Absentminded...in Captiva Island Village.... Short Stroll to the Beach!

We are truly in the middle of the island and just steps to...
the beach for shelling, sunbathing and swimming... the Bay for watching the sunrise, fishing, boating, and manatee watching... fun restaurants like the famous Bubble Room (in one direction), to Southseas Resort and Doc Ford's (other direction) or to the fabulous Mucky Duck (at the beach) for romantic sunsets. And, if you can't wait for that first cup of coffee the island's Starbuck's is a short one block walk away. Captiva Island is only about 600 yards at its widest point so you are literally steps away from the beach no matter where you are. Once you arrive and park your car, you might not leave the island for the rest of your vacation.

Welcome to the Sunshine!!! Welcome to the Islands!

Our ground floor entrance is inviting and functional with four separate lockers to store all your beach supplies (or those nasty winter coats) while you enjoy the Captiva sunshine . The beach towels are here so quickly grab one and head to the beach which is just a short stroll across the street and down sandy Laika Lane for our amazing world famous beach, playful dolphins and truly wonderful sunsets. The two car garage has plenty of beach chairs, beach umbrellas, beach toys and beach carts for your short walk to the beach, shopping or our many restaurants. The garage features elevator access (for our guests requiring accessibility), and an extra refrigerator and freezer. The ground floor lower level has a half-bath powder room convenient to the three story screened-in entertainment/pool area with a built-in BBQ grill, bar height table, teak bar, and multiple lounge chairs for lazing around the pool and spa. The large pool deck is a great area to keep the little ones busy and having fun playing in the pool or with board games while adults will find a relaxing peaceful spot to take a mid-afternoon nap before heading to the Mucky Duck for another beautiful sunset. And if the weather turns inclement (reminder we are in the islands!) , don't worry there is plenty of the pool deck under cover to entertain your guests! The pool deck also features an outdoor shower and a changing room . This pool deck is an amazing outdoor room...you may never want to leave the house! Our repeat guests have reported the three story screened-in lanai was a key difference maker...good weather or bad.
Walking onto the main floor of the house, you're greeted by the Florida sunshine as it streams through plantation shutters into a very open floor plan AND the Shelly the Turtle prominently displayed on the main wall of the cozy Great Room. There is plenty of seating for all of our guests, a 55 inch flat screen LCD TV, DVD player (with plenty of DVDs), XBOX One (so bring your favorite games), cathedral ceilings with a ceiling fan, and a wall of windows with French doors leading out to the screened upper living-room lanai with a spiral staircase to the pool deck below. The well equipped and large kitchen with breakfast nook is inviting for the cook and the take-out crowd alike---did we mention that there are eight restaurants within roughly a block or two? The adjacent dining room has seating for ten guests and double French doors out to yet another screened deck overlooking the pool. The main floor king-size bedroom suite has a full bathroom with step-in shower. The office/den includes a desk (for those extended guests that must conduct some work), a printer, book cases and extra sleeping space for two with a daybed and trundle. The main level is also equipped with a washer and dryer in it's own laundry so pack light!! And, the house has Wi-Fi internet connection throughout the house.

We know you value your privacy so we have THREE upper level bedroom suites!! Walk up a few stairs to the third level and find the first suite, the Black and White Room, with a king-sized bed with a large full bathroom with step-in shower. The second suite features a queen-sized bed with an attached bathroom with a full size tub for bathing the little ones. The master suite has a king-size bed, en-suite large bathroom with double vanity sinks, Jacuzzi tub to pamper yourself, a separate shower, and a dressing table with a terry covered dressing chair. The master suite guests will lounge on the private deck in their "cuddle chairs" overlooking the pool area below. Look to your left to view the beauty of Pine Island Sound!!
Sanibel and Captiva was named by Frommer in 2012 as the Number One Destination in the world (yes, even over Paris, Tahiti etc.). In 2016, our Captiva sunset was ranked Number One Sunset. Our beach is consistently voted as one of the top Florida beaches and is Number One for shelling. WOW! It's likely you won't want to leave the Village, but if you do jump in your car, please enjoy the world famous 7,000 acre Ding Darling Nature Preserve or the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum, terrific shopping areas and dozens of other fabulous restaurants on Sanibel. Sanibel has over 20 miles of walking/cycling paths. I know I have mentioned our fabulous sunsets and beaches but our favorite Captiva memories are heading to the bay early in the morning with our daughters to view the sunrise and enjoy the manatees!

This is an amazing house, built in 2002, professionally designed and completely updated in 2014. It is the perfect spot for a large family or several couples looking to enjoy everything Captiva Island has to offer. Don't believe us; please see the independent reviews below! Our busy seasons fill quickly so please have alternate dates available to experience Absentminded and Captiva. Your family and friends will make memories at Absentminded that will last a life time and, like so many of our regulars, peaceful romantic Captiva and Absentminded will draw you back year after year!

Directions from airport: Take Treeline Road to Daniels Road then follow the signs to Sanibel and Captiva. (If you are driving on I-75, look for Exit 131 and head west.) From Daniels Road, turn left on to Six Mile Cypress which becomes Gladiolus. Look for the Summerlin Road exit. Summerlin takes you directly to the Sanibel Island Causeway.

Lee County charges a $6 round-trip toll for automobiles to access the causeway, so plan ahead with cash or credit card at the ready. Watch out for the speed limit is strictly enforced at 30 MPH (20 MPH on bridges) for the three-mile ride to Sanibel Island but you won’t be in a hurry. Your first view of the ocean will slow you down!

One last thing to put a smile on your face ....please go the following URL that showcases Captiva Island. This short video will sell you that Captiva Island is truly an unique vacation spot that you won't find on the mainland. Enjoy!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-GXv0mvmRQ
Or
http://www.purewow.com/travel/beach-vacation-bucket-list?utm_medium=email&utm...

Restaurant Choices:
All of the restaurants in the Captiva village area are within walking distance of the house. Parking around the island is pretty limited so that is a big plus.

Almost directly across Captiva Drive from the house is Sunshine Seafood which has the best seafood. Just a few doors from there is the Captiva Cantina. If you keep heading toward Andy Rosse on Captiva Drive (so back towards Sanibel), at the corner of Captiva Drive and Andy Rosse is the famous Bubble Room. The food is good and the desserts are even better. We often grab a piece of cake for an evening snack even if we have had dinner at another spot. On Andy Rosse (turning toward the ocean), you will see Key Lime Bistro and RC Otter just across the street. Both are great restaurants with outdoor seating and have live entertainment in the afternoons and evenings. The Mucky Duck is at the end of Andy Rosse on the beach (Captiva's only beach front restaurant). They have a nice outdoor patio with live music around happy hour time and you can have lunch outside with food service from the bar. They also have more formal dining inside and it is THE location to watch the sunset which is a MUST event in Captiva. Another option is the Green Flash which is a little past Andy Rosse on Captiva Drive. The Green Flash is the only restaurant with a view of the bay. The food is very good and the view is gorgeous. In the other direction from the house, and just at the turn to enter South Seas Resort, is Doc Fords back in the corner of the plaza. We really enjoy the outdoor patio there....also with live music. Starbucks is just across the street If you want to get in the car, a couple of other options are the restaurant at 'Tween Waters (if you consider going there, you might want to combine dinner with an evening at the crab races which are held twice a week and there are two shows, family and adult) and Mad Hatter (going back toward Sanibel and just before crossing the bridge to Sanibel), probably the "nicest" restaurant on Captiva.