Need Info about Sanibel or Captiva Islands

[Beach Bimmer]

BTW, we lived in nearby Cape Coral from 1996-2002, so we were "locals" there before life's adventures brought us to the realization that SoWal would become our early retirement gift to one another...

 

[Cork On the Ocean]

Used to be my old stomping grounds, Paula (before Sowal). Spent a lot time on both Sanibel and Captiva. There's lots of private condos on the beach in Sanibel. Just check out VRBO. I had reservations at the South Seas Plantation once and once I saw the room, I refused it. I had specifically wanted Beachfront and the beachfront rooms were set back very far from the beach, couldn't even get a view with all the trees between our room and the beach. There's much nicer condos available IMHO.

You will LOVE the Bubble Room, Paula. Wish I could go with you. It's just an eclectic, fun place with fantastic food and great service.
The Mucky Duck is my other favorite. Fine Dining on the Sand.

Bring your bicycles, if you can. Like 30A, has bike paths with lots of beautiful natural spots. You might want to go into Ft Myers for the Edison House if you've never been there and maybe check out the Lighthouse on Sanibel.

Have a great time. Hope to see you soon

 

[RiverOtter]

It's a different feel from 30-A, as visitors there hail primarily from the midwest and northeast U.S. rather than the typical 30-A Nash-Lanta-Ham crowd. Not a bad thing, just a different vibe to that area. Enjoy!

We always went in the summer. Their summer is like SoWal's winter. Nobody is there because it's so dang hot. Big German influx during that time too. Better speakathe dutch

 

[Ocean Lover]

We always went in the summer. Their summer is like SoWal's winter. Nobody is there because it's so dang hot. Big German influx during that time too. Better speakathe dutch

We enjoyed Edison's House and Gardens. We toured one of his labs and learned about all these plants that he brought over from other countries. He was the first to have an in ground swimming pool. Lots of interesting facts. The girls would love it. Mr OL and I went when we were honeymooning so that was many moons ago!

 

[Paula]

Wow and thanks for all the useful information (I knew I'd get useful information here! I love SoWal, SoWallers, and SoWal.com). I'm looking at a family-friendly resort call Point Santo (sp?). But I'll check out the others you mention on this site and I'll follow up with VRBO (I started searching there). I've narrowed our choices down to about 6 places, but I haven't considered those places recommended above yet and will look at them.

Nice photos, RO!

And thanks everyone for the shelling and restaurant advice. I'll stop by a bookstore today and look at a few books as well.

Keep those ideas/advice coming! I don't like it, I love it!

 

[Mermaid]

Wow and thanks for all the useful information (I knew I'd get useful information here! I love SoWal, SoWallers, and SoWal.com). I'm looking at a family-friendly resort call Point Santo (sp?). But I'll check out the others you mention on this site and I'll follow up with VRBO (I started searching there). I've narrowed our choices down to about 6 places, but I haven't considered those places recommended above yet and will look at them.

Nice photos, RO!

And thanks everyone for the shelling and restaurant advice. I'll stop by a bookstore today and look at a few books as well.

Keep those ideas/advice coming! I don't like it, I love it!

Point Santo is really nice and just down the beach a way, another group of condos called the Moorings (www.sanibelmoorings.com). Our friends have a condo there so we've been staying with them for years. The landscaping at the Moorings is simply amazing. They have an on-site horiculturist who gives tours of the grounds; can you believe? I forget how many varieties of plants and trees they have growing but it's a lot.

When we visit Sanibel, we collect shells, swim, and ride our bikes (miles and miles of bike paths and people are exceeding good about stopping their cars to let bikes cross at the crosswalks ). That keeps us more than busy, but if your girls are interested, there's also plenty of shopping with small shops just like the kind you see on 30-A.

Paula, you might want to visit the Ding Darling wildlife sanctuary, too, which is towards the end of the island. http://www.fws.gov/dingdarling/

 

[RiverOtter]

Point Santo is really nice and just down the beach a way, another group of condos called the Moorings (www.sanibelmoorings.com). Our friends have a condo there so we've been staying with them for years. The landscaping at the Moorings is simply amazing. They have an on-site horiculturist who gives tours of the grounds; can you believe? I forget how many varieties of plants and trees they have growing but it's a lot.

When we visit Sanibel, we collect shells, swim, and ride our bikes (miles and miles of bike paths and people are exceeding good about stopping their cars to let bikes cross at the crosswalks ). That keeps us more than busy, but if your girls are interested, there's also plenty of shopping with small shops just like the kind you see on 30-A.

Paula, you might want to visit the Ding Darling wildlife sanctuary, too, which is towards the end of the island. http://www.fws.gov/dingdarling/

We stayed at Point Santo as well. Small pool but nice enough complex. Also stayed a Casa Ye Bell (or something like that) It was a time share place and we payed for somebody's week they couldn't use it. I liked it better. Much cooler pool, palm trees and yard just kinda turns into the beach. Very cool place. Oh ya, they have a tiki bar between the pool and beach kinda like High Pointe.

 

[Miss Kitty]

Paula...try and get your hands on a May Southern Living. Saw one today and it had info on these places.

 

[SHELLY]

Went to Sanibel in the winter a couple years ago (before the hurricanes) and had an excellent stay at "Song of the Sea." I looked up the site (http://www.sanibelcollection.com/song_of_the_sea/ ) and see they have a chain of resorts in the same area that range from guest rooms, to suites, to cottages. Can't vouch for how they are now, but the service we received was excellent "back then."

World-class shelling and (at the time) no building taller than a palm tree. But the water was brackish (did our swimming in the pool) and the beach did get a bit "buggy" during sunset strolls. The toll to the island was about $4.00 back then--now it is $6.00--keeps traffic down to a minimum.

We ate at most of the restaurants mentioned here, but to tell you the truth, although they were all good--none really stand out in my mind to merit a strong recommendation.

Are you planning on entering and exiting the island a lot? Are you planning on day trips to other areas in Southern Florida?
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[RiverOtter]

World-class shelling and (at the time) no building taller than a palm tree. But the water was brackish (did our swimming in the pool)

This is another reason to stay as close to Captiva or on Captiva. The water is much better. Everytime I've been the water was a pastale blue. The shell dust makes it that way I guess.
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Ok, I tried spell check on "pastale" and couldn't find anything so I guess it's wrong