Water, water everywhere – and so many ways to enjoy it! The Fort Myers Sanibel area offers on-the-water fun in many forms, with activities ranging from the high-powered and thrilling to the slow-paced and sublime.
Sailing
Dream of gliding over blue-green Gulf waters with the wind filling your sails? Take daily clinics or resort-based learning vacations at the world-renowned Colgate’s Offshore Sailing School, with locations on Captiva Island and Fort Myers Beach. Or, simply lounge on the deck of New Moon Sailing’s 39-foot sloop for half- or full-day sails (extended cruises are available, too).
Fishing
Head offshore on a charter boat, motor into the backcountry, surfcast from the beach, catch what’s running from a pier or bridge, or fish for tarpon in Boca Grande Pass. Yearn to learn? Pine Island’s Ultimate Backwater Fishing School offers courses in light tackle or fly fishing.
Windsurfing & Kite Boarding
The Sanibel Causeway beaches are springboards for windsurfers and kite boarders. To be part of the high-flying action, start with lessons from Ace Performer, who combines super-wide boards with expert instruction. The reward? That glorious adrenaline rush of accelerating across the water while harnessing the wind.
Paddling the Calusa Blueway
Kayak or canoe the calm waters of the Great Calusa Blueway, Lee County’s unique 190-mile marked paddling trail. Explore mangrove tunnels, enjoy quiet encounters with nature and wildlife, and paddle up to historic sites. You can overnight at campsites or posh resorts. The newest craze? Kayak fishing in Matlacha Pass Aquatic Preserve, between Pine Island and Cape Coral.
Canoeing or Kayaking “Ding” Darling
Sanibel Island’s 6,400-acre J. N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge includes Tarpon Bay, a calm body of water framed in lush mangroves and native palms. Explore its canoe trails with Tarpon Bay Explorers and keep an eye out for wading birds like eye-popping pink roseate spoonbills and migratory birds, plus a gator or two. Or, board the Nature & Sea Life Cruise to meet the local wildlife.
Sightseeing Cruises
Calusa Indian mounds. Pirate haunts. Hangouts of the famous and infamous. Take a boat tour with a guide full of local knowledge, like Capt. Pat Hagle, who talks of legends, lore and history. Customize the day your way: mix sightseeing, shelling, fishing, sunning or eco-tours. Remote island cafés serve up local color.
Shelling Cruises
Avid shell seekers motor out in the early morning for shelling charters with Capt. Mike Fuery, a well-known shelling expert and author. Anchoring at isolated beaches and sandbars known for good “potential,” Capt. Mike leads beach walks, pointing out sea treasures like golden tulips and sharing his knowledge.
Dolphin Cruises & Sunset Cruises
All aboard the Fort Myers Princess, a 75-foot double-deck tour boat complete with a full bar and snack bar sailing out of Fort Myers Beach. Join the afternoon dolphin tour to watch the playful mammals "surfing" the boat's wake, or watch the sun set over the Gulf of Mexico aboard a sunset party cruise. Another nearby option is the Estero Bay Express, a catamaran with shady seating. Sail into Estero Bay for this 1.5-hour narrated eco-tour, which may come across manatees, birds and other marine life in addition to those beloved dolphins. Estero Bay Express also offers a Champagne Sunset Cruise, a favorite for romantics.
Island Hopping
Check out the area’s bridgeless islands – have lunch on Cabbage Key or Useppa Island, beach it on Cayo Costa State Park and stroll quiet North Captiva. Reserve a seat with Captiva Cruises, Tropic Star of Pine Island or the water taxi at Jensen’s Marina. Or, rent a boat and chart your own course.
Water Park Fun
Head to the mainland for a day at Sun Splash Family Waterpark in Cape Coral, where the whole family can enjoy some water-filled fun in the sun. There’s everything from the thrilling Electric Slide (Florida’s longest) and the ever-popular Main Stream River inner-tube float to the more docile Lily Pads and Tot Spot “squirt works.” The park is open seasonally, usually from mid-March through September.
Comments
Post new comment