June family vaca - where to stay

Hi! After a lot of searching, I need aome advice on where to stay. We have 2 young kids (2 and 6), would like a gulf front condo, full kitchen, need to sleep 6 as my parents may stay with us a couple of nights. We plan to go the first week in June. Any info on where to stay and several ';must sees'; would be appreciated. Thanks!!

June family vaca - where to stay

Most of the two bedroom condos sleep 6 - with a pull out sleeper sofa.

I%26#39;ld check out - Coquina Beach, Ocean%26#39;s Reach, Sayana, Pointe Santo, Villa Sanibel, Breakers West, Sanibel Arms or Sanibel Moorings. Coquina has loft condos, with an extra area usually with twin beds.

You might also look at Sanibel Inn, Seaside Inn or Sunset Beach Resort - if your parents do stay with you, they could rent a motel style room instead.

Must dos - rent bikes from Billy or Finnemores with a trailer in the back for the kids and explore the island. Dolpin cruise or shelling cruise with Captiva Cruises.

June family vaca - where to stay

Hi Suzanne,

As to ';must-sees'; there are a number of good articles in the Sanibel overview section up to the left including traveller%26#39;s articles. Check them out.

You will need to decide if you want two or three bedrooms as most 2-bedrooms have a pull-out sofa in the living room and that could cramp your style in the evening.

If you want a condo the is directly on the beach the closest you will find are Pointe Santo A or E buildings units 4-7 (note that I am an owner at Pointe Santo but do not own in those buildings) and the units at Oceans%26#39; Reach. There are also some on-the-beach units at Sundial but I%26#39;m not a big fan of that resort.

If you don%26#39;t need a direct gulf front unit but are OK with a gulf view then then the options open up. The rest of Pointe Santo, Casa Ybel (both of which have children%26#39;s programs), and Sanibel Inn are my top choices for families.

It comes down to priorities: Do you want on site restaurants? Specific amenities?

The more we know the better we can help!

Thank you for the good info! I do not need on site restaurants, and a pull out sofa is ok too. A gulf view is fine too, I just want close proximity to the beach. I would like a washer/dryer in the unit, and available beach chairs/umbrella would be a plus too.

Thanks for the bike rental info - we will do that and the dolphin cruise will be a must see too. I haven%26#39;t been to the Sanibel/Marco area for years, but used to go every year, so I am really looking forward to going back!

How about can%26#39;t miss restaurants? I would like a couple kid friendly, and then a couple options for my husband and I to go out without kids too. It is so to get info from the insiders, thank you!!

Suzanne - we really like breakers west for our family - there are two pools, one with shade, one bigger and more sunning space.

Breakers isn%26#39;t gulffront, but pool view - if you look at my pics you%26#39;ll see. It%26#39;s such a nice property, so sandy and beachy. They are rented thru Waterside Inn.

I am so absent minded today.... Breakers has full size w/d and the condos we have rented had beach chairs, etc.

Restaurants we like are Island Cow, Matzaluna, Lighthouse Cafe, Lazy Flamingo and Pinnochios for ice cream - all kid friendly.

I saw your pics - thank you for all the info! I am going to do some searching and will narrow it down. We don%26#39;t need a lot of luxury extras - just so it is clean, has a kitchen and, of course, a great beach area.

For couples the Twilight Cafe which has reopened was fabulous. We also like the Sunset Grill. I agree with all of Sunnyvaca%26#39;s food tips..except The Lighthouse Cafe at which I have never had a good breakfast (sorry SV!) The OverEasy Cafe is my breakfast choice.

Again I think Casa Ybel or Pointe Santo would be fine and many owners supply beach chairs and toys.

Lol, I like Over Easy also - but am still miffed from my last visit there - they told me if my son broke a mug (his cocoa was in it) I would have to pay $17 for it. They have lost this loyal customers business because of it.

Pancakes at Lighthouse are the bomb.

We stayed at Ocean%26#39;s Reach and loved how close to the beach we were. We had a great unit, with washer and dryer and it was clean and in great shape. The walk to pool and beach were very easy and close. It was a 2 bedroom with pull out couch in living room.