Things to Do in Captiva

Things to Do in Captiva - Okay, so you've decided to vacation on our island paradise and now you want to know what you can do for fun!

Captiva is known for its beautiful beaches but relaxing on the beach day after day may not be for everyone.

Fortunately, if you like boating, water sports, shopping, dining, sightseeing, and nature, you'll be able to mix in some activities with those beach days.

If you like the idea of staying in one spot, 2 of Captiva's resorts, South Seas and Tween Waters Inn, have all of these activities within their properties. And, if you don't mind traveling off the island, I have even more ideas for those who really like to go sightseeing and exploring.

On Captiva

Captiva Beaches - First and foremost of the Captiva attractions are the beaches! Captiva has amazing, uncrowded, and pristine western-facing beaches on the Gulf of Mexico. That means white sand, lots of shells, warm waters, and gentle waves. I love, love, love going out to Captiva to spend the day enjoying surf and sand!

Captiva Restaurants - Who wants to cook while they're on vacation ........ and you've gotta eat! Captiva has some terrific restaurants from casual to fine dining, with outdoor dining and live music, on the beach or under a tiki hut, serving up delicious seafood, burgers, French cuisine, Mexican, and American favorites.

Captiva Boat Rentals - Beach ....... check! Food ......... check! Fun on the water ......... check! A Captiva vacation isn't complete with out getting on a boat and there are so many ways you can do that at various price points. You can rent stand-up paddle boards, waverunners, sailboats, banana boats, kayaks, and canoes. Or, hire a guide and go fishing. I definitely recommend that you take a cruise ......... you can go shelling on Cayo Costa, or take a lunch cruise to Cabbage Key, dolphin or sunset cruise, and lots more. If you're feeling particularly adventurous, go parasailing ......... we did and it's so much fun! Check out our adventure through YOLO Watersports.

Captiva Shopping - Captiva has shops, boutiques, and 2 small strip shopping centers. You'll find clothing boutiques, beach gear stores, art galleries, and gift and souvenir shops, along with grocery stores and delis.

Chapel by the Sea - Take some time to stop by the Chapel's cemetery on the beach. It's very interesting to read the gravestones and see what mementos have been left behind. It's a great spot for a wedding, and you'll want to go Captiva's Holiday Village festivities in early December.

Off Captiva

Next door to Captiva is Sanibel Island, so if you don't want to venture too far, there are more restaurants, shopping plazas, several nature centers, and beaches to explore there. If beaches are your thing, you may also want to check out Ft Myers Beach, and Lover's Key, which aren't too far away.

For professional sports, and depending on the time of the year, you can go to Ft Myers for Spring Training Baseball games with the Boston Red Sox or the Minnesota Twins ........ or even our local teams, Ft Myers Miracle baseball and Florida Everblades ice hockey. You can even take a shuttle bus from Ft Myers to football games.

For art and culture go to the Naples Museum of Art, Naples Botanical Gardens, or the Fort Myers Art and Music Walks. For theater, Sanibel has a playhouse ........ and there are the Barbara B Mann, Broadway Palm, and Murder Mystery Dinner Train theaters in Fort Myers.

For wildlife, go to J Ding Darling on Sanibel, the Naples Zoo, Manatee Park Ft Myers, The Butterfly Estates in Ft Myers, or the Burrowing Owl Festival in Cape Coral.

If you end up going off the island, you'll be dying to get back to the fun and relaxation and all the fun things to do in Captiva!