SANIBEL & POINTE SANTO DE SANIBEL INFO

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Sanibel is a lush tropical island adjacent to Ft. Myers on the west coast of Florida. From the minute you cross the bridge onto the island, you feel like you are in a tropical paradise far away. Travel to this island is convenient from anywhere in the United States. Sanibel is between Pine Island Sound and the Gulf of Mexico. The beaches are world renowned for shelling.

Pointe Santo de Sanibel is Sanibel’s most enchanting vacation paradise! The grounds are well landscaped and kept immaculate. This penthouse is available for you to enjoy a fabulous vacation with panoramic views of the Gulf of Mexico, sunrises, and sunsets.

Bowman's Beach

Bowman's is well known for having beautiful, unusual shells, but you'll have to put a little effort into finding the true gems along this beach. Recent travelers found the best method is to step waist-deep in the water and dig your feet into the sand to find the shells.

Though this area isn't as developed as other areas of the islands, it still offers a few amenities, including picnic tables, grills, bathrooms and bike racks. Plan on bringing your own food instead of visiting one of the popular restaurants located about a mile down Bowman's Beach Road, as they can get pretty pricey. Another unfortunate side effect of visiting this centrally located beach is the $4-an-hour parking fee by the shore. The beach welcomes visitors from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

Captiva Island

Most people think of Sanibel and its quirky little sister island, Captiva, as interchangeable. True, they're both quiet spots with great shorelines, but there are a few differences. Here's a cheat sheet: Sanibel has better shells on its beaches, but Captiva's dining is more eclectic. Souvenir shopping on both sides of Blind Pass Bridge (which separates the two isles) is fairly evenly matched, but Sanibel has an inside edge on art galleries. In short, consider spending your days on Sanibel, then hop over to Captiva for a nice dinner. Stay a few extra minutes for one of the romantic sunsets along Captiva Beach. Recent travelers found this beach quieter than the ones in Sanibel. Even so, parking is limited, making it difficult to bring your own set of wheels.

Darling National Wildlife

Everyone expects (or perhaps dreads) to see crocodiles in Florida. In the J.N. (Ding) Darling National Wildlife Refuge you can see so much more and it's no wonder that this is one of the top rated attractions on Sanibel Island. The tropical climate and lush vegetation provide food for hundreds of species of animals. The refuge has a dense mangrove system that provides an excellent habitat for so many animals, and it is the largest in the country. There are 245 different species of birds in the refuge, and they are a spectacular sight during the migration season. You can see endangered mild-natured giant manatees and 30 other species of mammals.

Crocodiles are only one of many reptiles living in the warm waters of the refugee, but they do have their own exhibit in the Visitors and Education Center.

Big Arts

A group of local artists with big dreams established the Big Arts Center in 1979, and ever since it has been very active in offering something for everyone. The 409-seat Schein Performance Hall organizes jazz, classical, pop, folk, and western concerts, along with concerts showcasing many other genres of music. The 139-seat Herb Strauss Theater offers professional theater and Broadway shows in an intimate environment.

For those who are fond of visual arts, Phillips and Founders Galleries host exhibits all through the season, introducing and promoting talented local and national artists. In addition, the center organizes 250 educational workshops and classes for the community and schools each year.