Sanibel
Island is beloved for its beautiful white-sand beaches,
an abundance of seashells and the huge variety of wildlife that
calls this Gulf coast island home.
Long a haven for families as well as romantics,
Sanibel Island offers the slow pace of island life with just enough
fabulous amenities to make it unparalleled. Visitors and residents
alike choose whether to spend their days biking along protected
bike paths, observing birds and wildlife in refuges (and right
at home!), attending cultural events, or enjoying fabulous fresh
seafood at one of the many superb
island restaurants. . . when they’re not on the beach, that
is, looking for the one seashell missing from their collection.
The island is a magical (and safe) place for children, a tranquil
place where busy adults can truly unplug.
Sanibel is different. We have no high-rises.
We have no stoplights. We don’t use our horns when driving;
in fact, many island drivers wouldn't even know where their horns
are! Our streets are dark at night, so you can enjoy the best
stargazing in years. A lot of us wear shorts to work.
The magic comes into play the minute you step
outside your door. Wildlife lives at every turn. Don’t be
surprised when traffic stops to let an egret cross the street.
Gopher tortoises, otters, raccoons, herons, and lizards all make
up the roster of island residents.
No other place matches the natural beauty of
Sanibel combined with such a high quality of lifestyle. Our beaches
are clean and uncrowded. The crystalline Gulf of Mexico is almost
always a comfortable temperature for swimming. Its gentle waves,
combined with Sanibel’s gently sloping beach makes wading
inviting, even for tiny tots. The island has everything you’d
ever need and more: groceries, gas, liquor, beach supplies, rental
cars, bikes, restaurants, shopping, day spas, chiropractors, even
two walk-in medical clinics.
Cultural opportunities continue to multiply
every year; B.I.G. Arts offers classes in everything from pottery
to cartooning to tap dancing, as well as several concerts throughout
the year. Sanibel Music Festival brings the world’s most
renowned musicians to our little island for March concerts. The
Pirate Playhouse and The Old Schoolhouse Theater both keep audiences
enthralled, year after winning year. You can also enjoy art films,
all sorts of art exhibits, discussion groups, lectures. . . the
list is endless.
Outdoor activities are the focus of life on
Sanibel golf, boating, tennis, birding, walking, swimming: all
are possible, almost every day of the year. Tropical breezes keep
Sanibel’s temperatures cooler than the mainland in the summer,
and warmer in the winter. The best news? The wardrobe is casual,
no matter what you do.
Captiva Island may be connected
to Sanibel by a bridge, but it’s another world: quirky,
upscale, charming, exclusive.
Captiva Drive is a magical tunnel created by
towering Australian pines which meet overhead. On either side
of the road, you'll see long, winding driveways marked with unique
little signs, all a testament to the personality of the family
which owns each bayfront or Gulf-front estate. All around you,
you'll see exotic tropical plants. As your car rounds a curve,
suddenly the beach is on the left-hand side of the road. This
inspiring little drive leads you past ‘Tween Waters Inn,
several small condo complexes and into Captiva’s “village”
area.
The
village is the heart and soul of Captiva. Golf carts and electric
cars pull in and out of The Island Store, Captiva’s small-town
version of Grand Central. This tiny island grocery is the hub
of the coconut telegraph, the place to run into friends, get information,
you name it. Grab a soda, sit on the front porch, and watch Captiva
come and go.
A stroll away are several unique and wonderful restaurants, boutiques,
art galleries, an old-fashioned, family-run marina and a handful
of sandy lanes lined with residential homes. The beach is never
more than 2 blocks away. You'll hear live music pumping out of
the outdoor cafes at night. Like Sanibel, the dress code is extremely
casual.
Beyond the village, and comprising the two miles
of Captiva’s northern end, is South Seas Resort, a gated,
full-service resort with condominiums, hotel rooms, private homes,
and a variety of amenities, including a nine-hole golf course.
The major event on Captiva is the nightly sunset.
Locals often walk to the beach to witness each evening’s
“show,” an act being duplicated by the happy crowd
awaiting a table at The Mucky Duck, an established beachfront
eaterie. If you’re lucky, perhaps you'll witness the elusive
green flash, a phenomenon only witnessed as the sun sinks into
the sea.
To fully experience Captiva, rent a boat or
hire a guide to get you on the water. Captiva is so narrow that
the waters of the Gulf and Pine Island Sounds are the primary
focus of the island. The Sound is teeming with fish and wildlife;
dolphin, manatees, tarpon, otters and more make their home in
these waters. Captiva is where you'll find sailing charters, powerboat
rentals, waverunners, kayaks and parasailing.
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island restaurants. . . when they’re not on the beach, that
is, looking for the one seashell missing from their collection.
The island is a magical (and safe) place for children, a tranquil
place where busy adults can truly unplug. 
The
village is the heart and soul of Captiva. Golf carts and electric
cars pull in and out of The Island Store, Captiva’s small-town
version of Grand Central. This tiny island grocery is the hub
of the coconut telegraph, the place to run into friends, get information,
you name it. Grab a soda, sit on the front porch, and watch Captiva
come and go.