A Word to the Wise: Winters North Drive Vacationers into Sanibel's Embrace

There is no question when the winters get tough,  both the tough and tender think of Florida, especially Sanibel Island.

This has been the case for many a decade.

But the last couple of winter seasons in most of the country have made vacationers and snow birders alike much more attuned to the differences in geographical areas.

These last two winters have been busier than ever with more vacationers on our Island .

We were so in demand this month on Sanibel that we "sold out" for much of March and into April.

The enchantment was enhanced because it was particularly forbidding north and particularly inviting south.  It was warm and sunny almost every day for January, February and March.

As of this writing, we are getting our first rain in weeks, badly needed and a nice complement to sunshine, blue skies and puffy white clouds every day.  Add into the formula an average winter temp of 75 degrees, no humidity and light breezes, and you have found perfection.

Many of our condos and almost all of our houses are already booked for the first three month of 2016. 

Weather has been the predominant factor in this Island love affair, but other special  factors have come into play as well.

A better economy, word of mouth that you can't go wrong on Sanibel, more young families home schooling allowing greater flexibility have added to the causes for southward mobility. 

But clearly there are distinct advantages to being in warmer weather.

Getting up and getting out with little preparation is one of them.  No digging out the car, starting it up and letting the engine warm, pulling on layer after layer of clothes, only to have to remove them layer after layer once you get to your destination.  No ice and snow to slide on, no parking spaces obscured by banks of snow.

All we have to offer are palm trees and birds and a  Gulf of Mexico sparkling in the Sanibel sunshine. 

So think about it and don't wait too long.  There will be another winter coming on, and we have the perfect antidote right here on our 12 mile long barrier island!