Sanibel Island in southwest Florida is known to be one of the most beautiful islands in America with some of the best shelling in Florida, which is saying a lot! To the north is Captiva Island and a couple others until you reach Gasparilla Island and Boca Grande pass connecting the Gulf of Mexico to Charlotte Harbor.

I fly my plane up the west coast of Florida for work and pleasure on a regular basis and can say, without a doubt, the area is the most scenic stretch on the whole coast. Inside Sanibel is Pine Island Sound which connects to Charlotte Harbor and then to Sarasota and Tampa through inland waterways running north.

The area’s beauty has spawned several maps including one of Sanibel/Captiva, another of Charlotte Harbor/Boca Grande and a third that ties the entire area together. The Gulf of Mexico along with the inland bays and waterways frame the islands perfectly to create three wonderful maps, all of which are popular and often ordered. If you visit the area, don’t forget to visit a beach or go out on a boat, it’s what the area is all about!