The pristine beaches of Sanibel are best in the off-season (May to September) where the beaches are empty save for the locals. For the whole family, Causeway Beach & Park is the perfect day out. Sanibel is known for its beaches some of the best beaches in southwest Florida but even more so for the millions of shells that wash up on its shores by the hour. Several restaurants are within walking distance on Sanibel Island, including The Lazy Flamingo, Sunset Cafe and The Mad Hatter. Refer to our Privacy Policy for full affiliate terms. You can just spend your days on Sanibel Island and occasionally go to Captiva island to experience their unique dining experience. Thank you Allison Hagerup Beach Park is a beautiful public beach with direct access to Captiva Beach and has a small parking lot. Gulfside City Park. Bird watching where you can spot pelicans, ibis. On the flip side of this is that Captiva allows the use of golf carts on the roads within the village limits during daylight hours only. If you want to get on a personal level with nature, you can visit any of these beaches. That is until we stayed at the Island Inn on Sanibel. As you ride your bike to cruise the 4-mile Wildlife Drive, get ready to discover different trails. Sand Key is literally a 5 minute drive from Clearwater Beach. Right at the southern tip of Captiva Island is Turner Beach. BOAT RIDE AROUND J.N. Blind Pass Beach. Can you find a nice place to stay? Fishers in particular love it here, as there is a lighted pier for them to enjoy and fish from. Here are some helpful tips to get the most out of your Captiva or Sanibel Island shelling experience. If Sanibel is rough and murky you can often drive a few miles to Captiva and find calm and clear water. It does get busy understandably so as its so popular! So many reviews have said that guests left sanibel's beaches when they were bad to go to captiva where they we great! 7/9/2016. Were often asked and emailed questions from readers wanting to know what the difference is between Sanibel and Captiva islands. More island businesses are re-opening every week. Nearly 70% of the island is devoted to conservation and wildlife refuges. Sanibel is crisscrossed by an extensive multi-use path system that gives bicyclists and walkers access to most of the destinations on the island including the wildlife refuge and most of the beaches. Sanibel Island offers very quaint inns, like the Sanibel inn. Sanibel Island is a combination of a natural and touristy atmosphere with island vibes. As waves travel across shallow water they pick up speed and tend to stir up sand and sediment from the ocean floor. So map your walk along this route carefully and make sure that youre not trespassing along the way. For a romantic getaway with your partner, you can choose to stay in the Love shack. Onceyou're is on the beach, it is public property from mean the high tide line to the water, so you can stroll to your heart's content. The causeway was built in 1963 (the island was previously only accessible via ferry) and the city of Sanibel was formed in 1974. Captiva's beaches are more of the soft sugar sand that one would typically see on an island. Has the red drift algae been a problem AT ALL on Captiva?? A second dining room and outdoor patio are poolside, with a gulf backdrop. Blind Pass Beach Park. We are staying a week. P.S. If youre looking for a smaller beach, Sanibel Lighthouse Beach is an excellent option. Theres nothing better than a relaxing day at the beach, and Lighthouse Beach has some of the best spaces to let your worries float away. Look at the JW Marriott Marco website for options. The J.N. With a shell bag in hand, they scour the beaches for hours looking for unbroken treasures. You can reach Blind Pass by heading to Sanibel's western tip where the gorgeous white sand flanks the channel between Sanibel and Captiva islands. You can park for free here, and you can head to the park during the day for the kids to play before heading to the sand. Sanibel Island is about 40 minutes west from there. Marco is highly developed and channelized with high rises and wide groomed beaches. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Hotels near The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum, Hotels near Sanibel and Captiva Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center, Hotels near Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW), Hotels near Sanibel Historical Museum and Village, Hotels near Sanibel Moorings Botanical Garden Tours. Marco has a 7.1 mile continuous, wide crescent beach with a long "Tigertail" beach. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge. The northern tip of the island, well over 300 acres,is all owned by the South Seas Resort. Exit 21 is the best exit off of I-75 for the beaches. See the There is a small parking lot adjacent to the beach with a limited number of spaces, and is $5.00 per hour paid at the lot kiosk. Discover the Beauty of Sanibel and Captiva Islands There is so much to find and enjoy in Southwest Florida, especially on Sanibel and Captiva Islands. As far as recommendations on where to stay on each island: On Captiva: South Seas Island Resort or Tween Waters Island Resort, On Sanibel: Casa Ybel Resort, Tortuga Beach Club Resort, the Inns of Sanibel, Sanibel Restaurant Recommendations: What I Liked & What I Didnt, Shopping on Sanibel: A Must Visit Bookstore & Cute Boutiques, A Visit to the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum, Cayo Costa Shelling Tours with Captiva Cruises, Edison & Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers, Luminary Hotel & Co in Downtown Fort Myers Review, Matlacha Isles & Pine Island: A Great Fort Myers Day Trips. There are 23 general parking spaces. It is the first beach after you leave Sanibel Island. Island Vacations of Sanibel and Captiva, Inc. 1101 Periwinkle Way #108 Sanibel, FL 33957 888-451-7277 Today, Sanibel is unique from other southwest Florida towns because there are no chains or franchises (except a few grandfathered ones). Within the developed sections are things common to towns anywhere- schools, neighborhoods, supermarkets, and stores. Sep 26, 2020 Captiva Island, the South seas island resort, Sanibel Island is much larger than Captiva, Captiva Island, you can access the several beaches. Sanibel Island Shelling - World's Best Shelling Beaches Sanibel Island shelling is considered the best shelling spot in the world according to Travel and Leisure Magazine. Before traveling to any vacation destination, one of the most important things to consider is where you are to stay on your arrival. There are several vendors on Sanibel for you to rent a kayak or a canoe if you prefer. Essentially, Sanibel and Captiva islands are sister islands. It seems like this couldnt possibly be true since they are so close, together but it absolutely is. 2. Captiva Island, on the other hand, is perfect for quiet family vacations, romantic getaways, privacy and exclusivity, and easy access to off-island boat adventures to out islands. We hope this clears things up a bit to help you plan your trip to either island! But they are worth the extra drive to the north end of the island. Drop us a line. Shopping plazas along the main drag known as Periwinkle Way are small independent boutiques selling everything from souvenirs and beachwear to clothing and higher end designer apparel. Turner Beach is just on the other side of Blind Pass past the small bridge from Sanibel. The city-island has several banks and shopping centers, even a single-screen movie theatre. Marcos beach is beautiful. The passes at the ends and between the two islands get the attention of adventure beachgoers because of their swift-moving waters. Aside from Bowman and Blind Pass beach areas, Sanibels beaches are far more narrow than Captivas. Re: Siesta Key vs Captiva Island. There are no high-rise accommodations on Sanibel, only two story hotels, one-story retro motels, and lovely quaint cottages. However, that doesnt quite hold true. And the standards of the condos arent the highest. Absolutely. The paths are well marked and almost flat. The best comparison is to a mattress. There are two large grocery stores and several smaller markets. Port Sanibel Marina offers marina reservations and fishing charters for you to enjoy after a great time visiting all the beaches we mentioned above! One of the questions we get asked a lot is, what are the differences between Sanibel and Captiva Island?. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. You wont get much shelling done here, but that doesnt mean that you cant find any at all! You can take Instagram-worthy pictures and view the local wildlife from the perfect vantage point: the sand! It doesn't have lots of stuff inside, but we found a few things for a quick lunch, including . If youre not a strong swimmer or you have young kids, swimming should be avoided. You can walk for miles on the beach here, and you can find soft white sand with plenty of intricate shells to enjoy. Other prohibitions are streetlights and traffic lights (Sanibel police with white gloves move traffic along at peak times). When you cross the Sanibel Causeway and visit the island from the mainland, youll likely immediately notice the beauty of nature around you. For walkers and bikers, the admission rate is set at $1 per person. Youll find shady areas with picnic tables and grills to enjoy your own BBQ! Cruise to Key West from Marco or Naples?? But both islands have their own unique personality. People who visit the island mostly have plans of hanging out on the beach, as it is the main attraction. If you are not stayingat the resort you cannot go onto the grounds or use the facilities. For more on what to do, check out the Marco Review website. Enjoy your visit. more. Youll find a few places like Schnappers Hots for hot dogs, lots of ice cream shops, and other casual eateries that are value-friendly. I will say, depending on the types of places youre used to staying in Florida (or on vacation in general)I find that 95% of whats offered on Sanibel leaves a lot to be desired (especially for the $$). Hey, it even has a K-12 school, so whats stopping you? The kids will love the park, and you can take a moment to explore the shoreline and find as many shells as you like (not live ones!) Sanibels finest wearing white gloves still move traffic the old fashioned way during peak times. This inn provides very colorful and extremely comfortable cottages for you. The same gradual sloping shoreline that collects millions of shells on the beaches of Sanibel also prevent it from having bright clear blue water most of the year. Theres a $6 toll to get onto the island. 1. Both the Sanibel inn and Seaside inn offer 15% off deals for residents in Florida currently. Taking a boat tour off the beach? Im not saying any of this to put you off, because Sanibel and Captiva are GREAT islands and one of my favorite places in Florida, but if youre used to staying at more high end beach resorts in other parts of Florida, what that money gets you on Sanibel and Captiva is a lotless. As you approach the northern part of Captiva, you come to the small and very quaintvillage areawhere you will find an assortment of restaurants and shops, as well as the post office, a bank and a small library. At this point, the combined preserved/ protected conservation land owned by the National Refuge, private foundations and the City of Sanibel extends to about 70% of the island. Although you may not be able to climb to the top of the historic Sanibel Lighthouse, you are allowed to visit the surrounding areas for a lighthouse photo-op. The South Seas island resort is a large oceanfront resort which has. The Bubble Room is family friendly and a very fun place for kids - and adults. Sanibels sideways stretch makes in an excellent destination for shelling and beachcombing; Captivas lengthy reach gives its beaches fine sand. This is why the majority of people on the island are retired, work remotely from home, or are on vacation. Captiva Beach, Captiva Island: See 1,385 reviews, articles, and 733 photos of Captiva Beach, ranked No.1 on Tripadvisor among 10 attractions in Captiva Island. Along Andy Rosse Lane is Captiva Island Pizza, casual RC Otters, and the very delicious Key Lime Bistro. SHELLING AT BOWMAN'S BEACH. Lighthouse Beach is one of the best places to watch sunset on Sanibel or Captiva because of the lighthouse it makes any sunset pic of Sanibel Instaworthy! Youll find restrooms here quickly, and while the beach wont allow your dog or any open fires, you can still have a great time here. Just cut into 3/4 wide sections. This Island has several restaurants and stores for shopping. This relaxed oceanfront resort features an outdoor pool and dining with simple accommodations. Is Marco prettier? The best shelling on the two islands is around the Blind Pass Bridge and theres parking on both the Sanibel and Captiva sides. Its the top shelling destination in the country and shell collectors from around the world come to spend the day hunched over doing the Sanibel Stoop. Water on Marco is not constantly clear as mentioned above. Some will even deliver a kayak to where you are staying. The strong currents that make Blind Pass a . The FDOH's fecal indicator bacteria testing results on Dec. 12 suggested low bacterial concentrations and no current advisories. Compared to Sanibel Island, beaches on Captiva Island do not have a lot of crowds and have a few shells to hunt. It dwells today within the seaside Casa Ybel Resort. But honestly, zero impact. There are many homes and historic cottages that rent privately as well. Haven't been to either. Beach access is strictly limited and there are only two small paid public lots for beach parking. While Sanibel may get the lions share of shells, thats not to say that Captiva also doesnt have good shelling. In the village area there are a number of marinas that offer charter captains and water taxi service to the out islands of North Captiva, Cabbage Key and Useppa. The building restrictions here are whats part of the charm. Relax on the miles of beaches surrounding the island or enjoy some fun in the water. Captiva also allows the use of golf carts on the roads within the village limits during daylight hours only. Perwinkle Way is the main business street but you will note that large sections are still devoid of parking lots and buildings where it traverses natural areas. Captiva Island and Sanibel Island were formerly single islands located along North Captiva Island. Brokered by MVP Realty Associates LLC. Now that I am retired and live here full-time I really appreciate the laid-back atmosphere and natural, ungroomed beaches, and of course the shelling. Check out this shortlist of my top five 'quick picks for vacation rentals in Sanibel Island. Theyre smaller here, so beautiful to collect! The beaches shown in the video are: Lighthouse Beach, Gulfside City Beach, Tarpon Bay Beach, Bowman's. If you want to follow along on my travel adventures in real time, you can follow me on Instagram (@caitylincoln). Sanibel and Captiva are connected to Fort Myers on the mainland by only one roadway the Sanibel Causeway Bridge. They'll need water and power restored and repairs, but "uninhabitable" is a massive exaggeration. Turner Beach is located at Blind Pass right across the bridge from Sanibel. The vibe is even more relaxed than the slow-paced vacation lifestyle of Sanibel. Most of the island is very narrow- you can see both the Gulf and Pine Island Sound from many spots. Captiva and Sanibel Islands have also earned a reputation for some of the best shelling in the world. Thank you for your responses. These islands will certainly be your favorites as soon as you get here. Your support really helps me keep this blog running! Some of the fish that can be caught here include: As noted above, the currents here can sometimes be intense and unpredictable. There is no toll for leaving the island back to Fort Myers, or for crossing the small bridge from Sanibel to Captiva. Dogs on leashes no longer than 8 feet are welcome on all Sanibel Island beaches. On Captiva, you have much more space to spread out. There are 76 general parking spaces. "This light being lit . That said, however, since most visitors seem to hit the beaches closest to the Sanibel Causeway (the only road on and off the island), youll find that the closer you get to the Causeway, the more crowded the beaches are. Once you check into this inn, you get a complimentary breakfast. The majority of Captivas accommodations are at South Seas Island Resort, and its a lovely stay perfect also for destination weddings and other family gathering as they have a variety of accommodation types from studios to 3 and 4 bedroom homes. The Keys would probably be your best bet for clear water, without traveling out of the country. As you head for the tip of Captiva, the island gets very narrow allowing you to see the Gulf on one side and Pine Island Sound on the other. From Sanibel, this distillery is only about 40 minutes away. 8 Great Places to Go Kayaking in Fort Myers, 50 Things to Do in Southwest Florida: The Ultimate Bucket List, 10 Fun and Easy Day Trips from Naples Florida, 15 Fun Things To Do on Sanibel Island, Florida, 6 Best Waterfront Places to Stay on Sanibel Island and Captiva Island, Castaway to 7 Southwest Florida Gulf Coast Islands Reachable Only By Boat, The 7 Best Beaches in Fort Myers Florida (Plus 5 More Nearby), 9 Sanibel Restaurants for Tropical Island Dining at Its Best. Great Licks is the perfect place to help you cool off from Florida heat and pamper your taste buds for amazing and mouthwatering homemade ice cream. You should, however note that the beach access is limited, and you can only shop at one spot. There are also two semi-public 18 hole golf courses on the island. Accessing Captiva Beach by the Mucky Duck Restaurant at the end of Andy Rosse Lane is a great option if you are staying nearby. Sundial Beach Resort & Spa has secured its spot as one of the best Sanibel hotels on the beach, thanks to its many amazing amenities and waterfront location. In a place like Sanibel Island (or Captiva Island), you simply must get out on the water to truly experience the destination. There isnt a full-on grocery store (The Island Store is the closest it gets), but the shops on the island can get you most, if not all, of your basic needs. You'll find it on the western edge of Captiva Island. TIP: Toll is $6 into Sanibel Island. If you travel down Sanibel Captiva Road and make the trek over the Blind Pass bridge, youll find yourself on Captiva Island. When I bought my vacation house 25 years ago I compared both Marco and Sanibel. Here are some of our favorite places to cool down with a cocktail. Lighthouse Beach. The grills and picnic tables can be claimed early, but you do need to start early. Captiva, on the other hand, isn't close to anything. The currents flush fish out into the gulf and help build waves. . Sometimes they are even joined when the narrow waterway of Blind Pass that separates them fills in and the two islands actually connect, though a concerted effort is underway to keep the pass open to improve the health of the bayous on the bay side. and they leave from Captiva, but its an easy drive from Sanibel. Mostly boutique shopping. Both are a far cry from the bitter cold winter months further north. If you arent into shelling this is definitely something worth considering. the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum. For Sale. You wont be able to take them home, but you may get to see some awesome new creatures. Bring a hammock and hang it on the palm trees for the ultimate vacation photo! Email agent. This southern half of the island has mostly very upscale homes and notmuch in the way of public facilities. The causeway bridge to Sanibel is $6 roundtrip; there is no fee to gofrom Sanibelto Captiva. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-91718899', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');the Florida Keys. For people who are enthusiastic about shell hunting, there are better shells on Sanibel beaches. Both have soft white sand and clear blue-green water. If you aren't into shelling this is definitely something worth considering. Trusted Your donation is protected by the GoFundMe Giving Guarantee. 1451 Middle Gulf Dr, Sanibel Island. https://www.marriott.com/hotels/local-things-to-do/mrkfl-jw-marriott-marco-island-beach-resort/. Sanibel and Captiva are sister islands. Bowman's Beach. Sanibel is your choice if you are looking for nature, activities, choices in restaurants and shopping, are on somewhat ofa budget, biking or want to go off island fortouring or nightlife on the mainland. Sanibel is 60% nature reserve with low rise mostly condos and natural ungroomed beaches. Be sure to carry a flashlight when walking at night. While you can walk to bars and restaurants from some vacation rentals it is not that easy from most. Sanibel beaches are renowned for the shells that wash up every day - it's the top shelling destination in North America and residents and visitors bending over to examine the shells is the source of the posture known as the 'Sanibel Stoop". Since it is more or less north and south you have perfect beach sunsets from all 7.1 miles. Ive always found the best shells in the water on Captiva. Check the Refuge for hours of opening since recent budget cutbacks have reduced staff and forced occasional closings. I agree completely with the response from Hawkowl (#3 above). That is a personal decision. Sanibels beaches are generally firm and compact, from higher foot traffic. Ok Sanibel and Captiva Island, theres enough beach for you to have a great time. There's a year-round outdoor pool, and free use of their bicycles included. Lots of visitor parking available on Sanibel but it costs $5.00 per hour. Captiva doesnt have the network of dedicated bike paths that Sanibel has, so if you were looking forward to extensive bike-riding on your vacation, Sanibel may be the better choice. Almost every building still standing, only a few roofs damaged and some flooding around Andy Rosse Lane and the entrance to south seas (but not nearly as bad as on Sanibel). Some resorts offer bikes for rent. Sanibel and Captiva Island beaches are a must-see for a variety of reasons. ;-). There are so many different species of fish here, and with the bay on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other, you can imagine how popular its been as a destination here as you can access the beach right from the water, too. 3 beach destination in the United States, and it is easy to see why. And anything called a resort is actually a condo with more resort-like amenities. Spotting aquatic wildlife including dolphins and manatees. $5 per hour for parking. DINNER AT TIMBERS RESTAURANT. There are bird sanctuaries, modern childrens playgrounds, and RV parking for road trippers looking to get out and do something new. Fort Myers is blue collar means that Ft Myers is more lower . During your stay, you should indulge in shell hunting. Finding seashells on either island is as easy as walking onto the beach. In fact, theres an eclectic variety of Sanibel retaurants serving great breakfasts, casual lunch, and upscale restaurants for dinner.
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