Sanibel guests vote on best bets for Island Fun

Because the Island attracts such a diverse group of people,  "favorite" Island activities are quite spread out as well.

If you clump them in like things with like, it is rather simple.

The fishermen love to fish.

The bird watchers love to see  birds.

Sally loves to collect sea shells by the sea shore.

But of course there are over laps with all these preferences, and this blog post will describe some of the Island's favorite activities, where best found and who might enjoy them most.

Probably the most popular attraction is the Ding Darling Nature Preserve, and it may well be because the preserve can make so many people happy and satisfied.

While many people choose to drive through in their autos, bikers also love the preserve.  As do walkers, bird watchers and fisherman as well as canoeists and kayakers. The preserve is the number one most visited attraction on Sanibel.  They often pick their own routes and spots, but the weather patterns, tides and migration routes help drive the focus of the visit to Ding Darling.

The second most popular attraction may come as a bit of a surprise, but the Sanibel and Captiva Chamber of Commerce is a great resource for so many people, providing information on everything from accommodations to restaurants.  Many visitors make this their first stop on Island, and for good reason.  Friendly and helpful staff and volunteers make it a point to try to make each person's experience on island special.

In fact, points of information all rank high on Sanibel.  Classes and workshops are huge hits for kids and adults alike with the awarded and recognized Sanibel Library a very frequent stop.  The same applies to the Sanibel Sea School, The Sissi Janku Art Studio and the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (C.R.O.W) 

But learning is supplemented with excitement on Island, and other popular activities include such boat adventures such as the wild ride on the Sanibel Thriller and the more serene dolphin and whale watching boat rides. 

And for those most interested in moving on their own, the surfing and windsurfing can be superb and are sought after by large numbers of Sanibel guests.

But no matter what your favorite Sanibel treat may be, it is unlikely you will not find something to your liking!


 

Sanibel Island Leads the Pack for Family Fun

If you have read this blog with any regularity, you know that we post pretty frequently about the awards Sanibel has garnered over the years.

Awards for best beaches, best biking, best bird life....oh, the list goes on.

Celebrities and brand name publications are among the fans of our tropical island.

Now, Family Fun Magazine has bestowed its own honor on Sanibel giving it the number one spot for a family getaway.  For their annual travel survey, presented with Go RVing, the magazine asked 2,000 families to rate hundreds of popular spots across the country in five categories.

With its laid-back style and sun-soaked beaches, the tourist town of Sanibel, Florida earned the top spot overall, surpassing such destinations as The Smithsonian Museums (both Natural History as well as  Air and Space) in addition to the St. Louis Zoo.  The nominations and winners are very impressive, and yet Sanibel stood out as the best choice.

In glowing terms, the writers wrote about the special joys of Sanibel.

"If you're trying to get a handle on the appeal of this island town off Florida's west coast, consider that the number one outdoor activity there is strolling along the beach hunting for seashells. Families come to Sanibel to unwind, and its broad, white beaches, gentle surf, and bountiful array of shells encourage them to do just that. As one Texas mom wrote of our top-rated attraction overall, "it's just a relaxing place that lets kids be kids."

Yes, there's also cycling, kayaking, paddleboarding, and even gator-gazing through the tropical foliage at the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge. But in laid-back Sanibel, doing next to nothing is just fine, too."

With Sanibel now a year round destination, its fame through articles and awards like this is certainly evident.

Bailey's on Sanibel Island Expands for Greater Convenience for Island Visitors

Most people who come to Sanibel are self catering.  That is they take at least some of their meals in, whether they stay at a condo or a private home.  It does get a bit tedious, as well as time consuming and costly, to eat breakfast , lunch and dinner out.

Fortunately , the Island does offer many nice options for eating out and several for eating in.

The two most established grocery stores on Sanibel are Jerry's and Bailey's, with Bailey's being the older of these great choices.

Now, in addition to the traditional Bailey's, where one can purchase every edible as well as hardware goods, there is an alternative for vacationers who are staying further east on Island.  Called Bailey's Marketplace, the new store is located at the Sundial Beach Resort.

Bailey's Marketplace is a slimmed-down version of the original, carrying fresh produce, meats and seafood, wine and beer as well as deli meats and sandwiches along with gifts and beach supplies.

Bailey's General Store is located in Bailey’s Center at 2477 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel Island. Bailey's General Store has a full-service grocery store and hardware store combined in the heart of Sanibel Island.

 

Bailey's Marketplace is a special place and is located on 1451 Middle Gulf Drive at the Sundial Beach Resort & Spa on Sanibel Island.

 

Bailey's Sanibel Shopping Center, on the corner of Tarpon Bay Road and Periwinkle Way, is an ideal shopping locale for guests and residents of the island. Home to numerous businesses offering a wide spectrum of shopping experiences including fine dinning, entertainment and grocery shopping; it's essentially one-stop shopping.