What to do in Sanibel Island?

[Papa Deuce]

Thinking of a trip to Sanibel Harbour Resort. What can you tell me about the resort and the area in general.... thinking of an early June 2006 trip.

 

[Nick Papagorgio]

Good lord man, is every post you make a way to brag about how much money you have and how you spend it?

 

[Papa Deuce]

Good lord man, is every post you make a way to brag about how much money you have and how you spend it?

Huh? I'm just asking for ideas. Sorry if you are offended but that's what this board is for. And I am far from rich.

 

[Topper]

http://fortmyers-sanibel.com/

That link should give you a lot of ideas. Please be aware that the Sanibel Harbour Resort is not on Sanibel Island, but just across the causeway from it.

 

[minnie56]

Is so lovely!

My daughter did an internship there at 'CROW' Rehabilitation for Wildlife and it was the experience of a lifetime.

We went Dolphin watching and ate at some fine restaurants and the beaches were so pretty. It's a beautiful little island..Can't tell you too much about the Resort..we stayed at 'South Seas' or something like that but there are some very nice Resorts.

 

[shortbun]

Sanibel is great but that resort is NOT on Sanibel. I fear you will be greatly disappointed if THIS is your choice for "romantic." Also, Sanibel was really damaged in one of the big hurricanes of last season. My friend lives there and says MUCH is still being rebuilt.

 

[pattyT]

seashell capital.....

 

[barbeml]

We spent part of our honeymoon (7 years ago) at Captiva's South Seas Plantation Resort. Sanibel & Captiva are especially known for excellent shelling. We enjoyed some great swimming (although hurricane Miguel made the currents dicey), beautiful walks on the beach and a dolphin cruise.

I have also heard that the area has a way to go to recover from past hurricane damage. We would love to go back some day.

 

[hemispheredancer]

PD....can you take me???? I have always wanted to go to SI, but my mom can never get availability for her timeshare there. It looks so serene and peaceful. Bring your smoker and let's bbq on the beach. I'll supply the booze!

P.S. I know you aren't rich....others are just jealous!!!!

 

[Christine]

P.S. I know you aren't rich....others are just jealous!!!!

Gee I wonder how someone with only 12 posts seems to think they know so much about Papa Deuce? Guess they've just been lurking for a long time, huh?

 

[Tigger_Magic]

Sanibel & Captiva Islands are our 2nd choice for vacation destination after WDW. There are lots of shelling excursions, but these need to be booked well before you arrive. There are some eco-tours that leave from the marina just before you enter the tollway for Sanibel. We've also booked an Everglades day tour which was great.

Plan a visit to the JM "Ding" Darling preserve and visit the Shell Museum. Lots of great restaurants, many offering great seafood dishes. Walking on the beach is fun.

We love staying at the Sundial Resort. Nice condos to rent, some with an oceanfront view. If view is important, be sure to specific ocean-front, not just oceanview. There is a difference -- oceanview can be you can see the Gulf from the side or by leaning over the balcony. Oceanfront rooms face the ocean. We ask for a high floor with a screened balcony (helps avoid the no-see-ums).

Pack some Avon Skin-So-Soft and apply liberally if you plan to be on the beach late afternoons (this tends to keep the sand fleas or no-see-ums off).

 

[LurkerLisa]

Love Sanibel! We were there in June 2005 for our 20th and as far as damage goes - Yes, there are a few resorts not yet reopened and there are trees down in the undeveloped areas, and some houses are not fixed yet, but there was NOTHING wrong in the main areas. There are tons of things to do/see/eat there. PM me and I'd be happy to provide details. A very romantic place to eat is La Dolce Vite. The food was great and there is live music and a dance floor.


Lisa

 

[pozey]

Be sure to take a side trip over to Ft. Myers and go to the winter home of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. I love that place.

 

[Papa Deuce]

Sanibel is great but that resort is NOT on Sanibel. I fear you will be greatly disappointed if THIS is your choice for "romantic." Also, Sanibel was really damaged in one of the big hurricanes of last season. My friend lives there and says MUCH is still being rebuilt.

Well it was going to be... still have to do research.

 

[Christine]

Be sure to take a side trip over to Ft. Myers and go to the winter home of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. I love that place.

My coworker just went to Sanibel and did stop in Ft. Myers for some shopping. She brought me back some chocolate from Norman Love. Oh my goodness, that was the best caramel I've ever eaten!

 

[jbthi]

We have been going to Sanibel/Captiva for 34 years. It is my favorite place in the world.

If you are planning to spend a lot of time on Sanibel I don't think you will like Sanibel Harbour. I wouldn't enjoy Sanibel as a daytripper. There are just a few public beaches and the parking is very crowded. Plus there is a $5 toll to cross the causeway. Also you need to plan your day so you will not be leaving late afternoon and get caught in the traffic jam leaving the island.

We have been to San/Cap several times since Charley and if you don't know what it looked like before, you wouldn't realize anything had happened. It's still beautiful. About the only thing that is not back to normal is South Seas Plantation (where we own 2 weeks timeshare).

There are many good places to stay on Sanibel, from luxury condos to our favorite type; small cottages on West Gulf Drive. We don't do a lot while we are there. Mainly beach bums and trying all the restaurants. You can take boat trips from Captiva that go to Cabbage Key and Useppa. Plus they have sunset cruises and dolphin watching cruises.

We are leaving in 2 weeks for there, if Wilma stays away.

 

[kimber79]

About the only thing that is not back to normal is South Seas Plantation (where we own 2 weeks timeshare).

You can take boat trips from Captiva that go to Cabbage Key and Useppa. Plus they have sunset cruises and dolphin watching cruises.

We are leaving in 2 weeks for there, if Wilma stays away.

Do you know if South Seas is close to opening back up yet?? We stayed on Andy Rosse Street on Captiva Island early Nov. 04, just two months after Hurricane Charlie roared through. They told us that they did not expect to get South Seas functional again until Dec. 05 ~ possibly as late as Dec. 06. Now they have Hurricane Wilma threatening to be on the same path as Charlie was. I sure hope not........

Sanibel and Captiva are both very beautiful islands that I would HIGHLY recommend staying! I prefer the Captiva end, just because it is a little more *quaint*.....but you can't go wrong wherever you stay!

There is an excellent restaurant on Cabbage Key! A little pricey........but very good! It has been about 5 years since we have been there, but if I remember correctly there are only 4 houses and the restaurant on Cabbage Key!

Oh how I want a Florida vacation right now!!!!

 

[rbuzzotta]

We just stayed at the Sanibel Harbour Beach Resort this past summer!! We really enjoyed it!!

The hotel was very nice. The rooms and beds were comfortable. We hung out at the pool and did a day trip to Bowmans beach on Sanibel. Great shelling and the beach was beautiful!!

We only stayed for 2 nights and really enjoyed it. We shopped at the outlets (my teen's favorite) and had some nice dinners. We walked around Ft. Myers beach and got some laughs. Kind of touristy shops and some funky looking people!!

We would go back again..........

PS It cost $6.00 to get over the bridge to Sanibel!!! But worth it..........

 

[Quackmore]

Good lord man, is every post you make a way to brag about how much money you have and how you spend it?

 

[FINFAN]

Is McT's still there? Their seafood platter is to die for! (Sorry PD, I know it isn't a BBQ meal, but you're on an island, seafood y'know? )

Pam