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Photo: Lewis Brian Day, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Sanibel Island Light or Point Ybel Light was one of the first lighthouses on Florida's Gulf coast north of Key West and the Dry Tortugas. The light, 98-foot above sea level, on an iron skeleton tower was first lit on August 20, 1884 and has a central spiral staircase beginning about 10 feet above the ground. It is located on the eastern tip of Sanibel Island, and was built to mark the entrance to San Carlos Bay for ships calling at the port of Punta Rassa, across San Carlos Bay from Sanibel Island. The grounds are open to the public, but the lighthouse itself is not.
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The Tribby Arts Center features a 400-seat auditorium and three art galleries showcasing exciting work from residents as well as regional and national artists. Visitors can relax in the Tribby Café, reflect in the outdoor sculpture garden, and find something special in Gift Shop. Seasonally, the public is invited to lectures by the Academy of Lifelong Learning, as well as concerts, plays and a selection of art exhibits.
Friendly fishing charters.
A dolphin cruise with them is excellent. They have biologists on board and are laid back and fun. Free parking on site.
The key was the capital of the Calusa realm across Southern Florida in the 16th century when Spanish colonization of Florida began. Spain's attempt at colonizing Mound Key in the mid-16th century was unsuccessful and ultimately abandoned in favor of St. Augustine, but the key can still be visited today, where the pile of discarded shells and archaeological digs mark the site of pre-Columbian civilization.