The Sanibel Causeway spans San Carlos Bay and connects the island to the Florida mainland in Punta Rassa, near Ft. Myers. The entire causeway is three miles long, consists of three two-lane bridge spans, with two man-made islands between, and charges a toll for island-bound vehicles only. So, once on the island, it’s easier to just stay for awhile and enjoy it’s distinctly laid-back vibe.

Completion of the causeway, in 1963, made the island more accessible and increased tourism, but Sanibel Islanders took quick measures to protect their haven. The island enforces a four-story building limit, has only two fast-food chain restaurants (both “grandfathered” here before the restrictions were enacted), devotes about two-thirds of it’s land to nature preservation, and keeps snatching up more as it becomes available.

And, Sanibel takes pride in having no street lights. They utilize stop signs and human traffic directors at major intersections. While automobiles are plentiful, it is not necessarily handy to use them, as the main road running the length of the island is often stalled with bumper-to-bumper traffic. The best and most efficient method of transit is the extensive 25-miles of bike/walk trails that run throughout the island that are flat, easy to navigate, widely used, and well-maintained.

Bicycles can be conveniently rented, and most are the retro Dorothy-from-Kansas kind with a handlebar basket in front, a thumb-operated bell, some with one speed and pedal brakes. But, on a sunny Florida day, despite the high local median age, wheeling around Sanibel can easily make you feel like a kid again…and get you there faster.