Head to the beach
The most obvious activity is to explore the beach. With over 17 miles of beaches, you can explore for days. Be sure to hunt for the Sanibel Six, the graphics and information at this link are provided by our friend Pam Rambo of iLoveShelling.com. These varieties can all be found on Sanibel and if you discover all or most of them, you\’ll have a good start on your shell collection. If you are lucky enough to find the Junonia shell, stop at the Island Reporter behind The Village Shops on Periwinkle Way. They’ll take your picture and put you in the paper as a shell celebrity!
Go kayaking
You can’t spend every day on the beach, so let’s get on the water. The Gulf of Mexico is a gentle body of water with soft balmy breezes and lots of shallow waters where birds & fish like to gather in the shallows and shade. Start your day with a kayak tour at Tarpon Bay Explorers. Spend some time on the water with one of their knowledgeable guides & then you can keep the kayak for the remainder of the day to explore on your own. This is a chance to sneak in some learning in a fun environment and get a feel for the area as you paddle the shoreline. It’s a great family experience. Tarpon Bay is a good place to visit to get on the water and learn about other locations and activities to explore while you are here. They offer more than kayak trips. Visit them online to see what is available.
Kayaking for the experienced
For more experienced paddlers, check out The Great Calusa Blueway and head out for a day or more of adventure or great Sanibel fishing. There are several access points on Sanibel. This is a wonderful way to explore the many small islands that dot our area. Lots of good shelling, fishing and sightseeing opportunities for those who are comfortable exploring on their own. For our area, I recommend you download the phase 2 trail map you’ll discover in this link.
Go Fishing
Speaking of fishing…our waters are teaming with a variety of sport fish. The Tarpon migrate through our waters each spring, but if you’re lucky, you might find one that likes the area so much they hang around into the summer months. Many of the remaining tarpon are not that large, but put up a great fight! Try the Pine Island Sound side of the island for some active fishing grounds. Or go offshore for some big game fish. Guides can be found here.
After days on the beach or on the water, a day indoors may be in order. We have lots of attractions that can get you out of the sun and keep the day filled with fun. Check back for more information.