Tarpon Bay: The Hidden Gem
Does this road look familiar? Have you ever wondered where “that one road” leads to? Have you always meant to go down “that road’, but the beach allure was too strong to resist? Before you knew it, vacation time was up, and the mystery still remains.
“We get people all the time who tell us ‘we’ve been coming to the island for years and we never knew what was down here!’ explained General Manager & part-owner, Wendy Schnapp. Though the island is smaller compared to other island destinations, there are many nooks and crannies on the island. Tarpon Bay is one of those nooks and crannies. But, unlike a corner filled with dust, darkness and cob-webs, Tarpon Bay offers a bright and sunny display of back bay water and wildlife. Visitors can gaze over the bay and truly feel a sense of how Sanibel may have looked before it was inhabited. Calm waters, mangrove shoreline and blue sky engulf your view.
Tarpon Bay Explorers is the company and concession to the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge that sits at the very, very end of “that one road.” “We always want to remind locals and visitors alike that we are here!” exclaimed Schnapp. “It is a great place to bring the family for an eco-excursion or to shop,” explained Schnapp. Tarpon Bay offers various water-based activities including kayaking tours and rentals, paddleboarding tours and rentals, pontoon rentals, fishing charters, Hobie kayak rentals, eco-cruises, bike rentals and more.
One can also ‘pat themselves on the back’ knowing that 12% of everything (tours, rentals, merchandise) goes back to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the care and protection of wildlife refuges around the country. “It justifies getting my grandchildren another birthday gift,” said a recent visitor. Tarpon Bay Explorers’ nature-themed gift shop is one of kind. Items range from typical small keep-sakes to home décor, cook books, nature field guides, fishing tackle, t-shirts, fishing shirts, kids’ toys and more. It is also only one of the few gift shops on the island in which you can occasionally observe manatees frolicking in the water or pelicans dive for savory sardines. For whatever reason you need to venture down “that one road”, just know that there is more to the “end of the road” than meets the eye.
Tarpon Bay Explorers is open every day except Christmas 8 a.m.-6 p.m. during summer and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. starting October (rentals stop at 3 p.m. or 4 p.m., respectively). The company is the one and only concession to the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge offering educational and recreational activities and tours. You can call their gift shop at 239-472-8900 or visit their web site tarponbayexplorers.com for additional information.
- Have you ever asked yourself – “What’s down that road?” PHOTO PROVIDED
- A calm morning on Tarpon Bay, “down that one road.” PHOTO PROVIDED