Sanibel, FL Hotels

SANIBEL AND CAPTIVA ISLAND

Sanibel Island and its little sister, Captiva Island, connected to the mainland by an alluring three-mile-long causeway and, to each other, by a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it bridge at Blind Pass, are part of the Sunshine State known as Florida’s tropical island getaway.

They have over 15 miles of beautiful Florida shelling beaches and are part of Lee County which embraces nine distinct areas, each with its own unique character.

Sanibel is known worldwide for its shelling and the associated posture referred to as the “Sanibel Stoop.” Some fanatics attach flashlights to their heads, in an effort to be first in the daily search for top picks of the more than 400 varieties of shells found littering the beaches, particularly after an especially high or low tide. For most visitors, however, shelling is merely a delightful excuse to enjoy hours of sun worshipping along some of the finest shoreline in North America.

Sanibel’s main thoroughfare, Periwinkle Way, is Sunday-drive picturesque, lush with foliage and framed by a canopy of Australian pines. Interesting shops and restaurants dot the road from Sanibel Lighthouse to Tarpon Bay Road, making it difficult to complete the distance without a half dozen sight-seeking stops at the boutiques and art galleries.

Sanibel Historical Village and Museum is dedicated to the pioneer families of Sanibel and Captiva and includes “Uncle” Clarence Rutland’s home, Bailey’s General Store, “Morning Glories” (a Sears/Roebuck catalog home), Miss Charlotta’s Tea Room, the 1926 Post Office, and the Burnap Cottage and the 1895 Sanibel School. All the buildings are furnished with items from the early 1900s.

A handicapped-accessible boardwalk and shell paths take visitors past a pioneer garden, antique Model T truck, surrey (fringe included), and a replica of a packinghouse with farm equipment. The Village relates the history of the islands beginning with the days of the Calusa Indians up to the mid-1900s.

On the way to Captiva Island, located toward Sanibel's northern tip, the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge is home to many exotic species of birds and plants. A 4-mile drive with access to walking and canoe/kayak trails offers abundant opportunities for naturalists to witness a raccoon washing up before breakfast, an alligator snatching a quick bite or long-legged wading birds stalking their prey. In all, the refuge occupies more than half the island.

The main attraction on Captiva is that there are none. Many people wile away the hours in one outdoor endeavor or another. It was here that Anne Morrow Lindbergh, wife of the famous aviator, wrote her best-selling book, "A Gift from the Sea."

At South Seas Island Resort in Captiva Island visitors can take sailing lessons with Steve & Doris Colgate’s Offshore Sailing School. Considered the world’s finest learning institution for sailing instruction, the Offshore Sailing School offers a full range of courses, from basic sailing through advanced cruising and racing. The South Seas Resort offers plenty of other outdoor activities as well including exploring the ecosystem on the barrier islands where the resort is located, kayaking, snorkeling, golfing, and much more.

Traveling off the coast of Sanibel and Captiva islands, the boater will discover more than 100 outer coastal islands. Many are uninhabited mangrove clusters while others take visitors' breath away with their beautiful beaches.

Both North Captiva and Cayo Costa Island Preserve are known for their virtually deserted yet alluring coastlines and excellent shelling potential.

While desert islands conjure up romantic fantasies, modern seafarers may prefer a sociable watering hole at times. Cabbage Key offers that shipwreck survivor’s dream of salvation. Situated at Milemarker 60 on the Intracoastal Waterway, this island was built atop an ancient Calusa Indian shell mound. Mystery writer Mary Roberts Rinehart helped her son build his home here in 1938. The house has been converted into a cozy inn with six guest rooms and a picturesque dining room papered in thousands of autographed dollar bills. The tradition, which has generated at least $30,000 worth of George Washington wallpaper, began when a thirsty fisherman left his bill taped to the wall, ensuring a cold drink the next time he stopped by. Now almost all visitors leave their mark, if they can find a space.

A short boat ride north from Captiva or Pine Island, an hour-and-a-half drive by car, Boca Grande is a charming turn-of-the-century harbor town on Gasparilla Island and another safe port for the rich and famous. Founded by the wealthy DuPont family in the late 1800s, this sleepy little southern town comes replete with small shops, cozy restaurants, waterside accommodations and beautiful beaches. Members of the Boca Grande Tarpon Guides Association, largely composed of local third and fourth generation fishing captains, provide anglers all that is necessary for a successful day on the water.

Step back in time on Pine Island to reminisce a period when fishing reigned as the area’s largest industry. Accessible by land via “the fishingest bridge in the USA” at Matlacha (Mat-la-chay), Pine Island’s northernmost settlement of Bokeelia, provides the maritime stepping off point to the more remote out-islands.