Active Pursuits

Biking, Walking, Jogging & In-Line Skating

On Sanibel, paved bike paths run alongside most roads, including the length of Periwinkle Way and along Sanibel-Captiva Road to Blind Pass, making the island a paradise for cyclists, walkers, joggers, and in-line skaters. You can also walk or bike the 5-mile, one-way nature trail through the J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge. There are no bike paths on Captiva, where trees next to the narrow roads can make for dangerous riding.

The chamber of commerce's visitor center has bike maps, as do Sanibel's rental firms: Finnimore's Cycle Shop, 2353 Periwinkle Way (tel. 239/472-5577); the Bike Rental, 2330 Palm Ridge Rd. (tel. 239/472-2241); Billy's Rentals, 1470 Periwinkle Way (tel. 239/472-5248); Boats, Bikes & Beach Stuff, 2427 Periwinkle Way (tel. 239/472-8717); and Tarpon Bay Explorers, at the north end of Tarpon Bay Road (tel. 239/472-8900). On Captiva, Jim's Bike & Skate Rentals, on Andy Rosse Lane (tel. 239/472-1296), rents bikes and beach equipment. Bike rates range from $8 for 2 hours to $16 a day for basic models. Both Finnimore's and Jim's also rent in-line skates.

Boating & Fishing

On Sanibel, rental boats and charter-fishing excursions are available at the Boat House, at the Sanibel Marina, North Yachtsman Drive (tel. 239/472-2531), off Periwinkle Way east of Causeway Road. Tarpon Bay Explorers, at the north end of Tarpon Bay Road (tel. 239/472-8900), rents boats with electric trolling motors and tackle for fishing.

On Captiva, check with Sweet Water Rentals, at the 'Tween Waters Inn Marina (tel. 239/472-6376); Jensen's Twin Palms Marina (tel. 239/472-5800); and McCarthy's Marina (tel. 239/472-5200), all on Captiva Road. Rental boats cost about $135 for a half-day, $215 for a full day.

Many charter-fishing captains have boats docked at these marinas. Half-day rates are about $300 for up to four people. The skippers leave free brochures at the chamber of commerce's visitor center, and they're also listed in the free tourist publications found there.

Don't Take the Bait -- If you plan on fishing, keep the following information in mind:

Fees start at about $200 for a half-day (4-hr.) trip; 6-hour and 8-hour trips are also available.

The guide will provide the boat, license, fishing gear, equipment, and bait.

Many guides will clean and fillet the catches, and can recommend places that will mount the big ones.

Licensed guides are required to know CPR and first aid -- and are periodically retested.

Virtually all guides have ship-to-shore radios on their boats in the event of an emergency.

If a meal is planned at a restaurant after the trip, usually the client buys the guide's lunch.

Clients usually tip guides after a successful fishing experience, ranging from $20 to $50 per trip.

Canoeing & Kayaking

As noted under "Parks & Reserves",Tarpon Bay Explorers (tel. 239/472-8900; www.tarponbayexplorers.com) has guided canoe and kayak trips in the J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge. Do-it-yourselfers can rent canoes and kayaks here. They cost $20 for the first 2 hours, $10 for each additional hour. Captiva Kayak Co./WildSide Adventures, at McCarthy's Marina (tel. 877/395-2925 or 239/395-2925), rents canoes and kayaks on Captiva, as does 'Tween Waters Inn Marina (tel. 239/472-5161).

Naturalist, avid environmentalist, and former Sanibel mayor Mark "Bird" Westall of Canoe Adventures(tel. 239/472-5218; fax 239/472-6833) takes visitors on canoe trips through the wildlife refuge and on the Sanibel River. His excursions are timed for low tide and cost $45 for adults, $25 for children under 18. He will tailor shorter trips to accommodate children or anyone else not up to spending 2 1/2 to 3 hours in a canoe. Naturalist Brian Houston leads kayaking trips from 'Tween Waters Inn Marina, on Captiva, but make your reservations at Tarpon Bay Recreation, on Sanibel (tel. 239/472-8900). Brian charges $45 per person. Captiva Kayak Co./WildSide Adventures, based at McCarthy's Marina, on Captiva (tel. 877/395-2925 or 239/395-2925), has day and night back-bay ecology trips for $35 for adults, $25 for teens, and $20 for children (add $10 to each price for night trips). The company will customize tours, including camping on Cayo Costa for advanced kayakers. Reservations are essential for all operators.

Golf & Tennis

Golfers may view a gallery of wild animals while playing the 5,600-yard, par-70, 18-hole course at the Dunes Golf and Tennis Club, 949 Sandcastle Rd., Sanibel (tel. 239/472-2535; www.dunesgolfsanibel.com), whose back 9 runs across a wildlife preserve. Call a day in advance for seasonal greens fees and a tee time. The Dunes also has seven tennis courts.

You can also play 9 water-bordered holes at Beachview Golf Club, 1100 Par View Dr., Sanibel (tel. 239/472-2626).

The South Seas Resort, on Captiva, has tennis courts and a 9-hole golf course, but they're for guests only.

Sailing

If you want to learn how to sail or simply polish your skills, noted yachters Steve and Doris Colgate have a branch of their Offshore Sailing School at the South Seas Resort on Captiva (tel. 888/454-9002 or 239/472-5111, ext. 7141; www.offshore-sailing.com). Clinics range from a half-day to a full week. Also ask about the popular women-only, father-son, and mother-daughter programs.

Also based on Captiva are two sailboats that take guests out on the waters of Pine Island Sound: the 30-foot Adventure (tel. 239/472-5300), a sailing sloop carrying up to six guests at $95 per hour with a 2-hour minimum, and the New Moon (tel. 239/395-1782; www.newmoonsailing.com), a 40-foot sloop carrying up to 40 passengers from the 'Tween Waters Marina on 3-hour half-day and 7-hour full-day and sunset charters. Half-day and sunset trips cost $350, full-day trips are $700. Reservations are required well in advance, but Captain Mick Gurley tells us "don't be afraid to try last minute."

Do-it-yourselfers can rent small sailboats from Captiva Kayak Co./WildSide Adventures, based at McCarthy's Marina (tel. 877/395-2925 or 239/395-2925; www.captivakayaks.com). Prices range from $25 to $35 an hour, depending on the size of the craft.

Watersports

Sanibel may prohibit motorized watersports equipment on its beaches, but Captiva doesn't. Yolo Watersports (tel. 239/472-9656) offers parasailing and WaveRunner rentals on the beach in front of the Mucky Duck Restaurant, at the Gulf end of Andy Rosse Lane.