Captiva · Historic resort
’Tween Waters Island Resort
A long-running resort between the Gulf and the bay on Captiva, with a marina and sunsets.
Official details for ’Tween Waters Island ResortFlorida · Couples · Two nights
Sanibel & Captiva
Shells, wildlife and island sunsets.
Sanibel and Captiva are barrier islands off Fort Myers, famous for some of the best shelling in the world. Bike the island paths, drive or kayak the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, walk the beach doing the “Sanibel stoop,” and watch the sun set over the Gulf from Captiva. The islands are still rebuilding after 2022’s Hurricane Ian, so check that places are open.
ShellingWildlifeIsland sunsets
YOUR ROUTEKMYR to KFMY
STRAIGHT-LINE DISTANCE~452 NM
ILLUSTRATIVE FLIGHT TIME~3 hr 16 min
WEEKEND STYLETwo nights · Rental car + bikes
Time illustration: direct distance at 150 KTAS plus 15 minutes for departure and arrival, matching the discovery page. Use ForeFlight for your actual flight plan.
01 / Aviation & getting around
Land at Page Field, 40 minutes from the islands.
KFMY, Page Field, is a towered general aviation airport in Fort Myers, about 40 minutes from Sanibel across the causeway.
The FBO
Base Operations at Page Field
239-590-66005200 Captain Channing Page Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33907
Self-serve 100LL is listed as available around the clock. Ask about rental cars, parking and fees. No live fuel price is shown.
Southwest Florida International’s Class C airspace lies just to the south. Summer brings afternoon storms; hurricane season runs June to November. Review the sectional and current NOTAMs.
02 / Where to stay
Island resorts.
Rates and availability need travel dates; winter is peak season.
Captiva · Resort
South Seas
A large island resort at the north end of Captiva, rebuilt and reopened after Hurricane Ian.
Official details for South SeasSanibel · Beachfront
Island Inn
A beachfront inn on Sanibel with cottages and a relaxed feel.
Official details for Island Inn03 / Where to eat
Two dinners. One famous dessert.
Reserve dinners in season.
Friday dinner · Sunset
The Mucky Duck
A Captiva pub right on the beach, famous for its sunsets.
Official details for The Mucky DuckSaturday dinner · Captiva
The Bubble Room
A quirky Captiva institution full of vintage toys, known for its giant cakes.
Official details for The Bubble RoomLunch · Sanibel
Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille
A casual island spot named for novelist Randy Wayne White’s character.
Official details for Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille04 / Things to do
Shells, birds and bikes.
Slow island days.
J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge
Drive, bike or kayak through mangroves full of wading birds.
Refuge informationShelling
Bowman’s Beach and Blind Pass are famous for shells, especially after a storm or at low tide.
Sanibel Lighthouse
An 1884 lighthouse at the island’s eastern tip, with a fishing pier.
Bike the islands
More than 25 miles of shared-use paths across Sanibel.
05 / What’s happening
Sometimes the season is the reason to fly.
This prototype links to the local visitor site. It does not yet match events to your travel dates.
March
Sanibel Shell Festival
A long-running festival of shells and shell art.
December–April
High season
Warm, dry and busy.
Summer & fall
Quiet season
Lower rates, afternoon storms and hurricane season.
Concerts, festivals & local happenings
Check the local calendar when choosing a weekend, and confirm dates and tickets with the organizer.
06 / Suggested itinerary
Friday in. Sunday home.
A sample Friday–Sunday weekend: shells, wildlife and two island dinners. No bookings or availability confirmed.
Day trip version
Just for the day
- Arrive
Land at KFMY early and drive to Sanibel.
- Midday
“Ding” Darling and lunch on the island.
- Afternoon
Shelling, then back across the causeway.
FRI
Arrive & Captiva
- Arrival
Land at KFMY, subject to weather and your actual flight plan, and pick up the car.
- Afternoon
Cross the causeway and check in.
- Evening
Sunset and dinner at The Mucky Duck.
SAT
Shells & birds
- Morning
Shelling at low tide, then “Ding” Darling.
- Afternoon
Lunch at Doc Ford’s and the Shell Museum.
- Evening
Dinner and cake at The Bubble Room.
SUN
An easy departure
- Morning
A bike ride to the lighthouse.
- Before leaving
Allow time for the causeway and the FBO.
- Fly home
Summer storms build in the afternoon; leave early.
Longer stay · Add a day
With an extra day
- Morning
A kayak trip through the mangroves.
- Afternoon
A boat to Cabbage Key for lunch.
- Evening
Sunset on Captiva.
07 / Good to know
Keep the weekend easy to change.
These details make the difference between an appealing list and a usable getaway.
Book in this order
Lodging and a car first, then dinners.
After Hurricane Ian
Some places are still rebuilding. Confirm they are open.
Causeway toll
The Sanibel Causeway charges a toll.
Hurricane season
June through November. Keep plans flexible.
Reviewed · Destination 57
Reviewed November 3, 2026.
Picks and links reviewed by WingAway Weekends. Hours, prices, menus and availability change often, so confirm directly with each place before booking. Spotted something out of date, or have a favorite we missed? Email us at [email protected].
WingAway Weekends helps you discover the destination. Use ForeFlight and current official aviation information for route, performance, weather, NOTAMs and preflight decisions. Flight planning and PIC responsibility stay with the pilot.