Sanibel Island has plenty to be thankful for. This natural paradise boasts a beautiful coastline that attracts surfers and sailors alike.
Some of the world’s largest seashells have also been found on the beaches of Sanibel Island. The level of biodiversity in the area is incredible, and Sanibel is renowned for Florida birdwatching. Here are a few other things Sanibel Island is incredibly thankful for.
Sanibel Island Community House
All thriving communities must stay connected. This is where the Sanibel Community House’s purpose lies; it is a place where friends and guests come to gather. A place for socializing with old friends and meeting new ones, the Sanibel Community House serves as an important pillar of the community, providing education, culture, events and programs hosted by the Sanibel Community Association.
Locals and guests are invited to participate in culinary, art, and yoga classes. Visitors to the island may find dropping in on a class or two at the community center a great way to get to know some of the locals. For anyone considering a more permanent move to the area, dropping by the center is definitely a great way to become connected to the community.
The Hirdie-Girdie Gallery
For 25 years, Hirdie-Girdie has been a haven for art lovers on Sanibel Island. It is a local artists’ cooperative, which displays and sells many pieces of art produced by 2D and 3D artists. 2D art includes watercolor, oil, pastel and acrylic paintings, colored pencil and fiber, photography, and art tiles. 3D art encompasses pottery, basketry, sculpture, fiber, woodcarving, wood-turning, fused glass, and jewelry.
Between 11 am to 4 pm on Sunday and 10 am to 5 pm Monday through Saturday, you are invited to visit the gallery, which is located on 2490 Library Way. An artist from the cooperative will always be present to greet and guide you. Visiting the gallery, you will discover all styles of art available for purchase. For a more performance-based artist experience, see what the area has to offer in the way of concerts and other types of shows.
Clinic for the Rehabilitation
of Wildlife (CROW)
CROW serves as a visitor education center and teaching hospital. It is dedicated to saving wildlife through veterinary care, research, education, and conservation medicine. Each year, CROW cares for approximately 3,500 wildlife patients, including reptiles, birds, possums, and more. Impressively, its veterinary hospital is one of nation’s leading rehabilitation facilities for wildlife. Animal lovers won’t want to miss an opportunity to see their work first-hand!
It is recommended spending at minimum two hours touring the center. In the Visitor Education Center (VEC), live camera feeds, interactive displays and daily presentations provide an in-depth look into the extent of CROW’s animal care. Daily educational presentations take place at 11am throughout the year and again at 2pm during winter, spring, and summer months. These presentations feature a special “animal ambassador” and cover a variety of topics, such as why animals come to CROW, what species CROW treats, how animal rescuing works, etc.
To learn even more about CROW’s rehabilitation process, you may register for a “Wildlife Walk,” which will include not only a presentation but a guided tour of the hospital with a CROW staff member. For this activity, advanced registration is required.
You can visit the center at 3883 Sanibel Captiva Road, just past the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge across the road. The center is open from Monday to Friday from 10 am to 4 pm. Admission for anyone 13 years or older costs $12; children 4-12 years old cost $7, and anyone under four receives free admission.
Sanibel Island Properties
There is plenty to do and see in Sanibel – so much, in fact, that you’ll have to keep coming back for it all! Schuldenfrei can assist you in your search of Sanibel listings to find you a new home that you can use as a vacation rental or a second home so you can fly south for the winter.