Captiva vacation rentals

With its neighbor, Sanibel Island, sleepy Captiva is a no-stoplight town that celebrates the simple pleasures of a quintessential Florida beach vacation: white-sand beaches, warm turquoise waters, abundant wildlife, and plenty of seashells down by the seashore. (Featuring some 400 varieties, the Sanibel seashell scene is so famous, it’s even got its own signature posture: the Sanibel Stoop.) Separated from the mainland by Pine Island Sound, this jawbone-shaped strip of land features 25 miles of bike paths, a handful of championship golf courses, and a slew of nature preserves — and there’s even more excitement under the water. Strap on a snorkel for a chance to spot barracudas, nurse sharks, and moray eels hanging out by the shipwrecks and artificial reefs off the coast.

Captiva has captivated the imagination of snowbirds from the north, and for good reason. With average highs in the mid-70s Fahrenheit in January, winters here are more than tolerable. Spring and fall are nice, too, with temperatures in the 80s and the sea only a few degrees cooler. Summers are hot, humid, and buggy, with highs in the 90s, so pack your swimsuit, because you’ll be spending most of your time in the Gulf of Mexico, enjoying the 87-degree water. On the plus side: fewer crowds and lower prices.

Cayo Costa

You can get to the untouched island of Cayo Costa only by boat or kayak, and a 30-minute cruise from Captiva makes for a nice day trip. The native Calusa used this seven-mile-long islet as fishing grounds; today you can visit for a day of shelling at the beach while keeping an eye out for manatees, porpoises, and sea turtles frolicking in the Gulf waves.

J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge

With more than 240 avian species inhabiting this wildlife refuge in various seasons, this is a birdwatcher’s paradise. Come at low tide to see snowy egrets, tricolored herons, white ibises, and spectacular roseate spoonbills hunting for their dinner. You can drive through the refuge, tour it via a 90-minute tram ride, or rent a kayak, canoe, or stand-up paddleboard and explore freely on the water.

Sanibel Island

A short, 15-minute drive south brings you to family-friendly Sanibel Island, famous for its sunsets, beautiful beaches, and abundant sea shells. Shell collectors from all over come to comb the sands of Bowman’s Beach for sun-bleached cockles and conches. Be sure to visit the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum, home to some of the largest mollusks ever found.