Even some private homes that are rented to guests on the resort have limitations on the useof facilities. With hundreds of beaches throughout Florida, you may be asking yourself why you should visit these beaches instead of all the others. The geography of each island makes it unique. Condos are also available on both the Gulf and the bay. Dogs on leashes no longer than 8 feet are welcome on all Sanibel Island beaches. 8 Great Places to Go Kayaking in Fort Myers, 50 Things to Do in Southwest Florida: The Ultimate Bucket List, 10 Fun and Easy Day Trips from Naples Florida, 15 Fun Things To Do on Sanibel Island, Florida, 6 Best Waterfront Places to Stay on Sanibel Island and Captiva Island, Castaway to 7 Southwest Florida Gulf Coast Islands Reachable Only By Boat, The 7 Best Beaches in Fort Myers Florida (Plus 5 More Nearby), 9 Sanibel Restaurants for Tropical Island Dining at Its Best. Aside from Bowman and Blind Pass beach areas, Sanibels beaches are far more narrow than Captivas. It dwells today within the seaside Casa Ybel Resort. The other three councilmen are Scott. 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. So if you score a parking space, you can walk along the beach as far as youd like. 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. Sanibel is your choice if you are looking for nature, activities, choices in restaurants and shopping, are on somewhat ofa budget, biking or want to go off island fortouring or nightlife on the mainland. Also, beach access is much more limited on Captiva with just two public parking lots. Compared to Sanibel Island, beaches in Captiva Island do not have a lot of crowds and have fewer shells to hunt. The beaches of Sanibel and Captiva are known for shelling, consistently ranking at the top of the best shelling beaches in the United States. Turner Beach is a beautiful day out for the whole family, and with enough amenities to do it all, youll enjoy your time there immensely! Honestly I cant imagine living on the island if I had to go to work off-island everyday, or just do a quick run to Target. Sanibel Island has more shells, Captiva Island Beaches have better sand. You can visit: Matlacha is a small home village, which is best known for their quirky shops, and several eateries offering some of the best delicacies. 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. 7 Best Beaches on Sanibel And Captiva Islands Turner Beach (Blind Pass Beach) Just a stone's throw from the bridge from Sanibel to Captiva lies Turner Beach, aka Blind Pass Beach. VISIT THE HISTORIC SANIBEL LIGHTHOUSE. Also Ding Darling Bird Sanctuary is best visited early in the day. 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. The first tip we will give you is Gulf-side beaches are the best places to find shells on vacation. Eight Sanibel and Captiva beaches you have to visit include: For many people, the massive amount and variety of shells that can be found is what brings them Sanibel and Captiva Island beaches. There are also a few resorts, inns, and B&B's offering nightly rentals. The best shelling on the two islands is around the Blind Pass Bridge and theres parking on both the Sanibel and Captiva sides. Handicapped parking is free.Further up Captiva Drive, at the end of the main road on Captiva, there is another public beach adjacent to the entrance of South Seas Resort. 1451 Middle Gulf Dr, Sanibel Island. Youll find many public beaches on Sanibel Island, some with fishing piers, and a few private beaches, too. We did some . One of the biggest attractions on Sanibel Island is the J.N. 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 beach connecting Sanibel to Captive is probably the best known public beach and it is very well known for its shelling. As far as "clear water" is concerned - no matter WHERE you are, the local conditions depend on the direction and strength of the winds, and the currents which vary from day to day, AND from one section of beach to the next. Theres nothing better than a relaxing day at the beach, and Lighthouse Beach has some of the best spaces to let your worries float away. Fort Myers is blue collar means that Ft Myers is more lower . We found it while cycling around Sanible and Captiva. Ive always found the best shells in the water on Captiva. Sanibel Island is known for being a natural wonderland. The waters off the beaches of Sanibel have a gradual slope that allows shells to be washed up onto the beach extremely easily. Sanibel Island and Captiva Island are called sister islands, but there are some obvious differences between them. Are there still restaurant's and shops that are closed due to Hurricane Irma? From Sanibel, this distillery is only about 40 minutes away. 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. The whole island is practically all beach on the West, and this is where the Gulf of Mexico laps at the shore just what you want to dip your toes into! You want to find a slice of paradise when you go to the beach, and Captiva Beach is the most authentic piece of heaven there is. Captiva & Sanibel Island Beaches. Sanibel and Captiva are sister islands. The two Gulf Coast islands would be one were it not for the hurricane in 1921 which cut the island in two. It's got a great location right across from the beach and the pass between the two islands. Theres a parking lot on the side of the saltwater bayous. And the standards of the condos arent the highest. However, that doesnt quite hold true. For the whole family, Causeway Beach & Park is the perfect day out. The sand on Clearwater Beach is slightly nicer than the sand on Sand Key, but it is pretty close. It doesn't have lots of stuff inside, but we found a few things for a quick lunch, including . 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. The South Seas island resort is a large oceanfront resort which has. Where to Eat. If you want to follow along on my travel adventures in real time, you can follow me on Instagram (@caitylincoln). Before traveling to any vacation destination, one of the most important things to consider is where you are to stay on your arrival. Gulfside City Park. At 33 square miles, (12 miles end-to-end), walking may not always be convenient, depending on your plans. The causeway was built in 1963 (the island was previously only accessible via ferry) and the city of Sanibel was formed in 1974. Its on the Captiva side of the Blind Pass Bridge, so all swimmers need to be as cautious as possible, as there are strong currents and a swift undertow. If you aren't into shelling this is definitely something worth considering. Copyright 2023 Lincoln Travel Co ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. These islands are perfect, providing visitors with dining, shopping, entertainment, and local hotels. The sand quality is good. Some of the fish that can be caught here include: As noted above, the currents here can sometimes be intense and unpredictable. 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. More island businesses are re-opening every week. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge is very large, about 6,300 acres and occupies of Sanibel Island. Visit the Islands to find great shells today! There are no restrooms on the Sanibel side, but there are restrooms on the Captiva side of the beach. While you can walk to bars and restaurants from some vacation rentals it is not that easy from most. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Captiva is much smaller than Siesta. From the bay to the Gulf of Mexico, the islands are surrounded by water and beauty. Get answers to your questions about Marco Island, Recommendations for condo complex with central booking site. Amelia Island. The immensity of the sky and the sea together offer vast and breathtaking views in all directions that work together to draw you in. This is an okay convenience store that carries a little bit of everything, including cigars. it's one of the best parts but cut off and discard the tail. Can anyone give us advice. The bottom structure of the beaches have more influence on waves and water clarity than most realize. 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. Theres a $6 toll to get onto the island. Some of the features of the beach that youll find here include: Whether youre by yourself, with a loved one, or bringing the whole family, Bowmans Beach is a great option. For more on what to do, check out the Marco Review website. There are bird sanctuaries, modern childrens playgrounds, and RV parking for road trippers looking to get out and do something new. What's there to do I one place vs the other? Which beach is better Sanibel or Captiva? Does anyone have recommendations if sunset views would be better from Lovers Key or Sanibel/Captiva (in July)? The FDOH's fecal indicator bacteria testing results on Dec. 12 suggested low bacterial concentrations and no current advisories. In all shapes, sizes, and colors, vacationers often leave Blind Pass Beach with buckets full of incredible shells. To give you an accurate perspective, Sanibel is downright sleepy compared with other southwest Florida towns like Fort Myers, Naples, Marco Island, Bonita Springs even Punta Gorda.But Captiva is even quieter and less busy than Sanibel, though there's still plenty to do.. Once you cross over the bridge at Blind Pass, you'll immediately notice how the road narrows and . Refer to our Privacy Policy for full affiliate terms. A Saltwater Fishing License is required to saltwater fish from shore. But they are worth the extra drive to the north end of the island. Captiva, on the other hand, is much, much smaller: five miles long and 1.64 square miles in size. To get to the beach, its a short five minute walk through a nature trail, boardwalk bridge, hammock, and beach scrub to get where you need to be. For people who are enthusiastic about shell hunting, there are better shells on Sanibel beaches. Sanibel Island beaches for shelling are known across the country, while Captiva Island beaches are known for their fine sands. Captiva has more of a village feel. But one thing that's very important is CLEAR water and pretty beaches. As they are a bit less shelly, the sands are a bit softer than on Sanibel and the water is usually clearer and less sandy. Aside from being larger than Captiva Island, Sanibel Island has more shops, hotels, and sights that keep visitors engaged and excited. Each beach offers its own unique take on shelling and is worth a visit. There are no high-rise accommodations on Sanibel, only two story hotels, one-story retro motels, and lovely quaint cottages. There are several vendors for bike rentals or check with your hotel to find out if they offer bike rentals. Plan to book early as they fill up quickly year round (and especially in the winter). But I digress. In the early '70's Sanibel was slated to become the next Marco Island with the building of the bridge. Please check directly with businesses regarding their operating status as the islands continue to rebuild. Best for Kids: Located right on the beach, . With amenities such as bathrooms and showers, picnic tables and playgrounds, youre going to find everything you need for the perfect day at the beach. 2. Discover the Beauty of Sanibel and Captiva Islands There is so much to find and enjoy in Southwest Florida, especially on Sanibel and Captiva Islands. . Please note, the majority of our content was posted and shared prior to Hurricane Ian. Sanibel-Captiva islands have been an idyllic destination for tourists from Florida and the world over. Tarpon Beach. We aren't big nightlife people, but enjoy good "non-chain" restaurants. Best Beaches in Florida for 2019 - Sanibel & Captiva Island Beaches Find your favorite paradise with the updated list of best beaches in Florida. There are two large grocery stores and several smaller markets. Sanibel is a bike island. Best Florida Gulf Coast Airbnb for Shell . That said, however, since most visitors seem to hit the beaches closest to the Sanibel Causeway (the only road on and off the island), youll find that the closer you get to the Causeway, the more crowded the beaches are. Thirteen miles of beaches plus luxury resorts and golf courses sprinkled across untouched acreage make Amelia Island a must-visit Florida island destination . Is Marco prettier? Sanibel won, hands down. This southern half of the island has mostly very upscale homes and notmuch in the way of public facilities. A popular destination for visitors, Turner Beach is one of the best beaches on Captiva. Captiva Island, the South seas island resort, Sanibel Island is much larger than Captiva, Captiva Island, you can access the several beaches. The Southwest Florida water currents play into a sheller's hands . This resort is probablythe most upscaleon the two islands with extensive landscaped grounds and resort facilities and a 9 hole golf course.
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