Statecation at the Holiday Inn Sanibel | Review and Giveaway
August 25, 2010 by admin - Jennifer
Filed under Featured, Giveaways
Company: Holiday Inn
Item Reviewed: Holiday Inn Sanibel Island weekend Statecation
Item Given Away: $10 iTunes Gift Card – 5 Winners
Start Date: August 25
End Date: September 8
I recently got the opportunity to go on a Statecation, something I am actually growing more and more fond of. I know there are tons of places in the country that I have never been to, but when the budget is restrained a bit there is nothing like venturing in your own state, and Florida has so much to offer. On this little weekend jaunt we traveled to Sanibel Island, Florida a 3 1/2 hour drive from Orlando (4 hours with potty breaks), this was the first family road trip in awhile and one we won’t soon forget! We chose to go to Sanibel for a few reasons, one being my husband and I wanted to go back to where we honeymooned all those years ago.
The drive was beautiful and when we hit the causeway my toddler got so excited, it was her first time seeing the ocean, and for me it took my breath away for the second time in my life. Just look at these pictures of the drive onto the island…
By this time we were all ready to get out of the car and explore the island. We found the Holiday Inn Sanibel Island very easily as it was at the end of the street we stayed on for our honeymoon. At check-in I was greeted by two very polite staff members who helped me get settled in the two rooms we had waiting for us. As soon as we were relieved of our bags we went to the local pizza place, The Island Pizza, to grab some much needed food. Now this particular pizza place was the one we went to when we honeymooned so I found us the exact booth we sat in and after we ordered we took some pictures.
We ate a delicious pizza and talked about all the new memories that we were going to make as we made our way back to the Holiday Inn to change so we could hit the beach! One of the other reasons we wanted to go to Sanibel was we really wanted to go shelling, and the girls were really excited about this aspect of the trip, and we brought home buckets of shells. We had so much fun looking for shells and my toddler was squealing when she first put her feet in the ocean, she even shouted out, “Mommy I love this beach!” as she splashed around.
After a few hours on the beach we headed back to the room to get ready for dinner at Courtney’s, a restaurant at The Holiday Inn, which we were told had great food and an interesting center piece for the room. When we arrived we were seated and saw up close the interesting center piece. There in the middle of the room was an upside down tree, roots and all. Check it out…
Courtney’s had great a great atmosphere and some really great food. After filling up we got in the car and headed to a place on Captiva to catch the gorgeous sunset. My husband and I did this on our honeymoon as well but the entire week we were there we never got a good sunset because it was overcast or actually raining so we were keeping our fingers crossed for a good one. We weren’t let down and we all left in awe of the most beautiful thing we have seen. Words don’t do enough to explain this beauty so here are a few of our pictures.
As you can see if was absolutely beautiful and we were all amazed watching that. I have so many more pictures of this time but these were a few of my favorites. As soon as the sun set the heavens opened up and rained us off the beach, but it waited so we could see the sunset! We headed back to the Holiday Inn to dry off and get ready for bed, we had a very busy day. The next day was another day at the beach, buckets of shells and fun in the sun.
We really enjoyed getting to know our state better, making new memories with the family and instilling a love of the beach in our kids. The west coast beaches of Florida are absolutely gorgeous and I was so happy to see that that beauty was not marred by the oil spill in the gulf. We ran on the beach, swam in the water and even saw a few dolphins pop up nearby every now and then. Simply beautiful! I highly recommend everyone visiting the west coast beaches, especially Sanibel and Captiva! Don’t forget to go and enjoy your very own state with a Statecation!
Special thank you goes out to the Holiday Inn Sanibel staff, who were very friendly and helpful and I want to say thank you for making our stay a memorable one! With their new features in the room like a microwave and fridge we were able to save a bit of money by keeping snacks and drinks in the room with us. That is a huge plus on a vacation! I really love that Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express has revamped itself with all these new features that really make traveling easier on your pocketbook! And you can’t beat the view!!!!!
I have a fun little giveaway for the readers of The Dirty Shirt too. When we drove down to Sanibel we plugged in our iPods and jammed to our music and I was happy to not have to search for a new radio station when we drove out of range of the one we were listening to. I have 5 $10 iTunes cards up for grabs for 5 of you. Please see rules below to enter to win today!
I was provided rooms and gas/food stipend to travel in state for my Statecation at the Holiday Inn Sanibel, as well as the iTunes Gift Cards to giveaway. All thoughts and opinions are 100% mine.
Giveaway
- MAIN RULE – I would like you to think of what your road trip soundtrack would be and come up with at least two songs that have the word “You” in it. Tell me in comments what they are. (remember if this rule is not followed then no others will count)
- 1 Extra Entry – Subscribe to my RSS feed or by email (or let me know if you already are) in a separate comment.
- 1 Extra Entry – Follow me on Twitter (button in header) and let me know your Twitter name in a separate comment.
- 1 Extra Entry – Tweet this giveaway. Copy and paste – @Jentifa is giving away $10 iTunes Gift Cards…5 Winners! Check it out here http://bit.ly/ctY2pi. Then come back and leave the direct link to your tweet (go to your twitter account, click on the words when your tweet was sent (ie. 5 seconds ago) and copy and paste that link in comments.
- 1 Extra Entry – Friend me on Google Friend Connect on sidebar and leave a separate comment that you did.
- 2 Extra Entries – Write a post on your blog linking to my blog.
This giveaway will run through midnight on September 8, with winner being announced the morning of September 9. Winner will be chosen using Random.org from all valid entries and notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to contact me before another winner is chosen. Giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.
Hm – my roadtrip soundtrack would honestly probably be a bunch of showtunes, so: I’ll Make A Man Out Of You from Mulan and I Can Make You A Man from Rocky Horror.
RSS subscriber
Twitter follower (@sunquistadora)
You Can’t HIde Redneck and You Belong to Me.
Email subscriber.
Twitter follower. @jen_r_horn
Tweeted. http://twitter.com/jen_r_horn/status/22130083452
Follow in GFC.
Twitter: PricelessTeam
says:
“Rock With You” (Michael Jackson) and “You” (Lloyd and Lil Wayne) would be on my soundtrack.
Yona Williams recently posted..Megabus – Cheap Bus Rides
Twitter: PricelessTeam
says:
Im a Twitter friend (pricelessteam).
Yona Williams recently posted..Desserts and Drinks with Benefits
Twitter: PricelessTeam
says:
Im a Google Connect Friend.
Yona Williams recently posted..Desserts and Drinks with Benefits
Twitter: PricelessTeam
says:
I’m an email subscriber.
Yona Williams recently posted..Desserts and Drinks with Benefits
I’d choose “Shine on you crazy diamond” and “Hey you”. Thanks for the chance.
I’m a subscriber.
Twitter: sleatham1
says:
My soundtrack would be a little bit country and a little bit rock & roll!
Songs….You & I Eddie Rabbit & Crystal Gayle
You had me from hello Kenny Chesney
Thanks
bleatham*at*gmail.com
shelly aka allysmama recently posted..Why the Energizer Smart Charger would make my life easier
Twitter: sleatham1
says:
email subscriber
bleatham*at*gmail.com
shelly aka allysmama recently posted..Why the Energizer Smart Charger would make my life easier
Twitter: sleatham1
says:
twitter follower sleatham1
bleatham*at*gmail.com
shelly aka allysmama recently posted..Why the Energizer Smart Charger would make my life easier
Twitter: sleatham1
says:
tweet
http://twitter.com/sleatham1/status/22251150416
bleatham*at*gmail.com
shelly aka allysmama recently posted..Why the Energizer Smart Charger would make my life easier
Twitter: sleatham1
says:
following on GFC
bleatham*at*gmail.com
shelly aka allysmama recently posted..Why the Energizer Smart Charger would make my life easier
My soundtrack would include Mad About You and You Shook Me All Night Long.
email subscriber
gfc follower
Want To Be With You by Mr. Big
Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd
Greay giveaway! Love that 70′s music!
I Follow You Publicly on Google Friend Connect
rjwhiggins@aol.com
I Subscribe to your RSS via google reader
rjwhiggins@aol.com
I follow you on Twitter.
rjwhiggins
rjwhiggins@aol.com
I tweeted about this giveaway today.
http://twitter.com/rjwhiggins/status/22278938849
rjwhiggins@aol.com
You Belong to Me and Somebody Knows You Know.
Follow via RSS.
Follow on twitter @amandawk
Tweeted http://twitter.com/amandawk/status/22280794302
I’m a follower.
Twitter: Mami2jcn
says:
You Can Call Me Al by Paul Simon and With or Without You by U2.
Mami2jcn recently posted..Applied Labels Review and Giveaway
Twitter: Mami2jcn
says:
I subscribe by email.
Mami2jcn recently posted..Applied Labels Review and Giveaway
Twitter: Mami2jcn
says:
I follow you on Twitter (mami2jcn)
Mami2jcn recently posted..Applied Labels Review and Giveaway
Twitter: Mami2jcn
says:
I follow you on GFC.
Mami2jcn recently posted..Applied Labels Review and Giveaway
Twitter: momznite
says:
“What I Like about You” and “You Make Me Wanna Shout” would be in my soundtrack.
momznite_at_yahoo_daught_com
Twitter: momznite
says:
email subscriber
momznite_at_yahoo_daught_com
Twitter: momznite
says:
GFC follower
momznite_at_yahoo_daught_com
Keep on Loving You by Reo Speedwagon and With or Without You by U2
I subscribe via email
I follow on Twitter @pittsy82
I follow via Google Connect
Tweeted https://twitter.com/pittsy82/status/22401569463
Twitter: tobinsmommy08
says:
“Till There Was You” and “I Don’t Need Anything But You”
Rachel D. recently posted..25 Walmart Gift Card Giveaway ENDS TONIGHT!
Twitter: tobinsmommy08
says:
I subscribe by email
Twitter: tobinsmommy08
says:
I follow you on Twitter (@tobinsmommy08)
Rachel D. recently posted..25 Walmart Gift Card Giveaway ENDS TONIGHT!
Twitter: tobinsmommy08
says:
I follow you on Google Friend Connect (sweetpea08)
Rachel D. recently posted..25 Walmart Gift Card Giveaway ENDS TONIGHT!
Twitter: tobinsmommy08
says:
Tweet http://twitter.com/tobinsmommy08/status/22468521492
Rachel D. recently posted..25 Walmart Gift Card Giveaway ENDS TONIGHT!
You Are My Sunshine and You Are My Special Angel.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
Email subscriber
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
Follower on google
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
You Are My Sunshine (for my daughter)
Fallin For You by Colbie Caillat (for me)
Come As You Are by Nirvana (for my husband)
She Drives Me Crazy by The Fine Young Cannibals, only we’d change “she drives” to “you drive” and point at each other while we sang!
email subscriber
And those are BEAUTIFUL pictures you took!
“Lucky 4 You” by SheDaisy and You’re Still the One by Shania Twain…:)
I’m a subscriber with Google Reader.
I’m following you on Twitter. (@hawaiismn)
Tweeted about this giveaway: http://twitter.com/hawaiismn/status/22618294054
I’m a blog follower.
I would and always do take a cd with multiple different singers to liven up the ride! Thanks!
I’ll Be Missing You- Puff Daddy
I Love The Way You Love Me- John Michael Montgomery
I’m a subscriber by e-mail!
I follow you on Twitter! @natdey
I follow you on google!
I tweeted this giveaway!
http://twitter.com/natdey/status/22638579283
My two road trip songs are She Loves You by The Beatles and I Wanna Love You by Akon
I follow your blog with google friend connect
I follow you on Twitter – my Twitter ID is @AmberGoo
I tweeted this giveaway: http://twitter.com/AmberGoo/status/23022657863
You Give Love A Bad Name-Bon Jovi and You Oughta Know-Alanis Morisette
I would pick “We Will Rock You” by Queen, “Crazy for You” by Heart and “Who Are You” by the Who to start with.
I would be rockin to the oldies on my roadtrip-Do You Wanna Dance-Beach Boys and Loving You-Elvis
Keep on Lovin’ You
Mad about You
Soundtrack would include:
Who are You
We will Rock You
email subscriber
follow on Twitter
CTSweeper
We will rock you and you make me feel (like a natural woman)
You Send Me by Sam Cooke and I Love You Just the Way You Are by Billy Joel, for my husband
You Raise Me Up by Josh Groban and You Don’t Know Me by Michael Buble. Thanks!
You Belong To Me and Unusual You
‘Only You” and ‘You are the Sunshine of my Life’
follow on twitter as hbbs55
tweeted
http://twitter.com/hbbs55/status/23101917718
follow with GFC
You Are So Beautiful to Me
and
I Love You
txhottie_86 at yahoo dot com
Hey You, by Heart
You and Me, by Lifehouse
My soundtrack would have “Wake me up before YOU go go” by Wham! and “What YOU Need” by INXS.
#1 You Belong With Me – Taylor Swift
#2 If I Ain’t Got You – Alicia Keys
<3
bakergurl02 @ yahoo dot com
Email Subscribed.
bakergurl02 @ yahoo dot com
Following you on Twitter @Xizelle
bakergurl02 @ yahoo dot com
Following you on Google Friend Connect @Alisha L.
bakergurl02 @ yahoo dot com
My playlist would be a mishmash of stuff!
But it would include All you need is Love by the Beatles and Do You Want to Dance by Johnny Rivers.
I follow you google connect. jenndiggy
I follow you on twitter. jenndiggy
I tweeted. http://twitter.com/jenndiggy/status/23216019987
You Used to Hold Me by Calvin Harris (I love house music!) topgun34er(at)hotmail(dot)com
Alone with You by Deadmau5 (Another house music song!) topgun34er(at)hotmail(dot)com
Twitter: shining2save
says:
you belong to me and what i like about you
Twitter: shining2save
says:
new rss feeds subscriber
Kari recently posted..Baby Boy is almost 7 months old!
Twitter: shining2save
says:
i follow via gfc
Kari recently posted..Baby Boy is almost 7 months old!
Twitter: shining2save
says:
twitter follower
shining2save
Kari recently posted..Baby Boy is almost 7 months old!
Twitter: shining2save
says:
tweeted
http://twitter.com/shining2save/status/23244987644
Kari recently posted..Baby Boy is almost 7 months old!
Twitter: shining2save
says:
i follow ICBINotButter on twitter
shining2save
Twitter: Kelliebug
says:
I would pick ‘You Belong With Me’ by Taylor Swift, and ‘You got a friend in me’ from Toy Story for my little one
I love Sanibel Island, I visited maybe 5 years ago and had a great relaxing time!
Kellie recently posted..Anytime Costumes Giveaway! Win Costume of Choice Up To 50!!
Twitter: Kelliebug
says:
I subscribe by email!
Kellie recently posted..Anytime Costumes Giveaway! Win Costume of Choice Up To 50!!
Twitter: Kelliebug
says:
I Follow you on Twitter! (@Kelliebug)
Kellie recently posted..Anytime Costumes Giveaway! Win Costume of Choice Up To 50!!
Twitter: Kelliebug
says:
I tweeted!
http://twitter.com/Kelliebug/status/23253178363
Kellie recently posted..Anytime Costumes Giveaway! Win Costume of Choice Up To 50!!
Twitter: Kelliebug
says:
I Follow you on Google Friend Connect! Thanks so much!
Kellie recently posted..Anytime Costumes Giveaway! Win Costume of Choice Up To 50!!
You shook me all night Long – AC/DC
and
Where are You going? – Dave Mathews Band
You Really Got Me by Van Halen and
The Way You Make Me feel by Michael Jackson would be on my list.
“You Raise me Up” and “All You Need Is Love”
“I’ve Got You Under My Skin” and “Embraceable You”
Thanks for a great giveaway!
I subscribe RSS via Google Reader.
I follow you on twitter @Ida_Sessions.
Tweeted you!
http://twitter.com/Ida_Sessions/status/23866314762
I follow you on Google Friend Connect, screen name “nape.”
Who Are You? – The Who
Anyone Else But You – Michael Cera & Ellen Page in Juno
Need You Now by Lady Antebellum and You Belong with Me by Talor Swift.
tweeted: http://twitter.com/KerryBishop/status/23872105220
I’d pick “I and Love and You” by The Avett Brothers and “You Picked Me” by A Fine Frenzy
Follow via GFC!
Twitter: stigay
says:
you belong with me, and you’re the one that I want
Twitter: stigay
says:
gfc follower (stigay)
I’d pick Who are you? The Who and You Shook Me All Night Long – AC/DC – thanks!
Twitter: http://2monkeysmomma.blogspot.com/
says:
You Get What You Give and I Hope You Dance.
Jennifer M recently posted..Monopoly and Family Game Night
If I Had You- Adam Lambert
Stare At You- New Kids On the Block
Twitter: freebiescity
says:
rock with you and Till There Was You
I like a wide range of music. I’d probably include ‘You Gotta Move’(aerosmith) and ‘If I Had You’(adam lambert) on my road trip soundtrack.
twitter follower @xangiepx
tweet
http://twitter.com/xangiepx/status/23917948644
friends on GFC
angie p
My travel songs would be all Beatles (although… I’d have to be travelling by myself – LOL). 2 of the songs would be She Loves You and I Need You.
I already subscribe with google reader
I follow you on twitter – bsw529
I tweeted http://twitter.com/bsw529/status/23925209827
I follow you with google friends connect
Twitter: js22222222
says:
two songs would be :
A Song for You
Love the Way You Lie
Thanks for the giveaway!
Twitter: js22222222
says:
I subscribe to your blog’s feed via google reader.
Twitter: js22222222
says:
i follow you on twitter – js22222222 .
tweet: http://twitter.com/js22222222/status/23926183304
Twitter: js22222222
says:
oops put tweet in prior entry. don’t want to lose another chance to win!
tweet: http://twitter.com/js22222222/status/23926183304
Twitter: js22222222
says:
I follow your blog on google friends connect- Joanne Schultz .
Twitter: coriwestphal
says:
I’d have to go with Billy Joel’s Just the Way You Are and Belinda Carlisle’s Mad About You!
coriwestphal at msn dot com
Cori Westphal recently posted..Personal Microdermabrasion at home!
Twitter: coriwestphal
says:
Tweet: http://twitter.com/coriwestphal/statuses/23928019473
coriwestphal at msn dot com
Cori Westphal recently posted..Personal Microdermabrasion at home!
Twitter: coriwestphal
says:
I’m a Google Friend: Cori Westphal
coriwestphal at msn dot com
Cori Westphal recently posted..Personal Microdermabrasion at home!
Twitter: coriwestphal
says:
I follow you on Twitter @coriwestphal
coriwestphal at msn dot com
Cori Westphal recently posted..Personal Microdermabrasion at home!
Twitter: coriwestphal
says:
I’m an email subscriber, coriwestphal at msn dot com.
coriwestphal at msn dot com
Cori Westphal recently posted..Personal Microdermabrasion at home!
Twitter:
says:
“Hello, Goodbye” by the Beatles (“You say yes, I say no/you say stop, and I say go go go!”)
“All I ask of you” from Phantom of the Opera
“You are my Sunshine” – this has special meaning for the hubby and me
thanks for the giveaway!
Jennifer Senkowski Williams recently posted..Nerd Art Thing
Twitter:
says:
I’m following on GFC!
Jennifer Senkowski Williams recently posted..Nerd Art Thing
Twitter:
says:
I subscribed via email! *fingers crossed*
Jennifer Senkowski Williams recently posted..Nerd Art Thing
My songs would be
You’re in my heart – rod stewart
You’ll accompany me – bob seger
I subscribe by email
ajolly1456 at gmail dot com
Anne recently posted..Wordless Wednesday – Fair Fun
I follow you on twitter, lunaj1456
Anne recently posted..Wordless Wednesday – Fair Fun
I tweeted
http://twitter.com/lunaj1456/status/23940878460
Anne recently posted..Wordless Wednesday – Fair Fun
I follow on google friend connect
Anne recently posted..Wordless Wednesday – Fair Fun
You shook me all night long and you + your hand!
I follow you on twitter (@trippyjanet)
Two of my favorites with the word you in it are: I want you to want me, and You give love a bad name
I follow on GFC
I’m an rss subscriber
My two songs would be “Rock With You” by Michael Jackson, and “Fix You” by Coldplay.
Follow publicly via Google Friend Connect (Chrystal)
Follow you on Twitter- @chryskay
Tweeted-
http://twitter.com/chryskay/status/23948809481
@chryskay
“You Raise Me Up” and “You’re Still You” by Josh Groban
I’ll Give All My Love to You (Keith Sweat) and I Will Always Love You (Whitney Huston).
I will follow you on Twitter (MrsHarriett)
My Tweet: https://twitter.com/MrsHarriett/status/23954776939
I follow you on GFC.
I Got You Babe by Sonny and Cher, and You Are the Sunshine of my Life by Stevie Wonder. Both fun songs to sing along with and an upbeat rhythm.
Follower GFC
Pamela S recently posted..10 for 25 Worth of Nuts- Dried Fruit- and More from Nutty Guys
Subscribed to feed. Thanks.
Pamela S recently posted..10 for 25 Worth of Nuts- Dried Fruit- and More from Nutty Guys
My ideal road trip mix would have lots of laidback, chill songs to listen to and sing along to, and two of my favorites actually have “You” in the title: “You and I Both” by Jason Mraz and “You Give Me Something” by James Morrison. I love soulful singers with a nice vibe to them!
I subscribe via email: gkaufmanss at yahoo dot com
I’m following you on twitter: @guettel78
I tweeted: http://twitter.com/guettel78/status/23969911125
I’m following on google friend connect: Geoff K
1. I blogged about the giveaway: http://slavetoacademia.blogspot.com/2010/09/win-10-itunes-gc-at-dirty-shirt.html
Twitter: http://www.thriftyjinxy.com/
says:
Mine would have “I Got You Babe” and “You Light Up my Life”
Chrysa recently posted..Best Deal Magazines Deal of the Day – Family Fun- Cesars Way- Elle- Seventeen & More
Twitter: http://www.thriftyjinxy.com/
says:
I’m following your blog in Google Friend Connect.
Chrysa recently posted..Best Deal Magazines Deal of the Day – Family Fun- Cesars Way- Elle- Seventeen & More
Twitter: http://www.thriftyjinxy.com/
says:
tweet http://twitter.com/LuckyJinxy/status/23973670352
Chrysa recently posted..Best Deal Magazines Deal of the Day – Family Fun- Cesars Way- Elle- Seventeen & More
Twitter: http://www.thriftyjinxy.com/
says:
I’m following you on Twitter (I’m @LuckyJinxy).
Chrysa recently posted..Best Deal Magazines Deal of the Day – Family Fun- Cesars Way- Elle- Seventeen & More
Rock YOU like hurricane
and
Pray for YOU-Jaron and the long road to love
Im a new follower
Pur is a decorous one.