FIRST THINGS FIRST
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Getting Here
SEE & DO
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Sanibel Island is beloved for its beautiful white-sand beaches, an abundance of world-class seashells and the huge variety of wildlife that calls this Gulf coast island home. It's a magical (and safe) place for children as well as a tranquil place where busy adults can truly unplug. Our beaches are clean and uncrowded. The crystalline Gulf of Mexico is a comfortable temperature for swimming almost all year. Its gentle waves, combined with Sanibel's gently-sloping beach makes wading inviting, even for tiny tots.

We have no high-rises, no stoplights, and no honking horns. The island is dark at night, so you can enjoy the best stargazing ever. Wildlife lives at every turn; don't be surprised when traffic stops to let an egret or tortoise cross the street. Sunset on the beach is a nightly event.

For those who like entertainment and adventure, as well as dining, shopping and more, Sanibel has it all. Live theater, arts classes, music festivals and performances, craft fairs, art exhibits - these are just a few of the choices you'll have.

Of course, recreation is limitless: golf, tennis, parasailing, fishing, sailing, canoeing and kayaking, birding, hiking, you name it. The island also has all the shops and services you'd ever want: groceries, beach supplies, rental cars, bikes, first-class restaurants, unique shops, day spas, museums, theaters, chiropractors, even two walk-in medical clinics.

No other place matches the natural beauty of Sanibel combined with such a high quality of lifestyle. You'll like the locals you meet, and your kids (or the kid in you) will like our finned and furry residents: otters, dolphins, manatee, mash hares, raccoons and bobcats, to name just a few. Sanibel ranks as one of the top birding spots in America.

Sanibel Island is located on Florida's southwest coast, just 45 minutes from Southwest Florida International Airport in Ft. Myers. The island is a 2-3 hour drive from Tampa International and Ft. Lauderdale. Miami and Orlando are 4 hours away. For driving directions, see Getting Here. You can locate Sanibel Island on our Florida map. Our weather is great year-round but some times of year may work better for you than others. To learn the advantages of visiting during a particular time of year, see Timing Your Visit.

Whenever you choose to visit, Sanibel can be everything you're longing for. If you need to get away, get unplugged, go barefoot, be romantic, snooze under a palm tree, remember how sweet life really is, or all the above, Sanibel Island is waiting for you. It's often said that "Once you get Sanibel sand in your shoes you'll always come back." So what are you waiting for? Sanibel Island: easy to find, and impossible to forget.