COASTE | ADVENTURES
sailboats, bikes, scooters, scoot coupes, golf carts, baby joggers, beach chairs, beach umbrellas, even Yeti coolers. Inside, there’s myriad sun and fun
“Once you’re high enough and can’t hear the boat anymore, it’s so incredibly peaceful and relaxing. And the view is spectacular.” First up are the guinea pigs, also known as our kids. With years of experience riding virtually all of the big- name coasters in theme parks across the state, the crew straps them into their PFDs, clips them safely onto the sail lift and seats them on the bench — effectively a comfortable swing for three, only with a parachute attached to it. The captain throttles forward and off they rise. Roughly 12 minutes later, they return to a perfect landing — actually standing on the boat — after a playful, last-minute pants-dip in the water that’s part of the ride. Smiles abound, and “awesomes” fill they air.
retail items to be had, from necessities to shades to GoPros.
“To me, parasailing feels like you’re floating, sort of being on a magic carpet. Once you’re high enough and can’t hear the boat anymore, it’s so incredibly peaceful and relaxing. And the view is spectacular.”
But our mission this Tuesday morning
is the grand prize, the highlight reel of Captiva adventures — and that’s taking flight above the Gulf waters, tethered to an 800-foot cable as your trip boat below guides you into the winds and you parasail into paradise. It’s an adventure our team — two adults and three kids from eight to 13 years old — have been anticipating for days. So we sign our waivers, scurry to the beach, wade out to our boat and its crew of two and climb aboard.
“To me, parasailing feels like you’re floating, sort of being on a magic carpet,” Ventura says.
Then it’s our turn. In full disclosure, this writer isn’t the world’s biggest fan of roller coasters
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