No matter what brings people to the beaches, its undeniable that theyre simply magnificent. Exit 21 is the best exit off of I-75 for the beaches. That is until we stayed at the Island Inn on Sanibel. There are bars and restaurants just back across the bridge. 3 beach destination in the United States, and it is easy to see why. Captiva has more of a village feel. You can swim safely, walk and picnic here. $5 per hour for public parking. Both islands have the same great beaches, but if youre coming for the day or youre not staying right on the beach, parking at the beaches on Captiva is much more limited and more expensive than on Sanibel. Since the water off Sanibel is shallower than Captiva, this causes bigger waves and murkier water. Most places are a little worn and just not very updated. 2023TravelMagma All rights reserved. But if you are looking for the more traditional sugar sand beach with clear blue water the Captiva Island Beaches are the way to go. Thank you for your responses. With hundreds of beaches throughout Florida, you may be asking yourself why you should visit these beaches instead of all the others. Its smarter to go further down the beach here for swimming, but with the nearby bars and beachside restaurants, you may decide that sitting on the sand and watching the waves move is a safer option for you. If youre planning to visit the area, make sure to do plenty of research to find out whats open, whats available and whats just not even there anymore. Powered by Mai Theme, Tips For Honeymoon Island State Park: A Florida Gem. Very different experiences. Theres also Billys Rentals or Finnimores Beach and Bike Rentals. Sanibel has all the bells and whistles compared to Captiva. VISIT THE HISTORIC SANIBEL LIGHTHOUSE. Sanibel and Captiva are connected to Fort Myers on the mainland by only one roadway the Sanibel Causeway Bridge. 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. Also Ding Darling Bird Sanctuary is best visited early in the day. Some of the major differences between Sanibel Island and Captiva Island can be found on the beaches. While Sanibel is not busy by mainland standards, Captiva manages to be even more laid back. and they leave from Captiva, but its an easy drive from Sanibel. There are also two semi-public 18 hole golf courses on the island. In addition, if you enjoy hunting for shells, you should definitely pick Sanibel Island, as it is the top shelling destination in North America. For walkers and bikers, the admission rate is set at $1 per person. Does the lack of chain restaurants mean Sanibel has no casual restaurants for quick and cheap in-and-out service? Re: Siesta Key vs Captiva Island. There are no restrooms on the Sanibel side, but there are restrooms on the Captiva side of the beach. For Sale: Single Family home, $1,795,000, 3 Bd, 5 Ba, 3,516 Sqft, $511/Sqft, at 5721 Sanibel Captiva Rd, Sanibel, FL 33957 P.S. And there are no golf carts on Siesta. The beaches of Sanibel and Captiva are known for shelling, consistently ranking at the top of the best shelling beaches in the United States. Youll love watching the sun set over the Gulf of Mexico from either island and both destinations truly boast something for everyone. Visit the Islands to find great shells today! Youll find many public beaches on Sanibel Island, some with fishing piers, and a few private beaches, too. Thats a must! A popular destination for visitors, Turner Beach is one of the best beaches on Captiva. Sanibel won, hands down. In the East End area Tarpon Tale Inn sits just 0.7 miles (1.1 km) from Lighthouse Beach Park. It had the same color/clarity as the ocean here in NC. Other than day trips to Sanibel, we dont usually use our rental car on Captiva. Sanibel Island is known for being a natural wonderland. There are so many different species of fish here, and with the bay on one side and the Gulf of Mexico on the other, you can imagine how popular its been as a destination here as you can access the beach right from the water, too. It will take you roughly one hour to get to Sanibel and Captiva from the Fort Myers airport Southwest Florida International (RSW) to the Sanibel Causeway. If you travel down Sanibel Captiva Road and make the trek over the Blind Pass bridge, youll find yourself on Captiva Island. The paths are well marked and almost flat. Sanibel is known for its beaches some of the best beaches in southwest Florida but even more so for the millions of shells that wash up on its shores by the hour. Bring a hammock and hang it on the palm trees for the ultimate vacation photo! Note: there is a parking fee for those coming in with their cars. The "Sanibel Spirit" is indeed alive, strong and resilient, and remarkable signs of recovery continue throughout our "repairadise.". Turner Beach, between Sanibel and Captiva islands, is the hottest of hot spots for both fishing and surfing. Brokered by MVP Realty Associates LLC. Captiva sits just north of Sanibel and its accessed via a very short bridge over Blind Pass. 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. Turner Beach. There is so much you can do and see with your time, so why not go exploring now? That said, however, since most visitors seem to hit the beaches closest to the Sanibel Causeway (the only road on and off the island), youll find that the closer you get to the Causeway, the more crowded the beaches are. Walking and biking can get you around most of the island. Fishers will love the opportunity to fish and catch their day, and with amazing sunrises and sunsets, youll find somewhere to sit and marvel at the colors. Brokered by US Schwarz Immobilien Real Est. Right at the southern tip of Captiva Island is Turner Beach. It's a quiet beach, but it's not really the best place for swimming. Sanibel is the by far the larger of the two and is the first island off the mainland. At these islands, you get 15 miles of coastline, 25 miles of biking, and fifty different species of fish! Onceyou're is on the beach, it is public property from mean the high tide line to the water, so you can stroll to your heart's content. If you want to follow along on my travel adventures in real time, you can follow me on Instagram (@caitylincoln). ;-). https://www.marriott.com/hotels/local-things-to-do/mrkfl-jw-marriott-marco-island-beach-resort/. What Does Deeded Beach Access Mean in Florida? 1. Local grocery stores like Jerrys and Baileys General Store are good for sandwiches, prepared foods, good picnic food for the beach, and stocking your own kitchenette or vacation rental. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. YUCATAN SHRIMP AT Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille. Island Vacations of Sanibel and Captiva, Inc. 1101 Periwinkle Way #108 Sanibel, FL 33957 888-451-7277 If you aren't into shelling this is definitely something worth considering. But both islands have their own unique personality. We found it while cycling around Sanible and Captiva. The kids will love the park, and you can take a moment to explore the shoreline and find as many shells as you like (not live ones!) It is the first beach after you leave Sanibel Island. While Sanibel may get the lions share of shells, thats not to say that Captiva also doesnt have good shelling. For Sale: Single Family home, $899,000, 2 Bd, 2 Ba, 1,291 Sqft, $696/Sqft, at 6092 Sanibel Captiva Rd, Sanibel, FL 33957 While Sanibel is filled with people scouring the beach for beautiful shells, the beaches of Captiva are generally very quiet and laid back. Haven't been to either. Golf cart renters must be 21 years old and have a vaild driver's license. In fact, as Sanibel and Captiva are connected by bridges, interested cyclists can bike from Fort Myers proper all the way across to both of the islands and back if they choose. At 33 square miles, (12 miles end-to-end), walking may not always be convenient, depending on your plans. Alternatively, you may use, Hilton Grand Vacations Hotels in Sanibel Island, Hotels near J.N. You can take Instagram-worthy pictures and view the local wildlife from the perfect vantage point: the sand! Many outdoor activities are also prepared to ensure you are never bored during your stay here. Amelia Island. Copyright 2023 | WordPress Theme by MH Themes, Check VRBO Availability of Captiva Beachfront Rentals, Top 10 Tricks for Planning a Sanibel Island Vacation on a Budget, What to Look for in a Captiva or Sanibel Island Vacation Rental, The 3 Best Months to Visit Sanibel Island, The Highest Rated Captiva Island House Rentals, The 5 Highest Rated St George Island Beach House Rentals, The 5 Best Anna Maria Island Beachfront House Rentals, The 5 Biggest Florida Keys Beach House Rentals, The 6 Best Amelia Island Vacation Rentals, Top 10 Hidden Caribbean Private Island Rentals, Sanibel Island Tips & Secrets Only a Local Would Know, Complete Guide to Kayaking Sanibel Island. This means you and your pup can frolic in the waves at Algiers Beach in Gulfside City Park, Bowman's Beach, and other Sanibel waterfronts. . Sanibel is a unique blend of well-protected nature destination and tourist hotspot with a bit of everything for those seeking a laid-back, go at your own pace vacation. If the beaches ofSanibelare uncrowded by moststandards, Captiva's are even more so. Sanibel has a wide variety of accommodations from resorts, condos, inns, cottages and B&B's. No issue of traffic concerns. If you want to get on a personal level with nature, you can visit any of these beaches. Even though there are not many places for beach access, when you step onto the beach youre on public property. Jensen's Captiva Island Beach and Marina Resorts, Captiva Vessels up to 40 feet (239) 472-5800 gocaptiva.com. There are great restaurants but no chain places and not much nightlife. Does anyone have recommendations if sunset views would be better from Lovers Key or Sanibel/Captiva (in July)? The two Gulf Coast islands would be one were it not for the hurricane in 1921 which cut the island in two. This is simply due to the offshore geography and Sanibels unique curvature of land it really does get the lions share of great shells! Re: Siesta Key vs Captiva Island. There are other differences between the islands, too. Relative to Sanibel, only 583 residents live on over 1.6 square miles of island, and not nearly as many visitors venture over to Captiva, other than those staying at South Seas Island Resort. Sanibel is a bike island. Port Sanibel Marina offers marina reservations and fishing charters for you to enjoy after a great time visiting all the beaches we mentioned above! The causeway bridge to Sanibel is $6 roundtrip; there is no fee to gofrom Sanibelto Captiva. Email agent. More island businesses are re-opening every week. Today, Sanibel is unique from other southwest Florida towns because there are no chains or franchises (except a few grandfathered ones). Captiva island or Sanibel , best places to stay for 2-3 people , what is reopened , any suggestions? Once you cross over the bridge at Blind Pass, youll immediately notice how the road narrows and homes are shrouded by lush greenery and gates. Best for Kids: Located right on the beach, . Some will even deliver a kayak to where you are staying. 7/9/2016. Beach access is strictly limited and there are only two small paid public lots for beach parking. You get a very comfortable and relaxed oceanfront resort, which includes: Another amazing inn on this island is the Seaside inn. The grills and picnic tables can be claimed early, but you do need to start early. Gulfside City Beach is also known as Algiers Beach, and the park itself has beach access and a nature trail to enjoy. Which of these twin islands in southwest Florida is right for you? Having taken morning runs on both island beaches, Sanibel's sand provides a much better surface for runners. Some resorts offer bikes for rent. Theyre smaller here, so beautiful to collect! The best shelling on the two islands is around the Blind Pass Bridge and theres parking on both the Sanibel and Captiva sides. . 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. Strollers, wagons, and the like are a lot harder to maneuver on Captivas beaches than on Sanibel. The Gulf Beach is 3 minutes' walk away. Accessing Captiva Beach by the Mucky Duck Restaurant at the end of Andy Rosse Lane is a great option if you are staying nearby. Without a doubt, Sanibel has better shelling than Captiva. Both islands are breathtaking. The gentle slope of the beach means more spread-out shells. Best Florida Gulf Coast Airbnb for Shell . If clear water is your absolute priority Tina, I don't think either Sanibel or Marco are for you. Narrow beaches mixed with more beachgoers creates a recipe for crowded beaches. Sanibel Island offers very quaint inns, like the Sanibel inn. Marco has more nightlife, more shopping, and more roads. In the early '70's Sanibel was slated to become the next Marco Island with the building of the bridge. Bowmans Beach and Blind Pass Beach re where you will find softer sand on Sanibel Island. Can you find a nice place to stay? It has no high-rises, just lots of greenery surrounding . Im not saying any of this to put you off, because Sanibel and Captiva are GREAT islands and one of my favorite places in Florida, but if youre used to staying at more high end beach resorts in other parts of Florida, what that money gets you on Sanibel and Captiva is a lotless. Nearly 70% of the island is devoted to conservation and wildlife refuges. Marco is highly developed and channelized with high rises and wide groomed beaches. Eight Sanibel and Captiva beaches you have to visit include: Bowman's Beach Lighthouse Beach Blind Pass Beach Captiva Beach Turner Beach Gulfside City Park/Algiers Beach Causeway Beach Park Tarpon Bay Beach