For as small and as quiet as it is, Sanibel boasts an impressive array of attractions and amusements that keep the island lively. Outdoorsy types flock by the thousands to the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, a 7,000 acre expanse of maritime wilderness. For the shell-crazy, there’s the carefully executed Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum. Sailing schools, yacht charters, and day cruises offer excitement on the Gulf, and eco-tours take adventurers into the swamps and upland forests of the Refuge. For history buffs, an afternoon tour through Historic Sanibel Village offers a trip back to a time when only a hundred people lived on the island. And although it’s a time zone away from Broadway, Sanibel has its own live theater.

J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Preserve
1 Wildlife Drive, Sanibel Island
(239) 472-1100
dingdarling.fws.gov

The J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge sees nearly 800,000 visitors annually, putting it neck and neck with Sanibel’s beaches as the area’s main attraction. Encompassing over 7,000 acres, the refuge is home to eastern indigo snakes, American alligators, American crocodiles, bald eagles, wood storks, peregrine falcons, west Indian manatees, and Atlantic loggerhead turtles - all threatened or endangered species. An education center offers an introduction to the area’s wildlife, with state of the art exhibits and guided tours. The refuge’s 5-mile nature trail is ideal for hiking and biking, and a number of area outfitters offer guided trips for fishing, canoeing, and kayaking enthusiasts.

The Schoolhouse Theater
2200 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel Island
(239) 472-6862
www.schoolhousetheater.org

Manhattan thespians seeking a sunnier island on which to hone their craft would be well advised to check out Sanibel’s theater scene. Despite its name, the Schoolhouse troupe is strictly professional, and puts on full-fledged Broadway musicals and cabaret-style revues year round.