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: Now in its 20th year, the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum on Sanibel Island is the only museum in the United States that is solely devoted to shells and the mollusks that make them.

Sanibel Historical Museum: Founded in 1984, the Sanibel Historical Museum's mission is to preserve and share the history of Sanibel.  Open Tuesday - Saturday during the season starting November 7th and closing during the summer months, this is a great way to spend 1 1/2 - 2 hours learning about the rich history of Sanibel.

Sanibel Thriller: A 90 minute boat ride around the island, this is one of the best ways to learn about the history of the island, and of course, do some up close dolphin watching.

Captiva Island: Sanibel's smaller sister island, Captiva 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. 

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 Finnimores.

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. 

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.  

Restaurants

Elegant Night Out

Family Favorites

Kid's 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 Sanibel Art and Frame, Island Paws pet store, Amy's Something Special gift store, Suncatcher's Dream glass gifts, Over Easy Cafe, and jb designs accessory shop.

  • 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 Sunday from 8AM-1PM, the farmer's market is both a tourist attraction and bountiful fresh market.