Logistics
Sanibel Island is located near Ft. Myers, Florida. There is a toll to enter the island. Currently, it is all done electronically with a license plate photo and a bill sent to you in the mail weeks later. I highly recommend you use an app like Waze going to/from Sanibel. During busy times, the main roads can back up bumper to bumper. However, there are easy side streets on the island to navigate around the main entries. And it can save you lots of time and frustration. It is not like Ft. Myers beach where you are basically stuck with one main road in and out. Use the island side streets!
Beaches
The Sanibel beaches are all wonderful in my opinion. I prefer them over Ft. Myers mainly due to the seclusion. You really have to want to get to Sanibel, but it’s worth it. If you google “My Sanibel Public Beach Info” you should easily find the City of Sanibel website with a listing of all beaches and detailed information about each one. Almost all of them have restrooms and showers which is important when you have kids with you. All parking is paid at machines with credit cards. You put the ticket on your dash and it is closely watched by Sanibel employees.
There truly are shells everywhere. A favorite time to go is right before low tide. Search the internet for current Sanibel tide schedules. To find bigger shells, you often have to do some digging in the sand right at the water’s edge.
The Lighthouse Beach
I’m not sure why, but we usually go here when we want to take a walk on the beach, not when we are going to set up camp for the day. When we are staying on Sanibel, we usually “go to the beach” closest to our condo for an all-day event. When we are driving over from Cape Coral or Ft. Myers, the Lighthouse Beach is the closest to get to after the Causeway, but parking also gets crowded fast…especially during high season. Meaning it can be full by 9:00/10:00 am.
Bowman’s Beach
Bowman’s Beach is an extra 15-20 minute drive towards Captiva once you are on Sanibel. But often, it’s worth it! There is a lot of parking but it can also fill up by mid-morning. The walk to the beach is a bit longer, but very scenic as you go through a mangrove area. This beach is a great spot for sunsets.
Tarpon Bay Beach
Tarpon Bay Beach is between Lighthouse and Bowman. It is near the condo where we usually stay. It is another great location to set up for the day. Also good for sunset views.
Playground
The Sanibel Community Playground on the main road of Periwinkle is amazing. It is a large fenced-in playground that is also covered with shade structures giving you and the kids a break from the sun. There is a covered picnic area and restrooms are available as well. On day trips to Sanibel, we have gotten carry-out at Cheeburger Cheeburger and had lunch at the park.
Where to Stay
A friend recommended Pine Cove condos to us at the end of Tarpon Bay Road and the location was perfect for us. We have rented Pine Cove 302 and Pine Cove 303 through the Royal Shell website. We were right on the beach and could bike almost everywhere we wanted to go. There are so many great locations to stay. A quick internet search will give lots of recommendations. Other friends of ours spent their childhood summers at the Shalimar Cottages & Motel and we toured it on our last day trip and it looks so quaint and amazing!
Food
Driving to Sanibel you will find a Target and Costco nearby in Ft. Myers before you go onto the island. On the island, Jerry’s and Bailey’s are great grocery stores that will have everything you need. Not everything is marked up because you are on the island. Some prices seem higher than “normal” and some seem lower (one of my favorite wines is the cheapest I’ve seen it in the country at Bailey’s).
Our favorite restaurants include Island Pizza (great to order first night there), George & Wendy’s (bar and grill), Over Easy Cafe (breakfast), Cheeburger Cheeburger (burgers, onion rings and milkshakes), and Traders (date night).
Shell Museum
My family has always enjoyed a trip to the Shell Museum on a rainy day or whenever a break i needed from the sand and sun. We feel it is worth a visit and the admission cost.
Captiva
We have definitely driven out further to Captiva. There are infamous restaurants to visit like the Bubble Room for their infamous cake and the Mucky Duck for the sunset views. We have not eaten at either due to long waits and cranky kids. There aren’t really public beaches along Captiva, so unless you are staying there or going to a specific restaurant, it’s just a nice drive in our opinion. It’s not a must-see.
What do you love about Sanibel?
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