Sanibel Island, Florida, is located just off the coast of Fort Myers. As the name might suggest, the island is known for its staggeringly beautiful beaches. The sugar sand is known the world over for its beauty, and for the excellent sandcastles that it constructs. It would be silly to think that you might plan a vacation to Sanibel Island and never once step foot onto the beach. You can be sure, however, that they beach isn’t the only thing that Sanibel Island has to offer.

The island offers several bicycle rental shops, either in the hotels or in the towns. The bike trails on Sanibel Island are pretty famous for the wildlife and vegetation that can be seen. The island keeps the bicycle trails very well maintained, so there is no problem at all with taking some of the younger kids along for the ride. One of the most popular destinations is Sanibel Island’s historic lighthouse, which is an easy bike ride along the trails of the island. Keep an eye out for the alligators that like to sun themselves just a few yards off the bike trails!

If those alligators excite you, then you might want to check out the JN Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, which is home to hundreds of plant and animal species. This is a guided tour that covers about one-third of Sanibel Island. You will be able to see hundreds of different species of birds, as well as many other endangered and threatened animals.

When the busy day is done, you don’t want to miss the sunset from the beaches of Sanibel Island. As the sun drops below the horizon, the result is an amazing burst of color that paints the skies and reflects in the waves of the ocean.