The beach is very wide/deep so the buildings have zero impact, but if youre not used to seeing that, it can be a disconcerting at first. Nearly 70% of the island is devoted to conservation and wildlife refuges. One of the questions we get asked a lot is, what are the differences between Sanibel and Captiva Island?. No, Siesta Key Village is not like Captiva. Theyre smaller here, so beautiful to collect! Captiva Island, the South seas island resort, Sanibel Island is much larger than Captiva, Captiva Island, you can access the several beaches. Red tide, devastated reefs follow in the wake of Hurricane Ian While Captiva Island features a North-South orientation like most of Floridas Gulf barrier islands, youll find that Sanibel Island has a unique East-West orientation. Sign in to get trip updates and message other travelers.. Sanibel Island ; Hotels There are several reasons for this, partly because Captiva lacks the number of activities and attractions that Sanibel has, and partly because it is almost entirely private property with very high-end homes. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Hotels near The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum, Hotels near Sanibel and Captiva Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center, Hotels near Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW), Hotels near Sanibel Historical Museum and Village, Hotels near Sanibel Moorings Botanical Garden Tours. Turner Beach is located at Blind Pass right across the bridge from Sanibel. Sanibel and Captiva islands offer tourists at least fifteen miles of stunning beaches, and boost over 250 kinds of seashells from the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean regions.. You see why I said that Sanibel and Captiva have what I cherish. Marco is further from the Caloosatchee river so generally it will have cleaner water. CEPD reports on beach and water conditions | News, Sports, Jobs Amelia Island, Vero Beach or Sanibel? - Fodor's Travel Talk Forums There are also a few resorts, inns, and B&B's offering nightly rentals. The sand on Clearwater Beach is slightly nicer than the sand on Sand Key, but it is pretty close. To give you an accurate perspective, Sanibel is downright sleepy compared with other southwest Florida towns like Fort Myers, Naples, Marco Island, Bonita Springs even Punta Gorda. Whats the difference between Sanibel and Captiva? For Sale. The 7 Best Beaches for Shelling on Sanibel Island You can rent wave runners and go parasailing and as well as canoe and kayak rentals. But you will Sanibel is a bike island. See the Some people simply love admiring the unrivaled views of the sunset that the unique islands provide. There are other differences between the islands, too. Captiva has more super high end vacation homes that sit on the beach whereas Sanibel is where youll find more of the condo units. Turner Beach. Captiva has only a limited number of properties with nightly rentals and they are very popular. A Saltwater Fishing License is required to saltwater fish from shore. Most of the island is very narrow- you can see both the Gulf and Pine Island Sound from many spots. Which beach is better Sanibel or Captiva? day trips, Fort Myers, attractions, family fun with kids, Captiva, Captiva Island, restaurants, best restaurants, Southwest Florida, Gulf coast islands, Weird Florida: 8 Unusual Things to See and Do in Southwest Florida. It feels like youre walking on a fluffy cloud. Some will even deliver a kayak to where you are staying. Ok Sanibel and Captiva Island, theres enough beach for you to have a great time. Where to stay on Sanibel Island, FL - Howtobookyourtrip Turner Beach is a beautiful day out for the whole family, and with enough amenities to do it all, youll enjoy your time there immensely! The pristine beaches of Sanibel are best in the off-season (May to September) where the beaches are empty save for the locals. Sanibel and Captiva remain very much in recovery mode, but some business leaders urged city management to open back up, so visitors can once again eat, shop and stay at the iconic barrier islands . The island is a lot smaller than Sanibel (half of its taken up by the South Seas Island Resort), but it feels very much the same. Preferences, preferences. Privacy Policy | Before we delve into whats unique about each island, let us just say that both islands have these things in common: Gorgeous beaches and a laid back, islandy atmosphere, There are NO: high-rise hotels and condos, big box stores, chain restaurants or traffic signals. Sanibels finest wearing white gloves still move traffic the old fashioned way during peak times. Both islands have these things in common: Beautiful beaches, lack of high-rise hotels and condos, mostly low density development, and a laid back atmosphere. There are great restaurants but no chain places and not much nightlife. 45+ LEISURELY THINGS TO DO ON SANIBEL ISLAND (beyond shelling) These islands will certainly be your favorites as soon as you get here. If youre not a strong swimmer or you have young kids, swimming should be avoided. Theres nothing better than a relaxing day at the beach, and Lighthouse Beach has some of the best spaces to let your worries float away. There are no restrooms on the Sanibel side, but there are restrooms on the Captiva side of the beach. If you want to follow along on my travel adventures in real time, you can follow me on Instagram (@caitylincoln). Turner Beach - Lee County Southwest Florida 8 Sanibel and Captiva Island Beaches You Have to Visit Some popular activities on Turner Beach include: If you have a Saltwater Fishing License, you can saltwater fish from the shore. This is simply due to the offshore geography and Sanibels unique curvature of land it really does get the lions share of great shells! As you approach the northern part of Captiva, you come to the small and very quaintvillage areawhere you will find an assortment of restaurants and shops, as well as the post office, a bank and a small library. On the other hand, the dining on Captiva Island is more eclectic than that on Sanibel Island. Along Andy Rosse Lane is Captiva Island Pizza, casual RC Otters, and the very delicious Key Lime Bistro. We aren't big nightlife people, but enjoy good "non-chain" restaurants. The Best Bars on Sanibel Island | The Gee Family Team Beaches in Fort Myers, Sanibel Island, & Captiva Island | Must Do Which beach is better Sanibel or Captiva? It seems like this couldnt possibly be true since they are so close, together but it absolutely is. Captiva does not have a bike path, but rather, a 3 foot "safety shoulder" that runs along each side of Captiva Rd, so inexperienced bicyclists and children should use extra caution. Two Sanibel incumbents face challengers in Tuesday elections Also Ding Darling Bird Sanctuary is best visited early in the day. Even though there are not many places for beach access, when you step onto the beach youre on public property. 24-Hour Guide To Sanibel Island Things To Do | A Taste of Koko Sand Key is literally a 5 minute drive from Clearwater Beach. All SW FL beach towns have the same water clarity issues. In addition, if you enjoy hunting for shells, you should definitely pick Sanibel Island, as it is the top shelling destination in North America. It dwells today within the seaside Casa Ybel Resort. Sanibel Island and Captiva Island are called sister islands, but there are some obvious differences between them. What it lacks in amenities, it more than makes up for in beauty and other features. Sanibel public beaches & parking lots have started opening! Thats a must! the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum. If youre staying on Sanibel, running up to Captiva to eat dinner or shop isnt a big deal and vice versa. Sanibel Island is known for being a natural wonderland. Marco has a 7.1 mile continuous, wide crescent beach with a long "Tigertail" beach. Before traveling to any vacation destination, one of the most important things to consider is where you are to stay on your arrival. YUCATAN SHRIMP AT Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille. So if you score a parking space, you can walk along the beach as far as youd like. But they are worth the extra drive to the north end of the island. "This light being lit . Sanibel and Captiva Island beaches are a must-see for a variety of reasons. 8 Great Places to Go Kayaking in Fort Myers, 50 Things to Do in Southwest Florida: The Ultimate Bucket List, 10 Fun and Easy Day Trips from Naples Florida, 15 Fun Things To Do on Sanibel Island, Florida, 6 Best Waterfront Places to Stay on Sanibel Island and Captiva Island, Castaway to 7 Southwest Florida Gulf Coast Islands Reachable Only By Boat, The 7 Best Beaches in Fort Myers Florida (Plus 5 More Nearby), 9 Sanibel Restaurants for Tropical Island Dining at Its Best. Sanibel Island and Captiva Island are separated by a bridge over Blind Pass. The northern tip of the island, well over 300 acres,is all owned by the South Seas Resort. DINNER AT TIMBERS RESTAURANT. Captiva beaches vs Sanibel beaches - Sanibel Island Forum The intimate 10-day festival starts off in Captiva Island and Sanibel Island, then moves on to downtown Fort Myers and wraps up at Fort Myers Beach. Overall, the options youll find on Captiva are a little more upscale than Sanibel, but both are very laid back islands without much major development. For Sale: Single Family home, $899,000, 2 Bd, 2 Ba, 1,291 Sqft, $696/Sqft, at 6092 Sanibel Captiva Rd, Sanibel, FL 33957 The following Sanibel beaches are now OPEN! While the intention is to rebuild, the causeway has been fixed, and the island is expected to begin opening to tourism in January 2023, things are not back to normal and likely wont be for a long time. . While Sanibel and Captiva arent radically different, Ill do my best to break the two down: Sanibel is a sizable island with direct access from mainland Fort Myers via the Sanibel Causeway. Sanibel has all the bells and whistles compared to Captiva. Bowmans Beach is one of many beaches on Sanibel Island, and on the western portion of the island.Its a protected site, with no developments going on, which leaves a pure and natural landscape to enjoy for all. The first tip we will give you is Gulf-side beaches are the best places to find shells on vacation. Blind Pass Beach. And anything called a resort is actually a condo with more resort-like amenities. Driving Directions Take I-75 South to Fort Myers. Just off the coast of Fort Myers in southwest Florida lie the twin barrier islands of Sanibel and Captiva, coastal jewels of the Lee County coast. It depends on the direction of the wind and tides. Biking is our favorite way to get around the islands . Strollers, wagons, and the like are a lot harder to maneuver on Captivas beaches than on Sanibel. That is a personal decision. Dogs on leashes no longer than 8 feet are welcome on all Sanibel Island beaches. Sanibel is your choice if you are looking for nature, activities, choices in restaurants and shopping, are on somewhat ofa budget, biking or want to go off island fortouring or nightlife on the mainland. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. With Sanibel's unique orientation as a primarily East-West island, the shelling is great AND the beaches at either end (Lighthouse, East end) Blind Pass (west end) offer a variety of beach conditions to explore on the same day. Located in the middle of the island, there is more than enough space to enjoy the sunshine or relax in the shade should you want to take a moment to rest. This Island has several restaurants and stores for shopping. P.S. Get answers to your questions about Marco Island, Recommendations for condo complex with central booking site. Sanibel is a better choice if you are beachcombing and want to enjoy biking on the bike paths, birdwatching, a d being out in nature in general. The biggest difference is the number of beaches. 5 tips to help you catch more fish around Sanibel & Captiva The J. N "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge has a scenic drive, boating rentals and tours, hiking paths and a visitor educational center. 7/9/2016. Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grill 2500 Island Inn Rd, Sanibel Island OR 5400 S Seas Plantation Rd, Captiva Island That's right - Doc Ford's has two locations within the islands!
which beach is better sanibel or captiva?
which beach is better sanibel or captiva?
which beach is better sanibel or captiva?
which beach is better sanibel or captiva?