Over 215,000 Pounds of Trash and Debris Removed from Southwest Florida Beaches

Seagram's Escapes recently partnered with Keep Florida Beautiful to plan widespread clean-up efforts across Southwest Florida beaches and shorelines. More than 7,500 people participated, removing 215K lbs. of trash and debris during events held March through July 2023. A $50,000 grant from Seagram's Escapes funded the program that included inland and waterway cleanups that prioritized some of the areas hardest hit by recent hurricanes, especially Hurricane Ian. This is the second year that Seagram's Escapes invested funding to positively impact coastal areas in Florida.

The funds were allocated through partnerships with four Keep Florida Beautiful affiliates: Keep Pinellas Beautiful, Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful, Keep Lee County Beautiful and Keep Charlotte Beautiful. The investment supported more than 1,000 projects across the state including waterway clean ups, sustainable plantings, and invasive species removal.

"Seagram's Escapes is proud to help keep Florida beaches beautiful for residents and tourists," said Jaime Polisoto, Seagram's Escapes brand director. "Our partnership with this impactful environmental organization enables our team to help promote sustainability in the communities where we sell our product. Keeping beaches beautiful is something every person in Florida can appreciate."

Southwest Florida beaches definitely took a hit from Hurricane Ian. Thank you Seagram's for helping out.

It's hard to believe Hurricane Ian hit almost a year and a half ago and while we still have a long way to go, more than 25 restaurants are now open on Sanibel and Captiva Islands.

I've been spending a lot time on our local beaches. I love that here in Southwest Florida, even when there's nothing to do, there's something to do. And that something for me, is always heading to the beach. I usually head to Sanibel to either Bowman's Beach or Tarpon Bay Beach. I love Gulfside City Park too, but rarely do I make it out early enough to get a parking spot. It's been SO nice seeing all the people out enjoying the beaches, it's been busy nearly every weekend.

There's also a lot of businesses reopening too. Between lodging, restaurants, shopping, and things to do like kayaking and fishing charters. I will say that driving around out there just breaks your heart. It's not so much that there's debris everywhere, it just looks very bare and to see huge homes and condo complexes just crumbling, is so sad. Slowly but surely though, things are reopening and the island is welcoming visitors back out to the islands to stay, play and dine. You can find a full list of open businesses here

They've been open, but now taking a break for summer. They'll reopen in October. Menu items include lamb chops, duck, steak and more.

Open Monday through Saturday, 10 am-2 pm at 2075 Periwinkle Way. Enjoy breakfast items and a variety of wraps and sandwiches.

Boops By The Bubble Room is a dessert shop serving cake, ice cream, pastries, and coffee. Open 8:30am-9pm daily at 15001 Captiva Drive.

The restaurant itself is still closed, but the food truck is set up in the parking lot at 14970 Captiva Dr.

Voted Best Pizza 2023 by Restaurant Guru. Open daily from 11am-7pm for take-out and offering free delivery Friday & Saturday nights.

Offering farm to table cuisine, craft cocktails and scratch-made desserts. Open for lunch and dinner Tuesday-Saturday.

Enjoy great views of the Gulf, delicious food and craft cocktails. Make sure to make a reservation as seating is limited to 60 guests.

With 2 dining rooms and an outdoor patio, they're open daily for lunch & dinner. Everything I've ever had has been delicious, Doc Ford's is a favorite of mine.

Gramma Dots is open daily from 11:30am-8pm serving lunch and dinner. Located at Sanibel Marina 634 N Yachtsman Drive

Open Monday-Friday 11-7. Enjoy gyros, burgers, wings, salads and more.

The deli and mini mart are open! Sandwiches, chips, beer, wine, drinks and salads available. Lots of grocery items as well.

Open 11am-close at 1619 Periwinkle Way. Sanibel's #1 ranked jumbo wings.

With meat, cheese, a bakery, produce, grocery and floral departments, they have everything you need. Great weekly specials too.

Featuring a variety of seafood, sandwiches, apps, soups and salads. Open 11:30-9 daily.

Located at 1473 Periwinkle Way with live music and happy hour daily. Offering cajun style food with an island twist. Enjoy oysters, fried green tomatoes, beignets and more.

Open for dinner only with reservations available from 5-9pm. Entrees include filet, duck, lobster & crab crusted scallops and more. Enjoy desserts too like banana bread pudding and crème brulee.

RC Otter's officially reopened last week on Captiva. With nearly 100 menu items, they're open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Rosalita's Cantina is a new restaurant located where 400 Rabbits was pre-Hurricane Ian. Enjoy signature table-side guacamole and a wide variety of Mexican dishes including their specialty Cadillac Fajitas.

Winner of Best Pizza from Taste of the Islands. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner at 2330 Palm Ridge Road

Open daily from 4-10pm. Serving oysters, scallops, lobster and grouper.

Located in the Chadwicks Square South plaza at 5400 Plantation Rd. Open 7am-2:30pm daily.

Located next to Old Captiva House at ‘Tween Waters Island Resort & Spa on Captiva. Open daily for breakfast and dinner.

Enjoy fresh frozen custard in flavors like key lime cheesecake, lemon raspberry, mint brownie, sea turtle and red velvet. Located on the East End of Sanibel Island, 1/4 mile up Periwinkle from the Sanibel Causeway.

Located at 1551 Periwinkle Way. Serving lunch and dinner daily from 11am-8pm.

Open daily for dinner. Serving a variety of Italian dishes including Ravioli alla Formaggio, Pollo alla Parmigiana, Insalata Caprese and Fettuccine Alfredo.

For even more restaurants open on Sanibel and Captiva islands click here