LAND OF SUN, SEA, SAND
Now’s the perfect time to visit Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel in Florida
It's the little things as much as the big things that make a winter visit to the Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel, on the southern Gulf Coast of Florida, special. It's the perfectly shaped and colored shell you find as you meander along an island beach. It's the perfect property you call your home there, from an expansive house to the perfectly quaint B&B room. It's the Gulf of Mexico as you gaze out on it. It's the sunset, every day that breathtaking sunset. Oh, those little and big things are not secrets and yet so sublime when discovered.
Here's a little secret not everyone knows. While the high season of February through April is a wonderful time to visit Fort Myers and Sanibel, the weeks between now and then are extra sweet. A fall or early winter getaway means a chance to truly revel in a mix of quaint seaside, open sea, luxury accommodations and all that you love about the Gulf Coast without the crowds.
The region is as far from one-dimensional as
a spot can get. The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel in Southwest Florida include: Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, Fort Myers Beach, Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Estero, Cape Coral, Pine Island, Boca Grande & Outer Islands, North Fort Myers and Lehigh Acres.
All those nooks of the region offer so much to experience. Though you may choose to visit for the golf, you can walk a few blocks and realize that the beaches are pristine. You may think you just want to stroll those beaches, but once you get out on the water, you’ll be wanting even more.
The early winter months are warm and mild, with the weather perfect for flip-flops. You can expect, on average, highs in the 70s to low 80s.
Unlike other destinations, quieter months do not mean less activity. Everything is wide open and ready for you.
Your choice of accommodations range from small, quaint B&Bs to resorts, to home rentals. Royal Shell offers “beach mansions” for rent, a spot to spread out and call home during your stay.
Topping the list of resorts is the South Seas Island Resort, located on Captiva Island. Originally a Key lime plantation more than 100 years ago, the resort is now a get-it-all-in-one-place destination, but close enough to all the attractions of the area.
The resort’s keynote daily event, called the Sunset Shellabration, is symbolic of the place. Each day, as the sun sets over the Gulf, staffers invite all the guests to gather on the beautiful beach. There, as live music plays, each guest plucks a seashell from the shore, makes a wish and tosses it into the sea at sunset. That’s the perfect example of the kind of family-friendly moment South Seas Island Resort creates. Wishes on the water, every single night.
That’s at a resort where wishes do come true, such as learning to “swim like a mermaid” at the mermaid camp, or dining in a perfect beachside setting at the Sunset Beach Bar, or taking part in the many offerings provided: tennis, golf, cycling, kayaking, sailing and more.
Kids can find their own fun, too. At Camp Skullywags, revamped this year, kids 3-11 can enjoy a half or full day of themed pleasure. The resort’s partnership with the Sanibel Sea School offers kids programs built around nature — and with the 330-acre nature preserve, there’s plenty to explore and learn.
Rooms at the resort vary from classic rooms to spacious villas to “Homes of Distinction,” large freestanding accommodations that are perfect for multi-generational stays. Learn more at south seas.com.
Around the rest of the region, there’s plenty to soak in. Fort Myers Beach is a must-visit for any traveler. Dolphins really do frolic right off the shore. And while walking, splashing, lounging and dolphin-spotting is great, there are plenty of beach-front activities as well, from kayaking to parasailing and more.
There’s even a beach for you and your dog. Called Doggie Beach at Lovers Key, it allows dogs to frolic off the leash. (Most other beaches allow dogs as well, and they only ask that they be leashed.)
The region is particularly good to their wild lands and wildlife, too, and in a way that guests can savor. The J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, with 7,600 acres, is home to 51 types of reptiles and amphibians, 32 mammal species and more than 270 species of birds. You can hike and bike on pristine trails or view the sights from observation towers or on a four-mile scenic drive. This is a huge slice of true Florida nature, open for you to enjoy. Learn more at fws.gov/ refuge/jn_ding_darling/.
That wildlife refuge is on Sanibel. Crossing the bridge to Sanibel and Captiva is an experience in itself. As the bridge lifts you up and then back down, it’s like you have crossed over to a place of complete peace and bliss. A full three-quarters of the island is preserved land. You’ll find no streetlights and no buildings higher than palm trees.
You’ll find the whimsical — small shell shops where “true” shellers go; a quirky bookstore called Gene’s Books that’s a series of funky cottages filled with books; and cool eating spots to sip cocktails and take in live music, like the Mucky Duck on Captiva.
And, of course, the beaches of Sanibel and Captiva are all about shelling. This time of year, when the weather is calm, shellers find a bounty of treasures washed in by the rougher seas of the prior season. It is prime shelling time, to be sure.
Enjoy the region on water, via sea kayaking, paddleboarding or jet skiing. Fishing isn’t seasonal here, it’s yearround. (Bostonians first fell in love with the area for the fishing.) There are sunset cruises, trips that drop you off at an island that is yours for the day, yours to shell, swim, lounge and, yes, see dolphins from. It’s not unusual for dolphins to follow your boat, playing in the wake or jump up as you kayak past. It’s not unusual, either, to paddleboard past a lolling manatee. You will find nature at its closest and finest.
There’s so much more to Fort Myers and Sanibel: craft beer spots, restaurants that celebrate fresh seafood from their own shore; spring training (of course!). Learn more at fortmyers-sanibel.com.