Angelia

And is there an inexpensive way to get from Ft. Myers airport to Captiva? I hear there is a car service for about $60 but wonder if there are any shuttle buses?

salgal

A popular place to eat on Captiva is the Bubble Room. There are more places to eat in Sanibel, however. YOu can drive or bike through Darling Wildlife Area, relax on the beach, and find tons of seashells.

LilMsFoodie

I see shuttles all the time around town so I imagine there is one for you, especially if you are staying at South Seas.

The charms of the Bubble Room escape me. People rave about the desserts but you seldom see a comment about anything else.

Other places to eat are: Key Lime Bistro (which is excellent), RC Otters (a little more family oriented), Kings Crown (a night for just the two of you with special cuisine), the Mucky Duck for lunch and outdoors for cocktails (I think dinner is not so great here anymore), walk further down the beach and go to the Captiva Inn at Tween Waters.

LMF

AAFrequentFlyer

I agree with LMF. The Bubble Room is way over rated. I didn't think it was good back in the early 90's and I don't think it was ever good. The decor is interesting, but the food is nothing to write home about.

Captiva Island is a very quiet, totally laid back paradise. If you choose to stay there, prepare yourself for a very relaxing vacation. I would not count on GREAT restarants/nightlife. There are some very nice ones, but most are very casual.
Sanibel Island has little more choice, and that brings me to another subject. You make it sound like you don't want to rent a car. Well, you could have a nice time without one, but you definitely will feel like you're stuck after few days. To get to Captiva you will need yo go through Sanibel. The trip is about 20 miles from the bridge. If yo don't have a car, you will be restricted to Captiva ONLY, which is fine if you are looking for a very laid back, casual, beachy vacation. On the other hand if you are looking for some nice places to go to, some shopping, or just a different atmosphere you sould consider renting a car.
As far as I know, there are no shuttles between the airport and Captiva. South Seas Plantation may have one, but you will need to stay there to use it.
Car is a must have for a stay on Captiva IMHO.

Tandoori_Girl

A fun thing to do at Captiva: there is a company on the bay side of the island that rents sea kayaks. A short paddle from Captiva is a mangrove island. In the 1960s, they made a misquito cut down the middle of the mangrove island (to drain it) -- this is now a great place to kayak. Full of lots of little critters (racoons, birds) that make it a fun, effortless trip. I had never been kayaking when I went on this trip so take my word that anyone can do this trip.

weenie57

I second the kayak rental. It is totally fun and VERY easy. Anyone can do it. Rent single kayaks not the double ones. The double ones are actually harder to handle (although they make look easier). Bring binoculars if you have them - the birds are great, although the big ones you'll see easily even without aid.

Tandoori_Girl

Forgot to mention -- take a day trip across the bridge into Ft. Myers and visit the Henry Ford and Thomas Edison homes. Check the tourist info area when you get onto Sanibel Island, it's just on your right. They have lots of information and are very helpful.

LilMsFoodie

Henry Ford and Edison estates are under total renovation for the next year or so. The grounds are open and certain areas of the homes and the gardens are fascinating and abolutely a trip in themselves. It is worth the journey just to see the enormous banyan tree near the museum entrance. Awesome sight. Edison, Ford and Firestone amused themselves here by searching for alternatives to rubber for tires (goldenrod!) and the grounds have all sorts of interesting trees. Fantastical things actually.

Also check out the old sleepy downtown of Fort Myers...lots of pubs and little restaurants and odd shops. In a few years it will be urbanized into another Naples. 12 highrises are in construction or permit on the river as we speak. Varians and the Verandah are the better restaurants in town. Verandah is in two ramshackle old houses with huge live oaks over the terraces and Varians is on the Patio de Leon. LMF

KAMG

I am headed to Sanibel for a friend's wedding next month and am sad to hear that the Bubble Room is no longer receiving rave reviews - though all I really need is bubble bread and red velvet cake! I've been thinking about it for months since I booked the flights.

General Sanibel/Captiva comments: My husband worked at South Seas with the bride to be in the mid-90's, and all I remember about the place is that it is a rich man's hideout. I hope I don't step on anyone's toes, as it is a VERY beautiful place, but to do anything there you need $$$, and I agree with AAFF that a car is a must on either island.

One great thing we did was rent Jet skis and take a tour of the nearby islands - beautful! The sunset cruise out of S. Seas is also beautiful.

For restaurants: I second the King's Crown, but only if you have a small fortune to spend. I was unimpressed with the Mucky Duck, loved Bellini's and won't miss drinks/hanging with the locals at the Pink Flamingo.

Happy travels!

AAFrequentFlyer

KAMG,

Is Bellini's still around? I have not been there for years, but always had a good time at Bellini's.

KAMG

Whoops, Lazy Flamingo is what I meant. And I just saw Bellini's on a website, so I'm making the assumption that they are still open.

Unfortunately I'm only there Fri-Mon, with much of that planned for wedding activities, the only thing I will not miss is the aforementioned bubble bread and red velvet cake - addictive!

LilMsFoodie

Re: Bellinis...must have been a very old website because Bellinis was torn down about two years ago, maybe more and a bunch of cottages (2 million dollar type) have replaced it. They are all tarted up like Disney world and are in rental program. Bellinis was on Andy Rosse Lane.

I've never known anyone who truly liked the Bubble Room for their food. Just the memories of a happy vacation. Sometimes memories are enough. LMF

Radiopam

Green Flash is excellent and fairly priced. On the pricey side but very good is Mad Hatter and also Sunset Grill. RC Otter's is inexpensive and decent. I don't get the appeal of Bubble Room either....we found it overpriced and the food mediocre. I guess everyone should go there once just to check it out but once was enough for me and my husband.

Candy210

There is a shuttle .I think it's called San/Cap Airport shuttle. Car rentals are pretty cheap in Florida(right at Fort Myers airport). We enjoy the Hungry Huron restaurant on Sanibel, The Lazy Flamingo(Sanibel), & the Mucky Duck(Captiva). We've always had great meals at all the restaurants. Ask for a window table at the Mucky Duck for a sunset dinner. Absolutely beautiful(also folk singer outside by the picnic tables).Some of our favorite pasttimes-enjoying & swimming in the beautiful clear water at the beach in Captiva. Collecting shells on Sanibel(one of the top 10 places in the world for shelling), Kayaking,fishing , taking a boat trip to Cabbage Key for a Cheeseburger in Paradise(what Jimmy Buffet wrote his song about/not to mention seeing all the $$$$$ that is taped to the entire room by visitors).It's always fun to take a day trip to Fort Meyers Beach & rent jet skis,sip drinks on the beach in front of the Lani Kai(Barmaids visit you on the beach & theres live music), or go shopping at the many stores on Sanibel or the outlet stores nearby. Have fun. Can't wait to go back again this year!

maxie

We've gone to Sanibel & Captiva many times. If it were me (and it will be in July) I would definitely rent a car. You can ride bikes all over Sanibel, but Captiva is not really bike friendly. There are no bike paths, you will have to ride with the traffic. Captiva is a wonderful place to relax, it's quiet, very laid back, the beach is clean, and you can shell forever. There's not much nightlife and I don't consider any of the restaurants to be great. Many people speak of the Bubble Room, and for some reason my family has a need to go there on every visit, the desserts are huge and the bubble bread is good but the entrees are so-so. Actually Sanibel offers more activities, shopping & restaurants than Captiva. You can visit the wildlife refuge, there's a shell museum, and the Old Schoolhouse Theater puts on a pretty good show if you like live theater. If you have a car you can enjoy both islands.

LilMsFoodie

Captiva Nightlife: Is it an Oxymoron?

Well, there is NasCrab at the Tween Waters resort. The stupidest thing you will ever do but everyone ends up having fun. There is an early family version and a later "r" rated version. Crab races.

There is live music at several places but nothing too much.

There is a Donald Duck imitating guitarist at the Mucky Duck. Does nothing for me.

There is a hook that you can try to toss a ring over at the Lazy Flamingo. I watch John and Caroline Bissett Kennedy play this game one night when they stopped in for beer and oysters at Cap San village. (which is actually Sanibel)

There is your "night life". Many like it and come here for the change of pace.

LMF

AAFrequentFlyer

I became an expert of the Lazy Flamingo hook game back in the mid-90's. I should take a drive there one day to see if I still got it.

Tat's why I suggested a car rental in my first post. Sanibel does have some nightlife. There was/is a restaurant that turns into a live venue in the evenings(use to have Reggae nights on Sundays). There was/is a comedy club. Theater and also couple of late night bars.

Without public transportation and the drive to the nightlife area of Sanibel being around 10-15 miles, the taxis get very expensive.

Kay2

I just stayed at South Seas on Captiva (unfortunately). Apple transportation offered the $60 for up to 3, $20 for each additional in van to/from airport. I called a day in advance for the service--they had a van leaving SS an hour earlier than I wanted, but I could share with 7 others who had already booked and just pay $20.

When time arrived, the party of 7 didn't show--they had checked out and disappeared. The driver could only offer to take me to the airport for the $60 rather than the $20--earlier than I had planned, but now too late to call any other service. I tried to get some compromise between the promised $20 and the now $60, but no one back at base nor driver authorized to do anything except take me for $60 or leave me on the Island.

You would be totally trapped without a car. Even within SS and into Captiva you had to drive, ride a crowded trolley, or walk along the road.