400 Rabbits, 975 Rabbit Road, Sanibel. The best Mexican-inspired food on the island. Housed in the former Doc Ford's, 400 Rabbits offers a delicious selection of street tacos, burritos, fajitas and other Southwest/Mexican favorites as well as a large variety of tequilas and drinks. One of Guin's new favorite places.

Savoury Spoon, 2463 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. The best grilled cheese, tomato soup, and waffles on a stick on Sanibel! Plus freshly squeezed juice and smoothies. Open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with outdoor seating, stop in for a late breakfast or lunch.

The Clam Shack, 2407 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. THE place to get a lobster roll on Sanibel. Great, fresh seafood, done New England style. Indoor and outdoor dining + live music.

Lamoraga, 3936 Tamiami Trail N., Naples. Another fave spot in Naples, located a few minutes from Artis-Naples. Often go here before a show or concert. They refer to their food as "International Cuisine," but I'd call it Cuban-Caribbean. Whatever you call it, it's delicious. Highly recommend the Lamoraga Paella and the Crispy Duck.

Sunset Grill, 6536 Pine Ave., Sanibel. Good spot for breakfast, lunch, or dinner if you are staying on the West End. Right by Blind Pass Beach and Castaways.

The French Brasserie Rustique, 365 5th Ave. S, Naples. One of my favorite restaurants in Naples. Great French food in a chic setting. Make sure you save room for dessert, cause their chocolate eclair is the bomb.

Great White Grill, 2440 Palm Ridge Rd., Sanibel. Casual sports bar/hang out with good pizza and beer on draft.

The Sanibel Sprout, 2407 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. Delicious vegan food (salads, sandwiches, and desserts) and smoothies, available for takeout or eating in their beautiful outdoor dining area. You don't have to be vegan to love their food.

Cielo, 1244 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. Formerly Il Cielo, Cielo offers guests deliciously prepared gourmet food in a romantic setting, along with a wide variety of wine and cocktails. And yes, there is still that piano player, who is really very good. Guin just isn't a fan of being serenaded with lounge music while eating.

Bleu Rendezvous, 2430 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. Fave French restaurant on the island, run by a husband-and-wife team. Great food, topnotch service, cozy, French country feel. Highly recommend the Foie Gras Two Ways and the Coq au Vin, though everything's delicious.

Osteria Celli, 15880 Summerlin Rd., #308, Fort Myers. Great little Italian place, on the way from the airport to Sanibel.

Sanibel Fresh, 1020 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. Located right off the Causeway, Sanibel Fresh serves healthy food in a casual setting. Open for breakfast and lunch. Good for vegetarians.

The Pecking Order, 2496 Palm Ridge Rd., Sanibel. Some of the best fried chicken I've ever had. So good. Take-out only, though you can sit just outside on one of their outdoor stools.

Lighthouse Cafe, 362 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. Great little breakfast spot, also serving lunch (and dinner, in season), on the East End of Sanibel.

Traders 2, 2340 Periwinkle Way. Another fave lunch spot on Sanibel. Good for dinner, too. Chic, tropical vibe. Good food and service. Outdoor dining, too.

Sanibel Deli, 2330 Palm Ridge Road, Sanibel. Great sandwiches, coffee, and ice cream. (I'm particularly fond of their Turkey Club sandwich and their Black & White milkshakes.) Outdoor seating as well as indoor available. Good for takeout.

Gramma Dot's, 634 N. Yachtsman Dr., Sanibel (in the Sanibel Marina). Fave lunch spot on the East End. The Coconut Curried Lobster Salad is the bomb. Be sure to walk around the Sanibel Marina before or after and snap a pic of the Causeway.

Over Easy Cafe, 630 Tarpon Bay Rd., Sanibel. Fave breakfast spot on the island. Love the roosters and the country/farmhouse vibe.

Paper Fig Kitchen, 2003 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. Great little lunchtime takeout place in the Tahitian Gardens Plaza. Love the Korean tacos. Also caters.

Jane's Garden Cafe, 1209 3rd Street South, Naples. Hands down the best brunch spot in SW Florida. I regularly drive 1.5 hours for the Fabulous French Toast, which is truly fabulous. And their cocktails are to die for (figuratively, not literally).

Dante's Coal-Fired Pizza, 935 East Gulf Drive, Sanibel. The best pizza on Sanibel. Comfortable setting, good service, plus nice selection of beer on draft. Also recommend the coal-fired wings and ribs.

Tutti Pazzi Italian Kitchen, 1200 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel (formerly Matzaluna). Guin's new favorite Italian restaurant. Delicious food, good service, friendly vibe. Eat in or take out. Love the Insalata Tutti Pazzi, fried calamari, eggplant parm, veal/chicken marsala, the wood-fired pizzas, and desserts.

Mad Hatter Restaurant, 6467 Sanibel-Captiva Rd., Sanibel. Romantic dinner spot located right on the beach by Blind Pass. Excellent food, good service, and a great place to view the sunset. Maybe the best food on the island. (Love the beet salad with goat cheese and the rack of lamb.)

Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grill. Until there's a Guin's Place, check out Doc Ford's on Sanibel, Captiva, or Fort Myers Beach. (I personally prefer the one on Captiva, next to South Seas.) Good food and service with a laid back, Florida vibe. I'm partial to the raw oysters and crab cakes -- and the Scotty's Blonde Ale on draft.

CROW Clinic, 3883 Sanibel-Captiva Rd., Sanibel. The Center for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife, CROW is "a teaching hospital and visitor education center dedicated to saving wildlife through state-of-the-art veterinary care, research, education and conservation medicine." Definitely plan a visit to learn about the local wildlife and what the vets at CROW are doing to help save and protect it.

SCCF, 3333 Sanibel-Captiva Rd., Sanibel. Visit the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation to learn about the local wildlife and land preservation on Sanibel and Captiva. Daily programs. Go to their website to learn more.

J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel. The place to go if you are into or interested in bird watching. Lots to see and do. Just try to come at low tide.

Captiva Cruises. Whether you're interested in shelling, spotting dolphins, or exploring some of the islands around Sanibel and Captiva, Captiva Cruises has a tour for you.

Treasure Seekers Shell Tours, Goodland, FL. If you love shelling, you'll love Treasure Seekers shell tours in the Ten Thousand Islands off of Marco Island. Four- and six-hours group and private tours.

Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum, 3075 Sanibel-Captiva Rd., Sanibel. A must visit when you are on Sanibel if you love shells. Will be adding an aquarium in 2020. Great educational programs for kids plus they do beach walks.

Reel Kind Fishing, Shelling & Eco Tours, Marco Island, FL. Offering fishing, shelling, and eco tours in the Ten Thousand Islands, off of Marco Island. In the TripAdvisor Hall of Fame.

Joey's Custard, Bailey's Plaza, Sanibel. The only place on Sanibel to get frozen custard. Great selection of hard and soft ice cream and toppings. Family owned. Love the Lion's Paw.

MacIntosh Books & Paper, 2330 Palm Ridge Rd., Sanibel. Fabulous independent bookstore also selling cards, stationery, and gifts. Bonus: MacIntosh's resident tuxedo cat, Brady.

Cape Nails, 2407 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. Great manicures and pedicures. And oh those massage chairs!

Adventures in Paradise Outfitters, 2019 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. Stylish and casual resortwear.

Lily & Co. Jewelers, 520 Tarpon Bay Rd., Sanibel. Attractive jewelry and gift store located next to Doc Ford's, across from Bailey's Plaza, with helpful, friendly staff. Wide selection of jewelry and gifts.

The Spa at 'Tween Waters, Captiva. The place to get a massage or a mani-pedi on Captiva (or if you are staying on the West End of Sanibel). Offers the usual spa services. Good ambiance, friendly staff.

Annette's Book Nook, 7205 Estero Blvd., Ste 701, Fort Myers Beach. Great little new and used bookstore in the Santini Marina Plaza.

Sanibel Sole, 1981 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. Great little shoe store on Sanibel, also selling clothing and gifts.

Tribeca Salon, 2340 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. The place to get your hair cut and colored on Sanibel. Great for women and men. Nick and Dom are the best.

Bailey's General Store, 2477 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. Your one-stop shop for groceries, wine & beer, home goods, beach stuff, and hardware on the West End of Sanibel. Good selection, nice people. (If you are staying on the East End of Sanibel, check out Jerry's Foods.)

Congress Jewelers, 2075 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. Friendly, helpful jewelry store offering a wide selection of jewelry, including the Sealife By Congress™ Collection. (Found two of my favorite pendants -- a junonia and a sea star -- here.)

Cable channel HLN visits Gene's Books on Sanibel and speaks with Sanibel Island Mysteries author Jennifer L. Schiff.

When the air outside freezes your breath, as it often does mid-winter in New England, one option to consider is a good book set in warmer climes to help banish the winter blues. Read More

"Seashells and mayhem are two things not normally found together, but in this case it’s a match made in island heaven and a beach read so fun that you won’t want to put it down!" Read More

Wilton author Jennifer L. Schiff is back in hot water — or, more accurately — the warm waters of Sanibel Island with her new book, Something Fishy. This is the second volume in her Sanibel Island Mystery series, which premiered with A Shell of a Problem, published last fall... Read More