Sanibel is a pleasant, family-friendly, island located just off of Fort Meyers, Florida. My husband has fond memories vacationing there with his parents as a kid. Now we go down almost every December with his family to keep the tradition alive and get some much needed Vitamin D. Here’s a Short Sanibel Travel Guide to help you have the best experience!
This island is connected to the mainland by a beautiful causeway lined with palm trees. You will pay a 6 dollar toll to get onto the island. I always enjoy the view from the causeway as we drive in.
What to Do
Fun Sights & Adventures in this Short Sanibel Travel Guide:
As you drive into the island you will quickly find Periwinkle Way. If you turn left on this road you will soon come upon Lighthouse Point. This is the beginning of Sanibel’s gulf-side beach with beautiful views and great places to take pictures.
After that, get back onto Periwinkle Way and make sure to stop by Jerry’s Foods to visit with the parrots. They’re all in cages around the entrance and most of them like to talk with you, behind your back, or just have a long string of conversation on their own. 😉
The “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge is an excellent place to go for adults and children alike. Take a walk, bike, or drive around to see all sorts of wildlife from alligators to egrets.
Kayaking is also a great way to get a light upper body workout and peacefully tour the wildlife in the mangroves. Tarpon Bay Explorers is a great place (and I believe the only place on the island) to rent from.
A short bridge at the end of Sanibel will lead you over Blind Pass into Captiva Island. Just into Captiva you will find a place to your left where everyone gathers to watch the sunset. On good evenings you’ll even get to see dolphins playing on the horizon.
One extra little tip for Captiva and the surrounding islands: Rent a boat or pontoon from Jensen’s Twin Palms Resort and Marina, and take it up to Cabbage Key and then Cayo Costa State Park. Cabbage Key is a small little island with a restaurant and lookout you can climb up to get a view of the islands.
There is a small fee to visit Cayo Costa State Park, but it’s a great place to go. They give free rides from the east side of the island where docking is, over to the beach side of the island. Another great place to hunt for seashells and wiggle your toes in the sand!
Where to Stay
Where to Relax and Sleep in this Short Sanibel Travel Guide
We always stay somewhere with the beach in our backyard so we can take strolls, collect shells, throw the football and build sandcastles. There are many rental companies that lease out apartments or you can Airbnb it as well.
If you want to save big, you could always stay in Fort Myers and just spend a day on the islands. Here’s some great tips on fun things to do in Fort Myers.
Where to Eat
Where to Eat the Best Meals in this Short Sanibel Travel Guide
Definitely do yourself a favor and go to Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille for amazing food and drinks. If you like shrimp and spicy food, you HAVE to get a 1/2lb of the Yucatán shrimp! It’s our favorite meal.
Most places you stay on this island will have a kitchen, so we enjoy making our own meals. The best store savings-wise to get groceries is at Bailey’s General Store. We also go to Costco after we land in Fort Meyers and bring the food onto the island because food is just much more pricey on the island.
Don’t Forget to Pack These:
Beach Vacation Essentials in this Short Sanibel Travel Guide
A few helpful things to have for your Sanibel vacay:
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There are always some mosquitoes and no see ums out and about. Spraying this natural insect repellent is a must:
Always have some sunscreen handy, unless you want to look like a lobster at the end of your trip. 😉
A good pair of sunglasses are a must. We’re a Ray-Ban loving couple for sure!
Want some more ideas on what to pack? Check out these beach vacay essentials. We would love to hear any memories you have of this island and/or recommendations you can add! Adventure well, fellow travelers!