Provided by:
White Sands #13
2311 West Gulf Drive,
Sanibel Island, Florida
* Activities and Things To Do on Sanibel and Captiva Islands *
Here's activities for you to try while staying on Sanibel Island where our Gulf front
condo is in the White Sands
building on West Gulf Drive. Our condo is available for rent by the week, so please click
here for more information.
Overview of Things to Do:
Sanibel and Captiva are known for their beaches and preservation of nature. The mid 1900's movement by conservationist
and Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist Jay "Ding" Darling
to preserve part of the island as a migratory bird sanctuary was the foundation of the conservation and preservation
that has guided the Islands to develop in graceful harmony with nature, rather than as wall to wall high rises as on other parts of Florida's coasts.
Many of the nature related activities on Sanibel are unique to Sanibel, and you should not miss the opportunity to experience them.
The following topics are covered in the guide below:
- Beaches
- Nature Preservation
- Historical Preservation
- Cultural
- Shopping
- Sports & Golf
- Dining
- Nightlife
- Activities off Sanibel Island in the Ft. Myers area
- Activities in other parts of Florida
The Beach
- Walk the beach. - The White Sands Condominium is between beach
mileposts 4 and 4.5, and the mileposts start at the
lighthouse. There is a total of 15.5 miles of wide and unobstructed beach running the length of the island. When
you go on your first walk, make sure to take a good look at our condo and the ones nearby. After you
walk for awhile you'll realize that the building setbacks and vegetation don't allow you to see more than
the couple of condos you are directly infront of and it is easy to lose track of where you are. The mileposts are good references to
use, and are located every half mile at the edge of the vegetation. They are typical green highway mileposts, so
they blend in with the vegetation and you have to look for them.
- Collect shells. - Sanibel is world renowned for shelling! The best shelling is when the tide is low (usually twice a day), and after storms.
Just go out ot the beach, preferably at low tide, and take a slow walk along the water, or in the shallow water. You'll be amazed at what you find!
Just don't save any that are alive - it is illegal because they are endangered. Though the whole island is excellent for shelling, Bowman's Beach near the west
end of the island and Turner Beach at Blind Pass between Sanibel and Captiva Islands are known for exceptional shelling. Also great
shelling is on Cayo Costa, an island to the north only reachable by boat.
Try this link for more shelling info.
- Experience the changing beach - The beach varies greatly between high and low tides, before and after a storm, in the
morning verses the evening, etc. Experience them all. The tide tables are published in the local paper and on our website.
- Get a suntan - but please use some UV protection because the sun is reflected off the sand and
water and can burn you quickly, even on an overcast day.
- Build a sandcastle - Some people use buckets as molds, others will build a big sandpile and carve out of it, and others will put sand
and water together in a bucket and dribble the sand to build castles.
- Watch for dolphins - They will often be just a couple of hundred feet off the beach. Look for their triangular fin
as it arches out of the water for a second or two. Follow with your eyes the direction it was going and the relative speed,
and you may see it surface again in 30 seconds or so. They usually travel in small groups, so you will probably see two to five
if you see one. In a week you may see them a couple of times if you are looking.
- Parking - There is little public parking for beach access. There are numerous small beach access parking areas, but those are
only for residents with permits to use them. Since you are staying at our condo White Sands #13
you've got perfect beach access anyway, but if you want to drive over to explore other beaches here are your options: (parking available for $1 per hour)
Lighthouse and Fishing Pier, Gulfside City Park, Tarpon Bay Road Parking Lot and Bowman's Beach. You can park for free at Turner's Beach between Sanibel
and Captiva Island, and at the beaches on the causeway islands.
Nature Preservation
- Ding Darling Wildlife Preserve - 5,000-acre sanctuary offers hiking,
biking and canoe trails. See 200 species of birds, alligators,
turtles, river otters, armadillos. Take a canoe trip right past the gators! The best way to see it is
to start with the two-hour tram tour. The tour is very informative and will help you understand what is really out there.
Once you've done that, then choose between bicyle, car tour at different time of day, or canoe tour of the sanctuary. If you go back on your own, consider
seeing it early in the morning when the park opens, or during a storm as these events bring out the wildlife.
For more information also see the Ding Darling Wildlife Society website.
Canoe and tram tours are offered by Tarpon Bay Explorers .
Admission to the five mile long wildlife drive is $5 for cars, $1 for bikers and hikers.
One Wildlife Drive (off San-Cap Road). Open daily 9am to sunset, closed Fridays to give the wildlife time without people intruding on them.
- Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation - A not-for-profit organization dedicated to conserving the island's
natural resources. Walking trails, exhibits, marine touch tank, native plant nursery, nature store.Their main center is located at mile marker 1, San-Cap Road.
Hours: 8:30am-3pm Mon-Fri during the summer, 8:30am-4pm Mon-Sat during winter
months. Nominal admission fee.
- Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum - One of a kind museum with exhibits devoted to shells in
art and history, shell habitats, rare specimens, fossil shells. 3075 San-Cap Road.
- C.R.O.W. - Care and Rehabilitation of Wildlife - Veterinary hospital for
rehabilitation of ill, injured and orphaned native wildlife. Tours 11am Mon-Fri, 1pm Sunday, no tours Saturday. $3. 3883 San-Cap Road.
- Captiva Cruises - They have a variety of wildlife cruises and visit the out islands north of Sanibel and in the bay.
Historical Preservation
- Sanibel Lighthouse - The Sanibel lighthous was first lit in August 1884, and has
been in operation ever since, and is now one of the most noteable images of the island. Since 1950, the U.S. Coast Guard property at the lighthouse has
been a wildlife refuge and is operated by the National Park Service.
Though you can walk around the lighthouse, the interior is not open to the public. There is a small charge to park a car there, but it is also a
really nice 5 mile bike ride from the condo on the bike trails. Just turn right coming out of the condo, and bear right at any intersections in the bike trail
you come to. To get there by car, follow Periwinkle to the east and it will dead end at the light house.
- Sanibel Historical Village & Museum - This is a wonderfully
executed preserved village of about ten buildings from the early times on Sanibel. All are original to the island, and were moved
to this site for preservation and display. Knowledgable docents are eager to answer your questions about early life on the islands.
- Historic Markers - found along the bike paths will tell you about old buildings or graves along the path.
Cultural
Shopping
- There aren't any chain stores on the island, but countless small boutique stores. Almost all are on Periwinkle
between the causeway and Bailey's shopping center. There's a few stores elsewhere, but generally within a block of
Periwinkle so you'll see them if you cruise up and down Periwinkle.
Shops are open from 10am until 6pm-8pm
- Groceries are available at two large grocery stores. Either of them should be able to supply everything you need. They even offer a shopping service
so you can contact them before you arrive, and they will stock the condo with your requested food before you arrive.
Prices are higher than on the mainland, but it's not worth the time and the $6 bridge toll to go to the mainland. Both are an easy bike ride from the condo.
- Bailey's General Store - This has been the Island's General store since 1899. Groceries, deli,
hardware, liquor. Turn left out of the condo parking lot, turn right on Tarpon Bay Rd, and Bailey's General Store
is at the intersection of Tarpon Bay Rd. and Periwinkle. (239) 472-1516
- Jerry's - A full service grocery and casual restaurant. Don't miss talking with the tropical
talking birds in the courtyard as you enter the store. Turn right out of the condo parking lot, following West Gulf Drive as it turns
into Casa Ybel Rd., and follow it until it dead ensds at Periwinkle. Jerry's is at that intersection across Periwinkle.
- Chico's - Sanibel was where Chico's was founded 25 years ago.
Located at 2075 Periwinkle #4. (239)472-0202
- The Beach House Swimwear - The big store for women's swimwear on the island.
Located at 2075 Periwinkle #12. (239)472-2676
- Tanger Outlet Mall This typical outlet mall with the name brand stores is within
a mile of the causeway on the mainland.
- If your shopping needs are larger than what is available on the island, you can go back onto the mainland. US Hwy 19, the Tamiami Trail,
is about 25 minutes from the condo. Starting at that intersection you'll find a Wal*Mart, and then going north on US 19 you will find many
of the big box stores common across the country. A few miles up is the Edison Shopping Mall, your typical indoor mall with all the usual chain stores.
Sports & Golfing
- Go Bicyling - Sanibel has 26 miles of bike paths, one being directly infront of our condo,
White Sands #13. This is a great way to see the island, go out for ice cream, or go shopping. These
paths are off the roads, paved and wide, and the island is flat, so this is great biking experience for anyone. There are usually three bikes in our storage closet
on the ground floor, or you can rent them from a couple bike bike rental shops on the island.
Bike paths can be found on the island map on the bottom of this webpage.
- Sanibel Recreation Center - The City has an excellent
recreation center with a number of amenities, including strength building and cardio equipment, as well as a couple of outdoor pools. They have daily and
weekly passes available for visitors to Sanibel.
- Sanibel Fitness Center - A private gym that has workout facilities and classes, and welcomes visitors. 975 Rabbit
Rd. at the intersection of San-Cap Rd, next to Doc Ford's. (239) 395-2639
- Running, jogging or walking - 15 miles of beach and 26 miles of bikepath are both available starting right at our condo!
- Boat Rentals - The waters between the islands and the mainland are calm and there's lots to explore. A trip up to Cabbage Key for a famous
"Cheeseburge in Paradise" is a fun trip. These marinas offer different sizes and price ranges of boats, and availabilty varies daily.
Keep in mind that it is about 14 miles from Sanibel Marina to the Captiva marinas, so if you are going in a particular direction you may
want to pick a marina that is already in that direction. The Sanibel Marina is closest to our condo.
- Golfing - There are three golf courses on Sanibel and one on Capitiva:
Dining
Please see our Sanibel/Captiva Islands Restaurant Guide
for a listing and reviews of restaurants.
Here are some restaurants that are more than just places to eat:
- Doc Ford's - a small souvenier area has shirts, mugs, books, etc. based on the popular novels, and author Randy White stops
in sometimes to mingle and sign his books.
- The Bubble Room - named after the old style bubbling Christmas lights that adorn the inside, you can stop in before or
after lunch or dinner hour and tour the restaurant (folks do it all the time) and buy some desserts on your way out to take back to your own
place and eat.
- Cabbage Key, Useppa Island or North Captiva are only accessible by boat, so getting to their various casual restaurants is a fun adventure.
See our Sanibel/Captiva Islands Restaurant Guide for more info on the
restuarants on these islands and options to get there.
Nightlife
There aren't any wild night spots on the island, in fact the locals sometimes refer to 9pm as "Sanibel Midnight" because by then
the island is as quiet as you'd expect other places to be at midnight. If you're looking for a bar or night club open later in the evening
with live entertainment, dancing, etc, here are your options:
Activities off Sanibel Island in the Ft. Myers area
- Thomas Edison and Henry Ford Winter Estates - These two great industrialists from the
early 1900's built their winter homes side by side on the river in Ft. Myers. Thomas Edison also had a laboratory here that is also part
of the tour. This is well worth visiting.
- Tanger Outlet Mall - This typical outlet mall with the name brand stores is within
a mile of the causeway on the mainland.
- Seminole Tribe - General website for the Seminole tribe and all they offer throughout the State of Florida.
- Seminole Tribe's Big Cypress Reservation - 1.5 hrs from
our condo, you can take airboat and swamp buggy rides and see native wildlife, as well as see alligator and snake handler shows, and Seminole Indian craftsmen.
- Seminole Tribe Casino in Immokalee - Close to Sanibel.
- Everglades City - The gateway to the Everglades, you can take an airboat ride, eat lunch and learn the history of this little city.
Activites in other parts of Florida
These attractions are far enough north in the state that it does not make sense to visit them while staying on Sanibel. The better option is to visit
them on the way to or from Sanibel. If you are driving to Sanibel from the north you won't have to go far out of your way to get to any of these attractions
and could easily spend a day or two at them coming or going. If you are flying you could plan to fly in to Tampa or Orlando, stay a night or two
there to take in those parks, then drive to Sanibel, and fly home out of Ft. Myers.
- Cypress Gardens - Winter Haven, Florida. This was Florida's first theme park, and is known for the waterski shows.
- The sponge docks at Tarpon Springs - North of Tampa/St. Pete. This historic village was at one time known as the sponge fishing capital.
- Busch Gardens - Tampa, Florida. An excellent park for a combination of thrill rides, theme areas, and wildlife.
- Adventure Island Waterpark - Tampa, Florida. A good waterpark. Spend the day playing in the different theme
pools and on the slides. This is fun for all ages as there are plenty of levels of activity, including just sitting in the shade watching everyone else.
- Tampa Museum of Science and Industry - Tampa, Florida. A good hands-on science museum, one item of particular local interest
is the wind tunnel that you go in to experience hurricane force winds of around 100mph.
- Sea World - Orlando, Florida. The world's premier marine zoological park.
- Disney World - Orlando, Florida
Call us at (614) 792-2593 to rent our beautiful Gulf front
condo in the White Sands building on Sanibel Island.
Other Helpful Links:
Local Webcams:
To contact us -
Please call us at (614) 792-2593 or at (614) 792-2523.
You are most likely to reach us in the evenings or on the weekends.
If we do not answer, please leave a message.
David Ulstad
E-mail: dculstad@aol.com
Last Modified: January 16, 2010
copyright 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 David Ulstad