(By Kim Ryan) It was such a pleasure to visit the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundations’ Bailey Homestead Preserve Monday which is where the Native Landscape and Garden center is located. The front 9 acres running along Periwinkle Way are open to the public with the Shipley Trail with the remaining 19 acres are for the benefit of wildlife on Sanibel, creating a wildlife corridor.
The weather was perfect to walk along The Shipley Trail, which connects to City of Sanibel parks: Roadside City Park and Pond Apple Park/Trail.
These trails meander through the preserve and around a large pond where a multitude of birds and reptiles can be observed. There’s a boardwalk connecting the trails from which an alligator can sometimes be seen. I was lucky enough to get a glimpse of an eagle perched near a nest high up in the trees.
The trails are wide and well maintained. They can accommodate walkers as well as bike riders and can be easily combined for an out and back. They can be accessed from either SCCF Bailey Homestead parking lot on Periwinkle or the Chamber of Commerce on Causeway Blvd.
Check out this video I cut during my Monday journey.
Comments are closed.