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Time to turn
off the computer, leave your desk and head to North Captiva? Wondering what you're going to do for a week?
Here's our Day 1 prescription for slipping into the gentle rhythm
of North Captiva Island time.
- Watch the sun come up at the small beach at the east end of the airstrip. Maybe a plane will fly over and land.
- Spend the day exploring...by foot, bicycle, kayak, and
golf cart. Be sure to follow the rules of the sandy path: turtles get right-of-way and passerbys "Hi" and a friendly wave.
- Find a secluded stretch of white sandy beach and pick up a few treasures -- seashells, conchs and sand dollars -- your gifts from the sea.
- Stroll the state nature preserve by foot or bicycle. Watch for 100s of bird species and varieties of tropicals and flowering plants unique to barrier islands.
- Take a mask and paddle a sea kayak across the lagoon to a shallow sandbar. Be still -- fascinating creatures await your discovery.
- In the afternoon take a few hours to read a great book (yours or one of ours); make some popcorn and watch a video (we recommend Casablanca); take off all your clothes and soak in the private hot tub; and, take a hammock nap downstairs under the ceiling fan.
- Challenge your companions to a game of ping-pong.
- Around sunset stroll to the beach and watch the pelicans and dolphins cavorting among schools of offshore fish.
- Grill a fish filet and enjoy dinner on the front porch.
- Take a peaceful stroll along the moonlit beach. Stop at the pool bar for some local gossip and a nightcap.
- Use the telescope to view your favorite planet from the deck on the crow's nest.
If that's too much for one day, feel free to spread it out. After our first trip to North Captiva Island in April 2000, our friends asked how we liked it. "Great!" we said, but couldn't recall too many details. Now we just smile and say, "It was really relaxing."
NORTH CAPTIVA ISLAND CLUB
As a guests of the
Treehouse you enjoy full membership in the the island's premier resort, the
North Captiva Island Club (locally known as simply"NCIC").
The club
has two large heated swimming pools, two lighted tennis courts,
a Mango's restaurant, a marina, full pool bar, and a general store. Guests
may use NCIC's sauna, bicycles, wave runners, sea kayaks, fishing
equipment, beach umbrellas free of charge. Or take a rental on a tour
of the island by water using a wave runners, boat with outboard motor, or jet skis. Arrangements can be made for massage therapy.
ISLAND HOPPING
A short ride by water-taxi from North Captiva Island you will find numerous one-day excursions -- golf courses,
shopping, restaurants, and several great Tiki bars in the "Margaritaville" tradition. These barrier islands all within 30 min include Cabbage Key, Useppa, Cayo Costa, Boca Grande, and Sanibel-Captiva.
Try one of our favorite day trips from North Captiva:
- Moped rental for the day on Sanibel, brunch at the Lighthouse
Cafe, shop and explore the Ding Darling Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Nine holes of championship golf at South Seas Plantation on Captiva followed by dinner in the King's Crown Restaurant.
- Cabbage Key for a cheeseburger in paradise followed by the homemade key lime pie. Explore the island on foot. Don't forget to climb to the top of the water tower.
- Book a half-day fishing charter with Dennis Riley (239.707.9701), followed by grilled fresh mangrove snapper for dinner.
- Dress up for lunch at the historic Collier Inn on Useppa Island.
- Bike rental at Boca Grande, lunch at Miller's Marina, and spend the day exploring and shopping in the historic downtown area. On the way back to North Captiva, wade ashore to the beach on Ca yo Costa and watch the sunset.
Or make up one of your own. Adventures abound
around every turn.
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