C.J. Braden • 3 Minute Read
Best Places to Watch the Sanibel Sunset
With Spring Break being just around the corner, many people are getting spring fever and starting to plan their trips. Spring Break is one of the busiest seasons on Sanibel Island in Florida. It’s a time where I try to avoid Periwinkle Drive by car and do a lot of biking to get around my town easier.
One popular thing to do on Sanibel during any season is sunset viewing. It’s a peaceful moment where one can sit and appreciate our gorgeous earth and all it has to offer us. Here are the best places to watch the Sanibel Island sunset.
Bowman’s Beach Sunset
1- Bowman’s Beach
When I see the traffic along San Cap Road at dusk, I know it’s from all the people leaving Bowman’s Beach. The sunset there can be viewed either along the beach or you can grab some great photos along Bowman’s Beach bridge. Bring some beach blankets or chairs, relax and enjoy.
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Sanibel Causeway Beach Sunset
2- Sanibel Causeway Beach
I love driving along the Sanibel Causeway at sunset. The road (the causeway) is surrounded by mini islands and tons of water. It literally takes my breath away every time I drive on it. Parking at the causeway beaches allows you to fully take in a glorious 360 view of the sunset.
3- Sanibel Lighthouse Beach
The Sanibel Lighthouse Beach tends to be one of the most popular sunset viewing destinations. There is a pier for fishing and sunset viewing. It’s ample beachfront is a perfect sunset location, but it’s also a great place to view rainbows and lots of sea creatures.
Sanibel Golf Course Sunset
4- Sanibel Golf Courses
If you like golfing, Sanibel is your perfect golf buddy. We like to visit the Sanctuary golf community (using our resident pass) to view the sunset. If you are not a resident, you can purchase a day pass to many of the island golf courses and stick around for gorgeous sunset viewing across the green.
San Cap Road Sunset
5- San Cap Road Sunset
If you don’t make it to Bowman’s Beach in time for the sunset, you can simply drive along Sanibel Captiva Road (known as San Cap) and see a similar view. San Cap is the road that will take you to Bowman’s Beach and also to Captiva Island. Drive towards Captiva for the ultimate colorful sunsets.
West Gulf Drive Beaches
6- West Gulf Drive Beaches
If you aren’t a resident that is fortunate enough to live along West Gulf Drive, you can visit it’s beaches by staying in one of the many hotels along the road. Before I lived on Sanibel, I always stayed on this side of the island so I had full access to as many vacationer sunsets as I could possibly consume before heading back to my previous non-beach hometown of Louisville, Kentucky.
Sanibel Pink Orange and Blue Sunset Photo
7- Sunset Viewing Is Best Anywhere on Sanibel
Honestly, I don’t think there is a bad location to watch the Sanibel sunset. The Florida sunset, in general, is amazing no matter where you are. While I have witnessed gorgeous sunsets throughout the United States, Mexico and beyond, there seems to be an abundance of gorgeous sunsets in Florida in particular.
One word of advice: Before your visit to Sanibel, do a Google search for “Sanibel Sunset Time” to find out the exact time, arrive early if you choose one of the locations where you have to park (and bring a credit card/money for parking) or ride your bike, watch and enjoy.
C.J. (Carolyn) Braden is a regular contributor and editor for Carolyn’s Blooming Creations. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Little Ways to Get Back To You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.