Sanibel Island (Family Vacation)

Sanibel Island is one our favorite local places to visit on the regular. About a 15 minute drive from Fort Myers, this beach is PERFECT for a weekend getaway or family vacation. 

A few things you should know about Sanibel Island:

1) Most of the restaurants there are 100% local. DQ and Subway snuck their way onto the island before the bill passed, but one of the things we love most about Sanibel is the food and how you are supporting locals. The other best part about local restaurants is the customer service is typically superior because they truly rely on your feedback and business to keep them open. Try new places and eat like a local :) 

2) Cars are not the norm -- bike, everywhere. Really though, those who live on the island and commute to work drive, but the quickest and more effective way to navigate the island is to bike. Everyone yields to you and it really helps you focus on being on vacation when you aren't sitting in traffic. And just think about the great workout you will get (to help burn off all of the calories from the food you're devouring!) There are a few bike rental places on the island that will let you rent by the day or for the week. Billy's Rental is one of the most popular! 

3) There's really no wifi - which we love because less phone usage means more time together, but if you must use it, you need to hit up the public library, a few restaurants, or Jerry's! 

Love boat ice cream is potentially the best homemade ice cream you've ever had in your entire life. Try the CHOCOLATE BROWNIE BATTER or the SMORES (if you're a chocolate lover like me). It is worth the calories. Just a heads up -- if you eat there early on in your trip, don't be surprised if you end up here every night after dinner. Just know I warned you -- it's addicting and delicious!  

Biking is one of my favorite things to do on Sanibel Island. Josh and I love to bike to Bennett's (more on that later) for breakfast and then head out toward the lighthouse (pictured below). Then we take a walk on the beach, and bike the boardwalks through the sloughs. Then we head back home before headed to the beach. 

When we are on the island, we want to spend most of our time with family. This means that we usually eat light lunches and big family dinners around the dinner table. That being said, we usually only eat out for breakfast while here on vacation (but we will drive out for dinner on a date night any other time of the year).
One of our favorite sit down breakfast places is the Over Easy Café. Although they are typically on a decent wait on weekends, trust me - it's worth it. Their omelets are delicious and so are their pancakes. They cook everything right there in their open kitchen. You can even sit outside on nice days. If you really want to treat yourself, get a mimosa! As far as I've found, it's the only place you can get one on the island. 

If you aren't up for a sit down breakfast, head over to Bennett’s French Roast for THE BEST donuts you'll have here in Lee County. My family would recommend the Cinnamon Sugar, Peanut Butter, Chocolate Chip, Orange Coconut and Maple Bacon. It's right on the island and you can either sit down and grab a donut and a cup of Joe (free refills) OR take them to go and enjoy them while listening to the crashing ocean waves at the beach. They also have breakfast sandwiches (including egg white and wheat bread options) if you are looking for a healthier option.

When we aren't eating, or biking, we are spending our time at the beach floating in the waves, baking in the sun, reading books, listening to the ocean waves. 

         

Here's a few pictures from my family's trip! Next time I'll share some of the best places to watch the sunset out here. That is one of our other favorite things to do :)

Love,
Hil