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Ok phriends I need a little help. I'm taking the family to Sanibel Island in April. We have been to Key West so many times we decided to try something new. We are renting a condo for the week and was hoping to get some incite on the local resturants and attractions. What do you recommend for a family with twin 4yro keets. We will be there for thier birthday.

When in April..?

Rent bicycles for a day (bike lanes/paths all over the island) and ride through the Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge.

Keets will love collecting shells on the beach all day.

See a sunset from Captiva Island (north end of Sanibel).

Metzaluna was a favorite restaurant of ours. And you've gotta have a breakfast at the Lighthouse Cafe.

Even with kids I'd make an effort to go to Randy Wayne White's restaurant at least for lunch and I would think even dinner. It's casual enough for families. It was just interesting to go to a place that one of my favorite writers owns. We weren't there long enough to take in any other places except our room at Castaways and R. C. Otters and the grocery nearby there.

Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grill

http://docfordssanibel.wordpress.com/about/



http://www.captivaislandinn.com/dining.cfm




Your family might enjoy renting a tandem bike for the family to ride around. I saw lots of families doing that.

chippewa wrote:Rent bicycles for a day (bike lanes/paths all over the island) and ride through the Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge.

Keets will love collecting shells on the beach all day.

See a sunset from Captiva Island (north end of Sanibel).

Metzaluna was a favorite restaurant of ours. And you've gotta have a breakfast at the Lighthouse Cafe.

Taking notes...next time we'll have to stay longer to do more stuff...we shelled and shelled and shelled some more. The lighthouse is unique.

Don't know if the Bubble Room is still there but it's a unique eatery.

Crazy Navy Flyer wrote:Don't know if the Bubble Room is still there but it's a unique eatery.

It was in the fall....

conched wrote: we shelled and shelled and shelled some more. The lighthouse is unique.

That's when you get the condition known as the "Sanibel Stoop".

And Doc Fords is a very good restaruant. Great Cuban Sandwich.

O....M.....G.... I *NEED* an RC Otter's tshirt or sweatshirt! I knew there was a reason I've been wanting to go back to Sanibel! Well, besides touring Ding Darling again with a real camera this time...

If you can find Danny Morgan playing at a restaurant, go check him out. He's a really good trop-rock kinda player. He's played with Buffett before.

Thanks for the replys and keep them comming

Gunther, last week of April into May

Conched I'm a big Fan of Randy Love is Doc Ford Books so it is definitly on the list

I'll also keep and eye out for R C Otters M R Ducks in Ocean City MD is an old hangout so just the name gives me a good vibe

Danny Morgan, check

RAGTOPMAN wrote:Thanks for the replys and keep them comming

Gunther, last week of April into May

Conched I'm a big Fan of Randy Love is Doc Ford Books so it is definitly on the list

I'll also keep and eye out for R C Otters M R Ducks in Ocean City MD is an old hangout so just the name gives me a good vibe

Danny Morgan, check

RTM and Nancy, Randy has his new book out this week. Go to Sanibel bookstore, Holly is good friends with Randy. If you want, call her right away and she'll have a personalized copy done for you. I think he'll be at her shop next week, check out his web page..docford.com.

RTM, we usually go to San-Cap during that time frame. not this year, I am soo jones'in for a trip. I would skip The Bubble Room and if you like cake, just get the cake to go. The food is so-so but the cake...oh my, yum yum.
Schnappers stand/rest. is on Periwinkle. on the right going towards Captiva. Great place for dogs, burgers and such. The owners of R.C. Otters owns a place on Sanibel, Island Cow or something to that effect. You must also go to The Mucky Duck, espeically for sunset. Get there early because the parking lot isn't very big. The Key Lime Bistro on the same street, Andy Rossi Lane, is pretty good. The Sunset Cafe at the end of Sanibel (San-Cap) is good and the breakfast rocks. The Lighthouse Cafe at the southern end of Sanibel is also good for breakfast. The ice cream shop next door, Pinocchio's?, is good. I must say that being from a state that consumes more ice cream, i do miss a decent stand when we're down there.
As previously stated, Randy's place has good food and it's casual, as most of the places are. I just remembered that he'll be doing a signing at his place also.
Definitely take a bike ride. I've found a good way to keep the kids busy, make a contest of finding shells, i.e the most, the largest, most colorful etc. that will keep them busy for hours, not to mention castle building. The sand there is ideal for it.
I so wish I was going. We used to go at least 3 times every year and had a boat down there.

Crazy Navy Flyer wrote:Don't know if the Bubble Room is still there but it's a unique eatery.

Yup, still there.

Ambition At Bay wrote:

Crazy Navy Flyer wrote:Don't know if the Bubble Room is still there but it's a unique eatery.

Yup, still there.

You could live to be 200, and not see anything as unique as The Bubble Room.

IIRC, The Mucky Duck was a hot spot....if it's still there.

Sanibel is an awesome place for a QUIET vacation

RAGTOPMAN wrote:Thanks for the replys and keep them comming

Gunther, last week of April into May

Conched I'm a big Fan of Randy Love is Doc Ford Books so it is definitly on the list

I'll also keep and eye out for R C Otters M R Ducks in Ocean City MD is an old hangout so just the name gives me a good vibe

Danny Morgan, check

Me too !!! April 24-May 5
We stay on Marco Island but make trips to everywhere including Sanibel & Captiva

great tips!
We just booked there for this weekend.
I've got to make me a little "to do" list such as the lighthouse, bike ride, fishing and a little winging it.
I found this site while researching
http://www.sanibel-captiva.org/index.asp

We're going to Sanibel on April 5 - 8 then heading to Magic on the Water. We almost went to Marco Island but decided on Sanibel instead.......can't wait......never been to the "west coast" before ........taking copious notes......keep it coming......

We got back yesterday

I was a little let down by Sanibel but had a good time none the less. All the years of hearing about it, maybe I was building it up too much in my mind but I just pictured something different, either that or I'm spoiled because I live near St Augustine. I was hoping for a more rustic looking beach town. It's definitely different from Key West with sort of a "pinky up" feel and much more laid back imo. I told my wife that the island's neighborhoods reminded me of the town from the Jim Carey movie "The Truman Show". It's all so clean and perfect, not always a good thing, for me anyway. We almost rented bikes but instead we drove around, parked and walked.


That said, The J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge was fun and we even saw an alligator up close. Doc Ford's was great as well. I had a FINtastic blackened grouper sandwich there. The beaches of Captiva and Sanibel are beautiful and the water is the perfect shade of margarita green. We did a little fishing from the Sanibel pier as well as from the brides/beaches of the Sanibel Causeway. We got a few bites but did not catch anything but it was still great just sitting there taking it in. If you're into boating/fishing, maybe renting/bringing a boat would be great.
I like that there are no traffic lights or street lights on the island.
As long as you're in the area you might as well take a trip to Lovers Key State Park.
http://www.floridastateparks.org/LoversKey/
It's only a few miles away and the trip there was one of the highlights for us.
I liked the beach there more and if you're into shelling, like my son is, there are lots more shells.

that 's too bad you didn't care for Sanibel/Captiva. They have both changed alot in the last 10-15 years. Both islands used to have really tall Austrialian Pines everywhere. The streets were lined with them and made a great canapy. After Charlie, so many fell down and caused damaged that the powers at be (ugh) decided that since they aren't "native" they had to go and cut them all down!! I thought that was a real unjustice. It gave the islands a lot of character. Captiva used to be more of a beachy island but it seems that there is no zoning now. small florida houses were torn down and mcmansions started popping up everywhere.
That is strange that you thought that there are more shells at Lover's Key. We have been there many times also. Usually there are so many shells that it hurts to walk and I have feet that can take it! I'm wondering if there has been some beach nurishment in the last year or two since we've been there. That usually covers them up. I can't tell you how many sand dollars I have found there not to mention the shells.
I bet you'd love North Captive Island. No Cars, just golf carts. However, it's very quiet there. One makes their own fun. Overall, the barrier islands are boat oriented, which is what we are. Everyone islands hops.
to be there now....instead of all this frick'in RAIN ( 8"+) and SLEET!!!