The Society of American Travel Writers awarded the J.N. ‘Ding’ Darling National Wildlife Refuge their prestigious “Phoenix” award. The purpose of the Phoenix Award is to give appropriate recognition for Individuals or Organizations actively involved in conservation, preservation, beautification and anti-pollution campaigns which further the growth and appeal of North American travel destinations. J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge opened in 1945 as the Sanibel National Wildlife Refuge. Today the refuge protects more than 7,600 acres of preserved water and land, and hosts nearly 800,000 visitors annually year. They come to visit the free education center built by the friends group (“Ding” Darling Wildlife Society), drive or bike the 4-mile Wildlife Drive, hike nature trails, board narrated tram and boating tours, paddle the backwaters, fish, and climb the observation tour to photograph some of the 272 species of birds that have been spotted, including the iconic roseate spoonbill. In 2011 it unveiled the first-of-its-kind iNature Trail along Wildlife Drive. Using QR code and smartphone/tablet technology, it gives visitors an interactive refuge tour by linking to custom filmed YouTube videos. A committee member wrote: “Without this refuge, Sanibel would not be the environmentally sound island that it is.”