Day trip- Sanibel too far? About This Page:

[lablady]

We would like to visit Sanibel, but I don't want to pay to stay the night there when we already have a house near WDW. Has anyone done this as a day trip before? All we HAVE to do in Sanibel is go shelling on the beach. I could get everyone motivated by 6am for the drive. I was figuring about 3 hours, but the Sanibel site says 4 hours from Orlando. I'm hoping that's from Orlando, not WDW. We're even further west at our rental home.

Any info would be very much appreciated!

Thanks!

[marianne e cornett]

Let's see. It takes us 1 1/2 hours from Bradenton to WDW. Then 1/2 hour to Venice. Then 1 hour from Venice to Sanabel. That would be 3 hours by my reconning. And it is freeway all the way (til the Sanibel exit anyway). I do think they measure alot of those miles from city center to city center. And downtown Orlando is a good piece further. But do you want to really drive 6 hours in one day with a car full? You could also shell on Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria Island which is half the distance. It is particularly famous for its sand dollars. Then shop at St. Armand's Circle and eat at the Columbia Restaurant (fabulous Cuban food) before heading back. Or if you want seafood eat at the Beachhouse outside on the deck or eat at Anna Maria Oyster Bar (2 convenient locations). OR Phillippi Creek and then go next door and get a free little ice cream cone. Lots of great places around there. There is even an awesome Amish restaurant. Let me know if you want more info. Bigred P.S. We are staying 3 days on Siesta Key and eating at the famous Broken Egg where Dick Vitale eats breakfast almost every morning (unless he's doing a basketball game). We are here alot because our son and his family live in Bradenton.

[ilovedisney0_0]

You have to talk to Kim (Stripes), she is a fellow PP, but also the administrator of a site called Best of Sanibel Captiva. Here is their link;

Sanibel Island & Captiva Island - The Best Vacations in Florida

My DD and I are planning a weekend trip there after WDW. She was so helpful and wonderful, and she answered a zillion questions for me! I mapquested it, and it is 3 - 3 1/2 hrs from CBR. I can't wait to check it out!

[Jenny Pooh]

It would be closer to 4 - 5 hours from Orlando. And it's a loooong boring ride. Last winter I drove from Tampa to Bonita Springs (next door to Fort Myers/Sanibel) quite a few times and that was a good 2 1/2 - 3 hours. Traffic is crazy in Tampa & Fort Myers, like it takes a 1/2 hour to go a mile type stuff. The shells are incredible (go after a full moon and you'll find the best shell EVER) but you can get some pretty darn good ones in the Tampa Bay area which is 1 1/2hours from WDW.