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Doing the "Sanibel Stoop" - Fort Myers
 
(2015 - Winter Issue)

Writer: Steve Winston



It’s become a ritual every time I visit The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel.

I wake up with the sunrise and look down the beach at people searching intently for the world’s most beautiful seashells. Within minutes, I’m doing the “Sanibel Stoop” along with them. What I love most about this area are the opportunities it offers to find my own island or beach, depending on my mood.

Captiva Island, for example, fills my need for a tropical getaway, with its quaint little village and quiet lanes lined with Caribbean-style cottages and its most popular way of getting around (golf carts). On the other hand, Sanibel Island fulfills my longing for beautiful natural surroundings and exotic wildlife, interesting shops and restaurants, an excellent theatre company, and great cycling paths. And Fort Myers Beach feeds my desire for excellent beachfront lodgings and restaurants with one-of-a-kind attractions nearby, such as the riverfront Edison & Ford Winter Estates.

Natural Beauty

The J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island boasts more than 245 species of birds, 51 species of reptiles and amphibians and 32 species of mammals, as well as a fascinating variety of sub-tropical habitats.

Gasparilla Island State Park invites visitors to delve into history at the Boca Grande Lighthouse, built in 1890, before basking in the serenity on one of five beautiful beaches.

Cool Dining Spots

The Bubble Room on Captiva Island is a feast for the senses. Classic American specialties, brought by servers in “Bubble Scout” uniforms, are served in a ramshackle, brilliantly painted wooden house with “Americana” items filling every inch, while a real Lionel train circles overhead.

Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille at the South Seas Island Resort on Captiva Island offers up local cuisine and seafood in an island-getaway ambience.

Where to Rest

South Seas Island Resort features Caribbean-style rooms and villas, a variety of restaurants and shops, its own cruise boat to the outer islands on which you’ll spot dolphins, and a laid-back attitude in luxurious surroundings.

Just across from Captiva’s beach, ’Tween Waters Inn Island Resort & Spa has two restaurants and a pub, nautically themed rooms and 19 colourful Caribbean cottages.  

The award-winning Casa Ybel Resort is Sanibel Island’s only all-suite resort where every suite promises stunning views. And there’s world-class dining at Thistle Lodge Restaurant.

On Fort Myers Beach, the Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina is nestled in a stunning natural environment and offers amenities such as a private dinner on the beach. 

Next time you wake up in this area, don’t forget to go out and do the “Sanibel Stoop.” In that instant, you’ll capture the true magic of The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel.

Travel Planner

Download the virtual Lonely Planet guidebook on The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel and plan your next Gulf coast getaway at FortMyers-Sanibel.com.

 
 
 
 
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