Celebrate Easter on Picnic Island
Adventures in Paradise is offering a unique experience Easter morning, one that will sure be a memory creator for the youngsters when egg hunting.
The annual Easter Egg Hunt & Dolphin Cruise will take families to Picnic Island for a unique morning.
Evelyn Stewart said the Sunday, April 16, Easter Egg Hunt & Dolphin Cruise departs from Port Sanibel Marina, the “G” dock at 9 a.m., 10 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. She said each of the departures last for 90 minutes.
Three of the six boats are already full as of last Wednesday.
Evelyn said the cruise has attracted a good amount of returning customers over the past 10 years.
“We’ve had a lot of the same kids,” she said.
Josh Stewart said he was in high school when they did an Easter cruise for a special charter. When customers started asking a few years later if the cruise was offered, it became an annual event.
“It’s pretty cool,” he said of the cruise.
The cruise will take passengers into San Carlos Bay and Pine Island Sound to Picnic Island. Either traveling to the island, or back to the dock the crew will search for dolphins. Passengers will also have the opportunity to learn about the local wildlife, and estuaries.
Once the passengers arrive on the island the youngsters will be divided into age groups for the egg hunt.
“The Easter bunny spreads thousands of eggs over the island and provides the kids with sand pails for the eggs,” Josh said, adding that the youngest children are released before the older kids.
In case the younger children have difficulty finding the eggs, the Easter bunny always carries a few extras in his basket.
The Easter egg hunt encompasses the whole island, as well as the trails.
There will also be plenty of opportunities to take pictures. Josh said the whole family lines up and they take pictures with an island setting in the background.
“There is a lot of hugs and pictures,” he explained about the morning.
All participants are encouraged to wear their Easter bonnets, bunny ears and Easter clothes for the cruise.
Josh said the day before any of their holiday cruises are scheduled they go to Picnic Island to do a coastal cleanup.
Tickets are $39 per passenger and reservations are required by calling (239) 472-8443, visiting www.adventuresinparadise.com, or stopping by Adventures in Paradise Outfitters in Tahitian Gardens Shopping Center, 2019 Periwinkle Way.
Adventures in Paradise has been owned and operated for the past 31 years. The business offers Sanibel Island Trolley Tours, Shelling & Lunch excursions, Sea Life Encounters, Backwater Fishing Cruises, Morning Dolphin Cruises, Afternoon Dolphin Cruises and Sunset Dolphin & Wildlife Cruises.