Boating and Fishing

Captiva Kayak (11401 Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva, 239/395-2925, rates vary) offers a range of half-day and multiple-day rentals that include car racks, as well as two-hour guided tours of the Buck Key kayak trail and sunset kayak tours. Sailboat rentals are also available.

Tarpon Bay Explorers (900 Tarpon Bay Rd., 239/472-8900, fishing charters from $175 for two people, kayak/canoe rentals from $20 per 2 hours) is located within the J. N. “Ding” Darling Wildlife Refuge and is the company that provides tram tours of the Refuge’s wildlife trail. The company also offers a couple of guided kayak and canoe tours, fishing supplies, and kayak, canoe, and pontoon rentals. At the company’s main location they have a gift shop and visitors center with a touch tank that allows kids (and adults) to get hands-on with hermit crabs, urchins, sea stars, and more.

New Moon Sailing (15951 Captiva Dr., Captiva, 239/395-1782, rates vary by destination) has half-day and full-day sailing cruises that take passengers into Pine Island Sound, out into the Gulf, or up to Cayo Costa State Park. Destinations are determined by what the passengers have in mind, whether it’s a quick three-hour circumnavigation or an extended weeklong expedition. Lessons are also available.

Golf and Tennis

There’s not much golfing to be found on Sanibel or Captiva, but this being Florida, it’s still available. The Beachview Golf & Tennis Club (1100 Par View Dr., Sanibel, 239/472-2626, from $40) and the top-rated Dunes Golf & Tennis Club (949 Sand Castle Rd., Sanibel, 239/472-3355, from $25) both offer 18 holes of golf; the Dunes has 13 tennis courts compared to the Beachview’s five.

Biking

There are ample bike trails throughout Sanibel, and the flat surfaces make biking on the island far preferable to driving. Billy’s Rentals (1470 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, 239/472-5248, bike rentals from $5, scooter rentals from $40) has bikes, surreys, and scooters for rent and also offers Segway tours of the island.

On Captiva, head for YOLO Watersports & Jim’s Rentals (11534 Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva, 239/472-9656, bike rentals from $8 for 4 hours, scooter rentals from $5 for 1 hour), where you can rent everything from bikes and scooters to golf carts, beach gear, and Jet Skis.

© Jason Ferguson from Moon Florida, 1st Edition