which beach is better sanibel or captiva?

It does get busy understandably so as its so popular! The intimate 10-day festival starts off in Captiva Island and Sanibel Island, then moves on to downtown Fort Myers and wraps up at Fort Myers Beach. You should, however note that the beach access is limited, and you can only shop at one spot. Taking a boat tour off the beach? Sanibel is quiet and peaceful, with a mix of wildlife and nature, shopping and dining, and island homes. For many who visit Fort Myers, Sanibel is . The Sanibel and Captiva Island beaches are actually very different, and most articles you read on San-Cap fail to even acknowledge this. Sundial Beach Resort & Spa has secured its spot as one of the best Sanibel hotels on the beach, thanks to its many amazing amenities and waterfront location. While the intention is to rebuild, the causeway has been fixed, and the island is expected to begin opening to tourism in January 2023, things are not back to normal and likely wont be for a long time. Mostly boutique shopping. No matter what brings people to the beaches, its undeniable that theyre simply magnificent. My post captions are full of travel tips and I have a ton of story highlights and videos with great info. Both families and groups alike will love this beach, as you can swim, sunbathe, enjoy a picnic, build epic sandcastles, and play beach games. To get to the beach, its a short five minute walk through a nature trail, boardwalk bridge, hammock, and beach scrub to get where you need to be. If you stay at South Seas Island Resort, you have the added benefit of the resorts shuttle service. What it lacks in amenities, it more than makes up for in beauty and other features. The irony of this is, one of the best beaches on Sanibel is located closest to the Causeway. Sanibel Island is a combination of a natural and touristy atmosphere with island vibes. Within the developed sections are things common to towns anywhere- schools, neighborhoods, supermarkets, and stores. Aside from Bowman and Blind Pass beach areas, Sanibels beaches are far more narrow than Captivas. But they are worth the extra drive to the north end of the island. Whether you choose Sanibel Island or Captiva Island, these destinations are a 30 minutes car drive from each other so you can always change your mind if you want to. The kids will marvel at the sandbar and youll be able to use the restrooms and outdoor showers as you please. Powered by Mai Theme, Tips For Honeymoon Island State Park: A Florida Gem. One of the questions we get asked a lot is, what are the differences between Sanibel and Captiva Island?. These two barrier islands are nestled just of the Southwest Florida coast, within a short drive from Fort Myers. Youll find shady areas with picnic tables and grills to enjoy your own BBQ! Sanibel isnt a cheap vacation destination (supply and demand because of development restrictions) so youre probably going to pay a premium for anything on the beach. Captiva Islands parent island is Sanibel. 8 Great Places to Go Kayaking in Fort Myers, 50 Things to Do in Southwest Florida: The Ultimate Bucket List, 10 Fun and Easy Day Trips from Naples Florida, 15 Fun Things To Do on Sanibel Island, Florida, 6 Best Waterfront Places to Stay on Sanibel Island and Captiva Island, Castaway to 7 Southwest Florida Gulf Coast Islands Reachable Only By Boat, The 7 Best Beaches in Fort Myers Florida (Plus 5 More Nearby), 9 Sanibel Restaurants for Tropical Island Dining at Its Best. Blind Pass Beach. At 33 square miles, (12 miles end-to-end), walking may not always be convenient, depending on your plans. Captivas beach is far better for simply lounging on the powdery sand. And share my account with your travel loving friends! Parking costs $5 per hour, but is well worth it once you leave with loads of shells. Youll find many public beaches on Sanibel Island, some with fishing piers, and a few private beaches, too. 1725 Cape Coral Pkwy E, Cape Coral, FL 33904. SHELLING AT BOWMAN'S BEACH. More island businesses are re-opening every week. Also, beach access is much more limited on Captiva with just two public parking lots. Honestly I cant imagine living on the island if I had to go to work off-island everyday, or just do a quick run to Target. It has no high-rises, just lots of greenery surrounding . Most places are a little worn and just not very updated. In all shapes, sizes, and colors, vacationers often leave Blind Pass Beach with buckets full of incredible shells. Sanibel Island and Captiva Island are called sister islands, but there are some obvious differences between them. Email agent. Sanibel is a better choice if you are beachcombing and want to enjoy biking on the bike paths, birdwatching, a d being out in nature in general. Also, Captiva and North Captiva had medium counts and Cayo Costa's was low, a trend that continued north to Manasota Beach and south to 32 miles offshore of Wiggins Pass in Collier County. Here is our best explanation about Sanibel vs. Captiva in a nutshell. Your email address will not be published. Sanibel public beaches & parking lots have started opening! If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. The two island are essentially one, but they really do have subtle qualities that could make a big difference in your vacation. Captiva and Sanibel Islands have also earned a reputation for some of the best shelling in the world. Fort Myers is blue collar means that Ft Myers is more lower . Located along the channel between Sanibel and Captiva island, the Blind pass beach is famous amongst sunbathers and . While Sanibel is filled with people scouring the beach for beautiful shells, the beaches of Captiva are generally very quiet and laid back. $5 per hour for public parking. The causeway was built in 1963 (the island was previously only accessible via ferry) and the city of Sanibel was formed in 1974. Theres a parking lot on the side of the saltwater bayous. The paths are well marked and almost flat. Having taken morning runs on both island beaches, Sanibel's sand provides a much better surface for runners. There are more options for 'street legal' carts, but they are not readily available for rent at this time. Bowmans Beach and Blind Pass Beach re where you will find softer sand on Sanibel Island. Sanibel Island is about 40 minutes west from there. Some will even deliver a kayak to where you are staying. The biggest difference is the number of beaches. . Sanibel's beaches are generally firm and compact, from higher foot traffic. Youll also find a good selection of family-friendly beachfront resorts, condos, B&B's and Airbnbs. There are 23 general parking spaces. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The grills and picnic tables can be claimed early, but you do need to start early. The Wicked Dolphin Rum Distillery gives free tours and tastings for all visitors. Sanibel is known for its beaches some of the best beaches in southwest Florida but even more so for the millions of shells that wash up on its shores by the hour. ago Silver Key Beach. At these islands, you get 15 miles of coastline, 25 miles of biking, and fifty different species of fish! In fact, Sanibel and Captiva have some of the most fun and unique bars in Southwest Florida. The best news is that if youre a Florida resident who is exploring, youre going to be able to do that for free! You wont find any high rises (buildings are only allowed to be as tall as the tallest native tree on the island), any chains (except for the cutest little Dairy Queen thats been grandfathered in), and pretty much everything is a mom and pop shop or restaurant. Compared to Sanibel Island, beaches on Captiva Island do not have a lot of crowds and have a few shells to hunt. Lots of visitor parking available on Sanibel but it costs $5.00 per hour. Captiva island or Sanibel , best places to stay for 2-3 people , what is reopened , any suggestions? From Sanibel, this distillery is only about 40 minutes away. Does Marco Island have prettier & clearer water and beaches than Sanibel/Captiva? Sanibel Island is much larger than Captiva and is the first island off the mainland of Ft. Myers. There is so much you can do and see with your time, so why not go exploring now? Almost 7,400 residents live there in just over 16 square miles. Can anyone give us advice. Captiva does not have a bike path, but rather, a 3 foot "safety shoulder" that runs along each side of Captiva Rd, so inexperienced bicyclists and children should use extra caution. Captiva doesnt have the network of dedicated bike paths that Sanibel has, so if you were looking forward to extensive bike-riding on your vacation, Sanibel may be the better choice. As you approach the northern part of Captiva, you come to the small and very quaintvillage areawhere you will find an assortment of restaurants and shops, as well as the post office, a bank and a small library. While Sanibel and Captiva arent radically different, Ill do my best to break the two down: Sanibel is a sizable island with direct access from mainland Fort Myers via the Sanibel Causeway. Sanibel and Captiva Islands are but two small vacation spots on the Gulf Coast. Sanibel Island vs Marco Island for a vacation?Sanibel and Marco islands are both tropical gems of Southwest Florida, attracting thousands of visitors each year for a family vacation, a weekend getaway, or a honeymoon. Without a doubt, Sanibel has better shelling than Captiva. Beach access is strictly limited and there are only two small paid public lots for beach parking. As far as "clear water" is concerned - no matter WHERE you are, the local conditions depend on the direction and strength of the winds, and the currents which vary from day to day, AND from one section of beach to the next. The water at Sand Key is exactly the same as the water on Clearwater Beach. Sanibel has 25 miles of safe designated bike paths making it possible to literally pedal or walk the length and breadth of the island. Captiva has more of a village feel. This is all from my personal experience on the islands, nothing I have read on any blog or website trying to sell you on an expensive vacation package at one of the resorts. If you want to follow along on my travel adventures in real time, you can follow me on Instagram (@caitylincoln). When you are looking to visit Sanibel and Captiva Island beaches, dont forget to make a boating reservation too! If you aren't into shelling this is definitely something worth considering. Sanibel is a better choice if you are beachcombing and want to enjoy biking on the bike paths, birdwatching, a d being out in nature in general. There is public access and the smaller resorts are on the West. All SW FL beach towns have the same water clarity issues. The city-island has several banks and shopping centers, even a single-screen movie theatre. The two Gulf Coast islands would be one were it not for the hurricane in 1921 which cut the island in two. This relaxed oceanfront resort features an outdoor pool and dining with simple accommodations. The sand quality is good. The kids will love the park, and you can take a moment to explore the shoreline and find as many shells as you like (not live ones!) Right at the southern tip of Captiva Island is Turner Beach. Bowmans Beach stretches for miles, and there are excellent amenities here. Both the Sanibel inn and Seaside inn offer 15% off deals for residents in Florida currently. Sanibel and Captiva are sister islands. And. The beaches of Sanibel and Captiva were still closed due to Hurricane Ian w hen we visited, but we marveled at the huge, powerful, beautiful waves we saw from the road. The following Sanibel beaches are now OPEN! Does the lack of chain restaurants mean Sanibel has no casual restaurants for quick and cheap in-and-out service? Some resorts offer bikes for rent. Captiva Island beaches on the other hand have a steeper slope in the water directly off the beach, which tends to cut down on the amount of shells that wash up on the beach. Some of the fish that can be caught here include: As noted above, the currents here can sometimes be intense and unpredictable.

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