6. Beaches

You will totally understand the ‘Sanibel Stoop’ after hitting any of the marvelous beaches.

Every beach has amazing shelling, but Blind Pass Beach is known as a premier spot. If you want to make a day of it, Bowman Beach has picnic facilities that include grills.



7. Edison & Ford Winter Estates, Fort Myers

This location is not in Sanibel, but it’s worth the short drive to Fort Myers. In addition to touring the Edison & Ford Winter Estate homes, there is a traditional museum, as well as The Smithsonian Spark Lab, with super cool hands-on STEM activities for kids (and adult kids).

Tour the 20 acres of gardens, then pick up something for yourself. Be sure to leave time to visit Edison’s lab.

8. Tarpon Bay Outfitters

Tarpon Bay is one of the top ten places in the nation to paddle, according to Canoe and Kayak Magazine. Rent a kayak through Tarpon Bay Explorers and head out on your own, or go on a guided tour through the tangled red mangrove forest. Either way, you’ll have a front row seat to one of the most diverse and productive ecosystems in the world.

Bonus — Tarpon Bay Explorers let you keep your kayak and explore on your own after any tour.

9. Captiva Cruises

In a place like Sanibel Island (or Captiva Island), you simply must get out on the water to truly experience the destination. Sadly, our sunset cruise aboard a double hull catamaran was canceled due to weather, but the sheer number of people who mentioned Captiva Cruises when we were planning our trip gives me confidence that had we gone, it would’ve been great!

Captiva Cruises has quite a few different excursions to choose from — like the Useppa Island Cruise, the seasonal Boca Grande Cruise, or the Cabbage Key Cruise, to name a few. It’s a great way to get out and explore the surrounding area.

10. Charter Fishing

The west coast of Florida is known for it’s fishing. Whether you’re a pro or just looking to go out for a day of fun, Whitney’s Bait & Tackle is the place to go.

They offer several different adventures to fit your interests and your budget. If you’d rather go it alone, Whitney will dish on the best fishing spots around if you’re nice.

And here’s an extra tip: Want to learn how to fly fish? Or maybe just filet the fish you’ve caught? Whitney’s offers free lessons!