Captiva and Sanibel Islands are barrier islands protecting Fort Myers and surrounding communities. Both contain beautiful white sand beaches and calm, clear water. My family vacationed on Captiva in the summer of 1996.

Getting there required a layover in Atlanta, during the 1996 Olympics. I declined to talk back to the subway, whose helpful reminders about the doors, seats and poles amused us all. The landing in Fort Myers was one of the roughest ever experienced. I remain certain the plane lost a few parts from the landing gear in the process. Several years later, a hurricane destroyed many buildings on both islands.