Mathew’s first visit to Sanibel Island

This is one post that I have had a difficult time writing. I have a strong desire to share but am battling with the need to keep it all to myself as well. However, since our last visit, I’ve concluded I just cannot be that selfish. I just gotta share Sanibel Island with you. It has been one of my favorite spots to visit since the 1970s. Luckily, my Aunt Ruth and Uncle Lenny convinced my folks to take me there and I have been visiting ever since. In fact, I have been bringing anyone who wanted to come with me since high school and now I love sharing it with my husband and son. It has become our family spot.

So, what is so special about Sanibel Island? Well, it’s a little slice of paradise, located off the west coast of Florida in the Gulf of Mexico. It’s roughly 12 miles long and 5 miles across at its widest point. There are over 15 miles of white sandy beaches with over 250 types of seashells, 22 miles of bike paths, 7,600 acres of preserved water and land, museums, historic village, theaters, golf courses, water sports, and a great diversity of restaurants that will meet everyone’s culinary needs along with shops and galleries. On a rainy day, the island’s library is one of our favorite spots to hang out. Besides books, they have games, puzzles and of course, seashells on display.

We’ve been visiting Sanibel as a family since Mathew was 22 months old and return almost every year and sometimes twice a year. We tend to piggyback a trip to Sanibel whenever we visit my folks on the east coast of Florida. It’s only a 3 hour drive across Alligator Alley. As you can see from the above list, there is something for everyone on Sanibel. We have a simple routine when we get to Sanibel and haven’t tired of it yet. Sure, there are new places we explore here and there but the core of our visit stays the same. We book a beachfront cottage or efficiency (whatever is available in our price range at the time) on West Gulf Drive. We like West Gulf Drive the best as it is in the more residential part of the island, fewer hotels, less people, and it gives you the feeling of a private beach. We unpack the car, explore the beach, and check out the sand castles and seashells – which shortly becomes an obsession.

Sanibel Island is the world’s best place for seashell hunters; I kid you not.  The reason for the seashell abundance is Sanibel’s location and the island’s curved shape, which causes it to act like a shovel, scooping up shells from the Gulf of Mexico. The island and the land that surrounds it, create a plateau that reaches out for miles into the Gulf. Waves that hit the plateau scoop up the shells and scatter them across the beach when the tide goes down. That’s why people say that the supply of Sanibel Island shells will never run out as the waves constantly bring in more and more shells to the island. The locals dub the seashell hunter’s posture the “Sanibel stoop” – over 700 people set a new Guinness World book record in February 2012 doing the “Sanibel stoop.”

Mathew’s first bike ride ever.

We visit Bailey’s General Store and pick up food and supplies for our stay. We used to bring in supplies from the mainland but found the prices at Bailey’s were comparable and they had everything we needed, plus a nice variety of wines and cheeses. During our stay, we also enjoy visiting Timber’s Fish Market to pick up fresh local seafood. The places we stay always have a grill available, some have screened-in porches so we can watch the sunset, eat dinner and not be eaten by the no-see-ums that come out at sunset. I have yet to find any natural bug repellent that will keep the no-see-ums away from Mathew, as he is so tasty. But applying witch-hazel afterwards does reduce the swelling and itching.

Bike riding through the Ding Darling using a tag-a-long

The next day we go bike riding. I have to say, next to walking on the beach, biking is my favorite thing to do on Sanibel. Best of all, we have had the pleasure of watching Mathew’s biking abilities grow throughout the years. On his first visit, he rode on the back of Mike’s bike in a bike seat, then we rented a tag-a-long, and on our last visit, he rode his own bike. Sanibel has wonderful bike paths that will take you through the town as well as the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge has more than 6,300 acres of mangrove, bay and estuary, home to more than 300 species of birds, 50 species of reptiles and amphibians, more than 30 types of mammals and a wonderful nature center. Yes, there are alligators and we have biked by them. I’m still unsure how I feel about that.

What I love about Sanibel is that there is very little new development. It looks very much as it did 30 years ago; sure, there have been renovations but very few new buildings. This is due to the a strict land use plan that was enacted in 1974, which ensures that future generations will enjoy the special ambience and quiet harmony Sanibel Island that we do today. Therefore, over 60% of the island of Sanibel is now conservation lands providing habitat for hundreds of species of native plants and animals.

Okay, the cat is out of the bag. When looking for where to stay and what to do, visit the Sanibel Island Chamber of Commerce website. Enjoy!