Captiva and Sanibel islands were devastated by Hurricane Ian in October, 2022. Damage is considerable and recovery efforts may take a long period of time.

   Here in the Sunshine State, boasting 1200 miles of coastline, tourism is among the top industries, entertaining over 85 million vacationers every year. While Florida is one of the top travel destination in the world, the southern Gulf Coast is one of the most popular areas in the state.
   Here on Florida's southern west coast, and lying just off the coast from Fort Myers, is world famous Sanibel Island, a shelling paradise. Just to the north of popular barrier island is Captiva, a land where pirates once roamed. Separated from Sanibel Island during a devastating 1926 hurricane, a 14 foot storm surge wiped out the island's entire agricultural industry, paving the way for tourism. Today Captiva continues to draw in tourist with it beautiful beaches, tropical flora and gorgeous sunsets.
   Captiva is like no other island. Although the streets are lined with vacation homes, this tropical paradise has no hotels and no high-rises to spoil its 20th century charm. What the island does have, just like its southern neighbor, are incredible white sand beaches and clear turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico. While it's possible to enjoy golf and tennis on the island, most visitors head to the beach or out into the Gulf for boating and fishing. And right before the sun goes down you'll discover no one goes home, in fact the beaches get a little more crowded. It's a ritual for all to come and watch another wonderful sunset.

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