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Sanibel
Island is what vacationing is all
about, with plenty of things to do
and plenty of ways to relax.Sanibel
Island will delight You in natural
habitats, wildlife refuge and endless
uncrowded sanibel beaches. Restaurants
cater to a wide palette of tastes
and dining styles. If shopping is
your interest, Sanibel Island has
what you need! your days will be filled
with unique treasures, outlet bargains
and Florida fare. If golf is your
game, you will love Sanibel Island
Florida where our courses are in perfect
playing condition year round. Festivals,
fares, concerts, professional sports,
live theater and historic sites are
only a few of the activities that
will entertain you during your stay
at Sanibel
Island Vacation Rentals.
Where is Sanibel
Island, Florida?
Right
off of Florida's sunny southwest coast,
Sanibel Island vacation rentals are
beautiful for relaxing luxurious getaways.
Sanibel Island measures roughly 12
miles long and 5 miles across at its
widest. Biking is the most intimate
way to get to know Sanibel & Captiva
islands. 25 miles of paved bike paths
take you almost anywhere you want
to go. They meander through shady
tree canopies, across wooden bridges
and along quiet waterways. They also
lead to shops, restaurants, points
of interest, wildlife centers and
beaches. Many Sanibel - Captiva Island
Vacation Rentals have bicycles for
guest use, plus there are numerous
public bike rental facilities. Sanibel
Island and Captiva Island are known
for their soft white sands and warm
translucent water, which makes the
beaches magnificent. There are many
activities available on the islands
of Sanibel & Captiva including
fishing, tennis, golf, hiking, bicycling,
boating, scuba diving, canoe trips,
shelling, water sports, a wildlife
preserve as well as great shopping
and restaurants. The serene environment
makes Sanibel Island the perfect choice
for your next vacation. Sanibel Island
- Captiva Island Vacation Rentals.
Getting
here is easy. The Southwest Florida
International Airport in Fort Myers
offers regularly scheduled service
from most domestic and international
cities. By car, Lee County is just
a 3-hour drive from Miami, a 2-hour
drive from Tampa and a 3-hour drive
from Orlando. But we must warn you
that once you get here, you won't
want to leave.
Vacation
Lodging in a Nutshell
Secluded,
shell-strewn Sanibel and Captiva Islands
offer the optimal uncluttered, sophisticated
beach vacation retreat. These subtropical
islands, connected to the mainland
by a scenic three-mile causeway, are
the southernmost in a chain of barrier
islands stretching along the southwest
Florida coast.
In
this minimally developed paradise
you will find no traffic lights, skyscrapers,
neon signs, or chain restaurants.
Zoning ordinances mandate that all
human- made structures blend naturally
into the wilderness environment.
A
national wildlife refuge takes up
a major portion of Sanibel Island.
Home to roseate spoonbills, egrets,
herons, alligators, and otters, the
J.N. "Ding" National Wildlife Refuge
offers rental guests open-air tram
rides with a naturalist on board.
Visitors can also drive, bike, walk,
or canoe the winding water and land
routes.
World-renown
as a spectacular shelling destination,
Sanibel Island's beaches run for 12
miles along the south. With more than
275 shell types washing ashore, this
island is considered the best site
in the nation for collecting shells,
and third best in the world.
At
the other end of the pleasure spectrum,
Sanibel Island also has plenty of
chic shops, galleries, restaurants,
and resorts. All are artfully sheltered
from the roadway by lush canopies
of majestic palms, Australian pines,
and bright floral blooms.
Captiva
Island, ranked as one of the country's
most romantic beaches, is located
toward Sanibel Island's northern tip,
connected by a short, picturesque
bridge. According to legend, Captiva
Island got its name when pirate Jose
Gaspar kept beautiful women captive
here in the late 1700s. Today Captiva
Island's white beaches are legendary.
More remote than Sanibel Island, Captiva
Island abounds with outdoor beauty.
It was in this peaceful haven that
Anne Morrow Lindberg, wife of the
well-known aviator, penned "A Gift
from the Sea," her best-selling memoir.
The contemplative volume includes
chapters such as, "The Beach," "Moon
Shell," and "Oyster Bed," reflecting
the treasures to be discovered here.
This tiny sliver of land contains
four miles of sandy beaches.
Off
the coast of Captiva Island and Sanibel
Island, part of Florida's Tropical
Island Getaway, are more than 100
islands. Many are uninhabited mangrove
clusters, while others boast spectacular
beaches. From the marina, Captiva
Cruises launches boat rides to many
of the outer islands, including Cabbage
Key, where Jimmy Buffet is said to
have written the words to the popular
song "Cheeseburger in Paradise."
Other
cruise vacation destinations are Sanabel
Island,Useppa Island, Boca Grande,
and Cayo Costa Island. On almost every
trip, cruisers spot dolphins jumping
playfully in the wake of the vessel.
For dining, a fun place to enjoy a
hearty meal and a quirky environment
is at Captiva Island's Bubble Room,
which features memorabilia from the
1930s-1950s. The unique decor captures
the anything-goes-attitude of this
tropical island vacation hideaway.
Another
favorite is Mucky Duck, on the Captiva
Island waterfront, specializing in
tantalizingly fresh seafood. Sanibel
Island offers a wider array of dining
and vacation rental options. They
also offer a dinner cruise aboard
a custom-made yacht.
To
reach this Gulf of Mexico getaway,
17 miles southwest of Fort Myers,
take Interstate 75 to Exit 21 (Daniels
Parkway) west to Summerlin Road. Get
on the Sanibel Island Causeway, pay
the $3 round-trip toll, and cross
into the coast of seashells. Periwinkle
Drive is Sanibel Island's main thoroughfare.
It leads to Gulf Drive, which is lined
with vacation rentals to fit the needs
of any type of visitor.
In
Captiva Island, Captiva Road is the
major passageway. A friendly Visitor's
Center is posted on the causeway on
the way to the island.
Valinda Almeida, Contributing Writer
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