Fort Myers & Sanibel/Lee County Traveler's Guide 2008 - (Page 42) ®® B E A U T I F U L B E A C H E S A N D W AT E R W O N D E R on these barrier islands are groomed only by nature, so wildlife feels right at home. Beaches here are made up of sand composed of billions and billions of crushed shells, which crunch underfoot. stero Island beaches are a study in contrasts: wide stretches of white, powder-soft sand and a gently sloping shoreline abut a 1940s beach town gone 21st century. Brightly colored umbrellas propped in the sands here shelter moms and dads watching kids at play, and a Fort Myers Beach lively scene visits the area by night. Times Square, a pedestrian shopping and ne of the most dining area does double duty: by day a popular beachside activities on The Beaches of sandy lunch spot and by night a jumpFort Myers & Sanibel ing-off point for an evening of festivities. is the collection Festivals abound here, and two notables are the Fort Myers Beach Shrimp Festival of seashells, or at family-friendly Lynn Hall Memorial shelling, as it’s more commonly known. Park and the American Sandsculpting Aficionados come from Championship Festival, which attracts competitors from all over the world – all over the world to comb the beaches for their favorites, and it’s not hard to see and spectators from near and far. Pop how this passion can turn into an obses- music emanates from the bars, restausion. There are shells everywhere on area rants and shops lining Fort Myers Beach, but public beach accesses, marked by beaches – just step out on the sands – white banners extending south along but Sanibel and Estero Boulevard, Captiva islands get lead the way to more the lion’s share. Take just step out tranquil sands. Sand the Sanibel Causeway quality varies, but is ($6) to access both on the sands generally white and islands’ beaches. there are powder soft. Lovers Geography here Key State Park proplays a key role, as shells vides couples – and shells from the warm everywhere families – a true castCaribbean roll up the away experience. mildly sloping underRide the trolley or walk the boardwalks sea shelf, and gentle wave action keeps over tidal lagoons to a recently renourshells intact. Find the best shell speciished, white sandy beach, complete with mens early in the morning, before the fledgling sea oats. Sand is soft and powselection is picked over. Shellers share the beach with nature lovers, as beaches dery. Find the county’s only dog beach E O {} PAGE 42
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