Florida’s Dog Friendly Beaches – Sanibel

So, it’s finally August, one of the hottest and steamiest months of the year. We are officially in the dog days of summer. Wouldn’t your canine best friend love a day at the beach?

I have a yellow Labrador retriever named Smokey, and living in Florida, he loves his beach days. But, you may have trouble finding dog friendly beaches in the Sunshine State. Many of the beaches don’t allow dogs. Some only allow dogs to visit certain times of the day. And then there are the few beaches that dogs are allowed to play on any time of day.

Sanibel has to be one of the most dog friendly beaches in Florida. In fact, Smokey gives their beaches his very coveted Four Paws Up award!!



Sanibel is one of Florida’s most beautiful beach destinations. Located west of Fort Myers, the beaches are known around the world for their beautiful blue green waters, white sandy beaches, and shelling. In fact, people come from all over the world in search of some of Mother Nature’s most beautiful treasures.

All of Sanibel’s beaches are dog friendly. As long as your dog is on a leash, he (or she) can walk along the shoreline, play in the water, dig holes, and roll around in the sand. You can walk for miles on beaches that are literally postcard perfect. If you get hot, you and your pooch can go for a swim. Smokey loves to swim out to the sandbar and back!!

For humans, it doesn’t get much better than this. Pick out your favorite spot on the beach. Setup the chairs, beach umbrella, picnic lunch, then sit back, relax, and feel the tropical breezes on your face.

Two of Smokey’s favorite dog friendly beaches on Sanibel are:

• Bowman’s Beach: This beach is located just off Sanibel-Captiva Road. Shimmering white sand, beautiful blue-green water, excellent shelling, and some pretty good fishing make this a popular spot for both humans and canines.
• Blind Pass: Blind Pass links Sanibel to Captiva. Dogs are only allowed on the Sanibel side. Park in the small lot and then start walking. You can walk for miles here or pick out your perfect spot to relax.



To get to Sanibel, you will have to pay a $6 toll to cross the causeway. And, once you get to your beach, you will have to pay to park by the hour. But it’s a small price to pay for a lifetime of beach memories for you and your dog.

OK. I am going to shamelessly promote one of the travel guides I wrote for Great American Vacation Ideas. The Sanibel-Captiva guide is filled with areas to visit on the islands, detailed beach information, shelling tips, plus lodging and dining ideas. Go to our website, www.greatamericanvacationideas.com and click on the Florida tab to purchase it. Once your done reading, you will want to pack your bags and leave today!!!