Sanibel Overview
Sanibel Overview
These barrier islands offer visitors to Florida’s Gulf Coast a most unusual mix of Mother Nature and resort relaxation.
Embraced by the sun and caressed by the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, our islands are strung like pearls along Florida. They share much in common – beaches of white sand and colorful shells, friendly communities, waves that shine in the sunlight and twinkle under the moon. Yet each has its own personality and character.
Nature and Ecology are the heart and soul of Sanibel. Shelling on the pristine beaches, fishing the passes and the fishing pier, or touring Wildlife Drive at the “Ding” Darling Refuge, visitors get a good feel for the qualities that make this island such a special place. An abundance of bird species call this place home, and more visit each year on their migrations. Other aquatic wildlife can be found here, and volunteers are happy to explain what can be seen at the various facilities. Much can be explored on foot, by car, on a bicycle or in a kayak and each method offers its own unique perspective.
Hospitable as the area is for wildlife, it is equally enticing to visitors, offering beautiful beaches, the best shelling in North America, remarkable art galleries and a wide variety of tempting restaurants and intriguing shops, along with a casual, relaxed style of living enjoyed by residents and visitors alike.
Whatever you seek in a vacation, you’ll find on the tranquil, relaxed barrier islands of Sanibel and Captiva.