Sanibel Island
While the small island of Sanibel is simply bursting with hotels and other accommodations, the glitziness that generally accompanies these sorts of places is not evident here. More than 200 varieties of shells litter the beaches, particularly after an especially high or low tide. The annual Shell Fair is attended by thousands of visitors from throughout the world. For most visitors, however, shelling is a delightful excuse to enjoy hours of sun-worshipping along some of the most beautiful shoreline in North America and to absorb the unspoiled island atmosphere the natives work so earnestly to maintain. Sanibel Island is about 12 miles long and 3 miles wide. Sanibel is known around the world for it’s fabulous shelling beaches. Due to Sanibel Island’s unique geographical orientation, lying East to West instead of North to South, it acts as a scoop and gathers seashells along it’s beaches. Throughout the year, thousands of visitors come to enjoy Sanibel’s beaches and hunt for that special seashell.
The centerpiece of the museum is a large revolving globe in the Great Hall of Shells which exhibits exotic shells washed up on far-flung beaches around the world. Included are those monstrous clamp-jawed shells that threatened to swallow Tarzan and Jungle Jim in Hollywood’s fantasy seas but in reality are less menacing than an untrussed lobster claw.
Another major attraction on Sanibel is the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. These 6,000 acres of unspoiled wetlands, mangrove jungles and island uplands are named for a two-time Pulitzer Prize winning editorial cartoonist feared for his knifing wit that could skin the hide off the thickest-skinned politicians and make chitlins of their pork barrel projects.
Sanibel Island Attractions
Adventures in Paradise
Bailey Matthews Shell Museum
Big Arts
Canoe Adventures
Captain Bob’s Excellent Adventure
Captiva Cruises
Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (C.R.O.W.)
Ding Darling
Everglades Day Safari
Everglades Explorers
Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce
Sanibel Historical Village and Museum
Sanibel Lighthouse
Sanibel Marina
Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF)
Schoolhouse Theater
Tarpon Bay Explorers
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