Sanibel Island, Florida

Everyone expects (or perhaps dreads) to see crocodiles in Florida In theJ.N. (Ding) Darling National Wildlife Refuge you can see so much more and it's no wonder that this is one of the top rated attractions on Sanibel Island. The tropical climate and lush vegetation provide food for hundreds of species of animals. The refuge has a dense mangrove system that provides an excellent habitat for so many animals, and it is the largest in the country. There are 245 different species of birds in the refuge, and they are a spectacular sight during the migration season. You can see endangered mild-natured giant manatees and 30 other species of mammals.

Crocodiles are only one of many reptiles living in the warm waters of the refugee, but they do have their own exhibit in the Visitors and Education Center. Visitors can drive along the 4-mile long Wildlife Drive, but hiking and biking allows them to see much more, and smell, listen and feel the rich wilderness in the area. Off the Drive are three more walking trails, including the four-mile round trip Indigo Trail that is connected to the Wildlife Education Boardwalk.

1 Wildlife Dr, Sanibel, FL 33957, United States, 239-472-1100

One of the favorite activities of visitors to the beaches of Sanibel is shell collecting. Colorful, pretty, mysterious, small, and big, the shells make interesting souvenirs. But, why not learn a bit about them so that you can differentiate between your shells and determining whether one is a common fig shell, a banded tulip, ajunonia, or a pen shell? The best place to learn about the shells and the animals that made them is The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum. This fascinating museum was established 20 years ago and contains some of the largest shells in the world, such as the Goliath conch, the Atlantic trumpet triton, the lightning whelk, and the horse conch. The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum is one of the best things to do on Sanibel Island FL for couples and families. There are exhibits of Sanibel shells and shells from all over the world and fossils of shells such as the Ecphora, which lived almost 30 million years ago. The museum is also a wonderful place to learn about the original inhabitants of Sanibel, the Calusa people. You can discover a little about their lives and the uses they had for shells in their daily lives.

3075 Sanibel Captiva Rd, Sanibel, FL 33957, 239-395-2233

Sanibel Historical Museum and Village, founded in 1984, tells the story of the life of early residents of Sanibel through the seven historic houses they lived and worked in. It is the story of the Calusa people, Spanish conquerors and the early pioneers who made their home on the island in the 1800s. The historic buildings were moved to the Historic Village from their original locations and restored to the original look, and they are furnished with antique furniture, clothes, household items, tools, and kitchen gadgets.

Among others, there is the 1896 Sanibel School House for White Children with original desks, the 1913 Rutland House, a typical "cracker” house made of Florida pine with eleven-foot ceilings and a wide hallway to keep it cool, and the 1900 Sanibel Packing House, where local farmers brought their vegetables, citrus fruits, and other produce to be packed and shipped “up north.” The museum holds frequent special events, concerts, and lectures.

950 Dunlop Rd, Sanibel, FL 33957, 239-472-4648

The Bailey Tract is one of the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge’s lesser known hiking trails and is separate from other trails found along the scenic Wildlife Drive in on Sanibel Island. Protecting part of the island’s sensitive freshwater marshes, the Bailey Tract is one of the wildlife refuge’s two outlying tracts. The trail system at the tract features loops ranging from 0.3 to 1.1 miles that travel around a series of impoundments, offering an excellent opportunity for birding early in the morning. Each trail is marked by colored arrows and the trails are also shared with bicyclists.

Relaxing on beautiful sandy beaches is one of the best things to do on Sanibel Island. Located mid-island on Sanibel off Sanibel-Captiva Road, Bowman's Beach is a beautiful stretch of remote coastline that offers excellent opportunities for shelling, swimming, romantic walks and beachcombing. If you are wondering what to do on Sanibel Island with kids, this is a great spot for a relaxing day.

The beach is popular for windsurfing and sailing and features picnic areas with barbecue grills, trails, showers, and restrooms. Visitors to the beach can park just a quarter of a mile from the beach for a small amount and enjoy a lovely short walk to the beach.

Until 1963 when the Sanibel Causeway was completed, the island was connected to the mainland by ferries that crossed the San Carlos Bay Daily. The island was peaceful, sleepy and secluded. But, the progress could not be stopped and the causeway, consisting of three bridges connected with two small islands, was completed and the tourists started flooding in.

The entire span that connects Punta Rassa on the mainland to Sanibel at the Causeway Road is 2.8 miles long. Two little islands are part of the Causeway Island Park and serve as popular public beaches.

The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) is a wildlife rehabilitation center that cares for more than 3,500 sick, injured, and orphaned native and migratory wildlife patients every year. The center features a 4,800-square-foot wildlife hospital where sick or injured animals are treated, and it offers educational fellowship and externship programs for undergraduate students and internship programs for veterinarian graduates.

A modern Visitor’s Education Center focuses on educating the public about veterinary care, research, education, and conservation medicine through a variety of presentations, exhibits, and live video footage.

3883 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel Island, FL 33957, Phone: 239-472-3644

A group of local artists with big dreams established the Big Arts Center in 1979, and ever since it has been very active in offering something for everyone. The 409-seat Schein Performance Hall organizes jazz, classical, pop, folk, and western concerts, along with concerts showcasing many other genres of music. The 139-seat Herb Strauss Theater offers professional theater and Broadway shows in an intimate environment.

For those who are fond of visual arts, Phillips and Founders Galleries host exhibits all through the season, introducing and promoting talented local and national artists. In addition, the center organizes 250 educational workshops and classes for the community and schools each year.

900 Dunlop Rd, Sanibel, FL 33957, 239-395-0900

Launched in 1934 after participating in World War II combat operations and serving U.S. Navy in the North Atlantic, the USCGC Mohawk WPG-78 found its resting place at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico in 2012 off the coast of Sanibel Island. Before being sent below the 90 feet of water, the ship had to be cleaned of anything that could be toxic to the marine environment.

Today, it is sitting in an upright position and serves as a home to many species of fish and other marine animals. It is hoped that the corals will slowly inhabit its nooks and crannies and make it into an artificial reef, the first ever created from a 165-foot war ship. The reef is a memorial to U.S. veterans.

The Botanical Gardens at Sanibel Moorings Resort came about almost by accident: they employed a gardener to take care of the landscaping of their extensive, six-acre outdoor space. As it happened, the gardener was a passionate botanist, so he took it upon himself to create a rare collection of unusual and special tropical plants. What he started, every succeeding gardener added to, improved, embellished, and made the garden more beautiful until in 2009 it officially became recognized as a botanic garden and a member of the American Public Garden Association. If you are looking for things to do on Sanibel Island, Florida for couples, this is a great spot.

The garden has hundreds of native Florida plants and non-invasive species from other tropical areas, along with collections of cacti, bromeliads, orchids, fruits, palms, and cycads. The garden attracts a number of birds, butterflies, turtles, rabbits, and other animals who, like the tourists, enjoy the riot of colors, smells, textures, and beauty the garden exudes.

845 E Gulf Dr, Sanibel, 239-472-4119