The Gulf Coast of Florida is an interesting destination for visitors. It's a favorite stretch of coastline and a Sanibel Island vacation is very popular. Sanibel Causeway is the link to the mainland and the island contains the city of Sanibel. There is a little bridge over to Captiva Island via Blind Pass. The beaches in the area are amongst the best and noted for the variety of shells found there, including scallops and whelks. In fact, Sanibel Island is home to the only seashell museum in the world, namely the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum.

Hurricanes are a frequent visitor to the region, one of the strongest being the recent 2004 Hurricane Charley. Unfortunately, it destroyed some bird's and sea turtle's nests. The Sanibel Lighthouse was only slightly damaged.

The atmosphere on the island is distinctly laid back and residents like to preserve their quality of life among the palm trees and mangroves. With the exception of a Dairy Queen, there are no fast food outlets allowed.

The region is a magnet for birdwatchers and has a reputation for its variety of species. A Sanibel Island vacation offers the opportunity to see nesting pairs of Bald Eagles and Roseate Spoonbills. One of the best locations to see birds on the island is at the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge. Here, there are egrets, herons, pelicans, terns and sandpipers. It's home to a number of American Alligators too and even a crocodile.

Nearby Fort Myers receives many tourists each year and is especially favored by golfers. The courses here are known to be of the highest standard and golf is played all over the region.  The excellent climate makes it possible to play throughout the year. Fort Myers' other tourist attraction on a Sanibel Island vacation is the winter estates of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. The two inventive pioneers were friends and bought adjacent properties on McGregor Boulevard for their winter homes. Today, they are museums and the botanical garden that Edison began is also open to the public. It is a remarkable garden with more than 1,000 plant specimens. It is full of attractive and colorful flowers and trees but began life as an experiment in growing plants for industrial products.

Visitors who like to be active have plenty to do. There are bikes for hire with lots of paths to ride them on. Kayaks and canoes are also available and there are boat tours of the area, where it's possible to spot dolphins. A Sanibel Island vacation is ideal for keen fishermen, water skiers or tennis players too.

If you like to commune with nature and want to enjoy doing it, consider a Sanibel Island vacation.