What Florida Gulf Town Made Travel + Leisure’s “Best Places” to Visit
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What Florida Gulf Town Made Travel + Leisure’s “Best Places” to Visit

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“Paradise” and “tropical” are just some of the terms people associate with Sanibel Island.

Add “resilient” to that list. Travel + Leisure magazine has named the southwest Florida city — hit by a Category 4 hurricane in September 2022 — as its 50 best places to travel in 2025. It was one of two locations in Florida to make the prestigious list.

Here’s what you need to know.

How Travel + Leisure found its “50 Best Places”

By releasing “50 best places,” the internationally renowned travel magazine said its editors found places that provide “inspiration for curious travelers to dream about and plan for the year ahead. It includes destinations of all kinds – cultural immersion, culinary experiences, big city excitement, beach vibes, moments on the water and more.”

The list “requires more than just a hotly anticipated opening or two. These are places that feel of the moment … a pulse-raising hit of excitement, or the kind of blissful luxury that only a true five-star property can deliver.“

“Each of these 50 remarkable destinations may have their own distinct allure, but all are worth a closer look in the coming year.”

Travel + Leisure calls Sanibel a “remarkable comeback”

This past September 28 marked the two-year anniversary of Hurricane Ian hitting Southwest Florida, including Sanibel.

Travel + Leisure recognized the windy Gulf Islands’ resilience. Cities were listed under various headings, with Sanibel listed first under “For Beach Vibes.”

“It’s been two years since this island, along with places like Captiva and Fort Myers, was devastated by Hurricane Ian,” wrote Travel + Leisure’s Jennifer Salerno Yong.

“Since then—and despite Hurricane Milton 2024 — this Gulf Coast destination has made a remarkable comeback. Restaurants, shops and attractions have reopened with new facades and shiny new interiors; hotels that Sanibel Island Beach Resort welcomes guests and others, like the apartment rental on Sundial Beach Resort & Spareopening in stages.”

Sanibel 2023 also made the Travel + Leisure list of the 15 best islands in the continental US, Sanibel was No. 6 and Captiva came in at No. 10.

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What other Florida destination made the list?

Magazine editors chose Universal Orlando under “For Adventurous Travelers.”

“It’s been nearly 25 years since a major Disney or Universal theme park opened in the U.S., but that’s changing in 2025,” wrote Travel + Leisure’s Elizabeth Rhodes.

“Universal Orlando Resort’s massive expansion will add Universal Epic Universe, a state-of-the-art park with five new lands featuring classic monsters like Dracula and Frankenstein, Nintendo franchises like Mario, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and more innovative new experiences, from immersive dining to groundbreaking roller coasters.”

Other US, international locations on the 50 best locations list

  • Detroit, Michigan
  • Portland, Oregon
  • Sacramento, California
  • Charleston, South Carolina
  • Colorado’s Western Slope
  • San Antonio, Texas
  • San Diego, California
  • Apostle Islands, Wisconsin
  • Anchorage, Alaska
  • Deer Valley, Utah
  • Santa Monica, California
  • Thailand
  • Budapest, Hungary
  • Lisbon and Algarve, Portugal
  • Nicaragua
  • Osaka, Japan
  • Slovenia
  • Barbados
  • Huaraz, Peru

What else did Travel + Leisure say about Sanibel?

Salerno Yong also touched on Sanibel’s recovering restaurants and natural habitats.

“Beloved places such as Cheeburger Cheeburger, Doc Ford’sand Tutti Pazzi is back online along with new developments, like the island’s first sushi bar at Shima’s Japanese Steakhouse,” she wrote.

“Nature is thriving, too. The beaches, known for their abundance of seashells and sand dollars, are once again filled with treasure. Sea turtles are nesting. And wildlife, including bobcats, dolphins, green herons, roseate spoonbills and anhingas, are thriving in JN “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge.”

Dave Osborn is regional features editor for the Naples Daily News and News-Press. Follow him on Instagram and Threads @lacrossewriter and on X (formerly Twitter) @NDN_dosborn.

Website https://carnevalestoricocivitonico.it

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