Sanibel Island is a peaceful paradise off the South West coast of Florida, near Ft. Myers. Sanibel is a delightful blend of comfort and wilderness. It has a small town atmosphere yet offers a vast variety of recreation. You can take a morning kayak trip through a jungle of mangroves and then have a delicious lunch of fresh grouper at Lazy Flamingo. Sanibel Island is a perfect place for photography, shelling, fishing, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, windsailing, boating, tennis, golf and nature study. 2/3 of the island is the Ding Darling Wildlife Sanctuary. Sanibel’s beaches have been acclaimed for world-class shelling.
What makes Sanibel Island unique?
- No traffic lights
- No billboards
- No fast food chains (except a Dairy Queen grandfathered in that looks retro)
- Mild tropical climate, average highs vary from 72 F in January to 90.5 F in August
- 22 miles of paved paths where you can bike, walk, run or rollerblade and most everything is accessable by the paths
- Mangroves and part of the Great Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail, where you can kayak or canoe and see thousands of birds and animals
- Shell-strewn beaches unspoiled for miles
- Fishing and boating
- Unique shopping
- Fine restaurants, although most are casual dress
- 60% of the island is Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge, complete with a nature center and shell museum
- no building higher than 3 stories