Sanibel Island
It’s hard to believe that a mere month after we visited Sanibel Island last August, Hurricane Ian left a catastrophic path of destruction in late September 2022. Much of the island was submerged under water and the resort we had stayed at was heavily damaged. The Sundial Resort is slotted to reopen in 2024 and I definitely want to return and support them once they are back up and running. Sanibel Island is truly a beautiful, peaceful slice of paradise off of Florida’s southwest coast.
Located about 25 miles south of Fort Meyers, Sanibel Island is a 33 mile barrier island best known for its’ abundance of shell strewn beaches. Sanibel’s northern neighbor is Captiva Island which is equally charming and laid back, just on a smaller scale. Both islands are dotted with pastel cottages, water front resorts, bike paths, and miles of unspoiled beaches on the Gulf of Mexico.
The Sundial Resort ended up being an ideal choice because of its’ central location and we loved the option of staying in a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom water front unit. It included a spacious living area, full kitchen, and a screened in porch. There was plenty of space and we were able to cook breakfast and lunch there every day. The resort had two pools, five on site restaurants, paddle boarding and kayaking, plus tennis and pickle ball.
Despite all the featured activities, we were content to simply lounge in a beach chair (with an umbrella of course), read a book, and spend countless hours swimming in the warm, blue green waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
We did venture off site one afternoon and chartered a fishing excursion from Fort Meyers. Our captain was awesome and took us to a remote island (Picnic Island) where we were able to swim and explore. That was one of the most memorable days we had. We even brought the fish we caught to a local restaurant in Punta Rassa, The Bimini Bait Shack, and they fried it up for the kids.
Another great dining option is Doc Ford’s Rum Bar and Grille. They have a fantastic and expansive menu and the cocktails are tropical perfection. I highly recommend their Island Mojito. We loved it so much, we went there twice.
I’m so grateful we were able to experience Sanibel Island when we did. I certainly want to return and I’d also like to experience Captiva Island. We went up there for lunch (the Key Lime Bistro) one afternoon and I was instantly smitten. It reminded me of a mini Key West with its’ tropical cottages, quaint boutiques and casual restaurants. If you’re craving a quiet, relaxing vacation surrounded by white sandy beaches and calm Gulf waters, look no further than Sanibel and Captiva.
