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Compass Pointe 181 - Sanibel Island, FL

Compass Pointe 181 ****  Gulf Front 3 bedroom 3 bath condo on Sanibel Island!!
Call VIP Vacation Rentals  for more information about rentals 800 237 7526   or visit our website
http://www.vip-vacationrentals.com/sanibel.aspx

The upscale condo is beautifully decorated with 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms with den and an attached cabana offering additional sleeping arrangements. The cabana opens up to a white sandy beach just steps away.   Enjoy the view of the Gulf of Mexico from the large lanai.http://www.vip-vacationrentals.com/rns/search/PropertyDetail.aspx?ID=1608

Compass Pointe 181 Sanibel Island Florida - VIP Vacation Rentals

Ding Darling Days - Sanibel Island Oct.16-22, 2011

22^nd Annual J.N. “Ding” Darling Days, Sanibel Island

Oct 16-22  2011

239 472 1100Ding Darling Days - Sanibel Island October 2011

www.dingdarlingdays.com

Ding Darling Days include a week of eco-activities with free refuge tram tours, live wildlife presentations, kid’s activities, federal Duck Stamp artist presentation, art day, family day and more. Birding and kayaking tours, environmental speakers, a nature photography contest, and Junior Duck Stamp Awards will fill the week with environmental activities for all ages. The festival celebrates the birthday of the refuge’s namesake, conservationist and Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist Jay N. “Ding” Darling. 

Sanibel completing bike path to Captiva

SANIBEL ISLAND, FL -

Work began on Sanibel to complete its bike paths all the way to Captiva. Right now, bikers and pedestrians need to share the road with cars from Pine Avenue to Blind Pass.

"You're in the roadway. (You're an) easy target," Fabienne Hegedus of Captiva said. "You have to watch where you're going and watch for bikes, motorcycles, especially the trucks, because if you're walking with a bush in front of you, they can't see you."

The remaining several blocks of the 15-mile bike path will connect Sanibel with Captiva.

"It's a real selling point for those visitors seeking to come to Sanibel for their vacation," said Sanibel City Manager Judy Zimomra on Tuesday. "This fills that very important safety link between two islands."

The project costs $80,196.80, according to Sanibel city officials.  It is expected to be finished by the end of the month.

. Sanibel completing Bike Path to Captiva

  http://www.abc-7.com/story/15454364/2011/09/13/sanibel-completing-bike-path-to-captiva

Sanibel and Captiva Islands rank in Trip Advisors Top 25 Beaches

SANIBEL  and Captiva ISLANDS, FL (Money Magazine) - Suggesting Florida for the family's winter getaway probably won't garner you a reputation as a discriminating traveler -- until, that is, you mention the islands of Sanibel and Captiva.
Sanibel and Captiva Islands rank in Trip Advisors Top 25 Beaches

Located on the Gulf Coast, just 45 minutes from Fort Myers airport via a narrow three-mile causeway, Sanibel and its smaller sister Captiva are not unknown -- the islands have long been considered one of the best places in the world for shelling -- but news of their tranquil beauty, pristine white sand beaches and laid-back charm has spread primarily by word of mouth.

Sanibel and Captiva are a beach lover's paradise. And thanks to visionary land-use regulations -- no building along Sanibel's coast can be taller than a palm tree, and half of the land is a federal wildlife reserve -- it might just stay that way. Together the islands offer 17 miles of public beaches and an endless array of activities. Among the most popular: cruising Sanibel's 26 miles of paved bike paths and J.N. "Ding" Darlings' Wildlife Drive ($1 per bike, $5 per car), a five-mile loop that winds through the refuge's 7,000 acres of mangrove forest. You can see more than 50 species of birds in the winter. And there's a new $3.3 million wildlife education center with interactive exhibits that all but ensures your kids will enjoy learning about what they see.

The islands are also dotted with art galleries and studios that lend themselves to browsing. If you're more interested in trying a new sport, go windsurfing atCauseway Beach, where plenty of shops will rent you a board and provide a quick lesson. Or go deep-sea fishing. Given the variety of packages (available from half-day to whole day, from snapper to tarpon) we recommend you check with the chamber of commerce for a list of operators that will best suit your needs.

If you rent a place from VIP, as most visitors do, stop at Bailey's or Jerrys, just over the causeway on Sanibel. Folks in the know say they are the best places to stock up on groceries and all of your island needs.  

http://www.vip-vacationrentals.com/travel.aspx

2012 'Shellabration!' and 75th Annual Show

The islands of Sanibel and Captiva will be going "shell crazy" in 2012 with the arrival of the 75th Annual Shell Fair & Show and "Shellabration!" scheduled to take place from Feb. 26 through March 4.

Because of the barrier islands unique boomerang shape and east-west orientation rather than the usual north-south positioning, the islands stick out in the Gulf of Mexico and act like a giant scoop for shells.

Shell collecting has been a favorite pastime for the residents and visitors to these islands for many decades and 75 years ago the first Shell Fair was held by winter residents to display their beautiful collections.

Every year since, the annual Shell Fair & Show has continued to draw visitors, shell collectors and shell crafters together from around the world to display and admire shell collections and shell art.

As a tribute to the 75th Annual Shell Fair & Show, the entire community of Sanibel and Captiva is planning events and promotions that are shell-orientated, including:

Shell Couture - A fashion show "Project Runway"-style, with shell couture, at The Sanctuary Golf Club

The Sanibel Stoop - A gathering of shell seekers (or anyone who wants to have fun) at the beach doing the "Sanibel Stoop" to set a Guinness World Record. Event will be staged on Feb. 17.

Mollusk dining at local restaurants, including Traditions on the Beach (host of the opening gala on Feb. 26)

Shell book author receptions and signings

Shelling trips to remote island beaches

A special collector's edition shell-oriented fine jewelry

Collect-a-Bead shell necklaces

http://www.captivasanibel.com/page/content.detail/id/517716/Details--activities-announced-for-2012--Shellabration---and-75th-Annual-Show.html?nav=5060Sanibel Shellabration

‘Ding’ Darling celebrates debut of new stamp

On Sept. 24, the entire nation will participate in National Public Land's Day including Sanibel Island's J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge. As the nation's largest, single day volunteer event for public lands, the event calls for people of all ages to connect to America's great outdoors and care for the country's public lands.

"National Public Lands Day is a day for us all to celebrate conservation lands that are preserved for all of us to enjoy," said Supervisory Refuge Ranger Toni Westland. "Here at 'Ding' Darling Refuge visitors can come out to the refuge free of charge, attend a program and enjoy their public land."

"Bring your smart phone to get started by a ranger on the new trail," said Westland. "Meet the ranger in the education center to caravan out to the trail."

To honor the debut of "Save the Vanishing Species" stamp featuring the Amur tiger cub, J.N. "Ding" Darling is partnering with Sanibel (A) Postmaster Debbie Howard to raise awareness of the fund-raising postage stamp.

http://www.captivasanibel.com/page/content.detail/id/517741/-Ding--Darling-celebrates-National-Public-Lands-Day--debut-of-new-stamp.html?nav=5051Ding Darling Stamp debutDing Darling Debuts new Stamp