Sanibel and Captiva Islands Attractions

Head out to any of the beaches at low tide, especially during the months of February, March and April, and you might return back to your hotel room with sand dollars, whelks or even a conch shell. (Actually, taking live shells is strictly prohibited.) The beach will whet your appetite for the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum, the only museum in the country dedicated to shells. The highlight of the exhibition there is a revolving planet, with displays of shells from around the world. There's also an exhibit on shell art, a detailed account on why so many shells wash up on Sanibel and a large collection of snails. The annual Shell Fair is held the first Thursday through Sunday in March, and it includes a shell art show

Similar to the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket in the northeast, Sanibel is best navigated by bike. There are 22 miles of paved trails that lead you into the wildlife of Ding Darling, along Tarpon Bay, on bridges, over canals and to the eastern tip of the island to visit the Sanibel Lighthouse, which has been standing tall over San Carlos Bay since 1884. Along the way, you can stop for a bite to eat or lounge on one of the many beaches.

The 90-minute Dolphin Watch & Wildlife Adventure Cruise, offered in the late afternoon by Captiva Cruises, is the perfect way to top off a day in Sanibel and Captiva. Dolphins are seen on 95 percent of the cruises, and there's also a good chance you'll spot some of the walruslike manatees that call the Gulf coast home. They also offer private-sailing charters out of the South Seas Island Resort on Captiva Island.

We love the beach around Sanibel Lighthouse in the day and Turner Beach, between Sanibel and Captiva, at sunset. Whatever beach you choose, you'll find soft, white sand and the calm blue waters of the Gulf -- the major attractions on these islands.

The best way to see the alligators and amazing birds is on two wheels. That way, you can slow down and see birds hidden in trees that you would miss if you zipped by in a car. Get there early, before it gets too hot to catch the wildlife at its most active. Ding Darling Days is a weeklong festival, happening from October 18 to 24, 2009. On hand will be some of the nation's finest wildlife artists, who compete in the Duck Stamp contest for a chance to get their art on next year's stamp.

If you've ever wanted to try the sport of sea kayaking, the protected cove of Tarpon Bay is a great place to start. Tarpon Bay Explorers offers a 90-minute guided kayak tour with a naturalist through the red mangrove swamps of the Commodore Creek Water Trail. However, our family of four enjoyed the two-hour Rookery Island tour even more. As the sun sets, hundreds of herons, egrets, ibis, cormorants and pelicans make their way home for the night to sleep. It's a paddle your kids won't forget.