My wife and I will vacation on Captiva Island in July. We would like to spend one day of the vacation, and boat cruise to one of the smaller islands perhaps Cabbage Key, Useppa, N. Captiva . Has anyone visited one of the islands around Sanibel & Captiva ? Which did you enjoy most ? Thanks... Walter

Have been to Cabbage Key many times but only for lunch at the restaurant. I don't know about any beachs there. Better yet rent a boat for the day go out of the pass toward N Captiva and find any place to drop anchor for swimming and great shelling. You can also go up the intercoastal to Cabbage Key from there. The Gulf is usually calm and you will often see dolphins and turtles etc. along the beach.

If you're staying at South Seas Plantation, there are cruises from there to Useppa and Cabbage key, otherwise you can go to McCarthy's for arrangements. Don't miss the Mucky Duck. Bellini's has great food but not cheap. If you want any more infro, e-mail me. It's one of our favorite spots.

you can do all 3 in one day from Sanibel or Captiva. There are many places to rent a small boat for the journey and you want one with a shallow draft as the Pine Island Sound where all these islands are located is very shallow. Cabbage Key does have rooms for overnight but they are primitive. Useppa is private and you need to make arrangements to visit. Not worth the effort as far as I am concerned: very expensive homes, mediocre restaurant. Cabbage Key restaurant makes ok hamburgers (Cheeseburgers in Paradise? just one of many restaurants claiming to be inspiration for the Buffet song) and it is fun to poke around this tiny island with it's old Calusa Indian Shell mound. N. Captiva has a bunch of restaurants on it's small harbor. Many social issues on this island regarding daytrippers using the beach as the island is mainly private homes and monthly rentals. The loveliest beach is a little bit north, actually the next barrier island north of North Captiva called Cayo Costa which is a state park with a natural beach and basically untouched...including no water, or facilities. Locals (me, for instance) think it is best and it takes an effort to get there but it is lovely to see what beaches were like before development.

Any more recent opinions?

Anything more recent?

Any comments on unique hotels in the general area of Ft.Meyers but not on Sanibel or Captiva?

Gasparilla Club?

Palm Island Resort?