Looking for a great place to kick back on a fun, relaxing and romantic weekend interlude or a fun place to get away for the weekend with kiddos? Try a Sanibel Island vacation at the Casa Ybel Resort, just across the bay from Ft. Meyers on Florida’s Gulf Coast.
Located off the southwestern coast of Florida, the Casa is an all-suite beachfront hotel in southern plantation style with updated, ocean-view suites at very reasonable prices.
Charming Sanibel Island has a slow pace, and it’s not overdeveloped. Whether you rent a bike to explore the island on the paved paths all the way to the 1884 historic lighthouse, explore the island’s mangrove ecosystem with a rented kayak, browse the quaint shops along Periwinkle Way, engage in a vigorous game of tennis, enjoy a delectable meal at the Thistle Lodge, float in the pool while listening to tropical music, or walk along the white sand, crystal blue-green water, Sanibel has something for everyone.
If your Sanibel Island vacations take place over a Sunday, there’s a farmer’s market held in the City Hall from 8 am – 1 pm. Here, you can choose from fresh fruits and vegetables and homemade goods such as honey, jam, guacamole, and fresh seafood. There are also vendors selling pastries like freshly-made crepes, and of course, there’s ice cream.
The most popular pastime on Sanibel Island is hunting for seashells, especially at Bowman’s Beach. In fact, so many people come here to search for shells that the pastime has been nicknamed “the Sanibel Stoop.” You might find tulip, conch, olive, whelk, and/or cockle shells. You can even identify the shells you found at the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum.
Or, perhaps you’d rather just sip something cold on your private screened-in balcony overlooking the gentle waves of the Gulf of Mexico. At Casa Ybel, the choice is yours. And they’re all good.
You may also be interested in:
Chillin’ On a Houseboat in Naples
Gulf Coast Road Trip: 10 Best Stops on Florida’s Gulf Coast
Disclosure: The author was honored to be the guest of Casa Ybel during her stay, but as always, the opinions, reviews, and experiences are her own.
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About the Author
Patti Morrow is a freelance travel writer and founder of the award-winning international blog Luggage and Lipstick and the southern travel blog Gone to Carolinas. TripAdvisor called her one of the “20 Baby Boomer Travel Bloggers Having More Fun Than Millennials” and she was named one of the “Top 35 Travel Blogs” in the world.
She is also the star of the upcoming TV series “Destination Takeover” which is scheduled to premiere in the next few months.
Patti is the author of the book “Girls Go Solo: Tips for Women Traveling Alone,” and has over 150 bylines in 40 print and online publications, including The Huffington Post, International Living Magazine, Washington Post Sunday Travel, Travel Girl, Travel Play Live Magazine, and Ladies Home Journal. She has traveled extensively through six continents looking for fabulous destinations, exotic beaches, and adventure activities for her Baby Boomer tribe.
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