide is now going to demonstrate a photograph photograph to 1904 we’re gonna play it back this is an original record for you with this how would you control the sound alright this is too loud for you you could get different sizes for horn that would give you different sound but what a lot of people do it they take cloth ball about sticking their horn this became such a common occurrence and we get great at the phrase put a sock in it originates from butter ok so this was absolutely fantastic if you are a history buff who are going to love it if you are not a history of up you’re also gonna love it there’s so much to see here.
You can easily spend an entire day so when you’re here in the Fort Myers and Center ball island area make sure to build in some time to check out the Edison and Ford winter estate we are at nervous Nellie’s for dinner which is located under the Matanzas bridge also known as the sky bridge.
And this menu is absolutely insane I do not know what to choose because there’s way too much to choose from I think I might just like do any meenie miney little I don’t think I got a big enough drink what do you think so apparently all of my other travel mates here don’t got it because I mean this ordering and you know you’re all gonna want a piece you know it because when you’re in Florida you gotta have keylime pie big feet they’re already they’re already wanted yeah so after that epic meal definitely need to work some of that off so we are now walking through what is called Times Square here on Island and it is this fun strip of shops very colorful a little touristy but in a really fun way that’s me the free Bob Bob my bum that’s a nice looking bummer.
Oh what do you got there Sharon this is shell art so not only can you find shelves in the beach but you can find them in the stores you will not find this in world as I say all good things must come to an end and this wraps up my time here in Fort Myers I hope you guys have enjoyed these videos not it’s as hard you guys come out and check out this area Florida I guarantee you you will not be disappointed please subscribe to my youtube channel if you haven’t yet already to stay up to date with all of my latest travel adventures thank you so much for watching we’ll see you guys on the next one you
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