Things to do / Travel Guide
Address:Sanibel Island, Florida
Leave the neon lights, flashy accommodations, and high-rise hotels on the mainland, Sanibel Island Beaches in Southern Florida are for folks who want sun and sand served up without a side order of kitsch or commotion. With a large wildlife and bird refuge occupying nearly a third of the island, sunny Sanibel Island attracts both migrating birds and tourists flying south for the winter. And while burying your toes in the warm sand is as good a Sanibel Island itinerary as any, you might want to schedule in a few other typical Sanibel Island excursions. Swim in the bathwater-warm waters, walk around the historic Sanibel Island Lighthouse, fish the nearby pier or cast a line into the gentle surf. A barrier island running east-west, Sanibel shores scoop up some of the world's most beautiful seashells, thanks to the generous Gulf of Mexico currents. So wear shorts with deep pockets and do the "Sanibel Stoop," as you bend over to scour the shoreline for those colorful conch and mollusk souvenirs that'll prove your tan is authentic. With over 17 miles of beautiful beaches, 26 miles of bike trails, and none of the crowds, Sanibel Island is an exotic tropical retreat that doesn't require a passport.
To get to know Sanibel Island's most intimate vacation secrets, start on the sand. Five different beach areas offer slightly different Sanibel settings. Lighthouse Park Beach near Sanibel Lighthouse is a long and thin beach, with good shelling, a boardwalk, and a nature trail that twists its way through native wetlands. Gulfside City Park (a.k.a. Algiers Beach) is the best place to have a shaded picnic, while Tarpon Bay Beach has some of Sanibel Island's best sand and shells, clean bathrooms and a truck load of parking. Bowman's Beach wins the Sanibel Island popularity contest for its tranquility, sugar white sands, fabulous shelling, and amenities (outdoor showers and barbecue grills), and Sanibel Causeway Beaches are the best places to watch boats, dolphins, and windsurfers take on the sea. And at Sanibel Causeway Beaches you can drive right up to the water's edge. Few surfers have uncovered all of Sanibel Island's secrets, but Sanibel Island wave riders hope that Sanibel's hard-breaking insider waves remain insider knowledge.
With some of Florida's best fishing, Sanibel Island is legendary among anglers across the country. Snook, tarpon, sea trout, and redfish are all just a rod's length away from the shoreline. Of course there are always charter companies to take you out to the blue beyond for deep-sea fishing, but to go it alone, head to the fishing pier at Lighthouse Park Beach or stand on the shore at Sanibel Causeway Beaches and cast into the surf, You can always cross over the bridge to Captiva's Turner Beach and fish the rock jetties and still make it home in time for dinner. If you prefer to observe wildlife (rather than conquer it), stop off at the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, with more than 5,000 acres of trails for hiking, biking, kayaking, and canoeing. Eco tours (on foot and via kayak) are available at the refuge to see the world's largest mangrove forest as well as countless rare species of mammals, reptiles, and birds. Well worthy of a week, a month, or an entire winter, Sanibel Island is a beauty-without-the-bustle beach retreat not to be missed!