Englewood and Pine Island, Fl Jan/Feb 2026

We spent January in Englewood and February on Pine Island, and this time our goal was simple: don’t overdo it.

No packed calendar.No running from sunrise to sunset trying to “see it all.”

Instead, we gave ourselves permission to slow down. These two months became a true respite — time to refresh, restore, and just be.

Most days were wonderfully ordinary. Morning coffee without an agenda. Easy walks. Quiet evenings. The kind of rhythm that settles your mind instead of spinning it up.

We did venture out a couple of times. A visit to B.S. Swindler’s Peculiarium gave us a few laughs and some memorable moments. You can see our seperate blog on BS Swindlers here. We also enjoyed time at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, always a reminder of how fascinating coastal life can be.

Kate made good use of the public pools wherever we stayed and enjoyed nice long walks, taking in the fresh air and sunshine. Mike, on the other hand, put in many happy hours exploring by bicycle, pedaling along island roads and discovering little corners you’d never notice from a car.

But truthfully, the highlight wasn’t any single outing.

It was the pause.

Sometimes travel doesn’t have to mean motion. Sometimes it’s about staying put long enough to breathe.

And this winter, that felt just right.

Florida Highlights