Here on the islands, we survive quite well without fast food and smog. Visitors to Sanibel experience Gulf breezes, lush greenery, and amazing wildlife. Watch Bottlenose dolphins play and feed in the waters right offshore! We are captured by magical sunsets. After dark, enjoy the view of the night sky without any interference from street lights. It's remarkable how many stars you will see!

Sanibel measures roughly 12 miles long and 5 miles across. A bridge at Blind Pass connects Captiva Island, to the north. Captiva is less than five miles long and 1/2 mile wide.

Sanibel has two main roads. Periwinkle Way is the main business route. This road leads you to the majority of the shopping and dining. If you head east on Periwinkle, you will find the historic Sanibel Lighthouse. Periwinkle, like many of the roads, is named for a shell found on our beaches. Gulf Drive winds past resorts, homes, and beaches. It is segmented into East, Middle, and West Gulf Drive. Casa Ybel Resort lies just past the juncture of West Gulf Drive and Casa Ybel Road.

Sanibel-Captiva road, known locally as "San-Cap", takes you past several natural attractions, such as JN "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge and the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum. This road also takes you to Captiva as you cross the bridge at Blind Pass.

Plan for sunshine on our island! The winters are mild and sunny, with average temperatures in the 70's during the day. It's great weather for golf! The temperatures may drop in the evening; pack pants and a wrap. Be sure to check the weather forecast a few days before your arrival.

Summer temperatures are much warmer, from the mid 80's to mid 90's. We experience brief afternoon showers that help keep our tropical greenery verdant. Pack hats to shade your faces!

Most restaurants are casual - shorts and sandals are acceptable. You may want something dressier for theatre events and dinner. Retail establishments require shirts and shoes. Swimsuits, cover-ups, sunglasses, and collared shirts complete your vacation packing!