Sanibel Captiva Island Message Board

seedlings

What's your ONE thing, perhaps often missed, that should not be skipped on a week trip to Sanibel?

We'll be there soon.

CHAD

penguinmoon · Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 11:18 am Post subject:

Aside from shelling...

Hmmm... if I have to pick just one, and that's tough...

Schnappers Hots!

Close seconds:

Island Drums
Doc Fords (which I actually did miss last time)

ChiTownHustle · Joined: 26 Feb 2010 Posts: 10

As the previous said... so much to enjoy. If I had to pick...

1. Sanibel Historical Village and Museum
2. Sanibel Thriller boat ride (very fun and interesting... dolphins right behind boat too).
3. Boat trip to the outter islands
4. Enjoy drinks and hope to spot the green flash.

and yeah...shelling

seedlings · Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 11:44 am Post subject:

Schnapper's Hots is the bomb!

Island drums? Is that Jungle Drums on Captiva?

Cayo Costa is on the to-do list, and I'll check out the Sanibel Thriller!

Thanks, and keep the ideas coming!

CHAD

weimmom · Joined: 29 Mar 2005 Posts: 58

For me, it has to be Grandma Dots. It is always our first stop once on the island for their mesquite grouper. Also, no matter what our plans are, we have to be sure to see every sunset. We only get to be there for 5 days at most so I never want to miss that.
Being from Colorado it is a must for me to have shrimp or grouper every meal....can't get enough. We have never gone to Schnappers Hots for that reason. Everyone raves about it so maybe next trip I will break tradition and go. For those of you that love it, please tell why. What do you order that keeps you going back?

penguinmoon · Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 5:38 pm Post subject:

My bad... yes, I meant Jungle Drums. That'll learn me fer lettin' too much time pass between visits!

Snowbird · Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 5:43 pm Post subject:

If you are interested in wildlife rehabbing, visit the CROW education center. Open Tuesday thru Saturday from 10-4. Programs at 11. $5.00 donation for adults. Kids under 13 free. Family $15.00. You will not see any live animals. But you will see lots of video and information about Wildlife Rehab.

FLABSLAB · Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 55 Location: Central Indiana

Take an inflatable raft, some rope and an anchor and just let your troubles float away. I love just laying on a raft and letting the waves rock me to sleep. And if I get hot, all I have to do is roll over. Laughing

Seriously though, I've seen some things from the raft that I wouldn't have seen on the beach. Manatees, dolphins, stingrays (BIG ONES) and the occasional curious bird. I'll be there on the 19th and I can hardly concentrate on anything else. Ahhhhh...Sanibel...... Cool

Neptunesmuse · Joined: 11 Nov 2006 Posts: 336

weimmom · Joined: 29 Mar 2005 Posts: 58

Oh that is great news! I don't care for wings and wouldn't waste a meal on pizza, but grouper fish and chips sound great! Ok, it will be on our agenda for the next trip. Thanks for that input!

Carly · Joined: 10 Oct 2004 Posts: 258 Location: Minnesota

You need to take a drive to Captiva to see the sunset. Gorgeous! for our family, we have to have a meal at the Sanibel Grill. We are crazy about their crunchy shrimp & grouper. The beer is ice cold.

We'll be there in 11 days!

Wisconsin Scout · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 78 Location: Wisconsin

We enjoy all of what has been said--esp. Gramma Dots and just sitting on the beach--but the Ding Darling is also a "must see." Ride bikes through and you'll go more slowly & see more.

Heck ... do the kayak thing at Tarpon Bay, too.

Hard to choose just one thing.

penguinmoon · Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 11:54 pm Post subject:

barb · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 50

The Sunset Serenade Cruise (contact Captiva Cruise) and Baileys Key Lime Pie !!!!

mommytowil · Joined: 27 Mar 2005 Posts: 70

Ding Darling is our "MUST DO". Or as my 6 year old simply calls it "Ding". We like to go just as the sun starts to go down (bring bug spray!!). We try to go at least 4 or 5 times while we're there (don't forget it's closed on Fridays!) - buy a Duck Stamp...it's cheaper and you have a nice item for your scrapbook, etc.

seedlings · Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 8:28 am Post subject:

FLABSLAB · Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 55 Location: Central Indiana

Thanks Chad Razz

We went to Wal-Mart and bought a 10 pound weight. You know the kind....made for a dumbell with the hole in the center and covered with plastic. We tie the weight on with a good knot and tie the other end to our feet. (OK, I'm only kidding....DON'T DO THAT! Laughing

) We tie the other end to the raft. That way, if you decide to take a dip in the ocean your raft won't float/blow away. It might look a little funny walking to the water with a rope and weight, but it's all worth it when you don't have to keep getting off the raft and pushing it back to where you want to be. It honestly works out quite well. Wink

FLABSLAB · Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 55 Location: Central Indiana

seedlings · Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 1:01 pm Post subject:

We'll be at Periwinkle Cottages for 7 nights starting June 15. So far on the official 'to do' list is:

Cayo Costa
Sanibel Thriller
Grandma Dots
Ding
My kids love the Island Cow
Doc Fords
Raft relaxing
Beach & Shelling

And that's just about as busy as I can stand it.

Thank you all so much. We drive out on Sunday... Arrive in Sanibel on Tuesday.

Oh, one other thing, can we bring our -->Coleman propane camp-stove<-- to the beach? I know campfires aren't allowed.

CHAD

CTinCT · Joined: 06 Nov 2004 Posts: 1174 Location: CT and Sanibel

PD · Joined: 13 Feb 2009 Posts: 73 Location: Indianapolis

Well, there just doesn't seem to be that ONE place, often missed, that would capture the essence of a vacation on Sanibel. I think it depends on who you are and what you like. Here's my 2¢ from about 15 trips.

If you love nature - don't miss the Ding, either by driving, bicycling (it's a LONG way), or kayaking. I have never failed to see Roseate Spoonbills on the kayak tour, but from a distance. CROW is another good way to get close to the wildlife on the island.

Shelling? Definitely get in some dawn shelling time, maybe go to the Shell Museum, but if you don't want to pay the admission fee, there are lots of shells to look at at local shops, even the Sanibel Library has a shell collection.

Gramma Dot's, Sanibel Marina, Sanibel Thriller.

Like the beach and solitude? I recommend Bowman's Beach. In fact if you walk north from Bowman's toward Silver Key, you'll find lots of peace and quiet and deep piles of shells. This is not good shelling, but lots of them. I don't want you shellers stomping all over my peace and solitude. Razz

Like exercise? Rent a bike and browse the nooks and crannies of Middle and East Gulf -- the cemetary, Gulfside Park, lighthouse.
We also like the bike trail from W.Gulf up the back side of Rabbit Rd to Doc Ford's (watch out for gators).

Laid back casual island dining? Island Cow, Lighthouse Cafe, Schnappers, Gramma Dot's, Lazy Flamingo at Santiva.

Like historical stuff? Then don't miss the Historical Society. It's also a good rainy day adventure as is the library. We also shop on rainy days.

It may be that the thing not to be missed on a trip to Sanibel is ....Captiva. It's a different feel altogether. Not better, just different, and if you're that close, it would be a shame to miss it. Green Flash, Jensen's, Mucky Duck, Tween Waters Inn, Andy Rosse Lane, Bubble Room.

Above all, don't miss a single sunset.

Carly · Joined: 10 Oct 2004 Posts: 258 Location: Minnesota

The truth of the matter is that you need to vacation there many times. You have to spend a lot of time just hanging out at the beach or poolside. You can't get everything else in as well. We knew on our very first trip that we would be back many times over the years. We will take our sixth trip next week - every trip is different.

seedlings · Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2010 4:52 pm Post subject:

mommytowil · Joined: 27 Mar 2005 Posts: 70

FLABSLAB - just now seeing your post - we're staying at Pointe Santo as well! B3 again. We always seem to run into people from Indiana at Pointe Santo. We're coming from Maryland. What building are you all in? Do you have young kids?

FLABSLAB · Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 55 Location: Central Indiana