SANIBEL & CAPTIVA ISLANDS

Fun, sun, sand, shells, romance, warm waters, sunsets beyond belief, tropical splender these things all describe these 2 beautiful southwest Florida islands.

Gateway To Heaven On Earth

The Sanibel Causeway.

Monitoring the new arrivals.

Welcoming signs.

Glimpse of Paradise.

The last bridge to Sanibel.

SANIBEL

Sanibel incorporated in 1974 in order to control its’ own destiny and protect this fragile gem from large developers. This is reflected from the moment you set foot on Sanibel. No stop lights. No neon signs. Very tightly controlled building regulations. No buildings over 3 stories high. Far from a concrete jungle, Sanibel is more like a jungle paradise. The average temperature here is a pleasant 74 degrees. Sanibel has over 15 miles of beach frontage and 5 public access. Most accommodations have their own access. There are two public golf courses, 18 holes each, public tennis courts, boat launches, marinas, 75-80 restaurants, beautiful shopping centers and shops, two playhouses, art galleries, a movie theater, world class fishing and shelling . Plenty to do, if you want to. It is also the ideal location to do absolutely nothing! Read a book at the beach, or just chill out at the pool. A perfect family destination awaits you. Gently sloping beaches, shallow water, little or no surf (no dangerous undertow).

About 60% of the island is set aside for wildlife sanctuaries. 50% of that is comprised of the J.N. ”Ding” Darling National wildlife refuge. Named for Darling, a political cartoonist in the ‘20’s ,who was ahead of his time as a conservationist. Darling used to visit Sanibel, and using his political clout, convinced the powers to be that this area needed to be set aside for future generations. A five mile drive through the sanctuary is a must, with spectacular close up viewing of all kinds of birds including osprey, roseate spoonbills, egrets, herons, ibis woodstorks to name a few. Alligators, otters, raccoons, and even a bobcat if you get real lucky.

CAPTIVA

Captiva Island is connected to Sanibel by a bridge at Blind Pass. Six miles long and 1/3 mile wide, Captiva slices between the Gulf and the bay from north to south. The southernmost 1/3 of the island is comprised of very secluded single family homes. The perfect blend of luxury and privacy. The middle 1/3 is a quaint mix single family homes, shops, condos, and resorts. Several fine dining establishments are also found there. The northern tip of the island is the South Seas Plantation, a full resort covering 330 acres. Several restaurants, a general store, great shopping, tennis, a 9 hole golf course, deep water marina, convention facilities, are but some of the amenities. Truly a world class resort.