Sundial Beach Resort, Sanibel Island, Florida - My Family Travels
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Sundial Beach Resort, located on a unique barrier island off the southwest coast of Florida, accommodates families with the comforts of home.

White sand and blue-green waters greet you on Florida's Sanibel Island at The Sundial Beach Resort.  With 270 accommodations, a nature reserve, and plenty of activities to choose from, the Sundial is sure to please your vacationing family.
 
We stood on our screened balcony overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, squinting at a dark object swimming along Sanibel Island's shoreline. It wasn't a shark or a dolphin —  no dorsal fin — and it was too long and narrow for a turtle, so we raced down to the beach for a closer look. A small alligator that must have lost its way was scanning the shore for a bird to snag for breakfast. We'd seen manatees and birds of all kinds when we kayaked through the mangrove swamps of a nearby nature reserve, but never an alligator in the warm Gulf waters. 

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.
 

Resort Report Card

Name: Sundial Beach Resort
Address: 1451 Middle Gulf Drive
Sanibel Island
Florida
33957
www.sundialresort.com
Phone: 866/565 5093
Seasonal Rates: $$ – $$$
Hotel Setting: A
Hotel Staff: B+
Choice of Activities: A-
Quality of Amenities: A-
Bonus: On one of the best shell collecting islands in the world.
Note: Condo-comforts of home in a beachfront setting with a kids' program and all standard resort amenities.

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