Experience Island Time on Sanibel
Introducing Sanibel
Both tranquil and family-friendly, Sanibel Island is a paradise of over 12 miles of sandy beaches surrounded by beautiful Florida nature and wildlife. Full of bike paths, parks, island shops, dolphins and restaurants, small Sanibel Island is the perfect vacation spot, without the hassle of even one stoplight.
Island Must-Do's
Enjoy the Natural Beauty of the Island
Ding Darling Nature Refuge: the top rated attraction on the island, Ding Darling offers miles of hiking trails and plenty of picnic space to experience Florida wildlife, especially the waterbirds and alligators.
Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum: Founded in 1984, this unique museum is the only one in the United States that is solely devoted to shells and the mollusks that make them.
Sanibel Historical Museum: This museum’s mission is to preserve and share the rich history of Sanibel, from the Calusa and Spanish eras to the early pioneer families who settled on the island in the 1800s. It is open Tuesdays - Saturdays from January through July.
Captiva Island: Sanibel's smaller sister island, Island is perfect for a day trip to explore the white sandy beaches, shops, and catch some of the prize fish that the Island is known for.
The Sanibel Lighthouse or Point Ybel Light was one of the first lighthouses on Florida's Gulf coast north of Key West and the Dry Tortugas. The light, 98-foot above sea level, on an iron skeleton tower was first lit on August 20, 1884
Adventures in Paradise: This enterprise offers a variety of family-friendly cruises around Sanibel where guests can see dolphins and other local wildlife or visit some of the best beaches for shelling.
Be Active
Water Sports: With great surf and plenty of beaches, Sanibel and Captiva are the perfect places for parasailing, wave running, banana boating and more. YOLO Rentals on Captiva are particularly well-known for bringing the fun.
Biking the Island: With more than 25 miles of bike paths on the island, biking is an excellent, healthy way to see all that the island has to offer. Bikes can be rented at Billy's Rentals or Finnimore’s.
Beach Activities: With beaches full of beautiful shells and steady surf, Sanibel is great for families who love to boogie board, build sand empires and collect some of the most beautiful shells in the world.
Golf: Two well-maintained 18-hole courses are open to the public, including the Sanibel Island Golf Club and The Dunes, which was designed by 10-time PGA Tour winner Mark McCumber.
Fishing (onshore and offshore): The gulf waters of Sanibel are well known for their fish, and the Bait Box is a good source for finding local fishing spots and options for chartering deep sea trips.
Pickleball/Tennis: Besides the tennis and pickleball court at Kings Crown, enthusiasts of both sports can find lots of competition at the Sanibel Recreation Center and two other locations with extensive facilities — The Dunes and The Sundial Beach Resort & Spa.
Restaurants
Elegant Night Out
Family Favorites
Kids’ Choice
Shopping
Tahitian Gardens: Home to Cheeburger Cheeburger, Shiny Objects glass jewelry gallery, Cedar Chest fine jewelry shop and the Sanibel Cafe, Tahitian Gardens makes a great afternoon for any family.
Olde Sanibel Shoppes: A quaint shopping center that includes JRod’s Surf, Fish & Style, Suncatcher's Dream glass gifts, and On Island, which offers a variety of island apparel and merchandise.
Islander Trading Post Antiques: Expansive and quirky antique shop.
Periwinkle Place: With beautiful landscaping, Periwinkle place has been named Sanibel's top shopping destination.
Sanibel Farmer's Market: Only open on Sundays from 8AM-1PM, October to May, the farmer's market is both a tourist attraction and bountiful fresh market.