| SANIBEL ISLAND - Your Guide To Paradise | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The most beautiful island in the western hemisphere, Sanibel Island....a sparkling jewel in the sun. This is the perfect place to relax after a hectic visit to Disney World. Visit with nature like you've never experienced or ride miles of beautiful bike trails or swim and shell hunt on breath-taking sugar white beaches. Sanibel Island is not so much a place to have fun more than it is a place to totally relax. A place where mind and body can refocus. For example, take a bike ride (there are many bike rentals on Sanibel island) down one of the beautiful bike trails. Walk, jog or bike through the Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge and experience nature and exotic wildlife right up close. Or walk the beach at evening and watch the sun slowly melt into the beautiful Gulf of Mexico. Your only alarm clock in the morning will be the sweet arguing of seagulls and the gentle heartbeat of surf. There is a saying; if you can't find peace on Sanibel, then you will never find it anywhere else on earth. THE CAUSEWAY.." Gateway to Paradise." If Sanibel Island is Heaven, then the beautiful Sanibel Causeway is Heaven's Gate. Even before you come onto Sanibel you will encounter a 360 degree panoramic view of open seas, inland bays, Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel Island. This view is absolutely spectacular. You will cross three miles of causeway leading over two major keys. These keys are just stunning with their white sands and small lagoons. You may pull your car over and wade into the warm aqua waters or you can fish or swim or simply just enjoy this amazing view. On the second key there are restroom facilities and about 16 picnic tables right along the water's edge. In the mornings, come out early when the very first rays of day are beginning to burst into the newborn sky. You will see reflections of pastel clouds in the hushed bay waters, as if someone had spilled multi colors of paint. At this time of day there will be dolphins, seagulls, pelicans and sandpipers everywhere. It is a beautiful time to experience nature like poetry. THE ISLAND As you leave the Causeway and enter onto this beautiful paradise oasis the first thing you will notice is the abundance of greenery and the sparkling colors of spring and summer. The flowers are just overwhelming even in the dead of winter. Everywhere you look you will see an array of beautiful flowers in every color imaginable. The hibiscus will be exhibiting it's imperious colors of red, purple, yellow and pink in almost every driveway and landscape border. You will notice how clean and tidy everything is. Everyone who lives or owns a business on Sanibel Island takes great pride in their property and makes certain it's well maintained. A city in the distant future would be proud of the way Sanibel has refined the art of blending development with nature. For instance, all shopping centers and commercial buildings are heavily bordered with thick foliage to give them a softer and more natural look. An elementary school is built on the National Wildlife Refuge where students can enjoy nature walks and study wildlife right in their own school yard. Special high platforms are built all along the island for the nesting Ospreys (The Florida Eagle). Everything on Sanibel Island has a demanding emphasis on nature. At night the Island becomes unusually dark especially along the water to protect the just born loggerhead turtles from following the city lights and getting lost. (loggerhead turtles must reach the sea after they are born) On Sanibel Island you will find no billboards, neon lights or buildings over 3 stories tall. You will also find the island residents one of the most friendly people on earth. It's is amazing how they tend to go out of their way to assist a tourist in need of help or information. Most residents chose to live here because of their love for nature and a desire to live in a natural setting. They are a gentle people with one common goal...to enjoy and protect this fragile environment for future generations. The second thing you might notice is where are all the stoplights? You wont find any on Sanibel. Stoplights represent a fast paced society that is non-existent on this small, laid back tropical island. There is another saying..."If you are in a hurry on Sanibel you are visiting the wrong place". Instead of stoplights what you will find are charming, white gloved police officers standing in the more busier intersections. You'll see them directing traffic and occasionally giving some friendly advice or helping a lost tourist. SHELLING ON SANIBEL Inside each twisted shell, will a tiny creature dwell, And when it's life is done, the shell is ours, what fun, All that's left to do at last, is walk the beach, find it fast, For others with the same desire, scour the sand and never tire, The perfect shell, lucky catch, what else could ever match, Our finding at the tidal stream, The collectors hope, and the sheller's dream. Shelling on Sanibel Island will be the most rewarding aspect of your stay. The 12 miles of pure white, unrestricted, unspoiled beaches of Sanibel Island are officially rated as the number ONE shelling area in the United States and THIRD in the world! Because of the island's unique east-west layout along the coastline, gulf currents and breezes push enormous amounts of shells onto the beaches with every tide. When Sanibel Island was first being discovered years ago, a little known secret accidentally leaked out...."There are shells on that island...not just shells but mountains and mountains of shells." And that's what makes Sanibel Island so popular to present age. When shelling on Sanibel or anywhere else...the first rule of thumb is to get out early. Don't worry about the light, just get out on the beach and start walking. Rembember to bring a small flashlight. If there is a lower tide you should expect even greater luck. But the accomplished shell collector never depends on luck or anything else other than their knowledge of where to find shells at any given tide. The most amateur mistake is to simply look for large shells. Keep in mind that nature seems to favor small shells. There are over 1500 species of Florida shells and out of these 1500 perhaps 700 are less than 1/2 inch. In fact some variations of the "margin shell" such as the tiny yet beautiful "teardrop"and "snowflake"; several can be placed on the head of a penny. To observe and appreciate the miniature world of these shells, it may be helpful to carry along a compact magnifying glass. Your best bet to finding nice shells of all sizes will be to follow the long drifts of shells along the surf zone. (The surf zone is the constant line along the shore where the surf washes in, reaches it's furthermost point and then ebbs or recedes). This drift of shells was produced by the last high tide and will contain many interesting elements. Pay special attention to where this drift expands or becomes thicker. This is the area where the best shells and exotic sealife will be found. There will be thousands of shells to sift through in each concentrated drift. Just relax and sit down in the warm surf and start sifting. Try not to spend to much time before moving to the next. This is sort of like panning for gold. You'll be amazed at all the great "FINDS" you will have made while others have totally passed them up! One of my favorite shells is the little "auger" which gets it's name by the way it looks, like a small drill bit or boring tool. There are maybe 14 common variations to this shell. The Auger usually ranges from 1 to 2 inches. One of the variations is the beautiful "Flame" auger which is about 5 to 6 inchs long and very rare. (a specimen). I'm always on the lookout for this one in the drifts. I've been collecting the augers for a few years and have an outstanding assortment in every variation, color and shape you can imagine. But my point is, the smaller shells are just as rewarding as the larger ones. So pass nothing up and enjoy your shell hunting full circle. SHOPPING Shopping on Sanibel Island is so exciting. Most of the shops are located along a four mile stretch of Periwinkle Way, the main road on Sanibel. But they are not shopping centers like you would normally expect. They are all carefully blended with nature and almost all are boardwalk shopping centers and contain specialty stores of everything you can dream of. Some of them even offer playgrounds for the children. Most of the stores open around 10:00 am and close at 5:00 pm A SAFE VACATION Sanibel Island is one of the safest places in the United States to vacation. The crime rate on the island is almost zero. This is thanks to the very professional Sanibel Police Department. You will find them very courteous, helpful and professional to all your needs. PLANNING TO VISIT SANIBEL? If you are planning to visit and relax on our beautiful island shores in the near future you may be interested in a very informative information guide "Dreams of Sanibel" that would greatly benefit the first time visitor to Sanibel or even those who have been here a few times. I have lived on the island for 35 years and seen how easy it is for our visitors to not only get overcharged but also to miss out on some of the fantastic opportunities to do and see. My guide will greatly reduce this chance as well as save you hundreds of dollars on accommodations, restaurants and activities. What will be included in the "Dreams of Sanibel" guide will be a list of all the best places on Sanibel to see and do as well as tons and tons of tips and tricks to help you get around the Island like a real Native. Here are just a few of the things you will be finding in the "Dreams of Sanibel guide Part 1 of 3. First of all, your guide will include a highly detailed RAND McNALLY (c) map of Sanibel, Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach plus all Lee County (Island Coast) surrounding waters and barrier Islands. This map will be a very valuable tool as your follow through the guide. A special listing of the 8 most "Budget" Motel/Resorts on Sanibel Island: Stay for as low as $39.00 per night off water and only $69.00 directly on the Gulf of Mexico. Apartments on the Gulf for only $98.00 per night. The listings include details, addresses, phone and fax numbers, type of credit cards accepted and all amenities offered, plus my own personal recommendation and opinion. Please note: These accommodations are all very nice and are always the first to fill their reservations to capacity. It would be very wise to make your booking as early as possible. Important ordinances of Sanibel that you should know about Churches of the Island A description of all Sanibel Island activities A description of all off-Island activities Best Of The Best Restaurants on Sanibel and Captiva Islands such as: Best place for seafood Best place for Italian Best Raw bar Best place for chicken and ribs Home-cooked southern style meals - This restaurant is an Island secret...the best food you have ever tasted for about $2.50 per person!! Check out their southern home-cooked breakfast. It is the best on the island. This is take-out only, back to your room or picnic area. Located off the beaten path. Best place for pizza Best Sports bar on the Island Best brew pub Best unique restaurants Where to dine in a Tropical Rainforest - with birds - waterfalls - ground fog - rain and lightning Off Island restaurants. Franchise restaurants are not allowed on Sanibel Island but I'll show you were you can find a Shoneys, Perkins, Bob Evans, McDonalds, Rib City and Taco Bell that are all only 5 minutes off the Island. Best place to rent a power boat for fishing or sightseeing. - There are two locations that I highly recommend. Rates are also included. Where to go and what to see on your boat - all around Sanibel/captiva and surrounding areas Casino Cruise Ship - All Sailings FREE. Information on how to take a cruise into international waters off Sanibel aboard the newest and most luxurious Gaming Yacht. Features a full service Casino, drinks, light dining and a beautiful observation deck on the 3rd floor. Where to rent a Canoe or Kayak - you can drift through the beautiful, still mangroves and back bays studying nature or just relaxing Best campgrounds on Sanibel Best Primitive camping and State Cabin rentals: I will show you a beautiful State Park Island a few miles north of Sanibel where you can primitive camp or rent a State owned Cabin. No cars! No crowds! Just miles and miles of isolated beaches for shelling and relaxing. You can access this island by your boat or water-taxi out of Captiva. The guide includes details and phone numbers for making reservations. Most honest place to have your car serviced in an emergency Most inexpensive place on the Island to buy fuel Best Golf courses and driving range Best Grocery store Best place to play miniature golf Best place on Sanibel Island to rent your bikes - Best prices too - rent by the hour or day - rent a trolley bike - holds 4-5 people for the family Best Liquor store - best prices too Best Resort on the Island Best store to buy Sanibel Island nature T- Shirts Best areas for a picnic Best Fishing areas on and around Sanibel Island Best fishing tackle/bait shop Best deep sea fishing boat - Includes your Florida fishing license, rod/reel, bait, tackle, instuctions. Air conditioned cabin to cool off, sundeck, breakfast and refreshments. 1/2 day trips, excellent rates. Expect many amberjack, grouper, shark, red snapper and yellow tail. They will even clean your entire catch for a modest fee. This boat is excellent. (My son and I go out weekly). Best bike trails to ride - which ones to avoid Secret, out of the way, trails that are unknown and overlooked by many visitors Where to play Tennis for free Where to take a low cost trolley ride around Sanibel-Captiva on a guided tour Best place to see a sunset and sunrise Nudism - Should you enjoy this lifestyle I provide contact information to the family oriented "Sanibel Naturist Society Inc." regarding their club and their outings Best Beach for Shelling - I will give you the location. (But please keep it a secret) Best beach for swimming Best place to see dolphins Where to swim with dolphins Where to see alligators Best place to see manatees Where to see Ospreys (in their nest) -The Osprey is the Florida Eagle AND MUCH-MUCH MORE I also will tell you about and give you directions regarding the off-Island attractions such as: Thomas Edison/Henry Fords homes and laboratories - where I will show you how to tour both homes for the price of one. Huge Outlet and Shopping Malls Large indoor and outdoor Fleamarkets Dine From a Train Enjoy Lunch or a late dinner and mystery murder play as your diner car travels through the the beautiful Southwest Florida Countryside and waterways. Feel the floor rumbling under your feet and hear the lonesome train whistle through every crossing. Day and Evening excursions. Kids will love it. Full information and directions. Reasonably priced The ultimate in mini golf - only 5 minutes away Broadway Dinner Theater - Enjoy a Professional Broadway show as you dine from 3 lavish buffets. See such shows as "Cats, "Oklahoma" and "The Sound of Music" Also included will be "INSTANT FIND" This gives you instant information for things you may need in a hurry such as emergency numbers - Doctors - Walk-In clinics of the Island - Pharmacy - Post Office - Libary - Emergency locksmith and etc. Everyone should enjoy a great vacation without worrying about being overcharged or being in a position that lessens their vacation enjoyment. Whether you order my vacation information guide or not, please let me know if there is anything I can help you with on Sanibel. In my opinion this island is one of our planet's best prides. It is not just a vacation spot, it is Earth itself at it's finest. Once you experience Sanibel Island you will also agree. Come visit us for a few days, a few weeks or spend a lifetime...the choice is in the heart. The "Dreams of Sanibel" guide has just been recently undated and is now available for your reading enjoyment. The guide consist of 3 parts. Part 1 will greatly detail all the information mentioned above and will include the 8 most budget motel/resorts of Sanibel. Plus a huge 100 color page comprehensive magazine/guide of Sanibel Island and all of Southwest Florida Activities and Interest. This magazine is packed with hundreds of money saving coupons on dining, attractions, tours, shopping, golf, fishing and lodging. It also includes a detailed map of Sanibel Island and Southwest Florida. Part 2 will be an exhaustive FAQ regarding Sanibel Island with highly detailed answers. Part 3 will be a very informative guide to shelling the beautiful white beaches, how to find shells, what to look for plus tons of tips and tricks on shelling on Sanibel Island. HOW TO ORDER "Dreams Of Sanibel" Since this is a non-profit personal project for me, a donation of $22.00 to help offset materials, constant updating, website and printing cost would be greatly appreciated. Your personal check, money order or cash are very welcome. Note: I do not hold checks to clear. Your Guide will be sent FIRST CLASS PRIORITY MAIL the same day I receive your order. Approximate reading time will be 2 - 3 hours to carefully go through everything. Please forward me: Your: NAME Your: EXACT MAILING ADDRESS Your: PAYMENT of $.22.00 + $3.00 (U.S. Priority Mail) Total: $25.00 Please make check payable and send to: S.C. Byrd 1454 Charles Road Fort Myers, Fl 33919 BEST REGARDS FOR A WONDERFUL VACATION "The Sanibel Crab" The following is in tribute to Anne Marrow Lindbergh, wife of aviator Charles Lindbergh, and long time resident of Sanibel/Captiva. Being an avid shell collector, she wrote the following poem regarding the beautiful Moon Shell (commonly known as the "Shark's Eye" or "Eye of the Tiger.) The moon shell is very common on Sanibel beaches. font color="purple">This is a snail shell, round, full and glossy as a horse chestnut. Comfortable and compact, it sits curled up like a cat in the hollow of my hand. Milky and opaque, it has the pinkish bloom of the sky on a summer evening, ripening to rain On it's smooth symmetrical face is pencilled with precision a perfect spiral, winding inward to the pinpoint center of the shell, the tiny dark core of the apex, the pupil of the eye. It stares at me ------ and I stare back. Now it is the moon, solitary in the sky, full and round, replete with power. Now it is the eye of the cat that brushes noiselessly through the long grass at night. Now it is an island, set in ever widening circles of waves, alone, self contained, serene. - Anne Morrow Lindbergh Copyright (c) 1999 "Dreams of Sanibel" - All rights reserved NOTE: Below Visitors Are For This Week Only
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