Florida beaches are famous for their water sports and, of course, for their beauty. A Florida beach map that didn’t contain the beaches of Sanibel Island, however, would be far from complete. This island, and neighboring Captiva Island, are characterized by being almost completely ringed by beautiful beaches. Not only are the water sports activities on these islands desirable, as they are on most Florida beaches, but they also provide a window into the world under the oceans. For those who enjoy collecting sea shells, there are few places in the world of such a caliber as Sanibel Island.
Lighthouse Beach and Bowman’s Beach are possibly the two best-known beaches on Sanibel Island. Lighthouse Beach is named for the island’s lighthouse which, predictably enough, is located near the beach. The beach is located at the end of Point Ybel. The beach also contains a fishing pier which is popular with locals and tourists alike. Bowman Beach has a very rare characteristic among Florida beaches: It is secluded. There are no hotels visible from this beach and it feels as though it is a thousand miles from anywhere. Tourists who visit this Sanibel beach will find themselves in one of the most serene places they could imagine.
Sanibel beach fronts are also known for their incredible variety of shells. This island is situated on a vast underwater plateau that stretches far out into the Gulf of Mexico. This brings myriad shellfish to the shores and one could easily spend days exploring the beaches looking for exotic specimens. More often than not, such quests will be richly rewarded. The best hours to hit the Sanibel beach areas are in the morning and early afternoon. During the late afternoon and evening, the island tends to be visited by gentle showers that mitigate the heat, especially in the summer.
Most any Florida beach map will include Lighthouse Beach and the other Sanibel beach destinations. This island has become enormously popular but strict policies on the part of the islanders have preserved the environment to a remarkable degree. Especially compared to other islands popular with tourists, Sanibel and Captiva remain very unspoiled and havens for wildlife. Some of the Sanibel beaches are part of the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. This is one of the best places on the island to watch birds and represents an unspoiled mangrove ecosystem.
