woman in the rain

What To Do on Sanibel Island During a Rainy Day

What you can do is have some fun.

After all, you’re on vacation! Some say that the best thing to do is to hold hands with that special person and take a walk on the beach – let the gentle rain make you laugh and feel good about doing something nutty together. It’s wet but very nice. On the dry side, you can have fun with lots of things on a rainy day.

rainy day activities on Sanibel Island

Who Said Rain At The Beach Was A Bad Thing?

Learn about the wild side of Sanibel – when you visit the Refuge’s Visitor and Education Center at 1 Wildlife Drive. It’s free and you will see a wonderful array of exhibits that highlight the hundreds of wildlife species in the refuge. Volunteers and professional staff will answer your questions every day except Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM. Call them at 239 472 1100.

Find out about all those shells – at the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum at 3075 Sanibel Captiva Road. See one of the largest shell collections in the world – larger than at the Smithsonian Institute. Volunteers and professional staff explain the origin, history and uses of these shells. They are open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 AM to 4 PM. There is an entrance fee of $5 for those 18 years or more and $3 for those under 18. Call them at 239 395 2233.

Read a book –
There are a number of places where you can find a book to read. The Sanibel Library on Dunlop Road has lots of books. All you need is a library card which you can get for $10. They are open at 9 AM until 6 PM on every day except Monday and Thursday when they are open until 8 PM. Gene’s Books at 2365 Periwinkle Way is three buildings crammed with books of all kinds for sale. It’s fun to just go in and wander around. It’s open from 9 AM to 6 PM. Macintosh Books at 2330 Palm Ridge Way, open from 10 AM to 6 PM, with a wide range of books for sale.

Go shopping at Periwinkle Place – at 2075 Periwinkle Way. There are 25 stores offering apparel, toys, jewelry, beachwear, foodstuffs, gifts and more. They are open from 10 AM to 8 PM except Sunday when it’s 12 PM to 6 PM. There are covered walkways to keep you dry going store to store. In addition to the retail businesses there is a restaurant and a day spa. The Blue Giraffe is open from 7 AM to 8 PM for breakfast, lunch or dinner (239 472 2525). The Sanibel Day Spa is open from 10 AM to 8 PM with a full range of spa services, from a simple massage to one of their 6 packages from The Island Sampler (1-1/2 hours, $162) to Ultimate Bliss (4 hours, $421) Call them at 239 395 2220.

Go to the Movies –
always a rainy day favorite. The Island Cinema is on Tarpon Bay Road by Bailey’s Store. There are two theatres with 59 seats each. The box office opens 30 minutes before the first film of that day. You can call the theatre at 239 472 1701 to find when that is. It will be around 4:30 PM but will vary depending on the films being shown. So, you can do any of the things noted above and still get to the movies.

Plan Your Next Stay

Rain or shine, Sanibel has your back. There is always something to do on this paradise island to make your stay both pleasant, fun and worthwhile. If you’re curious about booking a vacation on Sanibel or Captiva you could spend some time with Gopher Rentals. They have been helping guests and vacationers find the perfect vacation condo, and are the largest vacation rental company on the island! Check out all the vacation rentals they have to offer, or send them a message and let them help you find the perfect place to book at the beach.