Let me just start by saying if you only have 48 hours to spend on Sanibel Island, it will be just enough time for you to realize you’ll need to plan to come back! It’s a nature lover’s paradise. I was amazed at the number of unique shorebirds we saw within such a short amount of time. And then, there’s the food! That in itself is reason enough to return, in my opinion. Add in numerous volunteering opportunities, shelling, biking and quaint festivals and you’ve got yourself quite a memorable vacation.
Camping on Sanibel Island
We opted to stay at the Periwinkle Trailer Park and Campgrounds. Talk abut a diamond in the rough! The majority of the park has permanent residents, but there are RV sites and a handful of primitive tent camping sites available. We pitched our tent and headed to the beach – just a short 1/2 mile walk.
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Getting Around
If flying in, you could opt to rent a car (we did) and drive about an hour to the island. Because of the ease of accessibility on the island, you could easily use Uber or Lyft to get you there and walk/bike all around the island during your stay and not have to worry about gas, parking or tolls. (Use the promo code JODI25666 to get $5 off your first Lyft ride)
Why Visit Sanibel Island?
I had heard Sanibel Island has been consistently ranked as the #1 shelling place in the world for multiple years, which was one of the main reasons I chose this destination. For some, shelling can be finding a whole bucket of shells to take home as souvenirs. For others, it’s an intense search along the beach for that prized shell to complete their collection. I fall somewhere in the middle. What was shocking was just how many shells were laying on the beach. Yes, they were the small ones, but the magnitude of how many miles were covered in shells was just unreal.
Beach Combing Tips
It is recommended to walk the beach at low tide. This allows you to have access to more shells as the tide recedes from the shore. We didn’t find anything crazy, but we did score with a few unbroken beauties and a few good sized sand dollars. Because the sand dollars are so fragile, I like to wrap them in a paper towel and store them in a container that will stay flat in my bag. A little side note: if your unbroken sand dollar does break, you will find five tiny bones that look like doves inside. There’s even a cool poem about it. The Legend of the Sand Dollar For as much as I enjoy walking the beach barefooted, I wish I would have had a pair of water shoes because my feet were quite sore by the time we completed our walk due to all of the broken shells.
Awesome Eats
With restaurants named The Lazy Flamingo, The Blue Giraffe, The Island Cow, The Bubble Room, Mudbugs and Pinocchio’s, you know you’re in for a good time. I’m going to save all of our dishes for another post, but I can honestly say there wasn’t anything we had that wasn’t absolutely delicious. I do feel compelled to mention a few unique items we savored. A crab omelet at the Over Easy Cafe, sautéed gator at the Sanibel Café (which has the coolest shell tables!), and an Orange Crunch Cake (tastes like a dreamsicle) and flaming socra cheese at the Bubble Room. The Bubble Room is actually located on Captiva Island whih is only a few miles north.
Biking is the Way to Go
We found the best way to get around the island was by renting a bicycle. There are a few different businesses to rent from. We chose Billy’s and were very pleased with their service, options and pricing. From Billy’s, we headed to JN “Ding” Darling Prserve. There is $1 admission for bikers. From there you have the opportunity to explore the preserve and take in its beauty and wildlife from the ease of a paved road that winds through this natural habitat.
Volunteer Opportunities
We completely lucked out by staying on the island during the Taste of the Islands foodie event. This is a fundraiser to support the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW). 14 different restaurants showcased their specialty foods with tapas servings. The island vibe, great food, live music and a festive atmosphere made for such an enjoyable experience.
CROW offers volunteer opportunities to those who are staying on the island for an extended amount of time due to the training each volunteer must receive. If you’d like make an impact on the animals in the area, I’d highly recommend contacting them on how you can help.
Sunsets
You can’t go wrong picking a spot to watch the sunset considering the island’s shore faces the west. Gulf coast sunsets have to be my very favorite. We hopped on our bikes and headed to the northern point where the lighthouse is located. What a perfect way to end a fun-filled weekend. Beautiful. I wish I would have thought to bring along a small blanket to sit on just for comfort sake.
Florida Beach Towns
I look forward to my next visit. If you’ve been here, what do you recommend? How about local dishes you’ve tried and loved? When you head to the beach, what are some of your traditions?
Mexico Beach is another Florida favorite. You can read all about this tiny, beachside town here.
