After the beaches, nature is the biggest attraction to the islands, with the second most-visited spot at the J. N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel. CROW and SCCF are the two other top destinations for visitors interested in learning more about the local environment. Shell-lovers, of course, head to the Bailey Matthews National Shell Museum. The other important...

Restaurants, like the tides, come and go, ebb and flow on Sanibel and Captiva islands. Some classics – such as the Mucky Duck and Bubble Room on Captiva and Lighthouse Cafe and Timbers on Sanibel — have been around for ages under pretty much the same ownership. Seafood, of course, is the currency of most island restaurants. It’s what tourists...