J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge
6,400 acres of mangroves, spoonbills, and slow wonder
More than half of Sanibel is protected land, and Ding Darling is its crown: part of the largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystem in the United States, home to over 245 bird species plus manatees, dolphins, alligators, and river otters. The four-mile Wildlife Drive lets you cross it by car, bike, or on foot.
Time your visit to low tide, when the flats fill with wading birds — roseate spoonbills, herons, ibis. Rent a kayak at Tarpon Bay to slip through the mangrove tunnels, or rent bikes on-island and make a morning of it.
