- Tween Waters Island 48 HOURS
Resort & Spa; 2. Thistle
Lodge; 3. Doc Ford's Sanibel; - Billy’s Bike Shop; 5. The
Island Cow; 6. The Keylime
Bistro; 7. Captiva Cruises.
USA SPRING EDITION 29DAY 2: Going to The Island Cow
for an early breakfast has become an
island tradition for over 15 years. The
beloved eatery, voted Sanibel’s Best
Family Dining experience in the area for
10 years and counting, is known for its
signature muffins and sizeable menu,
which includes such tasty delights as
the Elvis-inspired ‘The Bomb’, a sausage
gravy-smothered concoction with bis-
cuits, eggs, taters and onions.
With shelling playing such a big part
in daily life, a visit to the Bailey-
Matthews National Shell Museum, the
only museum in the U.S. that’s dedicat-
ed to shells and the mollusks that make
them. Don’t miss ‘Tank Talks’, which
start at 11 a.m. and last for 30 minutes.
Head to Sanibel’s most historic up-
scale restaurant for lunch – the award-
winning Thistle Lodge at Casa Ybel
Resort. In addition to incredible beach-
front views, Thistle has an extensive
cocktail and wine list and a laidback
lunch menu that includes gourmet flat-
breads and mouth-watering burgers.
After lunch, renting a bike from
Billy’s Bike Shop is the best way to
explore Sanibel Island, which has been
designated by the League of American
Bicyclists as a Bicycle Friendly Com-
munity. The island boasts more than
40 kilometres of easily accessible bike
paths that thread through preserved
wetlands and along main thoroughfares
like Periwinkle Way.
Linger through dinner at The
Keylime Bistro, situated in the middle
of the Historic Captiva Island Village.
Considered one of the highest-rated
restaurants on the island, The Keylime
never disappoints with dishes like Key
Lime Pasta and succulent fresh seafood.
And don’t even think about skipping
out on dessert – its award-winning Key
Lime Pie is a must!
Cap off your getaway with views
of the Captiva’s awe-inspiring sunsets
with Captiva Cruises. Its 40-foot
sailing catamaran, Adventure, offers the
perfect vantage point to watch the sun
go down. Be sure to look out for the
‘green flash’, a meteorological phenom-
enon that occurs just after sunset that
resembles a green spot just above the
Sun’s disk.QUICK FACTS
- The main airport is Southwest
Florida International Airport,
accessible via direct flights with
Air Canada and WestJet from major
Canadian gateways - The destination welcomes
approximately 250,000 Canadians
each year - It’s home to over 50 miles of
coastline and more than 20 marinas - There are 6,400 preserved acres on
Sanibel that make up one of the larg-
est mangrove wilderness in the U.S. - Golfers have their choice from
nearly 50 courses - During springtime, loggerhead
turtles can be seen on local beaches - For the best birdwatching, head
to J.N ‘Ding’ Darling National Wild-
life Refuge - Henry Ford and Thomas Edison
bought winter estates in the area dur-
ing the late 19th and 20th centuries
All photos credit: The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel