If you are not stayingat the resort you cannot go onto the grounds or use the facilities. If you are really into fantastic shelling then the obvious choice is Sanibel. Sanibel is known to be the top shelling destination in North America. 1. So many reviews have said that guests left sanibel's beaches when they were bad to go to captiva where they we great! Brokered by MVP Realty Associates LLC. Were often asked and emailed questions from readers wanting to know what the difference is between Sanibel and Captiva islands. Nearly 70% of the island is devoted to conservation and wildlife refuges. Dating back to August 1884, the Sanibel Lighthouse is over hundred years old and of historic importance. We are staying a week. Captiva also allows the use of golf carts on the roads within the village limits during daylight hours only. Dogs are welcome at Turner Beach- they must be kept on a leash no longer than 8 ft. We please ask that you remember to clean up after your dog. Without a doubt, Sanibel is the larger of the two islands, and more touristed since its the first island off the Causeway. Theres a reason that Sanibel is consistently named as one of the best shelling beaches on the planet. And the standards of the condos arent the highest. Are there still restaurant's and shops that are closed due to Hurricane Irma? to bring home. 2,950 feet from Sanibel Lighthouse. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Youll find shady areas with picnic tables and grills to enjoy your own BBQ! Since the water off Sanibel is shallower than Captiva, this causes bigger waves and murkier water. Captiva doesnt have the network of dedicated bike paths that Sanibel has, so if you were looking forward to extensive bike-riding on your vacation, Sanibel may be the better choice. Visit the Islands to find great shells today! This video shows what I consider to be the best public beaches on Sanibel Island. Sanibel City leaders said their beaches fared better than Captiva's in the erosion department following Eta, although isolated erosion was spotted on some public beaches. You can reach Blind Pass by heading to Sanibel's western tip where the gorgeous white sand flanks the channel between Sanibel and Captiva islands. Both are a far cry from the bitter cold winter months further north. It depends on the direction of the wind and tides. Sanibel won, hands down. Sanibel and Captiva Island beaches are unique for many reasons. Bowmans Beach is one of many beaches on Sanibel Island, and on the western portion of the island.Its a protected site, with no developments going on, which leaves a pure and natural landscape to enjoy for all. The water moves fast, and the resorts and rentals are well-placed for a day of fun at the beach. Gulfside City Beach is also known as Algiers Beach, and the park itself has beach access and a nature trail to enjoy. As waves travel across shallow water they pick up speed and tend to stir up sand and sediment from the ocean floor. There are so many different species of fish here, and with the bay on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other, you can imagine how popular its been as a destination here as you can access the beach right from the water, too. If the beaches ofSanibelare uncrowded by moststandards, Captiva's are even more so. In a place like Sanibel Island (or Captiva Island), you simply must get out on the water to truly experience the destination. Ever since our first trip to Captiva in 2016, Ive been impressed with the ability to find shells on Captiva. Sanibel Beaches are among the most dog-friendly beaches in Florida, if not the entire country. As you ride your bike to cruise the 4-mile Wildlife Drive, get ready to discover different trails. Discover the Beauty of Sanibel and Captiva Islands There is so much to find and enjoy in Southwest Florida, especially on Sanibel and Captiva Islands. Eight Sanibel and Captiva beaches you have to visit include: Bowman's Beach Lighthouse Beach Blind Pass Beach Captiva Beach Turner Beach Gulfside City Park/Algiers Beach Causeway Beach Park Tarpon Bay Beach On the flip side of this is that Captiva allows the use of golf carts on the roads within the village limits during daylight hours only. . Which beach is better Sanibel or Captiva? "DING" DARLING NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE. The pristine beaches, with plentiful seashells for collectors, proved popular with. Exit 21 is the best exit off of I-75 for the beaches. No matter which island you choose, be prepared to pay for parking. For Sale. While Sanibel and Captiva arent radically different, Ill do my best to break the two down: Sanibel is a sizable island with direct access from mainland Fort Myers via the Sanibel Causeway. While you're likely to find many shells at any of Sanibel's 6 public beaches, a couple that stand out include: Gulfside City Park Beach- This beautiful sandy beach is covered with countless shells to collect. Sanibel and Captiva are connected to Fort Myers on the mainland by only one roadway the Sanibel Causeway Bridge. Since it is more or less north and south you have perfect beach sunsets from all 7.1 miles. The two were once a single island, along with North Captiva Island, until separated by a storm at Blind Pass. Here are the most noticeable difference between the islands to help you pick your island destination: One of the biggest distinguishing factors between Sanibel and Captiva lies beneath your toes: their sand. 1725 Cape Coral Pkwy E, Cape Coral, FL 33904. Lighthouse Beach is one of the best places to watch sunset on Sanibel or Captiva because of the lighthouse it makes any sunset pic of Sanibel Instaworthy! While you can walk to bars and restaurants from some vacation rentals it is not that easy from most. Essentially, Sanibel and Captiva islands are sister islands. A Saltwater Fishing License is required to saltwater fish from shore. Fort Myers is blue collar means that Ft Myers is more lower . It also has a small parking lot and portable toilets. Captiva (not South Seas) if you want sunsets, quiet island escape, "get away from it all feel", andmore upscale company. In the East End area Tarpon Tale Inn sits just 0.7 miles (1.1 km) from Lighthouse Beach Park. Sign in to get trip updates and message other travelers.. Sanibel Island ; Hotels The beaches shown in the video are: Lighthouse Beach, Gulfside City Beach, Tarpon Bay Beach, Bowman's. The beach connecting Sanibel to Captive is probably the best known public beach and it is very well known for its shelling. Gulfside City Park. There are also a few resorts, inns, and B&B's offering nightly rentals. For people who are enthusiastic about shell hunting, there are better shells on Sanibel beaches. Both islands are home to fantastic beaches with all kinds of amenities. Theyre smaller here, so beautiful to collect! Lighthouse Beach. Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grill 2500 Island Inn Rd, Sanibel Island OR 5400 S Seas Plantation Rd, Captiva Island That's right - Doc Ford's has two locations within the islands! Its a pristine beautiful beach, great for privacy, sunning ,and fishing, but offers limited shelling. A collaborative effort of the Florida Shorebird Alliance, the survey of shorebirds and seabirds in Florida aims to gain a better understanding of their winter distributions, the SCCF reported. No Wal-Mart, McDonalds, or Ben & Jerry's (sigh). If youre not a strong swimmer or you have young kids, swimming should be avoided. Before choosing the island youd like to visit, it is important to know the differences as this can influence your choice. When we were at Marco last month, the beaches were pretty. Sanibel is 60% nature reserve with low rise mostly condos and natural ungroomed beaches. You wont be able to take them home, but you may get to see some awesome new creatures. Jensens is well-known and reliable for a day of off-island sightseeing. If at South Seas add extensive resort amenitiesand an upscale atmosphere. Sitemap, 8 Sanibel and Captiva Island Beaches You Have to Visit. The Captiva Island Inn is also another wonderful place you can stay especially if youre searching for something more unique and quaint. Turner Beach is located at Blind Pass right across the bridge from Sanibel. If youre not a paddler you can still see a lot of the refuge by taking the guided tram tour or hiking on established trails. Sanibel's beaches are generally firm and compact, from higher foot traffic. My post captions are full of travel tips and I have a ton of story highlights and videos with great info. All great points. Sanibel is 60% nature reserve with low rise mostly condos and natural ungroomed beaches. Here and on adjacent roads you will find a wide selection of restaurants, galleries, shops, food markets, a live theater company, a movie theaterand severalsmall shopping centers. And. Not really. There are several vendors on Sanibel for you to rent a kayak or a canoe if you prefer. Blind Pass Beach is one of the more unique beaches on this list given the fact that it stretches to the northern tip of Sanibel Island, making it easily accessible from Captiva Island as well. Hi , we are trying to book vacation end of March . There is access to the western sunset-facingpristine beaches of Captiva at Turner's Beach immediately after Blind Pass Bridge and also a small lot at the very end of Captiva Drive directly adjacent to South Seas Resort. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-91718899', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');the Florida Keys. Walking and biking can get you around most of the island. Honestly I cant imagine living on the island if I had to go to work off-island everyday, or just do a quick run to Target. That is a personal decision. It does get busy understandably so as its so popular! No issue of traffic concerns. The whole island is practically all beach on the West, and this is where the Gulf of Mexico laps at the shore just what you want to dip your toes into! Your email address will not be published. It's got a great location right across from the beach and the pass between the two islands. For people who are enthusiastic about shell hunting, there are better shells on Sanibel beaches. If you travel down Sanibel Captiva Road and make the trek over the Blind Pass bridge, youll find yourself on Captiva Island. If I wanted to snorkel I would head to the keys. It was warm and pleasant. We did some . Realizing the differences in the two islands is important, Ive heard from people who stayed on Sanibel expecting the clear water and soft sand and were disappointed. Dolphins make their appearance daily and often a manatee or two are spotted. The passes at the ends and between the two islands get the attention of adventure beachgoers because of their swift-moving waters. You can park for free here, and you can head to the park during the day for the kids to play before heading to the sand. At these islands, you get 15 miles of coastline, 25 miles of biking, and fifty different species of fish! It had the same color/clarity as the ocean here in NC. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. In addition, if you enjoy hunting for shells, you should definitely pick Sanibel Island, as it is the top shelling destination in North America. The Seaside Inn is another laid-back beachfront inn. On Sanibel after high tide, it looks as if someone dumped buckets upon buckets of shells on Sanibel. The currents that bring abundant shells to sanibel and the 10K islands do result in some turbulence and suspended sand in the water at times even when there are no water releases. There are no restrooms on the Sanibel side, but there are restrooms on the Captiva side of the beach. Along Andy Rosse Lane is Captiva Island Pizza, casual RC Otters, and the very delicious Key Lime Bistro. Sanibel Island might be better for you if youre looking for active family vacations, great shelling beaches, more shopping and dining amenities, being closer to nature preserves and off-island driving adventures to Fort Myers and beyond to the Everglades or Charlotte Harbor. Jensen's Captiva Island Beach and Marina Resorts, Captiva Vessels up to 40 feet (239) 472-5800 gocaptiva.com. DINNER AT TIMBERS RESTAURANT. Privacy Policy |
8 Great Places to Go Kayaking in Fort Myers, 50 Things to Do in Southwest Florida: The Ultimate Bucket List, 10 Fun and Easy Day Trips from Naples Florida, 15 Fun Things To Do on Sanibel Island, Florida, 6 Best Waterfront Places to Stay on Sanibel Island and Captiva Island, Castaway to 7 Southwest Florida Gulf Coast Islands Reachable Only By Boat, The 7 Best Beaches in Fort Myers Florida (Plus 5 More Nearby), 9 Sanibel Restaurants for Tropical Island Dining at Its Best. See the You can just spend your days on Sanibel Island and occasionally go to Captiva island to experience their unique dining experience. Holiday Inn Club Vacations Sunset Cove Resort, an IHG Hotel. 7/9/2016. Its a great way to explore and enjoy the island. More island businesses are re-opening every week. $5 per hour for public parking. There are many homes and historic cottages that rent privately as well. Sanibels finest wearing white gloves still move traffic the old fashioned way during peak times. On the end of Captiva near Blind Pass Captiva is typically pretty busy but the reast of the 5 miles of beach is some of the quietest you will find. Sanibel public beaches & parking lots have started opening! Powerful Send help right to the people and causes you care about. Captiva has more super high end vacation homes that sit on the beach whereas Sanibel is where youll find more of the condo units. These islands are perfect, providing visitors with dining, shopping, entertainment, and local hotels. This relaxed oceanfront resort features an outdoor pool and dining with simple accommodations. Sanibel beaches are renowned for the shells that wash up every day - it's the top shelling destination in North America and residents and visitors bending over to examine the shells is the source of the posture known as the 'Sanibel Stoop". BREAKFAST AT Lighthouse Caf. Bowman's Beach. While we initially stayed on and fell in love with Captiva Island, both islands are perfect for rest and relaxation. As far as "clear water" is concerned - no matter WHERE you are, the local conditions depend on the direction and strength of the winds, and the currents which vary from day to day, AND from one section of beach to the next. Its a popular destination for those who love to hop from Captiva Island to Sanibel Island and the kids will love the chance to comb for shells. Lets start with the first island youll arrive at from the mainland Sanibel Island. Both islands are amazing and consistently get placed on must travel lists by top media outlets. It is also where the Captiva restaurants are located. Elsewhere the beautiful green canopy that was destroyed by Hurricane Charley is getting replaced by trees planted in 2006 and extensive landscaping is once again beautifying Periwinkle Way. Before traveling to any vacation destination, one of the most important things to consider is where you are to stay on your arrival. Not at all. And there are no golf carts on Siesta. You can walk for miles on the beach here, and you can find soft white sand with plenty of intricate shells to enjoy. Captivas beach is far better for simply lounging on the powdery sand. Locations to go shelling include: Causeway Beaches; Gulfside City Park; Bowman's Beach; Blind . Fishermen also enjoy the beach. People who visit the island mostly have plans of hanging out on the beach, as it is the main attraction. The combination of strong currents and fish travelling between the two islands mean that fish will often be biting. Theres also Billys Rentals or Finnimores Beach and Bike Rentals. Sundial Beach Resort & Spa has secured its spot as one of the best Sanibel hotels on the beach, thanks to its many amazing amenities and waterfront location. And we totally get it when youre planning a trip, understanding whats unique about one or the other can be so confusing, especially if youve never been here before. Marcos beach is beautiful. Relax on the miles of beaches surrounding the island or enjoy some fun in the water. At this point, the combined preserved/ protected conservation land owned by the National Refuge, private foundations and the City of Sanibel extends to about 70% of the island. If you stay at South Seas Island Resort, you have the added benefit of the resorts shuttle service. There are several reasons for this, partly because Captiva lacks the number of activities and attractions that Sanibel has, and partly because it is almost entirely private property with very high-end homes. Captiva, on the other hand, is much, much smaller: five miles long and 1.64 square miles in size. While the intention is to rebuild, the causeway has been fixed, and the island is expected to begin opening to tourism in January 2023, things are not back to normal and likely wont be for a long time. The Southwest Florida water currents play into a sheller's hands . In Captiva Island, you can access the several beaches on the island and enjoy the Gulf and Pine Island sound. With amenities such as bathrooms and showers, picnic tables and playgrounds, youre going to find everything you need for the perfect day at the beach. Eight Sanibel and Captiva beaches you have to visit include: For many people, the massive amount and variety of shells that can be found is what brings them Sanibel and Captiva Island beaches. The sand quality is good. Sanibel Island is much larger than Captiva and is the first island off the mainland of Ft. Myers. Accessing Captiva Beach by the Mucky Duck Restaurant at the end of Andy Rosse Lane is a great option if you are staying nearby. The SanCap area is reminiscent of the differences between a smaller community versus the regional center; Sanibel is a smaller town that provides basic services to the broader area. The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum is another fun place to visit on Sanibel with interesting exhibits, interactive stations for the kids, and shell collections from all over the world. Now that I am retired and live here full-time I really appreciate the laid-back atmosphere and natural, ungroomed beaches, and of course the shelling. Sanibel Island vs Marco Island for a vacation?Sanibel and Marco islands are both tropical gems of Southwest Florida, attracting thousands of visitors each year for a family vacation, a weekend getaway, or a honeymoon. Blind Pass Beach. Lets see what sets the islands apart and explore some of the best beaches on both islands. Turner Beach is just on the other side of Blind Pass past the small bridge from Sanibel. Sanibel Island beaches for shelling are known across the country, while Captiva Island beaches are known for their fine sands. The Wicked Dolphin Rum Distillery gives free tours and tastings for all visitors. Copyright 2023 | WordPress Theme by MH Themes, Check VRBO Availability of Captiva Beachfront Rentals, Top 10 Tricks for Planning a Sanibel Island Vacation on a Budget, What to Look for in a Captiva or Sanibel Island Vacation Rental, The 3 Best Months to Visit Sanibel Island, The Highest Rated Captiva Island House Rentals, The 5 Highest Rated St George Island Beach House Rentals, The 5 Best Anna Maria Island Beachfront House Rentals, The 5 Biggest Florida Keys Beach House Rentals, The 6 Best Amelia Island Vacation Rentals, Top 10 Hidden Caribbean Private Island Rentals, Sanibel Island Tips & Secrets Only a Local Would Know, Complete Guide to Kayaking Sanibel Island.
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