Sanibel Island Excursions - USA Today Travel

by Erin Maurer, Demand Media - http://ping.fm/Sl1CQ

Sanibel Island is a small island off the coast of Fort Myers, Florida, with the Gulf of Mexico waters to the west and the Pine Island Sound and San Carlos Bay to the east. As such, Sanibel offers an ideal family vacation spot, with many outdoor sports and activities that every member of the family can enjoy.

-Shelling-
Sanibel Island rates among the top 10 United States' beaches for collecting and gathering shells, according to Ann Shield of "Travel and Leisure." An off-shore shelf protects the island and produces gentle waves, and as a result, shells wash along the shore gently, experiencing less breakage than other beaches. The best time to collect shells is during low tide, recommends the Sanibel and Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce. Be sure to wear shoes when shelling, as they can be damaging to bare feet. You might find conch, junonia, lighting welk, cockle, tulip, olive and coquinas shells, as well as sand dollars. They also can be found in art and souvenirs throughout the island. In March, the island hosts the annual Shell Festival.

-Fishing-
Sanibel offers some world-class offshore and bay fishing. The Gulf of Mexico features notoriously warm waters, which keep the fish abundant off the coast. Stop by the Bait Box (thebaitbox.com) for fishing tackle, fishing licenses and up-to-date news on current conditions. Fisherman likely will find redfish, speckled trout, snook and tarpon offshore as well as back bay and inland fishing spots. Saltwater fly-fisherman will find the island rich in redfish and seatrout, as well as ladyfishy, Spanish mackerel, kingfish, flounder, snapper, shark and barracuda. On shore, check out the fishing pier, Bowman's Beach and J.N. Darling National Wildlife Refuge. The island offers several charter companies, including Mangrove Island Fishing Charters (mangroveislandcharters.com) and Catch Me If You Can (catchmeifucanfishingcharters.com).

-Cycling-
Many Sanibel residents use bicycles to get around the island, making it an ideal way to tour the island for visitors. Bike paths cover 22 miles around the island, including paved paths going through the island's premier shopping districts. The majority of the hotels offer bikes for guest use, according to the Chamber of Commerce. Bike rentals also are available at establishments such as Billy's Rentals (billyrentals.com) and Finnimore's Bike Shop (finnimores.com) Child trailers, helmets and other safety equipment also are available. Cyclist will enjoy trails like the Rabbit Road, which travels along the canal behind island homes. Riders will likely spot gray marsh rabbits, heron and even an alligator snout on this scenic ride.

-Tours-
In addition to outdoor scenic activities, the island also offers historic tours for visitors. The Sanibel Island Historical Museum and Village (sanibelmuseum.org) tracks the stories of Sanibel Island from the pioneer days through the modern era. Guests can explore seven historic buildings in the historic village, or step back in time with a visit to the Thomas Edison and Henry Ford Winter Estates ( edisonfordwinterestates.org) in nearby Fort Myers. Wander through a variety of historic buildings and gardens on this 20-acre property. Before leaving, stop by the Estates Museum to view historic artifacts, inventions and exhibits concentration on the life and work of Edison and Ford.

-About the Author-
Erin Maurer began writing professionally for Simply the Best Writing and various other websites in 2009. Concentrating on her interests, she writes about animal issues, craft projects and home improvements. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication studies from Widener University in Chester, Pa.

**Reservations**
Contact Reservation Central, a local Central Reservations Agency for Sanibel & Captiva Islands, for all of your Island reservation needs. As a local company, Reservation Central has first hand knowledge of available rental homes, condos, hotels, small inns, cottages and resorts. Visit them on-line at http://www.rescen.com or call their local reservation office at 1-800-290-6920.