13 minute read
Sanibel
Stunning sunrises and sunsets, beautiful white beaches perfect for swimming, diving or snorkeling the Gulf of Mexico's warm waters, a vast assortment of shells, endless shared use paths for exercise, resorts, restaurants and art galleries galore continue to bring visitors to Sanibel and Captiva Islands.
An abundance of wildlife can be seen on the island due to its conservation efforts, resulting in nearly 70 percent of undeveloped grasses, marshes, back bays and rivers, all mostly kept as wildlife and natural preserves. The J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, which is approximately 6,400 acres, consists of mangrove forest, submerged seagrass birds, cordgrass marshes and West Indian hardwood hammocks, providing the perfect habitat for animals and more than 245 species of birds.
The history of the islands is steeped in fishing tradition, specifically sport fishing. Even more specifically, tarpon fishing. It was the Silver King that put Southwest Florida on the map. W.H. Wood became noted as the first to catch a Silver King on rod and reel off the shores of Sanibel in 1885 while visiting from New York. Thomas Edison was a noted tarpon angler.
Before Wood, there were the indigenous Calusa Indians, followed by the Spanish-Cuban fishermen and the Punta Gorda Fish Co. with its fish houses dotting Pine Island Sound. Many fish houses remain and are viewable by local boating tours.
Fly fishing is instantly recognizable with the casting action fishermen use and it has becoming a common sight on the shorelines of Sanibel and Captiva, as well on the bays and at the refuge. Although fly fishing has been around for many decades, it is a growing popular activity in Sanibel, which is quickly becoming known as a hotbed for the water sport.
The islands are recognized around the globe for shell collecting along the white sand beaches. It is simple geography that created the wealth of shelling. The islands bend like an elbow instead of lying parallel to the mainland. The shape acts like a vacuum, collecting shells that are deposited in abundance on the beaches. Shelling created the famous “Sanibel Stoop” and “Captiva Crouch” as the official stance of visitors bending over to pick up a treasure of shells (non-living only, please).
PHOTO PROVIDED BY SANIBEL SEA SCHOOL
The editors of Southern Living Magazine have chosen Sanibel Island as Best Beach Town of 2021.
Sanibel graces the cover of its April edition because of its “natural wonders” and because it “kept the heart of the South beating during some of the toughest times of 2020 and 2021,” according to the magazine.
The recent accolade was noted within the magazine’s double issue, which also includes Cabbage Key as one of the best places to stay in 2021. The magazine hit newsstands on March 19 and is currently available at southernliving.com.
“We are elated that Sanibel Island has been recognized and will grace the cover of this month’s Southern Living,” said Lee County Commissioner Brian Hamman, chair of the Tourist Development Council. “They got it right — Sanibel Island is a special place with natural wonders and hidden treasures. It has everything a beach town should have — beautiful beaches, piles of shells, abundant wildlife and great places to eat, visit and relax. You don’t find this combination and a commitment to conservation in many other places and we’re very proud of it.”
The article also describes Sanibel as “a brand of utopia built on the understanding that what Sanibel has to offer—in terms of community, town pride, and natural assets— is special.”
The cover features fashion model, Hoda El-koussa and Allie, a Fort Myers rescue dog adopted from Dog House Rescue Academy, shot at Sundial Beach Resort & Spa. Many other local businesses are featured in the article including ’Tween Waters Island Resort & Spa, J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum, Bailey’s General Store, Adventures in Paradise, Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille, 400 Rabbits, Sweet Melissa’s Café, Joey’s Custard, Periwinkle Place, Billy’s Bike Shop, Sanibel Sea School, Island Style Galleries, Gene’s Books and Trader Rick’s.
The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel in Southwest Florida includes Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, Fort Myers Beach, Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Estero, Cape Coral, Pine Island, Boca Grande & Outer Islands, North Fort Myers and Lehigh Acres.
— Source: The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel in Southwest Florida
Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum is at 3075 Sanibel-Captiva Road.
Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum aquarium.
Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum Hall Of Shells.
The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum features the “Beyond Shells: The Mysterious World of Mollusks,” which includes 11 aquarium exhibits, two 15-footlong touch tanks and interactive interpretive exhibits, plus 30 permanent exhibits, several temporary exhibits and educational programs for all ages.
Visitors can build their own shell creation with Shell Crafting, which is offered daily. Take home a treasure that's sure to be a favorite reminder of your visit. Other daily programming includes Touch Pools, a Scavenger Hunt, Outdoor Story Walk and Mollusk Movie, along with Aquarium Tours and Great Hall of Shells Tours.
Museum admission is $23.95 for adults, $14.95 for ages 12-17 and $8.95 for ages 511.
For more information visit www.shellmuseum.org or call 239-395-2233.
The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum is at 3075 Sanibel-Captiva Road.
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY NICK ADAMS PHOTOGRAPHY
BIG ARTS, or the Barrier Island Group for the Arts, was started by a group of island residents and artists in 1979. It has expanded every year to offer artistic and educational experiences for all.
The education series features workshops and classes, including the Winter Academy, painting and drawing, fine crafts, photography, discussion and writing, pottery, and music. There is also the FORUM of nationally recognized speakers and the Talking Points series dialogue that encourages audience participation with recognized thought leaders on a broad range of topics.
In addition, BIG ARTS hosts a Monday Night Films series, along with art exhibits.
For more information or to register, visit bigarts.org or call 239-3950900.
BIG ARTS is at 900 Dunlop Road.
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY BIG ARTS
BIG ARTS is at 900 Dunlop Road.
The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife is a teaching hospital and visitor education center dedicated to saving wildlife through state-of-the-art veterinary care, research, education and conservation medicine.
Each year, CROW cares for approximately 3,500 wildlife patients, including more than 200 species of sick, injured and orphaned wildlife in its veterinary hospital, which is one of the nation’s leading rehabilitation facilities for native and migratory wildlife. It also provides educational fellowships and externship programs for undergraduate students, and internship programs for veterinarian graduates.
The Visitor Education Center offers behind-the-scenes views into CROW's animal care through live camera feeds, interactive displays and daily presentations by students, staff and volunteers.
Admission is $12 for ages 13 and older, and $7 for ages 4-12; children 3 and under are free.
For more information, visit www.crowclinic.org or call 239-472-3644.
CROW is at 3883 Sanibel-Captiva Road.
The Community House
Historically, the Sanibel Community Association was one of the first non-profits on the island; since 1927, The Community House is still the gathering place of Sanibel. Many social organizations, civic groups, and clubs that first found a home there are still there to this day.
The Community House offers an array of activities and programs, including yoga, painting classes, community socials and guest speakers, to cooking classes and demonstrations for all ages through the Culinary Education Center of Sanibel.
For more information, visit sanibelcommunityhouse.net or call 239-472-2155.
The Community House is at 2173 Periwinkle Way.
CROW is at 3883 Sanibel-Captiva Road.
CROW Visitor Education Center.
CROW outreach program.
J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge is at 1 Wildlife Drive.
Named after editorial cartoonist and conservationist Jay Norwood Darling, the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge is one of 560 refuges across the United States.
Wildlife Drive is four-mile long paved road where the common sightings include sandpipers, blue herons, roseate spoonbills and egrets. Visitors can also explore Indigo Trail, the Wildlife Education Boardwalk, Shellmound Trail and Wulfert Keys Trail, which can be accessed via Wildlife Drive. The Bailey Tract is a 100-acre parcel located off of Tarpon Bay Road.
The refuge also offers free tours through April 11, including beach walks, trail hikes, art journal walks, birding tours, bike tours and more. Limited to only 10 participants. Advance sign up is required at dingdarling.eventbrite.com. Masks were mandatory at publication; social distancing guidelines are followed.
Admission to Wildlife Drive is $10 per vehicle, $1 per pedestrian and $1 per bicycle; Indigo Trail is $1 per pedestrian and $1 per bicycle; and the Bailey Tract is free for pedestrians and bicycles only.
For more information, visit www.fws.gov/refuge/jn_ding_darling or call 239-472-1100.
The J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge is at 1 Wildlife Drive.
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY DDWS
Tarpon Bay Explorers
Tarpon Bay Explorers is the official concession to the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge.
It provides low impact, recreational and educational activities for refuge visitors, and a portion of its proceeds go back to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services to benefit the national refuges nationwide. Some of its offerings include guided kayak and canoe tours, a variety of cruises, deck talks, touch tank exploration and stand-up paddle boarding, in addition to tram tours of the refuge. Rent a kayak, canoe, standup paddleboard or pontoon and explore; bike and fishing equipment rentals are also available.
For more information, visit www.tarponbayexplorers.com or call 239-472-8900.
Tarpon Bay Explorers is at 900 Tarpon Bay Road.
Tarpon Bay Explorers is at 900 Tarpon Bay Road.
Sanibel Sea School is at 455 Periwinkle Way.
The Sanibel Sea School's vision is a world where all people value, understand and care for the ocean. Its mission is to improve the ocean’s future, one person at a time.
Dedicated to vibrantly teaching children and adults about marine ecosystems — animals, people, plants, land, ocean and weather — it gives students an opportunity to touch, feel and interact with the natural surroundings through a variety of programs and activities.
The Sanibel Sea School offers one-day courses, educational classes for youth and opportunities for the whole family, as well as boat trips, film screenings, social events, speakers and more for adults. There are shelling programs, wetland tours, paddlesports, half-day programs for youth, guided beach walks, birding sessions and more.
For more information, visit www.sanibelseaschool.org or call 239-472-8585.
The Sanibel Sea School is at 455 Periwinkle Way.
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY SANIBEL SEA SCHOOL
Botanical Gardens at Sanibel Moorings
The Botanical Gardens at Sanibel Moorings are a must see for all garden lovers.
Built in 1974, the garden was enriched by the first gardener, who was an avid botanist. Each succeeding gardener continued the quest and contributed their specialties to the garden. The current extensive, mature and diverse tropical collection is a result of the never-ending quest for unusual tropical plants. In 2009, it officially became a botanical garden with the American Public Garden Association and is a reciprocating member of the American Horticultural Society.
Enjoy hundreds of native plants and non-invasive tropical species, which include collections of bromeliads, roses, hibiscus, orchids, palms, fruits, and cycads. Do not forget to observe (at a distance) the resident butterflies, turtles, rabbits, birds and more creatures in their wildlife garden home.
The Garden Tour Guide offers guided 90-minute light walking tours to the public on Wednesdays at 9 a.m. Cost is $5 cash, plus tax; check in at the front office. Reservations required at 239472-4119.
For more information, visit www.sanibelmoorings.com/sanibelbotanical-garden.
The Botanical Gardens at Sanibel Moorings is at 845 East Gulf Drive.
Founded in 1967, the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation is dedicated to the conservation of coastal habitats and aquatic resources on the islands and in the surrounding watershed. From its earliest days, it was known as a land trust with an impressive acquisition record.
The grounds of the Nature Center feature an interlocking maze of four miles of trails allows visitors to choose a short stroll or a longer walk through the quiet heart of the island, paralleling low lying wetlands and the Sanibel Slough.
Visit the Native Landscapes & Garden Center to learn how to encourage birds, butterflies, and other wildlife in your backyard, contribute to better water quality in local waterbodies, help fight the spread of invasive plants on wild lands and conserve drinking water supplies. Stroll through the demonstration gardens to gain inspiration for your property, or get answers to plant questions from an expert staffer.
In addition, SCCF has six preserves open to the public.
For more information, visit www.sccf.org or call 239472-2329.
The Nature Center is at 3333 Sanibel-Captiva Road.
The Garden Center is at the Bailey Homestead Preserve, at 1300 Periwinkle Way.
FILE PHOTO
Sanibel Historical Museum and Village is at 950 Dunlop Road.
Sanibel Historical Museum and Village
The Sanibel Historical Museum and Village was founded in 1984 with a mission to preserve and share Sanibel history.
The story of Sanibel is told from the Calusa and Spanish eras to the early pioneer families who settled on the island in the 1800s. It tells of warriors, adventures, fishermen, farmers and proprietors. Nine historic buildings were moved from their original sites. Each building has been restored to its original state. The village also has a replica of a Packing House and a garage housing a 1927 Ford Model T truck.
Volunteer docents share the stories of Sanibel with almost 10,000 visitors a year.
Admission is $10 for ages 18 and older.
For more information, visit sanibelmuseum.org or call 239-472-4648.
The Sanibel Historical Museum and Village is at 950 Dunlop Road.
BREEZE NEWSPAPERS PHOTOS
