Perfect Picnic Spots ©
- Libby Boren McMillan
In an area with so many terrific restaurants, it’s easy to forget the simple joy of a picnic. But look around -
fabulous vistas and mouth-watering provisions, combined with the delights of dining al fresco, make picnicking a perfect
alternative.
Our favorite picnic site, hands down, is the beach of North Captiva. The middle part of North Cap is state land, so it
remains undeveloped. With miles of sugary white sand, azure gulf waters, beautiful driftwood, and often not another soul
in site, North Cap is a bit like Gilligan’s Island - without the cast. This divine setting requires some logistics, to
be sure, and you have options. You may rent a powerboat from any of several local companies and ferry yourself off to
paradise. Or you may opt for a water taxi from Jensen’s Marina on Captiva. They drop you and return when you ask them
to - it couldn’t be simpler. Then you can focus on what goodies to pack in your picnic basket.
If you don’t mind sharing your day with a few other folks, Captiva Cruises also offers a morning and afternoon trip to
Cayo Costa, the next barrier island up the chain from North Cap. You’ll have about a one-hour boat ride, an hour on the
island, and the ride home. Cayo Costa is also deserted - a prime spot for a gulf-front picnic.
If you would rather not go by boat, pack a hamper and check out the lovely park at Bowman’s Beach on Sanibel. Shaded
picnic tables and grills are nestled underneath whispering pines; nearby hiking trails parallel the sea. You’ll find a
bayou-spanning boardwalk, miles of pristine beach, great fishing (there’s an idea - catch your lunch!), ample sunbathing
opportunities, and more. Bowman’s Beach also has nice shower and bath facilities, a real bonus. This spot is popular,
so you might want to arrive earlier than lunch hour to secure a table and grill.
Another Sanibel favorite is the Lighthouse Beach. Choose a secluded spot around the curve from the fishing pier and the
lighthouse, and voilà! It’s a beautiful day for a picnic. On a clear day, this vantage point includes a view all the way
to the Ritz Carlton in North Naples; we recommend packing some binoculars for Lighthouse Beach. Come to think of it, we
recommend packing binoculars no matter where you picnic! The day you don’t have them might be the day you could have
seen a hawk, a juvenile dolphin, or a great blue heron nest. Lighthouse Beach, like all of Sanibel’s beaches, is good
for shelling. Take extra bags in case you find treasures, but be sure not to take live shells. After lunch, stroll out
on the fishing pier and see who’s having luck. (Note of reality: You will want to lock your car.)
 |
For all the times you’ve crossed the Sanibel Causeway by car, how many times have you stopped there to take a stretch,
admire the view, take a picture, wade into the water? Ironically, visitors tend to more fully appreciate the causeway
islands; Sanibel and Captiva residents tend to take them for granted. Yet there are plenty of out-of-the-way spots on
the causeway. Sandy lanes veer off the main road toward pine trees, picnic tables, views of Ft. Myers Beach, the
drawbridge, and sunset views.
Lee County has also improved the facilities for picnickers. There are tables, grills, rest rooms, telephones. If you’re
willing to hold on to your hat and picnic on a windy day, the best show in town will serve as entertainment while you
dine - local windsurfers screaming along the tops of waves across San Carlos Bay. It’s very exciting to watch. And then
there are dolphins, fishing boats, pelicans pacing the cars - more than enough to spice up a picnic.
Farther south, you’ll be rewarded with the pristine ambiance of Lover’s Key, an exquisite barrier island just south of
Estero Island and Ft. Myers Beach. While there are nice picnic tables on the bay side of the road (and wading the flats
is always fun), you might prefer instead to pay the entrance fee and go in the park area, where a tram takes visitors
out to the gulf beach. The views of Sanibel and Bonita Beach are sublime, and the people are often few - perfect
ingredients for a picnic.
* Originally published in
Times of the Islands - 9/01
© Libby Boren McMillan - Legal Rights Apply
