Overview
Sandy and
I have been coming to Sanibel for over 20 years. Sanibel
has always been a very special place, unmatched by any other vacation
area in Florida. The ride across the Causeway is like
a passage to another place and time. The bike paths on
Periwinkle Way, the endless variety of small specialty shops,
the fine variety of excellent restaurants, the abundance of nature
preserves and other outdoor activities and the opportunity to
enjoy live theater and the arts all contribute to this mystique. Perhaps what Sanibel does not have is as important
as what it does possess. There are no traffic lights, no high rises and no sense of urban congestion.
Without question,
the greatest attraction of Sanibel is its beach. While
other beaches may have better or more sand, higher dunes or other
favored characteristics, there is something about the total tropical
experience of walking the beach at Sanibel. The combination
of magnificent views and a shoreline that brings a new population
of shells with every tide is rivaled only by the grace and beauty
of the pelicans and gulls in the sky. The dolphins playing
in the surf produce a serenity and solitude that is unmatched anywhere.
That is why Sandy and I love Sanibel so much.
We cordially invite you to come share our Sanibel home
and hopefully build your own memories.
Sanibel Information and Top Tourist Attractions:
Sanibel Visitor and Travel Information:
Why is Sanibel Island a world renowned vacation destination?
This question has as many answers as the island has visitors
and residents. Sanibel Island is a sub-tropical barrier island
located in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Fort Myers
in Southwest Florida. Like a sparkling emerald in a sea of
shimmering aquamarine, Sanibel is truly a gem and like no
other place in the world. Because there are no big hotels
on the island, visitors will find the best accommodations
in private vacation homes and gulf front condominiums that
are vacation rentals. This website has made it easy to find
hundreds of Sanibel vacation rentals homes and cottages for
holiday rentals and seasonal vacations. From secluded beachfront
homes to luxury condos or tropical cottages there is a Sanibel
vacation rental for any budget.
Why is Sanibel still a paradise when the rest
of Florida has become so overdeveloped? When development was
running rampant across Florida and high rises were erected
up and down the coast lines, Sanibel residents had the foresight
to incorporate into a city so that they could determine the
islands destiny. Sanibel became a paradise were man can coexist
with native plants and animals without destroying their natural
habitat. Building codes still restrict any home or structure
to a maximum height of 35 feet above the natural grade. This
insures that no building is taller that the tallest palm trees.
Viewed from offshore on a boat the profile of Sanibel Island
would lead one to believe that the island might be uninhabited
as no buildings mar the skyline. Property owners must also
adhere to a strict guideline of landscaping to allow for plenty
of native plants that provide food and shelter for the many
creatures that live on these fragile barrier islands. It is
quite easy to take a short stroll on the island and spot several
species of birds including Ibis, Pelicans, Ospreys, Bald Eagles,
Hawks, Roseate Spoonbills, Blue Herons, Great White Herons,
Woodpeckers, and many others. It is also easy to spot an American
Alligator sunning along the banks of the many ponds that dot
the islands. Alligators are also found in abundance on three
island golf courses. It is best to remember if you hit a shot
into the water to let it be or you might lose more than just
your ball. The Alligator population on Sanibel Island is healthy
and they can be found in and around all of the island's bodies
of fresh water. If you do find yourself in the company of
an Alligator do not approach it and DO NOT FEED IT. If fed
by humans gators lose their natural fear of people and will
associate you with food the next time they are approached.
Do not be fooled by their lazy appearance as they bask in
the sun, gators are lightning fast and are taking in all motion
around them. Even though Sanibel sits in the northern edge
of the viable Crocodile habitat range, the island does have
one resident Crocodile "Bessie". She is over 13
feet long and is usually on the west end of the island near
the Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge. Because there are no other
Crocodiles on the islands, Bessie can't reproduce. She was
once relocated to the Everglades National Park but eventually
made her way back to Sanibel.
Why is Sanibel such a great place to find shells?
Today flocks of tourists come to Sanibel to enjoy a truly
relaxing island style vacation. No hustle and bustle. The
island beaches are the main attraction. Sanibel is famous
for some of the best shelling in the entire world due to Sanibel's
position along the coast. The island sits East and West perpendicular
to the coast before the island turns north paralleling the
coast like most other barrier islands. This boomerang shape
also cuts across the current forcing shells as they roll along
the ocean floor towards the islands beaches where they are
trapped and wash up onto the sand. The shells are so thick
at times that they bank up several inches thick allowing the
avid Sheller to sit atop the mound and shell with ease. Shelling
on Sanibel Island is so popular that there is even a name
for shellers as they bend down repeatedly to pick up a keeper:
The Sanibel Stoop. Shelling is always best during the outgoing
tide until the peak low tide is reached. The islands beaches
have a gentle slope and do not become deep quickly allowing
for little ones to explore the tidal areas without fear. Species
of shells also remain protected on the island just as do the
land creatures. There is a strict now live shelling law in
place. Because there are plenty of beautiful shells to collect
that are already empty there is no reason to kill a living
mollusk just for its shell.
Does Sanibel Island offer more than just beautiful
beaches? For sports enthusiasts, Sanibel Island is a year
around play ground. There are over 22 miles of paved shared
use paths that run all over the island allowing for a safe
area for biking, running and walking. Completed in 2007, the
Sanibel Recreation Center is a wonderful addition to the island
with tennis courts, resort style pools, and much more. There
are three golf courses on Sanibel: The Sanctuary Golf &
Tennis Club which is a private club and two semi-private courses
The Dunes and Beachview Golf and Tennis. Water sports are
also a Sanibel favorite with kayaking, boating, fishing, windsurfing,
kite boarding, and sailing.
What can I expect to see if I take out a boat?
Sanibel has a large offshore population of Dolphins that can
be seen easily from the beach as they play and feed in the
shallow waters. In addition to the Dolphins, many island visitors
will see their first Manatee in the waters surrounding Sanibel.
Manatees are seen more frequently in Pine Island Sound and
Tarpon Bay where they feed on the abundant sea grasses that
grow in these shallow waters. Manatees also frequent the shallow
canals that run behind many island homes to seek shelter and
warmer water. If you want to fish then take your camera. Sanibel
Island is teeming with sport fish for all seasons. Enjoy fighting
a Tarpon, or Redfish, or Snook and don't forget to land that
Grouper for dinner. Sanibel fishing is always a day of sights
and delights. There are many fishing guides on the islands
and also areas where you can charter you own charter. If you
don't have a boat then grab a pole and head to the beach or
to the Sanibel Fishing Pier to try your luck.
Where can you go on Sanibel for a day or half
day to learn more about the island? Sanibel is home to the
Bailey Matthews Shell Museum where you can learn about the
shells and history of shells in our culture. The Ding Darling
Wildlife Refuge is open year around with guided tours, and
self tours of the refuge and has a wonderful learning center
for the whole family. To learn more about Sanibel's rich island
history, don't miss the Sanibel Historical Museum located
on Dunlop Road next to Big Arts and the Sanibel Library. If
you wish to learn more about the native plants and wildlife
visit SCCF the Sanibel and Captiva Conservation Foundation
where you can tour a butterfly garden go on a nature hike
and see native plants up close. There is even a wildlife clinic
on Sanibel called CROW which stands for Care and Rehabilitation
of Wildlife. At CROW you can learn more about how to co-exist
with animals so that we do not harm them.
What other places should I see on my Sanibel
vacation? Be sure to take in a show at the Schoolhouse Theater.
This small Broadway size theater puts on some of the best
entertainment in theater in Southwest Florida! You will also
want to visit Big Arts where various musicians play throughout
the Sanibel Season and during the summer you will find a multitude
of hands on Arts classes.
If you really want to learn more about Sanibel
Island up close and personal, you won't want to miss the Sanibel
Sea School! This new island school is dedicated to teaching
children and adults about Sanibel ecology and conservation
by direct hands on field study. Their motto is "Man was
meant to Wade" and they will not disappoint you with
their wealth of island knowledge and excitement in the field
of study!
To help you explore Sanibel, we have provided
a number of links to additional information. We hope you find
everything you are looking for. In the event that you have
additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Links
Ding
Darling Wildlife Refuge
dingdarling.fws.gov
Tarpon
Bay Refuge
www.tarponbayexplorers.com
Arts/Galleries
www.bigarts.org
Tower
Gallery
www.towergallery-sanibel.com
Clinic for
Rehabilitation of Wildlife, Inc.
www.crowclinic.org
Bailey-Matthews
Shell Museum
www.shellmuseum.org
Sanibel-Captiva
Conservation Foundation
www.sccf.org
Contact Us to Reserve Your Next Sanibel Vacation!
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About Sanibel