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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.

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Regional Studies Nature & Environment

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6 days

5 nights

12 meals

5B 3L 4D

Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner

Sanibel Island, Florida

Edison & Henry Ford Winter Estates, Evening Lecture

Sanibel Island, Florida

Sanibel Historic Museum, Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum

Sanibel Island, Florida

Beachcombing, Free Time

Sanibel Island, Florida

Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge, Dolphin & Wildlife Cruise

Sanibel Island, Florida

Sanibel Wildlife, Program Concludes

Sanibel Island, Florida

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At a Glance

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.

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).

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.

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 trip experts

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 this program.

Nolan Hines View biography

Nolan Hines is a native Ohioan, born on a farm just south of Columbus. He attended Ohio State University intending to become a veterinarian, then became involved in singing and theatre activities. He spent eight years on the ships of Holland America Line as an entertainer, excursion assistant, and cruise director, then four years aboard The American Queen steamboat. Nolan now lives in Florida and since 2017 has enjoyed discovering the treasures of new places and helping participants to enjoy cultural highlights with Road programs.

Brittnay Laster View biography

Brittnay Laster joined the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife in 2023 as the education and outreach coordinator. She earned her degree in wildlife, fisheries, and aquaculture from Mississippi State, intending on becoming a veterinarian. After an internship in the field of wildlife education, she instead became a wildlife educator, beginning a master's focusing on global wildlife health and conservation. Returning from the UK, Brittnay started her career with Alaska Geographic in Denali National Park and continued to work seasonally in several states.

Charles Sobczak View biography

Suggested Reading List (6 books)

Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop

You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.

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Beautiful Sanibel Island and the Southwest Florida Gulf Coast

Program Number: 20899

Florida's Seashells- A Beachcombers Guide

by Blair and Dawn Witherengton

A guide to Florida seashells, including species common to the southeastern United States and the Caribbean. 252 species of seashells, with a color photo of each, as beachcombers are most likely to find them.

The Living Gulf Coast: A Nature Guide to Southwest Florida

by Charles Sobczak *Lecturer*

The Living Gulf Coast is the first comprehensive nature guide to Florida's Southwest region. The book covers six counties: Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, Collier, Glades and Hendry. There are more than 160 parks, preserves and eco-destinations covered in this work, with sixty-one of them described in great detail. Not only does the book describe these outstanding destinations, it also covers all the major birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians found throughout the region.

Historic Sanibel and Captiva Islands: Tales of Paradise

by Jeri Magg

The story of Sanibel and Captiva Islands stretches back over three hundred years, to a time when natives roamed the islands and Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon first met and tried to subdue the Calusa Indians in San Carlos Bay in 1513. The next few centuries were flooded with pioneers, fishermen and clergymen in their quest to tame the wilderness in search of a better life. Discover how anthropologist Frank Cushing visited pioneer Sam Ellis in 1895 after the farmer discovered bones on his homestead and how President Theodore Roosevelt's men saved a little girl from drowning when he lived on a houseboat in Captiva to study local marine life. Join local history columnist Jeri Magg as she recounts the storied history of these little slices of paradise.

Hurricane Ian: Stories from the Storm

by Roy Santoro

Hurricane Ian: Stories from the Storm is a collection of interviews with people who were caught up in the storm when it hit Florida on September 28th, 2022. It includes first-hand accounts of people who were forced to fight for their lives after their homes collapsed and washed away. You will see in detail why so many people lost their lives and the changes needed to prevent a tragedy like this from happening again. Each story is designed to teach you a lesson about how planning, common sense, and remaining calm can save your life in a crisis.

Images of America Sanibel Island

by Yvonne Hill, Marguerite Jordan

In collaboration with the Lee County Black History Society. The pioneers were a contrasting group of individuals, comprised of diverse ethnic origins and cultures, yet all seemed to share a common goal of using hard work, resourcefulness, and determination to make the island their home. Their efforts and sacrifices greatly contributed to the growth and rich history of Sanibel as we know it today.

Six Mornings on Sanibel

by Charles Sobczak *Lecturer*

Since its initial publication in November of 1999, Six Mornings on Sanibel has become a Florida classic. This engaging tale of the accidental meeting of two strangers on the Sanibel Fishing pier has touched the hearts of thousands of readers. It is currently selling through its seventh printing and continues to be a best selling title for Indigo Press, LLC.

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Beautiful Sanibel Island and the Southwest Florida Gulf Coast

Enroll with Confidence

Protecting the Environment

At a Glance

Best of all, you’ll…

General Notes

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