Things to do in Sanibel Island for a Relaxing and ACCESSIBLE Vacation

Going to the beach as a person in a wheelchair can sometimes be… tricky.  Sand is not the friendliest of terrains to my wheels. However, my family’s annual vacation to Sanibel island in Florida proves that family and friends in a tropical setting is just the relaxation the Doctor ordered. 🙂 Whether you enjoy shopping, dining or just beachin’ there’s something for everyone in Sanibel. The island feels like a tropical oasis full of wildlife that is welcome escape from the hustle of the mainland.   Grab an iced tea and let me tell you about my recent vacation to Sanibel and fill you in on just some of the things that you can enjoy while there.

Beachin’

Since I don’t live near the beach when I’m on a beach vacation, most of my weeklong vacation is spent just relaxing on the beach and listening to music. My pale, Irish skin dictates the need for plenty of sunscreen and a tent. I could spend hours reading, drinking a Diet Coke, smelling the salty fresh air, and chatting with family members. With its’ shell filled beaches, Sanibel’s a perfect place to go shelling.  The beaches, like much in Florida, are quite wide and flat leaving ample room for beach games. My siblings love corn hole and beach volleyball.

If Beachin’ Isn’t Your Thing

Sometimes after a few days of beach time, I’m ready to roll around the island.  Sanibel is perfect for exploring. As I mentioned in my previous post, I rent my wheelchair from Billy’s Rentals but you can also rent bikes.  Not only does the island offer bike trails throughout, it also boasts a wildlife refuge, J.N. Ding Darling, to explore. My brothers and dad have been golfing on the island at Sanibel Golf Club and did some deep sea fishing.

Sanibel and it’s neighbor Captiva used to be one island until a hurricane came through, separating them by a VERY narrow strip of water. Head over to Captiva for a restaurant called the Mucky Duck. Here are you can watch a beautiful sunset as you dine on the beach. We have also rented a pontoon boat from marina in Captiva. I have written a blog post about why I think pontoon boats are so amazing for people in wheelchairs.  You can read it here https://katiesdiscoverableworld.com/?p=512.  This particular boat I could literally wheel my chair directly on board. On your way back to Sanibel, check out the quirky atmosphere of the Bubble Room and grab a MASSIVE dessert.

Where to Stay

There are many options for hotels and vacation rentals on the island. We always stay in Pointe Santo. There are five different buildings that hug a beautifully landscaped pool and lagoon.  We’ve stayed in different buildings, but my favorite is D3 for the accessibility amenities. It has an ocean view, but it is not ocean front. What I’ve come to realize about various vacation rentals is the definition of accessible is different. So finding one that you’re comfortable in is key.  Make sure to see pictures and ask questions of the owners before hand.  Each building has four levels, but the elevator is very small.  I can’t even fit my scooter in it. Pointe Santo has a volleyball net and tennis courts.

Dining

One of our family’s traditions is to eat at Cheeburger Cheeburger. It has a fun atmosphere and always accommodates our large party. This most recent trip we ate at the Lazy Flamingo where we had great service and dined on the patio. It had a nice island ambiance. I love to eat out, but since we are on a family vacation with a lot of people, we usually are cooking in the condo and heading back to the pool at night. But…let me warn you… if it’s after 5 o’clock grab some Off or some bug repellant!  The “No See Ums” down there do not mess around. They’re like mosquitoes but worse.  For some they merely annoy,  but for others like myself, they bite allover leaving the hapless victim red and swollen and full of extremely itchy welts.  

Shopping

I love some good retail therapy.  My “go to” spot on the island for souvenir shopping is the shopping area next to Jerry’s (the local grocery store). Make sure you stop and talk to the parrots…they will talk back!  Another place I love to frequent is a shopping center called Periwinkle Place which has a range of clothing stores, souvenir shops, and restaurants.  

Fort Myers

If you choose to leave the island, Fort Myers is fun beach town with a fishing pier surrounded by shops and restaurants. We ate at Doc Fords which has a location in Sanibel as well.

In a different part of Fort Myers, there is the Edison and Ford Winter Estates which I’ve toured  twice. It’s readily accessible with wheelchair ramps for all the buildings.  We try to arrive first thing when they open to avoid the hottest part of the day. Afterwards, we go next-door for lunch at Pinchers and sit outdoors overlooking  the marina.

Sanibel Island offers something for everyone to enjoy no matter your ability.  With every passing year, I continue to find more ways for me to fully enjoy this beautiful island.