The Sanibel Island Lighthouse is not the usual pretty, picturesque lighthouse. It is a simple 98-foot tall iron skeleton tower completed in 1884 with a spiral staircase in its center that starts about ten feet above the sandy ground. It was built to ensure safe passage through the entrance to San Carlos Bay. At the time, a large number of ships were calling between the Punta Rassa port on the mainland and Sanibel.
The lighthouse is located in the protected wildlife area on the eastern end of Sanibel Island and is not open to the public. The lighthouse grounds and a nice beach nearby are accessible, and they are popular and often crowded with tourists. Take the kids to the beach and snap some family photos with the lighthouse in the background.
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Step 1: Visit the website and book directly and/or call ahead to confirm their hours.
Step 2: If you are spending the night, search for Hotel Deals nearby. Read the reviews, then call the hotel directly to book and ask for a romantic, kid-friendly or pet-friendly amenity if you need it.
Step 3: If you are flying, compare Flights. Book directly with the airline, add your frequent flier number and reserve your seat.
Step 4: Estimate your driving time using Google Maps (click the blue 'Directions' arrow in the search box).
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Read our Reservations & Travel Planning Tips guide.