Sanibel Island is recognized as one of the world’s best beaches. It is also known as one of the best family getaway locations for island vacations. The island is very close to the mainland, but it feels like another world. Gentle aquamarine waters of the Gulf of Mexico, golden sand and warm sun hold sway throughout the year. Sanibel is 12 miles long and 4 miles wide, and is famous for the world-class shelling beaches which stretch along the coast. The unique geographical orientation from east to west makes the beaches perfect for collecting shells from the Gulf of Mexico. With no traffic lights, neon or high-rises, Sanibel has an authentic old-world Island charm. It is unlike anything else in The United States and a Sanibel Island vacation is a dream. The Sanibel-Captiva Barrier Islands are a relatively new geological feature. It was formed within the last 6,000 years – a geological blink of an eye. The islands formed as a result of siltation and accretion, as sand was pushed onto the bedrock forming the sea floor at the edge of the mainland. Nearly half of the 12,000-acre island is designated for conservation and preservation. This is most notably in the form of