Sanibel Island: Your Perfect Vacation
You’re planning the vacation of your dreams. You’ve found the perfect spot: a little barrier island off the south west coast of Florida, where you can explore the white sand beaches, gather seashells and see an incredible array of wildlife in their natural habitat.
Your Sanibel Island vacation promises all of this, and so much more. Of course, you want everything to be perfect. The following tips will help you prepare for the things you need, and create the vacation you’ve always wanted:What Should I Pack?
It’s summertime all year and the living is easy on Sanibel Island, so you won’t need to bring a lot of gear or pack three changes of clothes for each day. Your personal comfort should be a first priority in this relaxing piece of paradise.
Bring Your Binoculars: A good pair of binoculars should be a prerequisite for everyone packing for their Sanibel Island vacation. With binoculars in hand, you can get up close and personal with the incredible abundance of natural wildlife sharing your little piece of paradise. Keep binoculars handy while exploring the country or relaxing on the beach, because you never know what sorts of birds and animals will most certainly cross your path. Sanibel’s sister island, Captiva, is also blessed with spectacular natural wildlife.
What Should I Wear?
If you need to just kick back and relax, Sanibel Island will be perfect for you. The casual atmosphere calls for a relaxed dress code. Of course, men can wear jackets for elegant dinners, even though there are no restaurants on the island requiring a jacket. All you’ll really need is a nice shirt paired with pants or shorts. Of course, you don’t want to spoil your dream vacation by appearing too sloppy. Leave the oversized tank tops at home, and don’t visit the grocery store or stroll down Periwinkle Way wearing only your bathing suit. The key is to dress casually, not comically.
Keep Comfy in Cotton: Sanibel Island’s climate is quite tropical, so be sure to dress accordingly. Leave your polyester at home and pack your comfy cotton shorts, pants, tops and dresses. Cotton is the best choice for staying cool and truly enjoying your Sanibel Island vacation.
Sun Protection: Nothing says “sunburn” like a combination of sun and sand. Even on cloudy days, or while relaxing under a sun shade, it’s essential to use a good SPF sunscreen or sun block. Long-sleeved shirts can provide additional protection from the sun, and should be worn on boat excursions. If your vacation takes place in autumn, pack a light sweater or windbreaker to cover up while at sea.
Shoes and Accessories: Don’t pack anything too fancy for your Sanibel Island stay. Locals and visitors alike prefer sandals as their footwear of choice, and many shops sell sandals and flip-flops. Remember to pack a cap or visor to keep your head cool and help shield your eyes.
Polarized sunglasses are absolutely essential for your stay on Sanibel. It’s a make-or-break accessory that can really bring out the best in your vacation. There is so much to see, and you don’t want to risk missing anything because you’ve got to squint against the sun. Water activities, sightseeing, shelling and fishing are infinitely more fun when you can comfortably see. If you forget to pack your sunglasses, you can always pick up a pair in one of the many local shops.
Sanibel Shelling
A favourite vacation activity of adults and kids is searching for seashells along the gorgeous Sanibel Island coastline. If you plan on doing a little shelling on Sanibel, remember that beautiful shells don’t always wash up to shore. To find some real tropical treasures, go out in low tide in knee-deep water. Walk slowly, and carry a bag for your treasures.
The most important rule of shelling is that you must never take a living creature from the ocean. Live shells, sand dollars, sea urchins and starfish must be left in their natural habitat. On Sanibel Island, removing living sea creatures is illegal and carries a hefty fine. Make sure that the shells you pick up are empty, before you put them in your treasure chest. And consider leaving even dead shells behind, as the pressures of tourism have resulted in rather barren beaches throughout the world.
The perfect Sanibel Island vacation takes relatively little planning, light packing and virtually no effort. Being there is really all you need to be able to call Sanibel Island the vacation paradise of your dreams.
Tags: Sanibel Island, sanibel island vacationFreelancer Horace Jurdon contributes to several Internet magazines, on sports store and recreation and leisure topics.
