Its away from the strong currents so you can confidently get in the water here. The biggest difference is the number of beaches. Turner Beach is located at Blind Pass right across the bridge from Sanibel. Purdue9394/Getty Images. "This light being lit . Located on a little barrier island just 7 miles long, Fort Myers Beach features wide beaches and beautiful views. The best part about Sanibel Island is the quaintness of the inns, such as the Sanibel Inn. The beaches shown in the video are: Lighthouse Beach, Gulfside City Beach, Tarpon Bay Beach, Bowman's. Youll find a few places like Schnappers Hots for hot dogs, lots of ice cream shops, and other casual eateries that are value-friendly. Captivas beaches are more of the soft sugar sand that one would typically see on an island. Almost 7,400 residents live there in just over 16 square miles. Even though it sits a stones throw (literally) across from Sanibel Island, it has a totally different vibe. With picnic areas for all, you can take a bike ride to the park and the beach, as there are bike racks to use, too. ago Copyright Lisa Erickson, Capturing Captiva, About|Contact|Privacy Policy|Sitemap, The Mucky Duck reopens after Hurricane Ian, How To Support Sanibel and Captiva Businesses, Captiva Island Parking App Pay Via Phone. At stake in Sanibel's nonpartisan Tuesday city council election: the seats now filled by the island's mayor and vice-mayor, Holly Smith and Richard Johnson. There are no big box stores you have to go off-island to Fort Myers for that or streetlights and traffic lights. It depends on the direction of the wind and tides. It is the first beach after you leave Sanibel Island. Captiva Island, the South seas island resort, Sanibel Island is much larger than Captiva, Captiva Island, you can access the several beaches. But thats not the only reason Sanibel is busier than Captiva theres just more things to see and do on Sanibel. Fishers in particular love it here, as there is a lighted pier for them to enjoy and fish from. As for Captiva Island, the shelling is still spectacular. Its smarter to go further down the beach here for swimming, but with the nearby bars and beachside restaurants, you may decide that sitting on the sand and watching the waves move is a safer option for you. Sanibel-Captiva islands have been an idyllic destination for tourists from Florida and the world over. Canoe and kayak rentals, even guided tours of Ding Darling by tram or kayak are available at Tarpon Bay Explorers. More questions about Sanibel vs Captiva? You want to find a slice of paradise when you go to the beach, and Captiva Beach is the most authentic piece of heaven there is. In Captiva Island, you can access the several beaches on the island and enjoy the Gulf and Pine Island sound. Sanibel and Captiva Island are amazing islands that welcome people searching for a great spot to have family time. With surging currents depositing an exotic array of shells, Blind Pass Beach is one of the best beaches on Sanibel Island for shelling. Aside from being larger than Captiva Island, Sanibel Island has more shops, hotels, and sights that keep visitors engaged and excited. Some of the fish that can be caught here include: As noted above, the currents here can sometimes be intense and unpredictable. Rich with wildlife and first class amenities, Captiva and Sanibel are considered two of the most captivating barrier islands in the country. Sanibel is 60% nature reserve with low rise mostly condos and natural ungroomed beaches. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. There are no high-rise accommodations on Sanibel, only two story hotels, one-story retro motels, and lovely quaint cottages. Captiva Island. There are great restaurants but no chain places and not much nightlife. These islands will certainly be your favorites as soon as you get here. The bottom structure of the beaches have more influence on waves and water clarity than most realize. Silver Key Beach. You will find miles of pristine beaches to enjoy, and you can island hop to the north of the beaches, and then go fishing when youre on your way! There are so many different species of fish here, and with the bay on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other, you can imagine how popular its been as a destination here as you can access the beach right from the water, too. There are several vendors for bike rentals or check with your hotel to find out if they offer bike rentals. Sanibel vs Captiva? Essentially, Sanibel and Captiva islands are sister islands. You can rent a kayak here and paddle through mangroves while watching for wading and shore birds and other wildlife. Captiva Island beaches on the other hand have a steeper slope in the water directly off the beach, which tends to cut down on the amount of shells that wash up on the beach. . But honestly, zero impact. Likewise, Ive heard from people who stayed on Captiva and were disappointed in the lack of shells. The northern tip of the island, well over 300 acres,is all owned by the South Seas Resort. Although you may not be able to climb to the top of the historic Sanibel Lighthouse, you are allowed to visit the surrounding areas for a lighthouse photo-op. Be sure to use the head. If you want to get on a personal level with nature, you can visit any of these beaches. Captiva Island, on the other hand, is perfect for quiet family vacations, romantic getaways, privacy and exclusivity, and easy access to off-island boat adventures to out islands. It takes about 20 minutes (without traffic) to travel the length of Sanibel and come to the small bridge over Blind Pass that brings you onto Captiva. As far as "clear water" is concerned - no matter WHERE you are, the local conditions depend on the direction and strength of the winds, and the currents which vary from day to day, AND from one section of beach to the next. Some will even deliver a kayak to where you are staying. I will say, depending on the types of places youre used to staying in Florida (or on vacation in general)I find that 95% of whats offered on Sanibel leaves a lot to be desired (especially for the $$). In the village area there are a number of marinas that offer charter captains and water taxi service to the out islands of North Captiva, Cabbage Key and Useppa. Here are some helpful tips to get the most out of your Captiva or Sanibel Island shelling experience. However, these two islands were separated by a storm at Blind Pass. The route is well marked with signs to Ft. Myers Beach, Sanibel, and Captiva. They contain thousands of shells you can find. The Atlantic with its steep continental dropoff has stronger surf than the Gulf coast which is relatively shallow (there is actually a shallows area many miles off-shore). it's one of the best parts but cut off and discard the tail. Captiva Cruises is the best way to get out and explore the surrounding area (Cayo Costa State Park, Useppa Island, Cabbage Key, etc.) The best news is that if youre a Florida resident who is exploring, youre going to be able to do that for free! Marco has more nightlife, more shopping, and more roads. In addition, if you enjoy hunting for shells, you should definitely pick Sanibel Island, as it is the top shelling destination in North America. While you're likely to find many shells at any of Sanibel's 6 public beaches, a couple that stand out include: Gulfside City Park Beach- This beautiful sandy beach is covered with countless shells to collect. ;-). The Seaside Inn is another laid-back beachfront inn. Can anyone give us advice. How to Rent a Beachfront House on Isla Mujeres, Ultimate Guide to Florida Keys Vacation Rentals. On the other hand, the dining on Captiva Island is more eclectic than that on Sanibel Island. January 2, 2021 Ryan Bellino Florida Gulf Coast Islands, Sanibel and Captiva Islands 0. This is why the majority of people on the island are retired, work remotely from home, or are on vacation. Theres nothing better than a relaxing day at the beach, and Lighthouse Beach has some of the best spaces to let your worries float away. Marcos beach is beautiful. If there is one beach you really need to try, its the Sanibel Island Causeway beaches. Despite a huge push from developers, the city held their ground with strong building restrictions that were intended to protect the environment (to this day, half the island is a nature preserve) and its largely what makes Sanibel so quaint. Theyre smaller here, so beautiful to collect! Condos are also available on both the Gulf and the bay. Re: Siesta Key vs Captiva Island. Sanibel and Captiva Island beaches are a must-see for a variety of reasons. Theres a parking lot on the side of the saltwater bayous. Even some private homes that are rented to guests on the resort have limitations on the useof facilities. If youre looking for a smaller beach, Sanibel Lighthouse Beach is an excellent option. The deep channel of water of what is now Blind Pass was formed, forever separating the two (though barely) by a narrow two-lane bridge thats small enough to walk across in under a minute. The FDOH's fecal indicator bacteria testing results on Dec. 12 suggested low bacterial concentrations and no current advisories. While Sanibel is filled with people scouring the beach for beautiful shells, the beaches of Captiva are generally very quiet and laid back. If youre staying on Sanibel, running up to Captiva to eat dinner or shop isnt a big deal and vice versa. P.S. The access you get to the state park beach is at the West side of Panama Shell Drive at the end of Captiva Drive, and there are just miles of empty sands and fallen trees to explore and climb. Paddling the islands back waters is a great way to spend a day. We aren't big nightlife people, but enjoy good "non-chain" restaurants. When you cross the Sanibel Causeway and visit the island from the mainland, youll likely immediately notice the beauty of nature around you. Water clarity varies day to day mostly depending on storm activity in the Gulf. Marco is totally surrounded by federal, state parks and preserves, the gateway to the Everglades so IMO it has more options for active adults. Jensens is well-known and reliable for a day of off-island sightseeing. You will actually find this beach both on Sanibel and Captiva Island. If youre looking for the best tropical getaway on Floridas Gulf Coast, Sanibel and Captiva are always going to be in the conversation. Sanibel and Captiva are sister islands. $5 per hour for public parking. Copyright 2023 Lincoln Travel Co ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Compared to Sanibel Island, beaches in Captiva Island do not have a lot of crowds and have fewer shells to hunt. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge is very large, about 6,300 acres and occupies of Sanibel Island. The Southwest Florida water currents play into a sheller's hands . Turner Beach. Shortly after 6 a.m. on Tuesday, the light began shining as bright as ever. Sanibel is a sizable island with direct access from mainland Fort Myers via the Sanibel Causeway. Here and on adjacent roads you will find a wide selection of restaurants, galleries, shops, food markets, a live theater company, a movie theaterand severalsmall shopping centers. Rent a bike! When I bought my vacation house 25 years ago I compared both Marco and Sanibel. Both islands have the same great beaches, but if youre coming for the day or youre not staying right on the beach, parking at the beaches on Captiva is much more limited and more expensive than on Sanibel. Or is there another better spot? Where to Eat. Eight Sanibel and Captiva beaches you have to visit include: Bowman's Beach Lighthouse Beach Blind Pass Beach Captiva Beach Turner Beach Gulfside City Park/Algiers Beach Causeway Beach Park Tarpon Bay Beach It reported that the agencies responsible for declaring public safety for the beaches and waters in Lee County are Lee County Parks & Recreation and the Florida Department of Health's Healthy Beaches program. As far as recommendations on where to stay on each island: On Captiva: South Seas Island Resort or Tween Waters Island Resort, On Sanibel: Casa Ybel Resort, Tortuga Beach Club Resort, the Inns of Sanibel, Sanibel Restaurant Recommendations: What I Liked & What I Didnt, Shopping on Sanibel: A Must Visit Bookstore & Cute Boutiques, A Visit to the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum, Cayo Costa Shelling Tours with Captiva Cruises, Edison & Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers, Luminary Hotel & Co in Downtown Fort Myers Review, Matlacha Isles & Pine Island: A Great Fort Myers Day Trips.
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