When planning an upcoming vacation, isn’t one of the first things we do, a quick Google search of “things to do” in said location? I know it’s one of the first things I do because even when I am planning on spending most of the time on the beach, I also know my skin will need a break every now and again from the intense Florida sun.
Sanibel is an island located in the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of Florida. Largely known for the opportunity to find some of the world’s best seashells, this island has been popular for beachgoers for decades, although I feel it’s gained momentum in popularity over the last 5- 10 years.
Sanibel Island is easy to get to and offers travelers one of two types of vacations. On one hand, you can lounge each and every day away, basking under the bright, Florida sun. On the other hand, you can fill each day with island “must dos” as well.
If you’re the type to make sure and get some sightseeing in on your trip, the list below should help you fill up your time, with some of the best activities Sanibel has to offer!
Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum
Although high on my list of things to do/see on our trip, we weren’t able to make it to the shell museum. Originally, I scoffed at the idea of going to a shell museum, but the more I heard about it and the more reviews I read on the Sanibel Facebook group, I realized it would have been something the kids would have loved!
A giant, pacific octopus can be viewed here! Aside from displaying loads of shells, there are also interactive exhibits to entertain the kids.
As with most businesses on the island, the Shell Museum closes at 5pm.
Address: 3075 Sanibel Captiva Rd, Sanibel, FL
Phone: 239-395-2233
CROW: Clinic for the Rehabilitation Of Wildlife
Not only is the rehab clinic for wildlife a wonderful program for the thousands of injured animals they help each year, it’s also a great place for the kids to see, firsthand, some of the local wildlife.
Visit CROW for interactive exhibits, guided tours of the hospital and presentations of the work that this nonprofit organization does here on Sanibel.
Address: 3883 Sanibel Captiva Road Sanibel Island, FL 33957
Phone: (239) 472-3644
JN Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge
During August, when we were visiting Sanibel, it rained every afternoon. Because of the rain, it was hard to do any of the other great things Sanibel has to offer. One afternoon, however, we were able to get in a short trip through the driving trail at JN Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge.
The refuge is easily one of the top activities those visiting Sanibel go for, according to research and reviews I gathered online. On a personal note, I wasn’t sure what all the hype was about. The only thing we were able to see (again, it was pouring down rain and this largely complicated things, I know) was snowy egrets. Which are great, absolutely, but we were also able to see them every time we walked out of our condo because they’re all over the island.
The ticket for the driving trail is good for three days, and an excellent way to pass a little time (30-45 minutes, depending on how much traffic is going through at the time). If you have little ones that need to rest before heading to dinner, I highly recommend this.
Had we chosen to do a kayaking trip (see below) during the day when the weather was amazing or went through some of the bike paths, we may have enjoyed the refuge more.
One of the paths that is frequented by bicyclists apparently houses a resident gator. It sounds a bit terrifying but also something I would have loved to see.
Address: 1 Wildlife Drive, Sanibel, FL
Phone: (239) 472-1100
Hours: Varies, check website
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/JN_Ding_Darling/plan_your_visit/hours.html
Kayak with Tarpon Bay Explorers
If you’re looking for a guided nature tour, paddleboarding, kayaking, or any other variety of nature/water driven tour while you’re staying in Sanibel, look no further than the Tarpon Bay Explorers.
Tarpon Bay is located within the JN Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge and is widely known as a great spot to view wildlife. The chances to see nature at it best are optimal from the water, in my opinion.
Address: 900 Tarpon Bay Rd • Sanibel, FL 33957
Phone: 239-472-8900
Hours: Open daily at 8:00 am
Jerry’s Foods Market
Jerry’s Market not only has all the food, beach toys, sunscreen, libations, etc. you will need for the week but they have entertainment as well. To walk into the market, you’ll need to pass through the gardens first.
The courtyard houses a wide variety of local foliage and is also home to a number of exotic birds. “Jerry Jr” and his friends call the courtyard home, here at Jerry’s.
Also among the parrots, you can find a variety of stores to shop for clothes, ice cream, beach wares and various other goodies to remember your trip by.
Address: 1700 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL
Phone: (239) 472-9300
Hours: 7:00 am to 9:00 pm
https://www.jerrysofsanibel.com/
Sanibel Thriller
The Sanibel Thriller is one of the top rated things to do in Sanibel. This boat tour, cruises through the waters surrounding Sanibel and Captiva Islands to search for dolphins at play.
The narrated boat tour boasts to be the only high speed boat tour in the area. We chose not to do the Sanibel Thriller because I had already booked a boat captain for a day (see below) and I anticipated seeing dolphins that way.
If you don’t want to pony up the money for the boat captain but want to see those famous Florida dolphins, absolutely you should take a trip on the Sanibel Thriller.
Address: 634 N Yachtsman Drive, Sanibel, FL
Phone: (239) 472-2328
Hire a boat captain for the day
This, by far, was my absolute, favorite thing we did during our trip to Sanibel. Our captain, Paul, was accommodating to us and our kids and so full of knowledge about the sea and the area. I reserved our trip on his “water taxi” for the day by calling Jensen’s Marina in Captiva. My family of 5 had the whole boat to ourselves!
Our day on the water was completely customized for our requests. Those requests? Seashelling, dolphin watching and sightseeing by water.
We started from Captiva island and worked our way north. Captain Paul did an excellent job explaining where we were and what each island was. We first did some seashelling at Cayo Costa State Park, an island that is only accessible by boat. Although lots of other folks were out at the state park, we were still able to find lots of great seashells.
For lunch, Paul dropped us off at Cabbage Key. This small island is privately owned and has a resort, restaurant and marina there on the island. We were able to be seated right away for lunch in the open air restaurant, with sweeping views of the water. Although lunch was good, I wouldn’t call it great and it was, as expected, very expensive. There isn’t a kids menu so it was a bit difficult to figure out how to accommodate our picky eaters in the group. And yet, if I had it to do all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing.
After lunch, we continued north to Gasparilla Island, and were able to watch the dolphins play in our wake. Eventually we headed south bound again, past the historical Florida fish houses and made our way back to Jensen’s Marina.
Address: 15107 Captiva Dr, Captiva, FL
Phone: (888) 208-6829
Time: 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Shopping
By my own admission, I did no shopping while on Sanibel. I have no regrets about this and am not at all ashamed to admit it. Shopping isn’t my thing at home and I’m certainly not willing to spend time on an island, in a store.
However, rainy days or girls trips or trips without kids, may lead you to find yourself in a position where the idea of a little retail therapy sounds like the perfect thing to do. If that’s the case, have no fear because there are plenty of opportunities on Sanibel Island.
Periwinkle Place
Your first stop should be Periwinkle Place, which is a great spot to search for casual beachwear, toys, and gift shops plus they have a variety of dining options.
Tahitian Gardens
Not far away from Periwinkle Place, you’ll find Tahitian Gardens. Here, you can stop into Cheeburger Cheeburger for lunch (a local fav) then hit some of the gift and apparel stores to walk off the lunch fare.
The Village Shops
For home goods, dining and art galleries, head to The Village Shops. You’ll be surprised to hear that this shopping area (just like the other two), is also located on Periwinkle Way.
Olde Sanibel Shoppes
If you’ve brought Fido along on your vacation, and he just loves shopping with you, bring him with you to the Olde Sanibel Shoppes, where pets are welcome!
Sanibel Historical Museum & Village
If you’re like me, learning about the history of a place during your vacation brings it to light so much differently. I find that my deeper understanding of the place I vacation, always makes me appreciate it more fully.
At the historical museum, you can opt for a self guided tour and learn at your own pace, or choose to do a guided tour, where you’ll learn history from those that know it best.
Please see the website for hours, as they are closed during the off season.
Address: 950 Dunlop Road, Sanibel, FL 33957
Phone: (239) 472-4648
Hours: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, except for off season
Visit the Lighthouse
For a glimpse into Sanibel’s history, head east to the Lighthouse. Notes of Sanibel’s history, pertaining especially to the lighthouse, can be found on plaques around the property.
If you’re looking to do some fishing, a small pier can be found just off the edge of the parking lot here at the Lighthouse. Tales of some spectacular seashell finds are reported to be here at the Lighthouse Beach as well.
I, personally, found the beach to be a bit small and unimpressive but most of the beach was already full by mid-morning. It seems the Lighthouse Beach has it’s own following, despite my beliefs about it.
While viewing a piece of history is always a win in my book, overall, there’s really not much to see or do at the Lighthouse besides…. see the lighthouse.
Time: 30 minutes (+ extra if you’re coming here to fish or swim)
Address: 112 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL 33957
Phone: (239) 472-3700
Hours: 8:00 am- 4:00 pm
Eat Ice Cream
Is it really a vacation if you don’t go out for ice cream once or twice? I think not. Sanibel offers several different options for your late night cravings.
One evening after dinner, we went to Love Boat Ice Cream, located in Jerry’s Market. Their store was closed because of an issue with the freezers so we found ourselves at The Shack. Although the menu was a little difficult to understand, my whole family thought the ice cream was amazing. The staff here were family and treated us and our kids like we were celebrities. They all seemed genuinely thankful for our patronage.
Joey’s Custard, behind the Bailey’s General Store, seems to be a Sanibel favorite as well.
Go Seashelling
Although listed last, this is easily one of the most famous things to do in Sanibel. Sanibel is ranked at the top of the list for it’s shelling beaches. Early each morning, you’ll see the shores dotted with many vacationers doing the “Sanibel Stoop”. The Sanibel Stoop refers to the stoop down you see people do, while searching for shells.
Most mornings, I walked right outside my condo to search for the illustrious seashells that Sanibel is so well known for. However, the second to last morning, I found myself on Turner’s Beach, at Blind Pass. Had I known about this place earlier in the week, I may have come more than the one time. A seawall here on the beach, was a prime spot for washed up shells. Easily, I could have spent hours sorting through these piles of shells.
Bowman’s Beach at sunrise is also, reportedly, a great spot for AM shelling. If you’re up for a bit of a jaunt, you can walk from Bowman’s Beach north, or Turner’s Beach south to Silver Key. This post here describes the best way to get to Silver Key. This reserve is only accessible with about a 2-mile walk along the beach.
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Have you been to Sanibel? Tell me about your experiences below! I love to share travel stories and help other readers get all the information they can, while planning for their trip.
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