We’ve visited the Gulf Coast of Florida many times, and last week I shared our family excursions in Fort Myers and the island of Fort Myers Beach. Sanibel Island is another one of our favorite spots. I would describe Sanibel as the Gulf Coast’s “Environmentalist” island. The beach condos aren’t built taller than the palm trees, and residents welcome mother sea turtles each summer and protect their nests. Sanibel Island offers many excellent family excursions.
The Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge is the product of a forward-thinking group of people that saw the natural resource on this island as something that had to be preserved. The refuge contains an educational center, canoe launch, mangrove overlook, fishing pier and observation tower, all for use by visitors. The refuge can be viewed on foot, by bike, or by car, and regular tours are provided as well.
In addition to the bike paths that meander through the refuge, other paths cover the island and the level terrain makes it an excellent spot for family bike excursions. Bike rental companies eagerly seek your business with a variety of bikes, including four-seat surreys. Our kids thought these were really fun, but it was the adults that had to motor the heavy vehicle, for the most part.
Our family also enjoyed the Sanibel Historical Village and Museum. Curators included the kids in our education, by providing a scavenger hunt that directed the kids into each of the buildings restored on the property. We learned a lot about the long history of the island, including the fact that it was largely agricultural during the early years of its settlement.
Shelling became our daily past-time, as did it for most the other visitors we saw on the beach. Sanibel is highly regarded for the beautiful seashells that appear on its long sandbar each day. And if you’re fortunate enough to become one of the few that discover the prized Junonia shell, your photo will be published in the local newspaper.
If you’re up for a daytrip, Captiva Island is an excellent destination. We hired Captain Ron to take us to the remote island Cayo Costa. Dolphins surfed in our wake on the way to the island, we found loads of shells on the island, and then fished on the way back to the Captiva marina. It was a productive afternoon!
Sanibel Island Series:
Sanibel Sandbar at Low-Tide
Four-Seat Surrey
Passing the Torch with Seashells
Sanibel Historical Village and Museum
Sanibel Island School
Sanibel Museum Dollhouse
Florida Series:
Disney World
Sanibel Island
Fort Myers Beach
Everglades
Affordable Family Travel Series:
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10:55 am
Hi Kelly. Nice blog and nice post. Thank you!
Not mentioned in this post but perhaps in others is the great availability of vacation rental condos on Sanibel. Staying in a nice condo with good kitchen facilities and several tvs/dvd players is not only more convenient but more economical than hotel and inn stays.
Vacation rental condos range from modest to luxurious with attendant prices, but they do offer a very attractive alternative to other types of lodging.
3:16 pm
Hmmmmm, well I dunno, but your Torch site sure made me sick of SNOW today.
10:56 pm
are there alligators? (:
11:33 am
I love your photos of the beach. I live in Santa Barbara and I just never tire of the beauty of the water. We have many paths to walk along the beach and I really enjoy those walks, especially with a good friend and wonderful conversation. I’m having so much fun reading the blogs from bloggy carnival now that I have time to read and comment.
7:18 pm
[...] Series: Disney World Sanibel Island Fort Myers Beach [...]
7:20 pm
[...] Series: Disney World Sanibel Island Fort Myers Beach [...]
7:24 am
Love Sanibel and Captiva. Some of my very favorite places to visit!
4:24 pm
[...] our daily past-time, as did it for most the other visitors we saw on the beach,” Kelly from Pass the Torch says. And if you find the prized Junonia Shell, your photo will be published in the local [...]
5:11 pm
I would love to take my family to Sanibel. We have 3 children. Where is a good place to stay on the beach?