We first visited Sanibel Island (in Southwest Florida) when my oldest daughter was a toddler. It was a short flight (less than 3 hours), a sunny place, and we loved the assortment of seashells that lined the beaches. We had very fond memories of the trip so we decided that in 2025, we would bring her back along with her younger brother and sister!
Of course Sanibel island has seen three quite devastating hurricanes since we visited in 2013. In 2022, Hurricane Ian hit and was followed in 2024 by Helene and Milton. The rebuilding is still happening and we noticed many buildings still under repair along with acres of dead trees. That being said, the island is still absolutely beautiful and the rebuilds look spectacular.
Where to eat
We had a full kitchen in our condo so we ate a lot of meals in the room (luckily there is a Target very close to Fort Myers airport!). I love being able to make smoothies and cook lunches for the kids – saves money and makes things a little more healthy! There are some great places to eat on the island however…
This is a cute little food truck along Periwinkle Way, offering smoothie bowls, coffee, avocado toast, and more. My 13-year old loved this little spot!
Traders
We ate at Traders twice, once for a romantic date night and then lunch with the kids. The cucumber gazpacho is to die for! A great menu, fun drinks, and a cute little gift shop to peruse after eating.
Tutti Pazzi
This is a great Italian place that we ate at as a family. There’s a variety of pastas, pizza, and a cute atmosphere.
The Green Flash
We had a few great meals at this restaurant on Captiva. It’s known for seafood, cocktails and beautiful outdoor seating. this is a place we had taken my daughter as a toddler, so it was nice to see it still in business!
What to buy
So we found an adorable little cowrie shell necklace for sale at the Sanibel Sprout, but it was the very last one. My littlest chose it as her souvenir, but I really wanted to get one for my older daughter and I so we placed an order (using a handy US mailbox!). Honestly the jewelry is just so beautiful and beachy, and the founder is responsive and kind.
What to Pack
Along with the typical beach holiday clothes, you may wish to include a towel (this Amazon Turkish towel is amazing – lightweight and dries super quick) for yoga on the beach. According to locals, coconut oil is great for preventing no-see-um bites (i learned this too late, sadly) and some Benadryl can help to lessen the itching. Supposedly the effects of the hurricane are causing an uptick in no-see-ums and, if they like you, it’s awful!!
What to do
Captiva Farmers Market
This market is held every Tuesday morning on Captiva (about a 1/2 hour drive from Sanibel) and includes fruit & vegetables, prepared foods, jewelry and more. We bought some organic strawberries, fresh guacamole, and local honey!
Collecting seashells
The shells in Sanibel are unmatched by any other beach I’ve visited. They are abundant and in pastel shades of pink, yellow, and peach. People can be seen picking up shells along the shore all day, and there is even a shell museum on the island.
Biking
Sanibel has lovely bike lanes throughout the Island and, at certain times of day, it’s faster to go by bike than by car. Our hotel had bicycles available to borrow and my daughter and I had fun biking to the Sanibel Sprout for breakfast!
Take the time to visit Sanibel if you can. We were so lucky with the weather in February (80+ most days) but it is south enough that the temperatures are nice even in the winter months. As they rebuild, tourism is what is going to help things move faster!
Barre with Justine 
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