Location: Sanibel Island < Florida South Central Gulf Coast < Florida < USA
Nearest Airport:
Southwest Regional Airport at 30
Miles
Car: recommended
Once here, you notice immediately that things are slower, quieter, more romantic, more natural. There are no traffic signals, no four-lane roadways, no fast food hamburger places, no buildings over three stories or 35 feet tall. Does this sound like a relaxing place to reconnect with your family, nature and yourself? Absolutely!
So, what is there to do? There are broad beaches devoid of crowds, and some of the best shelling in the Northern or Western Hemispheres. The reason for the bountiful shell deposits is that Sanibel, unlike most barrier islands, runs east and west. Therefore, the shell-bearing waves actually hit the beaches rather than brush by them. There are 27 miles of bike paths (purists call them 'multi-use' paths, because you can walk on them too.) There are plenty of opportunities to rent bikes and mopeds. There are two publicly available golf courses on Sanibel and more tennis courts and swimming pools than one can count.