Sanibel Island: A Gift From Mother Nature

Mother Nature has created a masterpiece with Sanibel Island. She has bestowed the Florida island with powder-soft white sandy beaches, blue-green waters, gentle gulf breezes and miles of seashells. The are more than 200 varieties of shells along the shoreline (enough to keep any shell lover busy for the day).

Just beyond the sandy beaches you will find Old Town Sanibel, where passers-by can stroll through the quaint village shops or quietly dine in one of the cafes. A short walk will take you to the fishing pier or the historic Sanibel Lighthouse. The Lighthouse was first lit in August of 1884. Since 1950, the U.S. Coast Guard property at the lighthouse has been considered a wildlife refuge.

Some of the area's most noted attractions include the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to conserving the island's natural resources. There are exhibits, a marine touch tank, a native nursery, a nature store, miles of walking trails and much more.

There's the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum. It is the only one of its kind in the United States. The museum offers roughly 30 informative exhibits in the Great Hall Of Shells. Each of the exhibits is dedicated to shells in art and history, habitats made from shells, rare specimens, fossilized shells as well as shells found locally in the Sanibel-Captiva area.

The J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, a 5,000-acre sanctuary offers hiking, biking and canoe trails. The park is home to more than 200 species of birds (spoonbills, brown pelicans, herons, egrets, white ibises, terns, black skimmers and anhingas.) Many of the birds found here are threatened or endangered. Alligators, armadillos, river otters, turtles and other creatures may be seen as well. Early morning visits tend to be best.

The Care and Rehabilitation of Wildlife (C.R.O.W.) is a nonprofit veterinary hospital that rehabilitates and returns ill, injured and orphaned native wildlife into the wild. Thousands of animals, from all over Southwest Florida, are brought here annually. C.R.O.W. participates in wildlife studies and sponsors educational programs.

The Everglades Day Safari is an eco-tour that takes you on an adventure through the Florida Everglades. There's bird watching and wildlife, photos of alligators, manatees, panthers, reptiles and botanical interests from Florida's Big Cypress preserve and the Everglades outback. Trained guides will take you on a guided hiking tour or a jungle cruise down on the Blackwater River where you may get a bird's eye view of a manatee or crocodile.

Sanibel Island is a place where couples and families come to enjoy beautiful, natural surroundings. You can relax on the shore and bask in the sun's warm, gentle rays. As the balmy breezes from the gulf combined with the warm Florida sunshine fill your senses, you are forced to forget your everyday worries. The whole island is an idyllic setting in tune with nature. Here your biggest problems will be wiggling the sand from you toes and not wanting to go home.

Top