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Canoe and kayak rentals, even guided tours of Ding Darling by tram or kayak are available at Tarpon Bay Explorers. Sanibel Marina, Sanibel Vessels up to 100 feet (239) 215-2445 sanibelmarina.com There are only 2 lane roads with no stoplights. 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. Since it is more or less north and south you have perfect beach sunsets from all 7.1 miles. Sanibel is 60% nature reserve with low rise mostly condos and natural ungroomed beaches. No matter what brings people to the beaches, its undeniable that theyre simply magnificent. Compared to Sanibel Island, beaches on Captiva Island do not have a lot of crowds and have a few shells to hunt. Bring a hammock and hang it on the palm trees for the ultimate vacation photo! 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. There is no fee for Florida residents. In the village area there are a number of marinas that offer charter captains and water taxi service to the out islands of North Captiva, Cabbage Key and Useppa. We aren't big nightlife people, but enjoy good "non-chain" restaurants. Sep 26, 2020 Both islands have these things in common: Beautiful beaches, lack of high-rise hotels and condos, mostly low density development, and a laid back atmosphere. Beach access is strictly limited and there are only two small paid public lots for beach parking. This is simply due to the offshore geography and Sanibels unique curvature of land it really does get the lions share of great shells! P.S. 3 beach destination in the United States, and it is easy to see why. There are a number of places to rent bikes at reasonable daily or weekly rates. Captiva's beaches are more of the soft sugar sand that one would typically see on an island. Sanibel is known to be the top shelling destination in North America. DINNER AT TIMBERS RESTAURANT. Bird watching where you can spot pelicans, ibis. Preferences, preferences. (read about the brown water discharges from Lake O). Spotting aquatic wildlife including dolphins and manatees. BOAT RIDE AROUND J.N. In the early '70's Sanibel was slated to become the next Marco Island with the building of the bridge. There's a $6 toll to get onto the island. On Sanibel after high tide, it looks as if someone dumped buckets upon buckets of shells on Sanibel. It reported that the agencies responsible for declaring public safety for the beaches and waters in Lee County are Lee County Parks & Recreation and the Florida Department of Health's Healthy Beaches program. It had the same color/clarity as the ocean here in NC. Blind Pass Beach. If youre planning to visit the area, make sure to do plenty of research to find out whats open, whats available and whats just not even there anymore. Youll find many public beaches on Sanibel Island, some with fishing piers, and a few private beaches, too. The grills and picnic tables can be claimed early, but you do need to start early. Fort Myers is blue collar means that Ft Myers is more lower . You wont find any high rises (buildings are only allowed to be as tall as the tallest native tree on the island), any chains (except for the cutest little Dairy Queen thats been grandfathered in), and pretty much everything is a mom and pop shop or restaurant. The deep channel of water of what is now Blind Pass was formed, forever separating the two (though barely) by a narrow two-lane bridge thats small enough to walk across in under a minute. Were often asked and emailed questions from readers wanting to know what the difference is between Sanibel and Captiva islands. Because of its larger size, Sanibel has more beaches to choose from than Captiva. Captiva (not South Seas) if you want sunsets, quiet island escape, "get away from it all feel", andmore upscale company. Located on a little barrier island just 7 miles long, Fort Myers Beach features wide beaches and beautiful views. Re: Siesta Key vs Captiva Island. The majority of Captivas accommodations are at South Seas Island Resort, and its a lovely stay perfect also for destination weddings and other family gathering as they have a variety of accommodation types from studios to 3 and 4 bedroom homes. more. While Sanibel is filled with people scouring the beach for beautiful shells, the beaches of Captiva are generally very quiet and laid back. Sanibel Beaches are among the most dog-friendly beaches in Florida, if not the entire country. Marco has a modern infrastructure of bridges, streets, and street lights. Theres even a lovely campground on Sanibel! Holiday Inn Club Vacations Sunset Cove Resort, an IHG Hotel. Most of the year it feels like you are the only one on the beach. Sanibel's beaches are actually made up more of ground up shells than sand, which can be somewhat uncomfortable for bare feet. On my sheller's bucket list, I have found more rare shells that I proudly show off to friends after every visit. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. There are bars and restaurants just back across the bridge. I will say, depending on the types of places youre used to staying in Florida (or on vacation in general)I find that 95% of whats offered on Sanibel leaves a lot to be desired (especially for the $$). In fact, Sanibel and Captiva have some of the most fun and unique bars in Southwest Florida. The Bubble Room is family friendly and a very fun place for kids - and adults. There are no restrooms on the Sanibel side, but there are restrooms on the Captiva side of the beach. The paths are well marked and almost flat. Your support really helps me keep this blog running! Some travelers find that Captiva is a little more upscale, with fancier resorts and more eclectic dining opportunities. The Southwest Florida water currents play into a sheller's hands . With Sanibel's unique orientation as a primarily East-West island, the shelling is great AND the beaches at either end (Lighthouse, East end) Blind Pass (west end) offer a variety of beach conditions to explore on the same day. Jensen's Captiva Island Beach and Marina Resorts, Captiva Vessels up to 40 feet (239) 472-5800 gocaptiva.com. For the whole family, Causeway Beach & Park is the perfect day out. A lot of the island itself is privately owned. Captiva Island beaches on the other hand have a steeper slope in the water directly off the beach, which tends to cut down on the amount of shells that wash up on the beach. . ;-). 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. Sanibel is a better choice if you are beachcombing and want to enjoy biking on the bike paths, birdwatching, a d being out in nature in general. It is also where the Captiva restaurants are located. Once you cross over the bridge at Blind Pass, youll immediately notice how the road narrows and homes are shrouded by lush greenery and gates. Turner Beach. When I bought my vacation house 25 years ago I compared both Marco and Sanibel. And anything called a resort is actually a condo with more resort-like amenities. I agree completely with the response from Hawkowl (#3 above). Others appreciate the secluded and remote feeling that the island offers when compared to more crowded Florida beaches. Or is there another better spot? In all shapes, sizes, and colors, vacationers often leave Blind Pass Beach with buckets full of incredible shells. These islands will certainly be your favorites as soon as you get here. Even though it sits a stones throw (literally) across from Sanibel Island, it has a totally different vibe. You should, however note that the beach access is limited, and you can only shop at one spot. As they are a bit less shelly, the sands are a bit softer than on Sanibel and the water is usually clearer and less sandy. 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! Best for Kids: Located right on the beach, . One of the best spots on Sanibel to go kayaking is the J N Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Captiva Road. We did some . Youll also find a good selection of family-friendly beachfront resorts, condos, B&B's and Airbnbs. In fact, some folks think of the islands as being interchangeable. This inn provides very colorful and extremely comfortable cottages for you. Bowman's Beach and Blind Pass Beach re where you will find softer sand on Sanibel Island. Here are some helpful tips to get the most out of your Captiva or Sanibel Island shelling experience. As you head for the tip of Captiva, the island gets very narrow allowing you to see the Gulf on one side and Pine Island Sound on the other. Be sure to use the head. This post was written before Sanibel, Captiva, and parts of the surrounding area were absolutely blasted by Hurricane Ian in September 2022. . 1. 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". This is an okay convenience store that carries a little bit of everything, including cigars. There isnt a full-on grocery store (The Island Store is the closest it gets), but the shops on the island can get you most, if not all, of your basic needs. 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. The intimate 10-day festival starts off in Captiva Island and Sanibel Island, then moves on to downtown Fort Myers and wraps up at Fort Myers Beach. Captiva Islands parent island is Sanibel. jesseaknight 5 mo. There are other differences between the islands, too. Sanibel vs Captiva? What's there to do I one place vs the other? And share my account with your travel loving friends! Sanibel is your choice if you are looking for nature, activities, choices in restaurants and shopping, are on somewhat ofa budget, biking or want to go off island fortouring or nightlife on the mainland. Two weeks ago, the water was cloudy but this last week with mild winds from the east, the water is crystal clear. This refuge allows you to watch birds, go on tours, hike, bike and engage in other fun activities. The biggest difference is the number of beaches. 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. Turner Beach is a beautiful day out for the whole family, and with enough amenities to do it all, youll enjoy your time there immensely! Can you find a nice place to stay? As for Captiva Island, the shelling is still spectacular. With hundreds of beaches throughout Florida, you may be asking yourself why you should visit these beaches instead of all the others. The passes at the ends and between the two islands get the attention of adventure beachgoers because of their swift-moving waters. 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. It is connected to Fort Myers by the Sanibel Causeway Bridge. 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. Dont take this the wrong way, the beaches of Captiva Island are still better for shelling than most places in the entire world, its just that Sanibel is truly the best there is. 7/9/2016. If you plan to stay in Captiva Island, the South seas island resort is an ideal place to stay. Hurricane Ian in Naples and Southwest Florida: How Can You Help? The waters off the beaches of Sanibel have a gradual slope that allows shells to be washed up onto the beach extremely easily. 2023TravelMagma All rights reserved. Which is never a bad thing. Do You Need a Boating License in Florida? Sports and Activities Insider Pagefor more information. On the left side of Captiva Drive there are three short side streets. If you are really into fantastic shelling then the obvious choice is Sanibel. Water clarity varies day to day mostly depending on storm activity in the Gulf. Just within the past two weeks, we've seen Billy's Rentals and Tarpon Bay Explorers reopen, along with Doc Ford's, Timbers and the Great White Grill. TOLL: Unless you have a SunPass account, the Causeway toll is $6.00 per vehicle heading to Sanibel. Compared to some of the other beaches on this list, Blind Pass Beach doesnt have an endless list of amenities. For Sale: Single Family home, $899,000, 2 Bd, 2 Ba, 1,291 Sqft, $696/Sqft, at 6092 Sanibel Captiva Rd, Sanibel, FL 33957 Note: there is a parking fee for those coming in with their cars. Thats a must! There are places that are perfectly safe for swimming here and its one of the better populated beaches in the area. Captiva & Sanibel Island Beaches. The depth of beach space changes too. See the Sanibel is crisscrossed by an extensive multi-use path system that gives bicyclists and walkers access to most of the destinations on the island including the wildlife refuge and most of the beaches. Very shelly though, youll need to wear flips flops to take a walk. It feels like youre walking on a fluffy cloud. There are several vendors on Sanibel for you to rent a kayak or a canoe if you prefer. Compared to Sanibel Island, beaches in Captiva Island do not have a lot of crowds and have fewer shells to hunt. Before you reach the South Seas Island resort theres the quaint village of Captiva with a few shops and eateries. A second dining room and outdoor patio are poolside, with a gulf backdrop. While you can walk to bars and restaurants from some vacation rentals it is not that easy from most. TIP: Toll is $6 into Sanibel Island. The Keys would probably be your best bet for clear water, without traveling out of the country. The beaches of Sanibel and Captiva are known for shelling, consistently ranking at the top of the best shelling beaches in the United States. The island is a lot smaller than Sanibel (half of its taken up by the South Seas Island Resort), but it feels very much the same. Captivas beaches are more of the soft sugar sand that one would typically see on an island. Without a doubt, Sanibel has better shelling than Captiva. Bowmans Beach stretches for miles, and there are excellent amenities here. If you stay at South Seas Island Resort, you have the added benefit of the resorts shuttle service. Sanibel Island is known for being a natural wonderland. Sitemap, 8 Sanibel and Captiva Island Beaches You Have to Visit. Here are some of our favorite places to cool down with a cocktail. If you arent into shelling this is definitely something worth considering. Schedule launch times and see the status of your reservation anytime, anywhere with the BoatCloud Launch App. If there is one beach you really need to try, its the Sanibel Island Causeway beaches. Lots of visitor parking available on Sanibel but it costs $5.00 per hour. Today, Sanibel is unique from other southwest Florida towns because there are no chains or franchises (except a few grandfathered ones). Accessing Captiva Beach by the Mucky Duck Restaurant at the end of Andy Rosse Lane is a great option if you are staying nearby. Captiva Island Beaches have a more laid back, island-y vibe.