Captiva Island Arts & Entertainment

Captiva prides itself on attracting legions of fans with nothing flashier than beautiful beaches and coconut palms. Shelling, picnicking and walks on the sand are the most popular ways to wile away the hours on the island. Still, visitors seeking respite from all that exhausting fresh air can amuse themselves at Captiva Village's restaurants, patio bars, and boutiques. The marina launches sunset cruises with romantic views and dancing, as well as ferry to the funky bar at the Cabbage Key Inn. For musical theater and more live music, neighboring Sanibel Island is home to a happening arts scene.

Captiva Cruises
(239) 472-5300
www.captivacruises.com

Enjoy the sunset while sipping cocktails on the popular "Sunset Serenade Cruise". Local musicians pay homage to the area's favorite bar poet, Jimmy Buffett, with a mix of reggae, folk, country and rock music nightly. Departure times vary with the sunset, so call ahead.

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

The J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge sees nearly 80,000 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.theschoolhousetheater.com

Manhattan thespians seeking a sunnier island on which to home 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.