Sanibel Island Florida is a Gulf Coast Paradise. Sanibel Island fishing and world-class shelling are just the start. Nearby Ft. Myers and Naples offer golf, museums, cultural attractions, shops, and restaurants.

Geography and tides make these islands famous as some of the world’s best shelling grounds. Even beginners can find exquisite conchs, whelks, and coquinas, especially after storms, although go for the empties: it is illegal to take live shells from beaches.

The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum on Sanibel, displays more than a million shells from around the world. Exhibits feature displays of tribal art, sailor art, fossil shells, and medicinal mollusks. On both islands the majority of land is preserved in their natural state as wildlife refuges, and are favourites of bird watchers. But noisy personal watercrafts are prohibited here. For a fun feast, you can try the Bubble Room, where servers wear scout uniforms and funny hats while electric trains circle overhead.

The Sanibel Historical Village & Museum includes a 1913 home, a1926 General Store with antique gasoline pumps, and Miss Charlotta’s Tea Room. Popular beaches include Gulfside Park and Old Lighthouse Beach. The 94-foot Sanibel Lighthouse dates back to 1884, and features a wildlife refuge, fishing pier, nature trail, and restrooms. Tarpon Bay Beach provides excellent swimming. The island’s most secluded beach is Bowman’s Beach, on Sanibel’s northwest end.

Did you know? That on the south end of the island, Turner Beach has good surfing and excellent sunset views.

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