Sanibel Island Beach

Sanibel Island is a barrier island on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Whilst there are several other such islands in the vicinity, only Sanibel has an “east to west” orientation which apparently makes for sandy beaches and helps explain why this beach is considered a shell-seeker’s paradise.

Until the 1960s Sanibel Island was only connected to the mainland by a ferry. These days a huge bridge connects Sanibel to the rest of Florida which has opened the island up to tourism, however strict control of development have preserved the island and it remains an important wildlife refuge. Sanibel is home to a great variety of birds, alligators, a single crocodile and manatees can also be spotted.

There are several beaches stretching from Lighthouse beach in the east to the much quieter Bowman’s beach in the far west. All the beaches have the same white sand and are ideal for families with plenty of facilities to hand.