Located on the west coast of Florida is a beautiful, small island with 15 miles of golden sandy seashore and a quiet atmosphere completely different from the crowded beaches in Miami. Sanibel Island is famous for its beautiful seashells, crystal clear water, and vibrant sunsets. It is a perfect place for a trip, from a romantic getaway to a family-friendly vacation. 

The best time to visit Sanibel Island is from December to May. June marks the start of the rainy season, followed by the hurricane season. When we visited Sanibel, around New Years, the water was warm enough to swim in. 

How to Get to Sanibel Island 

Sanibel Island is fairly easy to access. There are many ways to get there. You can fly to multiple airports around Sanibel Island and rent a car to drive to the island. The closest airport is Southwest Florida International Airport, located in Fort Myers, which is only 20 miles away from Sanibel Island. If you can find cheaper flights and don’t mind driving a little bit further, then check out the flights to Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami. 

The only route onto Sanibel is a long bridge spanning two miles of open ocean. The Sanibel Causeway charges a $6 toll for entering the island. You can pay the toll in two ways, cash or SunPass. You can get SunPass from a local CVS store for $4.99. SunPass can save you some time from waiting in line in heavy traffic. If you don’t already have SunPass and only plan to hang out on Sanibel Island, paying cash is probably the best option. 

Where to Stay on Sanibel Island

There are plenty of choices on Sanibel Island, from hotels on the seashore to hotels a few blocks away to many kinds of vacation rentals spread all over the island. 

There are also many types of hotel rooms to fit your specific needs, such as cottages or condos with kitchens, or regular hotel rooms without kitchens. But even if you stay in a hotel room without a kitchen, there are usually public grills on site for hotel customers. If you are planning on fishing on the island, it is possible to cook your own fish. You can contact the hotel in advance to see whether they have the amenities you need. 

We stayed in a resort on the seashore on the east end of Sanibel Island. The sandy beach was right in front of our hotel. Hotel prices on Sanibel vary largely by different types of room. We saved some money by choosing a room with a partial gulf view. 

What to Do on Sanibel Island 

Chill on the Beach and Swim in the Ocean 

The soft, golden sandy beaches and warm, clear blue water on the island are the main attraction for most of us. It is very relaxing to spend time on the beach sunbathing or hunting seashells. The best time to find beautiful seashells is during low tide. A handy app, Tides Near Me, also available on iOS and Android, can tell you when low tide comes in. The water on the island is clear and calm and has a wide range of shallow areas that are safe for swimmers. 

Tour the Island by Bicycle

Sanibel has 22 miles of beautiful bike paths which allow you to ride a bicycle to tour the island. The slow pace on the island gives you the opposite feel from the daily hurly-burly. Make as many stops as you want to along the way. You can get hand-made ice cream or creative shell crafts from local stores. 

Many resorts provide bicycles for their customers for free. Even if the hotel you are going to stay at doesn’t have one, you can easily rent a bike at a local bicycle rental shop at a cost of about $30-$40 per week. 

Visit the Bailey-Matthews National Shell museum

Sanibel is famous for it’s a large variety of beautiful seashells, so no wonder you can find a Museum devoted on seashells on such a small island. The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum is home to a world-class collection of mollusks. The museum offers an impressive selection of local shells and spectacular shells found all over the world. It also has a live water tank with sea stars, mollusks, and other amazing ocean creatures. 

Beyond just seeing the exhibits, you may build your own shell artworks there using the different seashells they provide. It is a very fun thing to do for the whole family. 

Explore Nature in J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge 

J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge is one of the Audubon Society’s seven great National Wildlife Refuges. It covers 6,400 acres of wetland and hosts hundreds of animals, especially birds. A visit to J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge is a perfect break from chilling on the beach. It offers three major trails to visit, you can tour the park by car, bike, or even on foot. The longest trail is a one-way road about 4 miles long. Remember to bring plenty of water or refill your water bottle before you enter the park, because there are no water fountains in the park. 

Spend a Day in Captiva Island and Watch the Stunning Sunset 

Captiva Island, 12 miles away from the heart of Sanibel, is a smaller sister island. It is full of island charms. The sands on Captiva are even softer and the water is clearer and bluer. 

You can drive or bike from Sanibel to Captiva. If you drive, you can park your car at the public beach parking spot for $20 from dawn to dusk but remember to get there early to find a spot during the peak time. There are a few individual public bathrooms on the parking lot where you can change into your bathing suit. 

Captiva Island is one of the best spots on the west coast of Florida to witness the stunning sunset. Check on the weather app on your phone for the exact sunset time and get your eyes and camera ready. 

Where to eat on Sanibel and Captiva Island 

There are many good, affordable restaurants on both Sanibel and Captiva. Below are some popular places you might want to try. 

1. The Mucky Duck

Mucky Duck is located on the west end of Captiva Island. Besides delicious food, the Mucky Duck is located at a premium spot to watch the vibrant ocean sunset. No wonder you may have to wait for being seated due to the popularity of the Mucky Duck. But the waiting time doesn’t have to be boring; they offer plenty of outdoor seating with live music, where you can grab a drink and hang out with your friends while you wait.

2. Timbers

Timbers has multiple locations on the island. Timbers offers more local island vibes, fresh seafood and awesome drinks. It is also a busy place, but if you don’t mind sitting in the bar area, which is first come first serve, you can have the full menu, and it is not that hard to get seated at dinner time.  

3. Gramma Dot’s 

Gramma Dot’s is on the eastern side of Sanibel Island. We had our first dinner on the island at there, after checking into our hotel. Gramma Dot’s has a large variety of delicious grilled seafood for you to choose from. After dinner you can take a little walk to see the Sanibel Lighthouse. 

4. Doc Ford’s Rum Bar and Grille

Doc Ford’s Rum Bar and Grille also has restaurants on both Sanibel and Captiva. You can sit outside in a sunny day. Although mostly famous for drinks, the food is amazing and fresh. We highly recommend the awesome fish burger and tacos.