Captiva Dining

Mangos – Florida Style

Image taken on 2008-07-13 13:33:21 by vanhookc.

Captiva Restaurant Menu

Image taken on 2010-02-06 21:22:33 by cletch.

Location Choices on Sanibel Island, Florida

You know you want to vacation on Sanibel Island. This unique resort island blends the tropics, adventure, romance and family fun perfectly. You know that spending your holiday time on Sanibel will give you maximum comfort and convenience as well as a remarkable view on nature. With more than half the island a nature preserve, yet offering a wide and interesting array of restaurants and shops, this is without a doubt your preferred destination.

Choosing Sanibel was the easy part.

More difficult is choosing your accommodation.

If you take the choices step by step and one by one, the decision will be much easier.

You know you want to go off island often to explore the surrounding area. Then you may well want to consider the furthest east end of the island. This area is home to the scenic Sanibel Light House and is closest to the causeway, the entrance on to and off of Sanibel.

Or perhaps you and your family much prefer being in the thick of social activity on vacation. You might be best off staying in one of the many complexes lining the Gulf. This area has many plantings and is closest to the core of restaurants and shops.

Maybe what you most seek is seclusion, a sense of being on some tropical hideaway, a closer relationship with the nature of the island. Then you will probably prefer the furthest west end of the island.

This end, closest to Captiva, is less densely inhabited and offers easy access to the Ding Darling Nature Preserve.

Once you have decided where on the island you most want to be, you will have many other decisions to make.

To help you sort out what condo complex, or whether you would be better off renting a private house, I will provide some further insights in my next article.

Please visit my website for condo information and discounts: http://sanibel-rentals.net

Best Beach in southwest florida?

I’m heading to the west coast this weekend and I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions as to which beach is the best over there. Ive searched the net but still no help. My options are between Naples beach, Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel or Captiva. Something in that area. I’m looking for somewhere that’s perfect for just laying out and relaxing, but also having the option of some shopping or dining around.

The City of Palms – Fort Myers

Welcome to an untouched island hideaway in the southwestern part of Florida’s Gulf Coast. We invite you to enjoy peaceful surroundings and not chaotic or a tourist trap. A place of fascinating wildlife, pristine white sand beaches and hundreds of uninhabited islands.

Fort Myers is located in Lee county and is known as the “City of Palms”. The city names part of its claim to fame by the famous residences of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford existing here. Widespread revamping of the down area of Fort Myers has been undertaken and had a spurt of growth in its restaurants, nightclubs, condos and creative scenes which provide plenty of activity and enrichment.

As aforementioned, one of the main appealing factors of this city is the fact that Edison and Ford resided here in their summer months. Their homes are separated by a fence and is called “The Friendship Gate”. There is a wonderful celebration called the Edison Festival of Lights which acknowledges all of Edison’s contributing factors to the city of Fort Myers.

As we all know is the case with many areas in Florida, the explorer, Ponce de Leon visited the area now known as Fort Myers on many of his journeys. For many years thereafter, though, the coast was very unsettled and a very abandoned expanse. Settlers eventually made their way and the town eventually was named after Colonel Abraham Myers. In 1858, the fort was abandoned. It is a known fact that when the fort was disassembled, the wood that was used in its construction was used to create downtown Fort Myers. In 1885, Thomas Edison was cruising along the west coast of Florida and stopped by to shop in the local village. He was so taken by the town, that he built his residence here.

Fort Myers beaches are very peaceful and create a solitude that has a relaxing feeling for Florida vacationers to enjoy. Many people come to Fort Myers for the great deep sea fishing that abounds. Even to just charter a boat and stop off at some of the islands is a relaxing, enjoyable way to spend a vacation. Some of the more popular islands are Sanibel and Captiva Islands, Cape Coral.

The beach of Fort Myers is a beautiful family vacation spot and has quite a bit of night life also. There is a pier to sit and enjoy the sites and many vacation rentals to quietly relax and kick back at.

One of the most notable areas is the Caloosahatchee River which is a great fishing, water recreation area. It is beautiful to enjoy the sunsets on the Caloosahatchee.

Dining is quite varied and inclusive of many restaurant chains and a cuisine which mimics not only the old southern foods but also an international flavor. They have two delightful dinner theaters if you wish to incorporate your dinner with your amusement. There are many great theaters, a casino and even some of the fine arts in the Southwest Florida Symphony.

As in many Florida cities, shopping is always a plus and there are a wide variety of exclusive shops, cafes, art galleries and even budget shopping in our flea markets. Don’t stuff yourself away in a hotel when you visit Fort Myers. It has an abundance of vacation rental homes where you can be housed away in a charming section of Fort Myers even some bordering the River.

As Thomas Edison stated, “There is only one Fort Myers”, and once you spend your Florida vacation here, you will agree and return for more!

Accommodations on Sanibel Island

Ok, now you know where on the Island you think you want to be, but there is a catch!

If you want to stay at one of the island inns, and you want to be on Sanibel, not Captiva, you will have to restrict yourself to the mid island location. There are no inns on the quiet, west end of the island. As suggested in my earlier post, the west end of the island is the non-commercialized area of the island. The closest inns on the west end are actually on Captiva. Captiva is Sanibel’s neighboring island, and quite lovely. But you will do yourself a service by comparing prices for inn lodging on both islands as you plan your trip.

Inns are great for short stays, generally not allowed in the condo rentals. Most condo vacation rentals mandate a rental of a week or more. Inns offer the luxury of having daily maid service and some offer a place to have a bite to eat. Only a few condo complexes have dining facilities. The majority are self catering, which means you do your own cooking and cleaning while you are on holiday. You should find your condo unit clean when you arrive, and if you leave it in good condition, you will not be charged in the majority of complexes for cleaning on your departure.

Also do your home work on condo complexes. If you absolutely must have a Gulf view accomodation, be sure the unit you have chosen offers same. There are many, many complexes directly on the Gulf, but some units do not offer the view.

If a Gulf view is not an absolute, you will find that there are complexes near the beach that offer more space and better pricing.

And, in regards to pricing, if you are vacationing for 4 weeks or more, you may find your best value in renting a private rental home.

Vacation homes on Sanibel are mandated by the town to be 28 day rentals. That makes for less competition than weekly rental condos, especially in off season. Explore your options if you are planning a month’s stay on Sanibel as you well may find the best pricing on private homes for rent.

Tomorrow’s post will explain how to get the best price AND best value out of your vacation rental.

Please visit my blog for more information on Sanibel Island:

http://sanibel-rentalsnet.blogspot.com/

Sanibel Island

Have you ever dreamed of being on a tropical island, your toes in the soft white sand, an expansive beach, swaying coconut palms, lush tropical foliage and beautiful crystal blue water.  Imagine watching the pelicans and herons fish for their dinner, collecting “treasures from the sea,” pastel colored seashells, while the sandpipers scurry along the surfs edge.

Sanibel Island has everything one could wish for.  Excellent restaurants, accommodations, golfing, tennis, fishing, boating, shopping, bike paths, canoes, theatrical productions, the renowned J.N. “Ding Darling” National Wildlife Refuge and Bird Sanctuary.  Since 1884 Point Ybel Lighthouse has guided seafarers to Sanibel Island’s shores.

Sanibel Island is world renowned for its shelling beaches and the “Sanibel Stoop”.  In the travel industry Sanibel Island is a top Florida destination for visitors.  If you want a truly unforgettable family vacation, wedding, honeymoon, anniversary or just to get away from it all, this is the place to be.  Visit Sanibel Island and do it all, or just lay back on the beach with the book you have been waiting to read or do just absolutely nothing.

Your visit to Sanibel Island will not be complete without sampling some of the local fare and succulent fresh seafood.  You will find a wide selection of ethnic foods in the area.  Dine in one of the fine restaurants where chefs cook up some of the freshest, tastiest dishes you have ever tasted.  Whether you are looking to enjoy a lavish six course meal or a more casual dining scene, you will find just what you’re looking for. Bon apetit!

You can test your mettle on the golf courses in the area and fishing and boating are unequalled.  There are twenty five miles of bike paths for you to explore the island.  Shopping on Sanibel Island is an exhilarating experience with so many unusual items to purchase. 

Sanibel Island is home to world famous J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge its 6,000 acres of mangrove jungles and wetlands encompass a large portion of the island, it is home to dozens of endangered species, see manatees, alligators, raccoons, tropical birds and much more.  You can explore the refuge by car, foot, bicycle, kayak or guided tram.  An experience the whole family will enjoy.

The fun never stops on Sanibel Island.  Having a sub-tropical climate, visitors and can residents enjoy the outdoors and sunshine all year long.  Whether you choose to be boating, kayaking, canoeing, water skiing or fishing from one of the favorite spots.  Play a round of golf on the challenging scenic courses, there are over 70 of them, the perfect place to tee off and test your mettle on the green.  A set of tennis, bike riding on the miles of bike paths, or explore the waterways by boat where you will see an abundance of wildlife from frolicsome dolphins, graceful blue herons, inquisitive raccoons and colorful birds of all species, you will enjoy a memorable experience to cherish for all time.

What fun to go shelling along the surf and beaches of Sanibel Island, unique in that it lies east and west, different than most islands which lie north and south, this direction allows Sanibel Island to catch abundant sea shells that the Gulf of Mexico brings to its shores.  Sanibel Island is world renowned for its shells.  People from all over the world come to collect and admire the colourful “Treasures From the Sea”.  You will find young and old with buckets, bags and nets shuffling long, stooping over, this stance has come to be know as “The Sanibel Stoop”

Shopping is such a fun time on Sanibel Island.  With an array of charming boutiques and gift shops, a variety of art galleries, fine jewellery, colourful shells and shell art and an exorbitant supply of souvenirs and tee shirts. You will be sure to find just what you are looking for, for that special person.

Sanibel Island offers the perfect places to get married.  An unforgettable wedding in a tropical paradise.  Couples come to Sanibel Island from all over the country to ‘tie the knot.’.  Renew your vows or celebrate your anniversary.  Whether it is formal, just family and a few friends or even barefoot on the white sand beach with pelicans as witnesses.