Five Reasons to Visit Sanibel This September

Contrary to popular belief, September can be a beautiful month on the Island of Sanibel.


And this September promises to be a particularly beautiful month.


While Sanibel has not been affected by the Gulf oil spill, and the scientific projection has been that there is a less than 1 percent chance it will be, the greater concern has always been whether the spill could be stopped and the oil removed.


It seems promising that the well has been plugged at this point and reports are that the oil is largely gone.


So come September, there should be a collective sigh of relief that the Gulf has a better chance as we go forward. The optimism will surely be felt on Sanibel, helping to make a vacation even more enjoyable.


But that is only one reason to holiday this September, though a significant one at that.


September is, in almost any year, a transitional month. Summer visitors are gone. Fall visitors have not yet arrived. It is a month in which you can feel like a pioneer on the Island, blazing your own path. No waiting for tables at the most popular restaurants and you can linger for hours over a meal. The bike paths will be bikeless, the waterways way open and even the fabulous local grocery stores will not have the crowds of people wandering the isles.


Because of the quieter, less traveled and less touristed aspect of September vacationing, the nature viewing can often be superb. With most of the Island being a nature preserve, Sanibel is always "for the birds"....armadillo, bobcats and the rest. But not having that many people around makes sighting them easier.


And there are always great sales in the stores in September. Many stores attempt to clean out inventory to make way for new items. Check out places such as clothing stores to see what's on the discounted racks and you'll find plenty to choose from.




And, because September can be stormy, it generally is a month with fewer demands for accommodations. So the greater supply often results in reduced vacation rental and hotel prices. In fact, because the weather can be sunny as well as rainy, wise travelers might want to negotiate a longer than weekly stay and be more assured of having good weather for some, if not all, of their vacation time.




But if you should see some stormy weather, that in and of itself is quite an experience. The rains and winds can create a spectacular environment. So that may in and of itself be a sixth good reason to visit Sanibel in September!