Sanibel-Captiva Chamber-Comm

07/31/03

magical

by schellstar at Citysearch

This was a beautiful and memorable spot. Could bring a bottle of wine and a blanket down to the beach and not see another soul. Very romantic and secluded. A quaint and cozy get-a-way.

• Pros: quaint, romantic, beautiful
• Cons: no nightlife

05/25/05

Captiva is awesome

by hhess407 at Citysearch

My husband and I visited last year about 1 1/2 months after hurricane Charley. We actually stayed on Fort Myers beach but spent about 90% of the time on Captiva.What a place! Even with the destruction apparent it was still beautiful. The water was clear and warm. The beaches also VERY clean. Lots of seashells-Lots of wildlife. Even my husband who grew up in the panhandle was all about the time we spent there. I can tell you we are taking our family vacation there this year. The only draw back was the parking which is none. If you have the chance visit you WILL NOT be disappointed.

• Pros: Clean, Not crowded , Very natural beach
• Cons: parking

06/25/04

just gorgeous....

by paulinet at Citysearch

i couldn't have asked for more......my first time down in florida was the first week in june, just off season. we stayed in sanibel and went to captiva island four out of the 7 days we were there. the water was clean and warm....shells, shells and more shells...great restaurants, cafes and shops in captiva and sanibel island...naples is just 40 min. away with more great restaurants and shops and everybody was so nice, everywhere we went....have nothing bad to say AT ALL....can't wait to go back next year.

• Pros: quiet, romantic, scenic

06/25/04

Paradise Found

by jtongyai at Citysearch

Sanibel and Captiva was once a hidden paradise back 30 years ago and now it has been discovered and loved by many. From the moment you begin to cross the three mile causeway to Sanibel, reality is left behind. The wildlife is amazing and fishing is incredible. For the shopper, you will find many tastefully appointed shops all along Sanibel and at the North end of Captiva. Most all the restaurants are very good. My favorite has always been Bubble Room and for casual dining the Mucky Duck or Lazy Flamingo. If you are looking for a place with lots of night life you will not find it here. What you will find is an escape from reality. A calm surreal feeling will overtake you while watching the sunset as porpoise swim in the foreground. This is truly paradise found.

• Pros: Dining, Shelling, Relaxing

05/29/04

A small piece of Paradise (off season)

by tropicdiver at Citysearch

Captiva can be very nice. In the Summer, it is hot and the waters are bathtub warm. In the Winter, the weather is close to perfect and the waters are a bit too cool to be swimming in, IMHO.

During the Summer, the crowds are gone and you can get about rather easily, but during "Season" (Winter), the crowds and traffic are horrendous.

Shelling is normally very nice and the waters can be nice, unless there is a good breeze blowing.

We get "Red Tide" down here (I live in Cape Coral) about twice a year, and it lasts about 2 weeks or so (and you don't want to be down during that time). Red Tide is unpredictable.

• Pros: Nice beaches, Shelling, Gorgeous sunsets
• Cons: , No see 'ums, Muggy in the Summer

05/22/04

Tommy Bahamaville! Peace-Renewal-FUN!

by westa6969 at Citysearch

Wow! This is our Hawaii without mountains, crowds, long flight for 16 trips. Park at South Seas Resort -take a trolley to the end of the island or walk it (3 miles). Take Lady Chadwick boat watching Manatees in the Marina and dolphins swim along side to a Chesseburger in Paradise at Cabbage Key or to Useppa where Tarpon Fishing nets $400,000. JN Ding Darling Preserve. A paradise to sit back sip your favorite drink and then don't forget Naples as one of the most beautiful cities in the world for a return to civilian life with the rich and famous. Often weather on Islands is better than mainland as it's about 12 miles in the Gulf. We visited Caribbean a few years ago and it was horrible, 37 miles of slums and filth on St. Maarten - Never again! Captiva is it - Ummm Tommy Bahamaville!

• Pros: Relaxing & Serene, Clean and Safe, Fun Loving

05/22/04

awesome island

by sarge439 at Citysearch

I found Captiva and Sanibel Islands to be one of the most relaxing places I've traveled to. I've been around the world, and Captiva/Sanibel are some of the best. The scenery is awesome. The food and people are great, and some of the best Key Lime Pie I've ever had is at the Key Lime Bistro. Make the effort to visit these locations

• Pros: scenery, romance

05/22/04

Amazing

by mirandag at Citysearch

I have been going to Sanibel Island since I was 2 years old. It is the most wonderful, relaxing, friendly place you could ever hope to be. There are amazing restraunts ( the Mucky Duck on Captiva, and Cheeburger Cheeburger and Motzaloonas on Sanibel are some of my personal favorites), wonderfull beaches, and best of all some of the nicest people you could hope to meet. There are also some great shops, and they are one of a kind, the Islands have not been disturbed by Wal-Marts or department stores, they are locally owned and opperated. Sanibel and Captiva are great get aways from the hassle of everyday life, and there is entertainment and fun to be had for all ages. The Sanibel Siesta complex is one of the nicest places to stay on the Island.

• Pros: Beaches, People, Food
• Cons: , "noseems" (bugs), gas prices

05/22/04

CAPTIVATING!!!

by laurencraig at Citysearch

This is the most beautiful island I have ever seen, the restaurants are FABULOUS-Chadwick's is a must as well as the Mucky Duck and Bubble Room-Finest shelling around-what fun it is to see what treasures will wash up on shore!

• Pros: scenery, shelling, nice people

Escape the daily grind at one of the state's most tranquil beaches.

by Contributor at Citysearch

Paradise Found
The island's changed since the causeway opened up in 1963, but not dramatically. One of the most underdeveloped beaches in Florida consists of unspoiled stretches of sand, and not much else. The spring-break crowd should look elsewhere, but those seeking peace and quiet will be rewarded amply. You'll soon come to realize why Anne Morrow Lindbergh was so inspired to pen her best-selling love letter, "A Gift From the Sea," while staying on the island. The surroundings are that stunning.

The Sanibel Stoop
Captiva's beaches, and those of surrounding Sanibel Island, boast an embarrassment of riches for shell-seekers. Known for the abundance of seashells that wash up on the shore every day, the posture adopted by treasure hunters has even garnered its own regional moniker. Don't miss the natural offerings: kayaking, canoeing and sailing are all available at area resorts.

08/07/03

LOVE'N CAPTIVA

by iamitalien at Citysearch

Captiva Island is a quaint, scenic vacation spot that is the eastern coasts Hawaii. Its beautiful atmosphere and scenery, great white (yet shelly) beaches, and top rate restaurants ( The Mucky Duck and R. C. Otters-among the best anywhere) make this vacation resort a must to go to. Everything is walking distance and a short drive to Sanibel, Fort Myers, Naples, and the Everglades. There is a top rate golf course on the island, tennis courts, and a marina. The seclusion of the island allows for siteings of wildlife, such as manatees(whom are sometimes seen swimming along with people near the shore). Everyone should visit Captiva Island once in their life

• Pros: Restaurants, Scenery, seclusion
• Cons: heat