You’ll certainly work up an appetite traversing the Sanibel Causeway to Sanibel Island, Florida, a quaint barrier island off the southwest coast of Cape Coral and Ft. Myers—even more so after visiting the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum, Lighthouse Beach and its stately Sanibel Lighthouse, the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge and Bowman’s Beach, all of which are picturesque landmarks.
Pass the time watching a glorious sunset while breathing in the balmy sea-salt-scented air and feel the Gulf of Mexico lap at your toes as you perform the “Sanibel Stoop” to search for uniquely shaped shells. After all that, dine at Sanibel’s fun and charming restaurants like The Lazy Flamingo (1036 Periwinkle Way), Sanibel Cafe (2007 Periwinkle Way), The Clam Shack (2407 Periwinkle Way), Matzaluna (1200 Periwinkle Way), The Sanibel Fish House (1523 Periwinkle Way) and The Sea Breeze Café (1451 Middle Gulf Drive).
Start the day with a fresh breakfast near a cluster of shops with colorful painted walls and tables, and especially the fun outdoor patio at Over Easy Café (630 Tarpon Bay Rd.), a casual eatery. Customers can choose from fresh fruits, delicious omelets, warm sticky buns and savory sausage gravy over soft fluffy biscuits. Enjoy a mimosa with fruit or a granola parfait, and then order a variation on eggs Benedict, with salmon, crab or a breakfast skillet.
Right off the causeway is Periwinkle Way, the main drag of Sanibel. Along here are fun and unique eateries and shops, all no taller than the treeline, including the inns and motels. Everywhere you turn is another charming area with views of the water, fresh air and the brilliant blue sky.
Lunch happily at The Island Cow (2163 Periwinkle Way) with all varieties of fast-food seafood and fresh island cuisine. Inside, check out the quirky cow knickknacks lining the walls and enjoy a fresh cocktail, beer, frozen concoction or smoothie along with a huge menu of steak, seafood, chicken, sandwiches, breakfast, grits, desserts, vegetarian options and more. Everything here is “udder-ly eggcellent.” (Sorry, I couldn’t help it!)
After an afternoon of shopping or swimming in the Gulf and looking for unique Sanibel shells, head to Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille (2500 Island Inn Rd.), a unique seafood place based on a paperback novel written by local Randy Wayne White. Some of the best apps on the island are from Doc Ford’s, like Doc’s Beach Bread on French bread topped with three cheeses and diced tomatoes sprinkled with a variety of spices and buffalo shrimp.
The Yucatan Shrimp is the specialty here, an in-house recipe created in the Bay of Ascension, Mexico, with shrimp lovers in mind. A bowl of steamed buttered shrimp dressed with fresh key lime juice and cilantro with a small bite of Colombian chilies will fill you up as you watch the sun go down behind the trees at this local sports bar. The dish perfectly captures the very essence of this wild and windy island.
Don’t miss the ceviche cocktail, oysters or Dinkin’s Bay Shrimp Boil. Add in a fresh cocktail and dinner is complete (shrimp tacos or lobster roll). Save room for a fudgy dessert or the island specialty, key lime pie. There’s also a Doc Ford’s in Ft. Myers and on Captiva Island, Sanibel’s sister island just north of Sanibel.
The feel of the island is in every bite you take on Sanibel Island. It’s in the sun, the sand, the air and the cuisine. It’s on the streets and in the shops, and in the smiles of the people you meet. Go, eat and get on island time.
- Photos: Christine Tarlecki and Rachel Richards
