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.

If you’re looking for a location that is beautiful, upscale, and romantic, Captiva Island is one of the best destinations you could choose. Though Captiva and Sanibel Islands are very close, they are very different places, and visitors to the area should take advantage of all that both barrier islands have to offer.

Captiva is home to some very affluent people. Some celebrities and other wealthy individuals own private vacation or permanent residences here. Some of these beautiful homes make up what is known as “Millionaire’s Row.” Of course there are more modest homes on the island, but there are restrictions that keep them in the traditional, charming style of the island. If you are considering buying a home in Captiva, you have many options from charming island homes to luxurious mansions.

Experience the beauty and charm of captiva island!

If you are visiting for a shorter period of time, there are plenty of options to choose from. The South Seas Island Resort is one of the oldest places on the island. It’s a luxurious resort where you can rent a villa or cottage and spend a romantic week. Tween Waters Inn Resort is another popular resort. It features the Old Captiva House, which is known for fine dining. While you are visiting Captiva, make sure you make trip to the Mucky Duck. This restaurant is known for its amazing view of the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico.

There are lots of historical places to visit in Captiva. If nature is your thing, there are plenty of opportunities for biking, hiking, kayaking, snorkeling, and scuba diving. You can charter a boat to take you out for a few hours, for the day, or maybe for just a sunset cruise. There are many high end shops along with fun boutiques and art galleries to choose from if shopping is more your speed.

If you want to simply relax on a gorgeous beach for an entire week, Captiva is the perfect place for it. The Gulf keeps the weather nice enough to not be too awfully hot in the summers, and pretty mild in the winter. Although the weather might not necessarily be suitable for swimming during the winter months, you can still enjoy shelling and sightseeing anytime.

Sanibel Island and Captiva Island shops are a popular way to pass one’s vacation time at this lovely destination. The island has myriad boutiques and other shops and has the very unique characteristic of being populated by mostly local businesses. When the causeway to Sanibel Island was first constructed in the 1960’s, the community enacted strict policies that prevent the sort of overdevelopment that results in homogenous chain stores. Sanibel Island is very much a community and the locals take pride in the fact that their commercial district and Sanibel shops reflect the era when Main Street was the norm.

The Sanibel Island shops which line the streets offer everything from necessities to luxuries. Those who love antiques will find multiple stores from which to choose. There are also stores which specialize in selling equipment for the popular local diversions. Fishing supplies are easily available from a number of Sanibel Island shops. While most of the shopping in areas popular with tourists is restricted to souvenirs and other diversions, Sanibel shopping also includes many stores which serve the basic needs of any individual. After all, Sanibel Island is a real community, not just a tourist destination, and people live here year-round.

A myriad of eclectic shops and boutiques abound on Sanibel and Captiva!

There are also numerous art galleries on Sanibel Island. Captiva Island shopping is equally well provided for where art galleries are concerned. The beautiful natural environment on these islands does tend to inspire. Many visitors to these islands opt to take home a piece of art as a souvenir of their journey to the island. Sanibel Island shops, fortunately for visitors, are not the typical over-priced affairs that one finds in many tourist destinations. The island does tend to be affluent, however, so there are many high-end Sanibel shopping establishments which deal in upscale items such as clothes and jewelry.

Sanibel and Captiva shops are diverse enough to be handy when one finds themselves unprepared. One does not need to venture to the mainland, for instance, to purchase items necessary for going on one of the local eco tourism offerings. One can also purchase luxuries such as a fine cigar or a good bottle of wine on the island. Those visitors to the island who find themselves enamored of spending as much time as possible on the beach will find that many Sanibel shops carry items just for those activities. These include beach baskets and other products designed for seaside use.

One of the most popular Sanibel and Captiva Islands activities is a very basic and natural thing to do. Bird Watching is perhaps the activity most people participate in and some don’t realize they are doing it. However, one cannot ignore the beautiful wildlife on Sanibel and Captiva Islands. The Great Blue Heron is probably the most talked about and can be seen year-round on the island. Snowy Egrets are white and fly above the water and then snatch up their fish while in flight. White Ibis walk along the edges of water and use their long, curved bills to probe for small animals like crustaceans. One of the most popular birds is the Roseate Spoonbill, these birds have bright pink feathers and a bill that looks just like a spoon. They use their bills in the water to collect food by swinging their heads back and forth. Watching these birds are all great Sanibel and Captiva activities.

Another nice Sanibel and Captiva Island activity is simply taking a drive around the beautiful island. Local maps can be obtained from the chamber of commerce, but also in various small strip centers around the island. A leisurely drive on every road on the islands will reveal one of the things residents have fought so hard to keep intact – that is, the lack of traffic signals and stoplights on Sanibel and Captiva Islands. This is evident at busier times when a local law enforcement officer is required to direct traffic at the intersection of Periwinkle Way and Causeway Road. During these Sanibel activities, visitors will appreciate this more and more as they spend time on Sanibel and Captiva Islands and feel their stress melt away. This all does well to preserve the feeling and aura of these exquisite islands.

Spectacular adventure and family fun await you on Sanibel and Captiva!

Sunsets are a way of life and one of the customary Sanibel and Captiva activities that one feels compelled to join in every day. The beauty of the islands comes out on the beach each evening as hundreds of gatherers usually make it a point to stay until the very end. That is, until the sun dips below the Gulf of Mexico and fades away into darkness. It is somewhat of a ritual that must take place prior to any evening activities or nightlife to be enjoyed. A wonderful story about the sunset is the famous “Green Flash” that can be seen if one pays close attention. A Green Flash is an optical illusion that occurs right after sunset. This Sanibel and Captiva activity provides a green area or spot that is visible for only about a second.

One of the more popular Sanibel Island activities is the local Sanibel Farmer’s Market. They are no longer just a place to buy produce; farmers’ markets have grown across the country the past few years. Locals and visitors enjoy shopping for goods, mostly hand-made, because they are supporting a local individual or business. Vendors take pride in what they sell and show up every week with a smile. The Sanibel Farmer’s Market is held on Sundays from 8am to 1pm at City Hall. This open air market features many vendors selling items such as baked goods, plants, honey, pasta, cheese, and fresh organic produce. Clearly, this is one of the more fun Sanibel activities.