Sundial Beach Resort, Sanibel Island, Florida

The 'gator moved out of sight and we soon got distracted by the riches at our feet. Sanibel Island has some of the best shelling in the world, and the Sundial Resort, one of our family's favorites, is on one of the island's prettiest beaches. We picked up olive shells, pen shells, moon shells, and more until our rumbling tummies told us to head back to our comfortable two-bedroom condo for breakfast. 

Later that morning, we returned to the beach and watched our son dig canals through powder-soft sand and our daughter experiment with snorkel gear out in the placid water. Gulf  waters are lake-calm, which is a huge advantage for families with very young children but can be a disappointment for older kids who enjoy playing in the waves. 

After treating ourselves to lunch in the Sundial's waterfront restaurant, we wandered by the kid's program and watched hermit crab races, then rented bicycles to take out on the many miles of bike paths that lace through this tranquil island. One of our stops was the market, where we picked up some fresh fish for dinner. That night we feasted on our balcony while we watched the pelicans dive for their own bedtime snack against the setting sun.