Reaching Sanibel, Captiva and Useppa

GETTING THERE

From LAX, connecting service to Fort Myers (change of planes) is offered on United, American, Continental, Frontier, Delta and US Airways. Restricted round-trip fares begin at $337. From LAX, nonstop service to Tampa is available on Delta; direct service (stop, no change of planes) on Southwest, Frontier, America West and United; and connecting service on American, Delta, Continental, Northwest, US Airways and United. Restricted round-trip fares begin at $228.

Numerous rental car companies serve Southwest Florida International Airport, near the Daniels Parkway exit on Interstate 75, 20 miles east of Sanibel, and Tampa International Airport, 145 miles north. To get from the Tampa airport to Sanibel, follow Interstate 275 across Tampa Bay on the four-mile Sunshine Skyway, then take Interstate 75 south to Daniels Parkway and go west. Turn south on Summerlin Road, which yields directly to the Sanibel Causeway.

WHERE TO STAY

South Seas Resort, 5400 Captiva Road, Captiva Island, FL 33924; (800) 227-8482, fax (239) 481-4947, www.south-seas-resort.com, occupies the northern third of Captiva. Rates until Dec. 23 $145-$1,300; Dec. 24-Jan. 1, $190-$2,000. Packages are available.

Waterside Inn, 3033 W. Gulf Drive, Sanibel, FL 33957; (800) 741-6166, fax (239) 472-2148, www.watersideinnonthebeach.com, is a small, well-maintained mom-and-pop place on a good shelling beach. Rates through Dec. 19 are $125-$198; Dec. 20 to Jan. 1, $187-$297 for motel rooms, condominium units and cottages.

WHERE TO EAT

The Bubble Room, 15001 Captiva Drive, (239) 472-5558, entrees $17-$30, and The Mucky Duck, 11546 Andy Rosse Lane, (239) 472-3434, entrees $13-$20, are good choices for moderately priced meals featuring seafood -- grouper, red snapper, shrimp -- in casual surroundings on Captiva.

The Old Captiva House at ‘Tween Waters Inn, 15951 Captiva Drive, (239) 472-5161, is more expensive and formal but excellent. Entrees $21-$32, including grouper baked in parchment, shrimp scampi and Long Island duckling.

Lazy Flamingo, 1036 Periwinkle Way, (239) 472-6939, and 6520 Pine Ave., (239) 472-5353, are noisy and jam-packed, serving such Florida comfort food as peel-and-eat shrimp and conch fritters; entrees $8-$13.

Sanibel Café, 2007 Periwinkle Way, (239) 472-5323, is unpretentious and popular for nightly specials such as fried shrimp and barbecued ribs. Entrees about $7-$15.

The Lighthouse Café, 362 Periwinkle Way, (239) 472-0303, is known for its hearty breakfasts featuring omelets, frittatas and hotcakes, $5-$10.

TO LEARN MORE

Sanibel-Captiva Chamber of Commerce, 1159 Causeway Road, Sanibel, FL 33957; (239) 472-1080, fax (239) 472-1070, www.sanibel-captiva.org.

Visit Florida, 661 E. Jefferson St., Tallahassee, FL 32302; (888) 735-2872, www.flausa.com.