If you’re thinking about taking an island vacation, why not take one that’s a bit closer to home? Right off the cost of Florida, Sanibel Island is a great place for a family vacation or a romantic trip for two. The island is crowned with gorgeous white sand beaches, but lying out by the surf isn’t the only thing to do. If you’re wondering how you could take a more active role in your vacation, here are a few things you can do on this island.

For one thing, the island is definitely a haven for nature lovers of all sorts. You can always, of course, take walks on the beach. There are also some great bike trails through the island that can bring you within close proximity of some of the area’s wildlife. Plus, you can take specialized bird watching tours to check out many of the feathered friends of Sanibel Island.

Fantastic fun things to do await you on Sanibel Island!

It you really love the water, you don’t have to leave it for your entire vacation. Why not fish off one of the beaches or a charter boat? You could also go snorkeling or take some scuba diving classes. Those who really need to get their heart rates going can try water sports of all kinds on rented equipment that’s easily accessible on the island.

When you’re ready to get out of the sun for a bit and enjoy some evening activities, why not see a movie or visit one of the island’s museums? There are also art exhibits galore, and you can even visit one of the area’s antique shops to bring back a unique souvenir from your trip. You’ll find all this and more on Sanibel Island, so if you want a beach vacation where you don’t just lie by the water all day, it’s definitely a good option.

Sanibel Island and neighboring Captiva Island provide some of the best shelling in Florida or, for that matter, in the world. These islands are part of a huge plateau that stretches far out into the Gulf of Mexico and what makes Sanibel shelling so great. Shellfish of all types are attracted to this natural underwater shelf and make it their home. The east to west orientation of the island, rare for a barrier island, means that the shells wash ashore in startling numbers. The “Sanibel Stoop” is the local term for the posture assumed by most visitors when Sanibel shelling and they happen upon a particularly lovely shell.

Sanibel shelling is more than a pastime for visitors, however. Its part of the local culture and an important, even defining, part of the local ecosystem. Sanibel shelling is famous for the varieties of shellfish that can be found. On Sanibel Island, however, there are some truly spectacular specimens to be found. Its renown as one of the world’s best locations for shelling has made Sanibel Island the home of the world’s largest museum dedicated to shellfish. Sanibel shelling, in all its glory and diversity, can be explored at the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum.

Sanibel and Captiva Islands provide world class shelling!

The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum opened its doors in 1995. The museum contains more than 30 exhibits on shellfish and constitutes one of the most popular destinations on Sanibel Island. Sanibel shelling enthusiasts can visit the museum and see some of the rarer specimens that they may not have the good fortune to stumble upon when exploring the beaches. There is, however, a better than average chance that anyone engaging in Sanibel shelling excursions will find some truly remarkable shells washed up from the Gulf. Most consider Sanibel to have the best shelling in Florida and it constitutes one of the island’s major tourist draws.

Sanibel shelling means searching out the best beaches. On both Sanibel Island and Captiva Island, most of the shoreline is occupied by beaches. One can visit just about any sandy strip along the sea and explore to their heart’s delight. Sanibel shelling has long been a draw for tourists but Sanibel shelling draws tourists and scientists alike. The wealth of natural beauty on this island is something which the island’s residents work hard to protect. It’s also one of the biggest draws for travelers. Sanibel shelling begins and ends on Sanibel Island and Captiva Island; a fact acknowledged around the world.

When Florida eco tours are mentioned, quite understandably, the first thing that comes to most people’s minds are the Everglades. This area is the most popular for airboat tours and mangrove safari tours. There are other places to explore the environment in Florida, however. Eco Tourism on Sanibel Island and Captiva Island is one of this destination’s most popular draws. This island is renowned for its pristine mangrove ecosystems, its extensive beachfronts and the numerous species of shells to be found on the shores. A large part of this island is occupied by a nature preserve.

Florida eco tourism oftentimes centers on environments which are endangered or threatened. One of the most popular destinations for eco tourism on Sanibel is the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge occupies the northern portion of the more than 5,000 acres set aside as a preserve on Sanibel Island. Mangrove ecosystems are some of the more fragile and threatened on the planet. The J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge protects one of these ecosystems and allows tourists to explore the fascinating wildlife that calls this exotic locale home. Eco tourism in Florida such as this helps to preserve these national treasures through education.

Eco Tours are exciting for the entire family!

Eco tourism in Florida, predictably enough, oftentimes centers on the seaside environs. On Sanibel and Captiva, those who love to go shelling will find themselves in one of the best locations for that pastime on Earth. The shelling on these beaches is recognized as world-class and visitors will find everything from sand dollars to scallops and much more. There is a museum on the island, the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum, which is dedicated to educating visitors about the undersea world of shellfish. This museum has over 30 exhibits and is the largest such facility dedicated to the study of shells in the world.

Eco tours in Florida oftentimes take travelers far off the beaten path. On Sanibel Island and Captiva Island, this oftentimes means visiting beaches which are far outside the developed areas of the islands. While it’s associated with relaxation and just getting away from it all, eco tourism on Sanibel oftentimes means visiting Bowman’s Beach. It may be close to populated areas but this beach is very secluded and allows visitors to explore the seaside environs in peace. There are festivals held at various times of year which help to educate visitors about this delicate environment and the island itself.

Visitors to the islands should not pass up the opportunity to visit a Sanibel museum. There are facilities on this island that tell the story of the human inhabitants of the island as well as facilities that tell the natural history of the barrier island. The Sanibel Historical Museum and Village allows guests to take a walk into the past and to explore the lives of those who first settled this island. The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum is known worldwide as one of the largest collections of shells in the world; possible because of the island’s incredible beaches and unspoiled ocean environment.

The Sanibel Historical Museum and Village is open daily Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. This facility tells the story of the early inhabitants of this island and even contains a historical village where many of the original buildings are preserved. The simple structures hearken back to an era when the islanders lived a rather isolated existence from the mainland. Up until the 1960’s, the ferry system provided the only viable link to the island and this is a great deal of the reason the island’s environment remains so pristine compared to other islands in the area. The island’s old post office still stands in the village.

Learn about the incredible History of Sanibel and Captiva!

The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum is one of the island’s most well-known attractions. This Sanibel shell museum was opened in 1995 and contains over 30 exhibits that will be equally interesting to those who enjoy shelling and those who wouldn’t know a sand dollar from a turtle shell. This island is famous for the number of shells that wash ashore. Under the ocean, the island is on a plateau that stretches far into the Gulf of Mexico. This creates a natural shelf on which shellfish like to live. The crowds on the beaches are oftentimes seen doing the “Sanibel Stoop” when they happen upon a particularly interesting example of marine life.

This island also has hidden historical attractions. By following some of the bike trails, tourists can be delivered to historically-significant destinations that are not accessible by car. The island’s old cemetery can only be reached in this fashion and, like the historic village at the Sanibel Historical Museum and Village, it provides a way to literally walk through the history of the island. The island is well-known as a modern day tourist paradise but its history of habitation extends to far before the present day.