Need Info about Sanibel or Captiva Islands

Bless your heart!!! pastel? I think pastale is Italian for pastel. 😀

I believe that is a pasty ale beer from Italy..:funn: God bless our RO!!

Restaurants: Doc Ford's. Yum.

Well, thanks everyone for your ideas. I booked a place (yes, I'm a planner) for the last week in February at Pointe Santo on Sanibel (we figured Sanibel would be better than Captiva for teens because it has more going on). It is indeed an older complex, as many are there, but I'm hoping the 3 bedroom we booked (3 bedrooms seem more difficult to find) will be in very good shape (the vrbo site said it's rated "platinum" so we'll see). It's a first floor unit overlooking a lagoon and then the beach. It seems there is indeed an alligator (maybe more) in the lagoon so perhaps we'll have a visitor when we're on the lanai. I'll be sure not to nap with the door open. Anyway, I've heard the units differ in quality quite a bit depending on whether the owner takes good care of them or not. Of course, a detailed trip report will follow. And I owe a trip report for our early July trip to Maine (Maine is awesome).

When I was there the gator was of the 3 legged variety 😀 The clubhouse had a glass floor in it that looked down on the lagoon. Your kids will have a good time biking up and down Perrywinkle :cool:

Thanks, RO. I'm so excited... Then someday we'll try the Florida Keys (I've been reading that thread, too). But wherever we wander, wherever we roam, SoWal will always be our most-loved home (along with Tuscany).

Hmmmm, has anyone gone to Sanibel or Captiva Island? We're thinking of getting a 3 bedroom place there this winter for a week and want to know if anyone has recommendations for places to stay, things to do (heard the shelling was great), restaurants, side-trips, etc.

My family has been going there since I was 4 yrs old. We sold our condo there about 5 yrs ago. I know the island like my second home. I think my favorite thing was canoeing in the bird sanctuary. Take some deep woods off. The mosquitoes are bad to say the least. Catch a sunset at the mucky duck if its still there.

I would have to say my best family memorys are from Sanibel. When we started going there the shells were in huge piles between captiva and sanibel. My father and I would get up at 6a and drive over to get the best shells. That was back in the mid 70's. I really love Sowal, but Sanibel still steals the show.

And that's what we're doing, JT. Building memories together. As the girls get older, I realize that these vacations are increasingly precious. This is our annual February "girls" trip with my sister, two daughters and me that we started when we first got our SoWal cottages. Even though our girls are teenagers and want to spend much of their time with their friends, they love this vacation with their mom and aunt. Warms my heart and soul. So, all these ideas you all are giving us helps us build more of these precious memories... Thanks.

I think the girls feel that way about SoWal. They love being there and love bringing their friends there as well. It is where they will have their dearest beach memories, and ideally will go to SoWal with their own families some day.

I have spent a total of 10 weeks there just in the past year~ I am truly addicted to Sanibel!

You have to eat at Doc Ford's. Regardless of what you get, it will be delicious. I hear the Mojito's are the best!

Milkshakes at Cheeburger Cheeburger are to die for. I crave one everyday.

Gramma Dot's is the best place for a grouper sandwich.... or anything really! Great atmosphere on the bay!

Don't take any dress clothes. Khaki's would be dressing up!

I stayed at Pointe Santo last year for 3 week in 2 different condos. Both were newly furnished and the entire complex looks brand new. Very lush and the alligator won't venture up to your door.

No see ums are pesky, but not too bad by the water where there is a breeze. Definately take someone that is oily based.... they cannot bite through heavy oil. Goldbond itch cream is great in case you are bitten. Stops the itch immediately for me, and the bugs love me!

Depending on the winds, shelling may or may not be great. Winter is best shelling time due to the northwest winds blowing in. You CAN walk on the beach without shoes and the sand may be very soft. If shells have been coming in, however, wear water shoes so you can get into the water to get the best shells!

I prefer going in the summer because there is no one there! Feels more like Gilligan's Island! And I have yet to meet anyone, summer or winter, that spoke German, so please don't think no one will be speaking English!

By the way, my favorite place to stay is in a complex that only has 10 cottages. It is an "old" complex. However, the furniture/sheets/curtains are new. Plenty of cookware and tons of plush towels. An "old" complex doesn't mean it is a run down complex. Have never heard of any complex as one that no one should visit.

Travel advisor has a select few or are very biased. Please don't take everything too seriously there. There aren't enough opinions from a wide variety of sources there.

I am laughing at myself. I should move and work for the Chamber of Commerce! hahahah

Also visit
www.bestofsanibelcaptiva.com

The moderator is extremely biased, but you will find tons of info and PHOTOS!!!!

Wow, Sunny Daze, thanks! I so can't wait, can't wait, can't wait. Ok, I can wait because there are a lot of good things happening between now and end of February when we go to Sanibel, but it sounds like we'll have a fantastic time. I, too, would like to visit places off-season -- such as Sanibel in the summer -- but that won't happen until the kids are older and we're not planning around school vacations. There's also supposed to be an excellent book called something like "Sanibel and Captiva Islands" that will be in its third edition beginning in January that I'll get in January when the newest edition is out. It's pricey ($50). We need Kurt to do one of those books for SoWal.

If you really want some funn, rent a boat and go to Cabbage Key. Order the Cheeseburger in Paradise with a few Cabbage Creepers :yikes: You'll have that Buffett attitude for the rest of your trip :cool: