You can just spend your days on Sanibel Island and occasionally go to Captiva island to experience their unique dining experience. There are great restaurants but no chain places and not much nightlife. The gentle slope of the beach means more spread-out shells. The 7 Best Beaches for Shelling on Sanibel Island Sanibel Island has more shells, Captiva Island Beaches have better sand. 0.25 acre lot. Re: Siesta Key vs Captiva Island. Re: Siesta Key vs Captiva Island. Were often asked and emailed questions from readers wanting to know what the difference is between Sanibel and Captiva islands. Also Ding Darling Bird Sanctuary is best visited early in the day. For walkers and bikers, the admission rate is set at $1 per person. Paddling the islands back waters is a great way to spend a day. Elsewhere the beautiful green canopy that was destroyed by Hurricane Charley is getting replaced by trees planted in 2006 and extensive landscaping is once again beautifying Periwinkle Way. Get answers to your questions about Marco Island, Recommendations for condo complex with central booking site. Is Sanibel Or Captiva Better For Shells? - Home McCarthy's Marina, Captiva Vessels up to 24 feet (239) 472-5200 Port Sanibel Marina, Sanibel Vessels up to 65 feet (239) 437-1660 portsanibelmarina.com. Answer 1 of 5: Hi all! The passes at the ends and between the two islands get the attention of adventure beachgoers because of their swift-moving waters. Lighthouse Beach is one of the best places to watch sunset on Sanibel or Captiva because of the lighthouse it makes any sunset pic of Sanibel Instaworthy! The 5 Best Islands Near Fort Myers Florida - Live and Let's Fly Bowman's Beach. Amelia Island. Some of the fish that can be caught here include: As noted above, the currents here can sometimes be intense and unpredictable. Sanibel is quiet and peaceful, with a mix of wildlife and nature, shopping and dining, and island homes. Despite a huge push from developers, the city held their ground with strong building restrictions that were intended to protect the environment (to this day, half the island is a nature preserve) and its largely what makes Sanibel so quaint. 5721 Sanibel Captiva Rd, Sanibel, FL 33957 | 50 Photos | MLS #223012023 10 Best Sanibel and Captiva Island Beaches - Florida Vacationers Sanibel public beaches & parking lots have started opening! Sanibel Island beaches for shelling are known across the country, while Captiva Island beaches are known for their fine sands. Sanibel and Captiva islands offer tourists at least fifteen miles of stunning beaches, and boost over 250 kinds of seashells from the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean regions.. You see why I said that Sanibel and Captiva have what I cherish. But eachisland has its own distinctive personality: Sanibelis a eclectic mix of nature, wildlife conservation land, tourist destination,island home, andshopping/ restaurant districts. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge is very large, about 6,300 acres and occupies of Sanibel Island. If you aren't into shelling this is definitely something worth considering. Like Blind Pass Beach, Turner Beach is best for shelling and fishing, but not swimming as the currents can get very strong! See the U.S. News & World Report ranks Sanibel Island as the No. Can anyone give us advice. Sometimes they are even joined when the narrow waterway of Blind Pass that separates them fills in and the two islands actually connect, though a concerted effort is underway to keep the pass open to improve the health of the bayous on the bay side. If youre visiting during season, a bike will allow you to get around traffic when it slows to a crawl. In all shapes, sizes, and colors, vacationers often leave Blind Pass Beach with buckets full of incredible shells. The beaches shown in the video are: Lighthouse Beach, Gulfside City Beach, Tarpon Bay Beach, Bowman's. Marco is totally surrounded by federal, state parks and preserves, the gateway to the Everglades so IMO it has more options for active adults. The gulf water was clean and calm, but not clear. If you enjoy hunting for shells, you should pick Sanibel Island, as it is the top shelling destination in North America. We aren't big nightlife people, but enjoy good "non-chain" restaurants. Sanibel is known to be the top shelling destination in North America. Sanibel is 60% nature reserve with low rise mostly condos and natural ungroomed beaches. There are bird sanctuaries, modern childrens playgrounds, and RV parking for road trippers looking to get out and do something new. 1725 Cape Coral Pkwy E, Cape Coral, FL 33904. Sanibel is a better choice if you are beachcombing and want to enjoy biking on the bike paths, birdwatching, a d being out in nature in general. It feels like youre walking on a fluffy cloud. Dont take this the wrong way, the beaches of Captiva Island are still better for shelling than most places in the entire world, its just that Sanibel is truly the best there is. BREAKFAST AT Lighthouse Caf. Sanibel's beaches are generally firm and compact, from higher foot traffic. The FDOH's fecal indicator bacteria testing results on Dec. 12 suggested low bacterial concentrations and no current advisories. Bird watching where you can spot pelicans, ibis. The parking lot isnt huge, but there is space if you get there early enough. Along Andy Rosse Lane is Captiva Island Pizza, casual RC Otters, and the very delicious Key Lime Bistro. It's a quiet beach, but it's not really the best place for swimming. While Sanibel is not busy by mainland standards, Captiva manages to be even more laid back. You get a very comfortable and relaxed oceanfront resort, which includes: Another amazing inn on this island is the Seaside inn. Blind Pass Beach Park. Thirteen miles of beaches plus luxury resorts and golf courses sprinkled across untouched acreage make Amelia Island a must-visit Florida island destination . One of the questions we get asked a lot is, what are the differences between Sanibel and Captiva Island?. If youre looking for the best tropical getaway on Floridas Gulf Coast, Sanibel and Captiva are always going to be in the conversation. Best Sanibel Island Vacation Rental with a View - Shorewood Beachfront Penthouse Sanibel Island Condo. It is the first beach after you leave Sanibel Island. Once you check into this inn, you get a complimentary breakfast. If you want to get on a personal level with nature, you can visit any of these beaches. Whether you choose Sanibel Island or Captiva Island, these destinations are a 30 minutes car drive from each other so you can always change your mind if you want to. But both islands have their own unique personality. Dolphins make their appearance daily and often a manatee or two are spotted. Sanibel-Captiva islands have been an idyllic destination for tourists from Florida and the world over. Are Sanibel Island Beaches Open? - Coastal Conservatory With endless skies and treasured beach walks, Captiva Beach will surely captivate you and the whole family. With its soft beaches and Florida charm, Captiva Island is a great relaxation spot with superb dining. Even though there are not many places for beach access, when you step onto the beach youre on public property. Both families and groups alike will love this beach, as you can swim, sunbathe, enjoy a picnic, build epic sandcastles, and play beach games. This is why the majority of people on the island are retired, work remotely from home, or are on vacation. Sanibel Island is about 40 minutes west from there. Last month, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation staff and volunteers participated in the 15th annual Florida Winter Shorebird Survey, documenting nearly 3,000 shorebirds and seabirds over two days. The "Sanibel Spirit" is indeed alive, strong and resilient, and remarkable signs of recovery continue throughout our "repairadise.". Its the top shelling destination in the country and shell collectors from around the world come to spend the day hunched over doing the Sanibel Stoop. In the village area there are a number of marinas that offer charter captains and water taxi service to the out islands of North Captiva, Cabbage Key and Useppa. This inn provides very colorful and extremely comfortable cottages for you. The J.N. It seems like this couldnt possibly be true since they are so close, together but it absolutely is. Port Sanibel Marina | We hope this clears things up a bit to help you plan your trip to either island! Captiva has only a limited number of properties with nightly rentals and they are very popular. On Captiva Island, you can access the several beaches on the island and enjoy the Gulf and Pine Island sound. You cant access Captiva without going through Sanibel and these two islands have such a different vibe than pretty much every other place in the area so theyre often compared. You can walk for miles on the beach here, and you can find soft white sand with plenty of intricate shells to enjoy. Captiva Islands parent island is Sanibel. Amelia Island, Vero Beach or Sanibel? - Fodor's Travel Talk Forums Captiva also allows the use of golf carts on the roads within the village limits during daylight hours only. Has the red drift algae been a problem AT ALL on Captiva?? You wont find any high rises (buildings are only allowed to be as tall as the tallest native tree on the island), any chains (except for the cutest little Dairy Queen thats been grandfathered in), and pretty much everything is a mom and pop shop or restaurant. Although you may not be able to climb to the top of the historic Sanibel Lighthouse, you are allowed to visit the surrounding areas for a lighthouse photo-op. Mostly boutique shopping. Haven't been to either. For Sale. Some travelers find that Captiva is a little more upscale, with fancier resorts and more eclectic dining opportunities. Honestly, I think of Captiva as an extension of Sanibel. As you head for the tip of Captiva, the island gets very narrow allowing you to see the Gulf on one side and Pine Island Sound on the other. There are other differences between the islands, too. Several restaurants are within walking distance on Sanibel Island, including The Lazy Flamingo, Sunset Cafe and The Mad Hatter. TOLL: Unless you have a SunPass account, the Causeway toll is $6.00 per vehicle heading to Sanibel. $899,000. While we initially stayed on and fell in love with Captiva Island, both islands are perfect for rest and relaxation. Strollers, wagons, and the like are a lot harder to maneuver on Captivas beaches than on Sanibel. Here is our best explanation of the main differences between Sanibel vs Captiva islands, to help you decide which island stay is right for you. Some of the major differences between Sanibel Island and Captiva Island can be found on the beaches. There are kayak launch sites here, and you can bring yours with you for a fun afternoon floating in the water. Plenty of visitors love to enjoy sports here, with wading and swimming being very popular in the right places. Captiva Island, the South seas island resort, Sanibel Island is much larger than Captiva, Captiva Island, you can access the several beaches. "Barefoot Elegance": Must-See Sites and Eats on Captiva Island in The island is a lot smaller than Sanibel (half of its taken up by the South Seas Island Resort), but it feels very much the same. When I bought my vacation house 25 years ago I compared both Marco and Sanibel. Sanibel Island and Captiva Island are called sister islands, but there are some obvious differences between them. Fishers in particular love it here, as there is a lighted pier for them to enjoy and fish from. Its a pristine beautiful beach, great for privacy, sunning ,and fishing, but offers limited shelling. The combination of strong currents and fish travelling between the two islands mean that fish will often be biting. Brokered by MVP Realty Associates LLC. We did some . You can take Instagram-worthy pictures and view the local wildlife from the perfect vantage point: the sand! . At the end of the lane is one of Captivas most popular restaurants, The Mucky Duck, a laid-back place thats great for a cold drink and watching the sunset.On the opposite side of Captiva Drive is a popular favorite, the Bubble Room complete with year-round Christmas decorations and a very funky decor. Check out this shortlist of my top five 'quick picks for vacation rentals in Sanibel Island. The residents, wishing to conserve the natural setting and protect the wildlife refuge atmosphere actually broke away from the county and formedSanibel's own municipal government. Overall, the options youll find on Captiva are a little more upscale than Sanibel, but both are very laid back islands without much major development. The causeway bridge to Sanibel is $6 roundtrip; there is no fee to gofrom Sanibelto Captiva. Captiva sits just north of Sanibel and its accessed via a very short bridge over Blind Pass. Florida Winter Shorebird Survey takes place on islands Because its the only way on and off the island, as you can imagine, traffic can be insane given the popularity of the islands as a tourist destination especially at the height of season from December through March. The beach itself is clean, with shaded areas and restrooms, covered cabanas, and picnic areas to enjoy. While Captiva Island features a North-South orientation like most of Floridas Gulf barrier islands, youll find that Sanibel Island has a unique East-West orientation. There are 76 general parking spaces. There are several vendors for bike rentals or check with your hotel to find out if they offer bike rentals. On the left side of Captiva Drive there are three short side streets. Fort Myers is blue collar means that Ft Myers is more lower . As you approach the northern part of Captiva, you come to the small and very quaintvillage areawhere you will find an assortment of restaurants and shops, as well as the post office, a bank and a small library. Captiva Island, on the other hand, is perfect for quiet family vacations, romantic getaways, privacy and exclusivity, and easy access to off-island boat adventures to out islands. Local grocery stores like Jerrys and Baileys General Store are good for sandwiches, prepared foods, good picnic food for the beach, and stocking your own kitchenette or vacation rental. Two Sanibel incumbents face challengers in Tuesday elections All SW FL beach towns have the same water clarity issues. If youre staying on Sanibel, running up to Captiva to eat dinner or shop isnt a big deal and vice versa. Captiva Beach - Andy Rosse Lane. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Hotels near The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum, Hotels near Sanibel and Captiva Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center, Hotels near Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW), Hotels near Sanibel Historical Museum and Village, Hotels near Sanibel Moorings Botanical Garden Tours. Theyre smaller here, so beautiful to collect! Both the Sanibel inn and Seaside inn offer 15% off deals for residents in Florida currently. 2. Very shelly though, youll need to wear flips flops to take a walk. Does anyone have recommendations if sunset views would be better from Lovers Key or Sanibel/Captiva (in July)? the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum. The beaches of Sanibel and Captiva were still closed due to Hurricane Ian w hen we visited, but we marveled at the huge, powerful, beautiful waves we saw from the road. The strong currents that make Blind Pass a . There is a parking lot available and its a few minutes to walk to the beach from there. On the flip side of this is that Captiva allows the use of golf carts on the roads within the village limits during daylight hours only. The future of Sanibel and Captiva : r/florida

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