Photo Credit: Paige Closson

Photo Credit: Paige Closson
Showing posts with label Vacation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vacation. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Captivating Captiva, FL

PART 2:  Crab Racing  

   Described as "the stupidest thing you'll ever see", crab racing, or NasCrab, is the best source of entertainment on the island. Every Monday and Thursday, the Tween Waters Inn transforms into a race track and houses a family friendly race beginning at 6pm but to get a table and the first pick of crabs, arrive about an hour prior. To place a bet, you must pay $2 per crab before reaching into the bowl for your pick of the hermit crabs (TIP: Choose the most active of the bunch). There is also a 9pm show for 18+ it is much less crowded so you can safely arrive around only 30 minutes before and crabs start at $5. Prizes include cash, girl scout cookies, t-shirts, and cigars (for the later show). I have won several times in previous years but, for the first time, last night my crab, Zippy, won first place. The races are hosted by Tim or as he calls himself, "Sunburned Willie" and let me warn you that he is EXTREMELY blunt. He has a set of rules and if he catches you breaking them, you will be the focus of his insults for the night and will most likely be sprayed in the face with his squirt bottle. He will target any age so if you have a sensitive child or elderly mother, they better mind Sunburned Willie. YOU DO NOT MESS WITH HIM! While being the target of his rudeness is never a confidence booster, you have to remember that it's all in good fun. Sunburned Willie sells crab racing t-shirts for $15 or two for $25 which is a great deal on the island and then on top of that, firefighters, police officers, nurses, and teachers get a 15% discount. The restaurant itself has entertainment nearly every night. The schedule can be found at their website: http://tween-waters.com/. Personally, I would not dine at the Tween Waters before the races because the food isn't as good as the price suggests it is, but their molten lava cake is very delicious. Remember: 1. Arrive 1 hr early, 2. Bring along a good sense of humor, and 3. This is the stupidest thing you will ever see. -P

Monday, July 15, 2013

Captivating Captiva, FL



 PART ONE: The Mucky Duck
    As promised, I am beginning the process of providing a detailed review of popular vacation attraction in the Sanibel/Captiva area. I was here a few weeks ago and am now currently here again. My family has been renting a house on Captiva since 1998 and we tend to find that we visit the same tourist attractions every year. One of the most memorable is watching the sunset each night at the island's local pub, The Mucky Duck. Everyone on the island stops what they are doing and migrates towards the beach front bar with outstanding outdoor seating (as well as indoor of course), music every weekend, and an outdoor bar. I find this to be amazing because in our daily lives back home, no one takes the time to acknowledge the sunset even in beautiful Colorado, where the sun sets so perfectly over the mountains. We tend to forget or avoid slowing down and taking the time to view something so beautiful. When the sun finally does melt into the ocean, the audience claps like they have never seen a sunset before and then resumes what they were doing and flock back to the "town" (I use the word "town" very loosely here as there are about four shops)  There is (free) parking at The Mucky Duck but it is almost easier to walk depending on where you are staying. Bring bug spray as sunset is prime time for the mosquito and no-see-ems. The Mucky Duck's website provides a complete list of sunset times for every day of the year which can be fount at: Sunset Times. A word of warning, the staff's friendliness is sub par (remember they deal with tourists all day) and the food is a bit pricier than I would like but the over all experience is good and it's hard to find a pub in the U.S. that lives up to the British traditions that the Mucky Duck does.
 -P

Mucky Duck Info: Website & Facebook