Skip to Main Content
Road Scholar logo
Florida

Beautiful Sanibel Island and the Southwest Florida Gulf Coast

Program No. 20899RJ
Discover the rich cultural and ecological heritage of Sanibel Island as you explore its museums, photograph its diverse wildlife and beachcomb for shells with an expert conchologist.
Watch VideoWishlistShare
Start
  •  
Regional StudiesNature & Environment
Length
6 days
Rating (4.96)
Activity Level
Starts at
1,899
Program
At a Glance
Duration
6 days
Program Begins
Sanibel Island, Florida
Program Concludes
Sanibel Island, Florida
Meals
12 ( 5B, 3L, 4D )
Activity Level
Pure white sand beaches strewn with 400 species of shells; wetlands and mangrove swamps; and wildlife like manatees, dolphins, tortoises, alligators and nearly 250 species of birds make Sanibel Island a tropical Eden tucked along Florida’s Gulf Coast. Get to know this fascinating island like a local. Learn why the “Sanibel Stoop” is the preferred posture on the local beaches, encounter marine life inhabiting island waters and discover the largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystem in the U.S.
Best of all, you'll...
  • Join volunteer docents inside Sanibel Historical Museum and Village, a tribute to the island’s early pioneers where each building has been restored to its original state.
  • Meet a special kind of marine expert on a beachcombing field trip with a conchologist, who will help identify the many species of shells washed up onshore.
  • Spend a day at the winter estates of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, examining the lives of these two remarkable men.
View Full Itinerary
General Notes
It is important to consider that the beautiful Sanibel Island has been recovering for the past 2 years due to devastating hurricanes. Two years ago, Category 4 Hurricane Ian slammed Sanibel with a 13-foot storm surge, followed by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. It is very exciting that the island is reopening, and Road Scholar can be a part of this. The island has gone through, and continues to go through, extensive rebuilding. While tremendous progress has been made, Sanibel is not 100% back to its previous conditions. Some construction is on-going at the resort, but it is in beautiful shape. This island has been incredibly resilient in the face of many challenges as it works to return to its pre-hurricane state. Due to natural conditions and warming sea waters, the state of the beach changes daily, occasionally having algae blooms. As is the case with nature, this is unpredictable. On the program we will learn about what the Island has gone through and the efforts to restore it.
Featured Expert
All Experts
Profile Image
Charles Sobczak
Charles Sobczak is an award-winning author living on Sanibel Island. His first novel, 'Six Mornings on Sanibel,' was originally published in 1999. He has written several other novels, a fictional memoir, and a collection of writings titled 'Rhythm of the Tides.' In 2010, he published a regional nature guide, 'Living Sanibel - A Nature Guide to Sanibel & Captiva Islands.' In 2004, shortly after the arrival of Hurricane Charley, Sobczak was interviewed by the BBC regarding his premonition of a Cat 5 hurricane hitting Southwest Florida.
Please Note:
This expert may not be available for every date of the program
Please Note:
These experts may not be available for every date of the program
Charles Sobczak is an award-winning author living on Sanibel Island. His first novel, 'Six Mornings on Sanibel,' was originally published in 1999. He has written several other novels, a fictional memoir, and a collection of writings titled 'Rhythm of the Tides.' In 2010, he published a regional nature guide, 'Living Sanibel - A Nature Guide to Sanibel & Captiva Islands.' In 2004, shortly after the arrival of Hurricane Charley, Sobczak was interviewed by the BBC regarding his premonition of a Cat 5 hurricane hitting Southwest Florida.
Nancy Field’s passion for travel and learning is a direct result of her childhood, having spent winters in Florida and summers with her grandparents up north. After graduating nursing school, Nancy relocated to Massachusetts, where she married and became a full-time mom of three adventurous children. Nancy has been a group leader in Alaska for several years. During the fall/winter months, Nancy calls St. Augustine, Florida home. She loves to share the beautiful Spanish colonial architecture the city has to offer.
Sarah Rinne is a conservation education and marketing intern at the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW). Her family has lived on Sanibel since 2020, having moved back to the United States from Abu Dhabi. She graduated from Covenant College in May 2024 with a degree in interdisciplinary studies, having studied English, art, and biology concurrently. Sarah assists the education and outreach coordinator and the marketing manager on the day-to-day needs of the visitor center while attending programming and presenting.
Activity Level
On Your Feet
Walking on mostly flat terrain with some rocky, sandy surfaces 1-1.5 miles per day. Standing at cultural sites and stair climbing. Some walking in the dark at night (bring a flashlight - Sanibel Island has no street lights - this is to help preserve the island's natural beauty and to protect sea turtles).
Suggested Books and Resources
View Full List
You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
We can help. Give us a call, and we can answer all of your questions!
Call 800-454-5768
Start Enrolling
Enroll with Confidence
Peace of Mind

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. That’s why we go to the ends of the earth to give you peace of mind, from the moment you enroll until the day you return home.

Assurance Plan

Road Scholar is committed to the well-being of every participant, whether on a program in the United States or abroad. That’s why all participants are covered under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan, which provides 24-hour assistance in the event of an emergency during your program, as well as insurance for emergency medical evacuation.

Want to Protect Your Investment?

Road Scholar is pleased to offer its Trip Protection Plan as a way to protect your program investment. You may purchase this optional trip protection plan when enrolling in your program.

Sustainable Travel

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.

  • Peace of Mind

    We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. That’s why we go to the ends of the earth to give you peace of mind, from the moment you enroll until the day you return home.

  • Assurance Plan

    Road Scholar is committed to the well-being of every participant, whether on a program in the United States or abroad. That’s why all participants are covered under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan, which provides 24-hour assistance in the event of an emergency during your program, as well as insurance for emergency medical evacuation.

  • Want to Protect Your Investment?

    Road Scholar is pleased to offer its Trip Protection Plan as a way to protect your program investment. You may purchase this optional trip protection plan when enrolling in your program.

  • Sustainable Travel

    We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.