Fort Myers/Sanibel Beach recommendation?

[riu girl]

First time to this area later this year and was wondering if any DISer could recommend a laid back beach to spend the day.

We are looking for a long stretch of beach with really nice white sand, sea oats, quiet, palm trees, laid back Caribbean type feel.

I have a guidebook from the area that lists numerous beaches but without having seen the beaches I just don't know which one would be the best for us. If you have been to the beaches south of playa del Carmen, Mexico, that is the kind of beach we are looking for.

Any thoughts would be really appreciated.

Thank you

 

[DonaldsDaisy]

DH and I have been to both Marco Island beach and Sanibel Island beach. We prefered Sanibel because it was much more quiet then Marco Island.(which is beautiful but had lots of people) Sanibel had lots of trees and great for collecting shells. You might also look into Captiva. We didn't spend any time there other then a short walk. But we thought it was very romantic. I don't think you can go wrong with either of them. It is just beautiful there.

 

[HeatherC]

Have not been yet myself, but my brother has a house in Rotonda West near Englewood Beach and he tells us that the beaches around there are beautiful.

Englewood Beach, Boca Grande and Don Pedro Island.

They look beautiful in doing some internet searches. Supposedly a very laid back area.

These are north of Captiva and Sanibel.

Hope this helps.

Have a great time.
HeatherC

 

[Keokagal]

1. Check Fort DeSoto Park, closer, south of Tampa.
2. Captiva and Honeymoon Island are very quiet and romantic. You take a shuttle from Captiva to Honeymoon or visa versa. DH and I had great solitude time.
3. Lover's Key.
4. Bowditch Point, the tip of Ft. Myers Beach, very quiet but you can walk a few miles and have lunch at the Ritz! Really great. Pack a bottle of wine and watch the sunset.
Have fun.
5. Barefoot Beach. Lots of tortoises.
6. Delnor Wiggins Park.
All these beaches are long stretches of beautiful sand. Actually Barefoot Beach was the least soft sand!

 

[Northstar]

On Sanibel, Bowman's Beach (I'm pretty sure that's the name) is very nice. You have to pay for parking and it can fill up early. My dad used to take us down near the causeway if we couldn't park at Bowman's... the beach there was much smaller and the sand grittier with ground-up shells, but it was peaceful, not crowded, and natural.

If you're staying on the island, rent bikes and you won't have to worry about parking...

 

[leanan]

I adore Marco Island. Growing up, my dad did medical conventions at the Marriott over there each labor day. I have lots of happy memories from those conventions at that hotel. The beach was always lovely. The hotel was always great. Lucky for Marriott now they are my hotel of choice because of those memories. Well that and they almost never fail me.

 

[Sanibel Spirit]

Hi

I recommend any of the beaches on Sanibel but especially the one along West Gulf Drive as it doesn't get as crowded as Bowmans and the Lighthouse.

Captiva is gorgeous but there isn't much parking.

Have a great time!