Place to see: Sanibel Island, Florida, Bonita Springs, Florida, United States

About this place:

With its tropical climate, white powder beaches, swaying palms, spectacular sunsets, exotic birds, and shells by the zillions, Sanibel Island, located on Florida's southwest coast, is a delightful picturesque paradise.

Once dominated by the Calusa Indians and Spanish explorers, Sanibel proudly calls itself, "The Shell Capital of the World." The World famous Bailey Shell Museum will give you a feel for the history and culture of shells through the centuries.

Sanibel also offers some of the most interesting birding in the United States. A major attraction is the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge with its 6,000 acres of unspoiled wetlands, mangrove jungles and island uplands. Named for a devout conservationist who loved Sanibel and its narrow lanes arched over with trees, this sprawling refuge is home to more than 200 species of exotic birds and assorted wildlife, including hundreds of alligators and a lone crocodile that manages to live in harmony with them.

Tiny downtown Sanibel is a quaint, laid back community with a homespun atmosphere and some interesting shops, boutiques and patio restaurants specializing in local seafood products delivered that morning. Sanibel's ever-growing colony of artists, poets and writers find inspiration here. Art lovers will enjoy the galleries that line the pedestrian-friendly stretch.

For one of the best island tours, hop a bicycle. The entire family can have fun on the well-maintained paradise pathways covering 25 miles of shopping districts and back roads.

Sanibel's sister Island, Captiva, is the ultimate escape from pressures and worries. Like Anne Morrow Lindberg and her aviator husband, Charles, who escaped to Captiva Island in the 1930s, a visit to Sanibel and Captiva is like a "departure from the world."