Sanibel Island

From LoveToKnow Travel

Known as “Florida’s tropical island getaway”, the 12 mile-long Sanibel Island is fringed with mangrove trees, shallow bays, and white sand beaches. But what makes it particularly unique is the carefully planned maintenance of its wilderness area. In fact, about 75% of the island is preserved in its natural state. And, although you’ll find lots of luxurious accommodations and opportunities for fine dining on the island, you won’t find the usual chain stores/franchises (no McDonalds, KFC, etc.), traffic lights, or high-rises (the highest building is four stories, for the rule is that “no building shall be taller than the tallest palm!”).

[edit]

Renowned Wildlife Refuge

What you will find on Sanibel Island is the renowned J.N. ‘Ding’ Darling National Wildlife Refuge, a 6400 acre pristine wildlife habitat that’s home to a great variety of birds, amphibians, and reptiles. The most popular way to view wildlife on the refuge is by way of Wildlife Drive, a 5-mile roadway that leads you past wetlands and through the heart of the mangrove forest. Along the route, you can stop at the Bird Observation Tower to check out the great numbers of wading birds - and the great variety of bird species present (the refuge is an ornithologist’s mecca!). You can also hike into the refuge on short trails (the Cross Dike Trail has wetlands on both sides, and the Shell Mound Trail encircles a Calusa Indian Shell Mound). You’ll pass a fishing pier that’s made out of recycled plastic and a Mangrove Overlook (a great place to look for large tree crabs!). Wildlife Drive is closed to the public on Fridays (“to give nature a rest”).

Sunset over the Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge

[edit]

Exploring the Island via Two Wheels

Bicycling is one of the very best ways to explore Sanibel Island (bike rentals are plentiful). The island is virtually flat, and the 20 miles of paved recreational trails are very inviting indeed. Most of the paths follow along the major roads, making it very easy to access the main points of interest. It’s even possible to bike the entire length of the island using these paths (along Periwinkle Way and the Sanibel-Captiva Road), from the east point’s Sanibel Lighthouse (where you’ll also find a nice beach with an intriguing collection of driftwood and, nearby, a popular fishing pier) to the west end.

Several loop routes are available, using the bike paths, including an east end loop (using Periwinkle Way, East Gulf Drive, and Lingren Road), a central loop (using Rabbit Road, West Gulf Drive, Tarpon Bay Road, and the Sanibel-Captiva Road), and the Gulf Drives Tour (which takes you past several Gulf-side resorts and offers a worthwhile side trip through a remote part of Gulfside City Park). The refuge’s Wildlife Drive and Bailey Tract are certainly worthwhile bike trips (the Wildlife Drive has been previously discussed; the Bailey Tract offers a network of short trails through freshwater wetlands and along the Sanibel River). And, of course, it’s not necessary to always stay on the actual bike paths (although they’re safest), so it’s possible to explore other parts of the island via side streets, including Sandcastle Road (a relatively calm loop road that surrounds the Dunes Golf Course), Dixie Beach Road (which takes you past a mangrove jungle to Peace Park), and Bowman’s Beach Road (that leads you to Bowman’s Beach, recently selected, by the Travel Channel, as “one of Florida’s top ten beaches”).

Interactive bike trail maps are available at SanibelTrails.com

[edit]

Sanibel Island Resorts

If you are looking for accommodations on Sanibel Island, consider one of the Sanibel Island resorts. Some options to consider include:

Casa Ybel Resort: This full service resort has its own bird sanctuary, and is appropriate both for vacationers seeking romance or family fun.
Sundial Resort on Sanibel Island offers golf, tennis and a variety of beach and water activities.

[edit]

Eco-Activities

The island also offers many other eco-activities, including hiking, fishing, birdwatching, canoeing, and kayaking. And Sanibel Island is one of the best shelling destinations around (along the island’s south-facing shores, the currents of the Gulf of Mexico deposit vast numbers of shells with each new tide); the ritual of searching for these colorful shells (about 400 species) is known as “the Sanibel Stoop".

[edit]

Getting There

Sanibel Island is easily accessible by air via Southwest Florida International Airport, just outside of Fort Myers. Non-stop service is available to dozens of US cities, and connecting service is offered to many more. From Southwest Florida International Airport, it's about a 40 minute drive (follow Summerlin Road, and cross the Sanibel Causeway onto the island).

Sanibel is also reachable via car form Interstate 75. (Use the Fort Myers exit.)

[edit]

Points of interest on Sanibel Island

Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum (with its exhibits of seashells from around the world)
J.N. ‘Ding’ Darling National Wildlife Refuge (with its magnificent wetlands and plethora of wading birds)
Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (with its touch tank, butterfly house, displays about the ecology of area wetlands, and guided nature trail tours)
Sanibel Lighthouse (this Sanibel landmark is a popular place from which to view a sunset; a popular fishing pier, with a “Welcome to Sanibel” sign, is located nearby)

[edit]

For More Information:

Lee County Convention & Visitor Bureau, 2180 W. First St., Fort Myers, FL 33901; phone: 1-888-2316933; web site: www.fortmyerssanibel.com

[edit]

Comment on Sanibel Island

Travel Guides and more...

This page has been accessed 622 times. This page was last modified 00:39, 17 February 2008.
© 2006-2008 LoveToKnow Corp.