pixelsherpa

exploring options for a beach getaway in early April, we are considering Captiva on the advice of a friend of my mothers. Now she is second guessing it, suspecting it might be too small or "hokey" for some reason. Looking for Captiva yays or nays, and other ideas for good places to consider.

Key "Wants":
Looking for shorter flight times (under 4-5 hrs from Minneapolis)
Must have modern healthcare facilities (family health issues)
Nice beach for swimming
Good Restaurants
Excursions, Activiites, sight seeing

Attending:
My mother (adventurous, fun), my family (wife, now 3yr old and 7 yr old), My brother with his wife and 3 year old.

Last year we really enjoyed Cabo San Lucas, looking for another easy beach vacation with plenty to do for kids, nature walks, activities are a bonus. We prefer to enjoy doing things with the kids than put them in a daycare and only enjoy ourselves while vacationing.

Thanks!

garyt22

Sanibel and Captiva are connected islands and there is plenty to do without leaving the islands... nature at Ding Darling Preserve, dolphins near the beach...

Regional Health center is 20 minutes away (enroute to airport)

the attraction for kids can be the shelling along the beaches... my kids spent hours looking for their collections... beaches are great, food is great, both family and nice dining ... if you want a resort, look into South Seas plantation...

It is not commercialized like Cabo... much more laid back

pixelsherpa

great - thanks for the review and advice. We heard the shelling was great!

Ackislander

Umm, I might take the 20 minutes to the health center with a grain of salt, unless there is a center on Sanibel. I hope other posters can give more information, but I couldn't make it from Captiva to Sanibel much less over the bridge in 20 minutes.

Between sAnibel and Captiva, there is plenty to do and plenty of places to eat and shop.

garyt22

my bad... the health center is 20 minutes from the bridge... its hard to be exact on time if you don't know where they are staying... also its about 12 hours on foot, 3 hours by camel, 7 minutes by helicopter, and if you've fallen and can't get up. just kiss your a$$ goodbye...

pixelsherpa

..and to clarify - the distance to the healthcare is less of a concern than just having an "americanized" option for medical services. Dietary restrictions and the comfort of knowing adequate medical care is within reach is the idea. Meaning a remote island, or deep in Mexico would be less likely options.

Anyone have other suggestions in terms of other places to consider?

MollyinFL

Can't agree more with garyt2, I have spent the last 4 summers vacationing on Sanibel, my grandbabies love the gulf, it is smooth and easy for them to play in, the shelling is fantastic and I can't imagine that there is not good medical care close by. Can't wait to go back this summer.

italylover2004

We frequent the Seaside/Watercolor area on the Florida Panhandle. We usually park our car and don't touch it all week. We walk or bike to beaches, restaurants and all activities. I don't know where the closest medical facility is, but Panama City is only about 30-40 minutes away, so I assume there is something there.

JeanH

Last December we split eight days between Captiva/Sanibel (stayed on Captiva) and Anna Maria Island off the coast by Bradenton/Sarasota.

We preferred Anna Maria. The sand and beaches were nicer, although not nearly as many shells. There's a free trolley that runs the length of the island.

It seemed more laid back, more local flavor. You can get to the mainland in just a few minutes, rather than the potentially long drive from Captiva.