Sanibel Island
It is situated in southwest Florida. Sanibel Island is well-known for a variety of reasons. Its beautiful beaches are lined with millions of seashells, making it widely regarded as one of the best places in the world for shell hunting. Sanibel Island Lighthouse, built in 1884, is on the National Register of Historic Places. Most importantly, in the 1970s, the City of Sanibel enacted development restrictions that continue to protect the barrier island today. There are no buildings taller than the trees, no chain restaurants other than the two that existed before the law was passed, and wildlife refuges cover nearly two-thirds of the island's 33.25 square miles.
J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge is by far the most well-known and largest of these, encompassing approximately 5,200 acres and containing one of the country's largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystems. The refuge was named after Jay Norwood "Ding" Darling, a Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist and conservative activist. He established the Federal Duck Stamp Program and designed the first stamp; was appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to lead the United States Biological Survey (now known as the United States Fish and Wildlife Service); founded the National Wildlife Federation; and emphasized the importance of establishing an organized network of nature sanctuaries, which is now known as the National Wildlife Refuge System. Ding was an avid birdwatcher, and the refuge named after him is a world-class destination for birdwatching.
Hiking, biking, or driving the five-mile road that winds through the refuge is a must, revealing an amazing array of birds such as numerous herons, egrets, anhingas, cormorants, osprey, and the fluorescent pink roseate spoonbills. One of our favorite activities is watching these flocks feast among the refuge's waters at sunset, when the stunning colors reflected in the shallow waters create picturesque moments of reverie and wonder. After nearly 20 trips to the area over the last 25 years, visiting the refuge is among our family's top Sanibel Island activities.
Location: Florida
