Fl Beach Resort Islands: The beaches of Sanibel & Captiva
Captiva Island hotels include the ˜Tween Waters Inn Island Resort with its fabulous fine dining restaurant, the Old Captiva House. And, no visit to Captiva is complete without going to the Mucky Duck for sunset watching, island music and great food.Ҡ Sanibel Island resorts offer fabulous Sanibel vacations and there are numerous Sanibel Island vacation rentals to choose from.Ҡ The Mad Hatter restaurant on Sanibel is a fine dining tradition and a must visit!On to the beaches! ҠWere featuring 6 of the 12 in this article.
Natural Florida beach sand and warm waters invite you to relax, read or
partake in a favorite beach activity - shelling. Each beach has a
personality all its own.Ҡ Families will find soft, white sand great for kids. Couples
can experience solitude and exceptional sunsets. And active types
can enjoy volleyball, picnicking, shelling, cycling and skim boarding.
Lee County offers annual parking stickers for $60 per year.
Sanibel Island beaches have metered parking. Property
owners and long term visitors may obtain A & B parking permits;
A/property owners/$12/year; B/ visitors/$90/year.
On Sanibel, the police will arrange for delivery of a
handicapped wheelchair for 4 hours at no charge. Call 239-472-
3111.
Causeway Islands
Location: SR/CR 867, from mainland traveling to Sanibel, pass
through the Toll Booth, cross over sky bridge to first island.
Continue over flat bridge to second island.
Phone: 239-533-7275 Lee County Parks and Recreation
Hours: sunrise to ҽ hour past sunset
Parking: free
Amenities: accessible from water, restrooms, drinking fountains,
picnic tables
Activities: fishing, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, wind surfing, kite
boarding, shelling
Pets: yes, on 6 leashes
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Lighthouse Beach Park
Location: 112 Periwinkle Way, east end of Sanibel Island
Phone: 239-472-3700 City of Sanibel
Hours: sunrise to sunset
Parking: $2/hour, 195 spaces
Amenities: restrooms, handicapped accessible, shell display,
drinking fountains, bike racks, fishing pier on bayside
Activities: sunbathing, shelling, fishing, walking
Pets: yes, on 8 leashes
Of Special Interest: 32 acres on eastern tip of island. Strong
currents make swimming inadvisable, especially for children.
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Tarpon Bay Road Park
Location: East End of Tarpon Bay Road, Sanibel Island
Phone: 239-472-3700 City of Sanibel
Hours: sunrise to sunset
Parking: $2/hour, 75 spaces (use Trost Parking Lot)
Amenities: restrooms, outside showers, handicapped accessible
Activities: swimming, sunbathing, shelling, walking, fishing
Pets: yes, on 8 leashes
Of Special Interest: .9 acres on midsection of island
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Bowmans Beach
Location: 1700 Bowmans Beach Road, off San-Cap Road, Sanibel
Island
Phone: 239-472-3700 City of Sanibel
Hours: sunrise to sunset
Parking: $2/hour, 214 spaces
Amenities: changing room, showers, drinking fountains, soda
machine, grills, restrooms, picnic tables, handicapped accessible
Activities: swimming, fishing, known for great shelling, walking,
sunbathing
Pets: yes, on 8 leashes
Of Special Interest: One of the best beaches in Florida, its a
quarter mile walk from the parking lot to the beach (over a bridge)
through beach grasses and wetlands. Bowmans is located on the
west end of the island and is the most remote of the beaches on
Sanibel.
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Cayo Costa State Park
Location: directly south of Boca Grande and West of Pine Island,
Cayo Costa Island
Phone: 941-964-0375
Hours: 8 AM to sunset
Parking: Accessible only by passenger ferry or private boat. Ferry
departs from Pine Island; 239-283-0015. Park fees: $2/person
Amenities: bike rentals, day boat slips, cabins, campfire circles,
kayak and canoe rentals, restrooms, interpretive programs, nature
trails, pavilions, tent camping sites, picnic tables and grills, showers
Activities: biking, swimming, boating, camping, canoeing,
kayaking, fishing, walking, hiking, scuba, snorkeling, wildlife
viewing, campfire programs
Pets: Yes, on 6 leashes. State parks do not permit pets on beaches
or playgrounds, or in bathing areas, cabins, park buildings or
concession facilities.
Of Special Interest: The island is 7 miles long and has 9.5 miles of
pristine beach on the Gulf. Its 256 acres look much like they did 500
years ago, when the first Europeans arrived here.
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Gasparilla Island State Park
Location: a barrier island on Floridas southwest coast, access is
via Boca Grande Causeway at C.R. 775 and Placida
Phone: 941-964-0375
Hours: 8 AM to sunset
Parking: $3/vehicle
Amenities: 2 miles of beach, hiking/nature trails, restrooms,
interpretive exhibits, picnic areas, showers, visitors center
Activities: swimming, snorkeling, canoeing, kayaking, shelling,
biking, fishing, wildlife viewing
Pets: Yes, on 6 leashes. State parks do not permit pets on
beaches or playgrounds, or in bathing areas, cabins, park
buildings or concession facilities.
Of Special Interest: The beaches are the Parks greatest asset.
They end at Boca Grande Pass, famous for its deep waters and
tarpon fishing. The circa-1890 lighthouse once marked the pass
for mariners. It is now a museum that explores the islands
fishing and railroad heritage.
There are some full fledged resorts on the islands, but generally speaking you feel that the entire island, whether it"s Sanibel or Captiva, is your FL beach resort!Ҡ