Sanibel Gateway and Causeway

To escape the cold weather, DH and I recently traveled to the Fort Myers area.  We flew on JetBlue points (the only way to get to Florida!)  After much research and internal debate, I had booked the Hampton Inn & Suites Fort Myers Beach/Sanibel Gateway.  It turned out to be a great decision and we thoroughly enjoyed its central location and ease of access.  It is one of the top hotels in the Fort Myers Beach area and you can read more on TripAdvisor.

A lovely view of sunset from the pool deck.

There is a Walmart literally next door to the hotel and it is just a couple of miles down the road to Fort Myers Beach barrier island and a couple of miles from the Sanibel Outlets if you like to shop.

Another couple of miles past the outlets is the Sanibel Causeway, a manmade series of bridges and islands that connects the mainland to Sanibel Island.  The entire causeway is three miles long from end to end, and currently has a $6 toll in effect for island-bound vehicles only. The bridges are not individually named, and are simply referred to as bridges A, B, and C.  The second island has restroom facilities, as well.  There are countless places on the islands to pull off and wander along the water looking for the ever present shells of SW Florida.  You can face the open sea on the southeast sides or the quiet San Carlos Bay on the northwest sides of the islands

Between the sun, breezes, pelicans and passing boats, the Sanibel Causeway was our favorite part of the whole trip and we happily paid the toll just to hang out on these islands.