Relax, unwind, and drift away

Sanibel Island is one of our favorite places on earth and over the past 12 years, we’ve been so fortunate to have been able to make numerous trips to the island.

Every time we go there, we find something new that deepens our affection for this magical island.

During our most recent stay on Sanibel, our newest experience was staying for the first time at The Driftwood Inn.

Our two-bedroom cottage was exactly what we needed for our home base as we set out to explore the Island and see first-hand how recovery and restoration efforts have progressed over the past two years since Hurricane Ian devastated the area.

Our article on what we discovered during our week-long exploration can be found here: Sanibel and Captiva Today: Two Years After Ian

After each day of biking, shelling, shopping, dining, and working, The Driftwood Inn provided us with a most comfortable place to relax, unwind, and drift away.

Take a quick peek inside

Close to Everything

The Driftwood Inn's location is ideal with close proximity to the beach, restaurants, and shopping.

A 5-Minute Walk To the Beach

The Driftwood Inn, located right in the heart of Sanibel on Donax Street, just north of Middle Gulf Road is just a short walk from the beach.

Or, a  2-Minute Bike Ride

Family Owned and Operated

Originally from the great state of Maine, Mark and Lindsay Badger now call Sanibel home.

They had visited Sanibel many times over the years and had fallen in love with the island as, like so many of us, the ride over the causeway transported them into another world full of contentment and happiness.

Then, in 2022, upon selling their family business, they had the freedom to choose where to live and Sanibel just seemed to them like an idyllic place to raise a family.

As Lindsay explained, "It was just such a different way of life than the Northeast and the fast-paced, always-in-a-rush type of environment.

We don't get into a car when we are on Sanibel.  We can bike everywhere or just walk with the stroller."

And as a mom, Lindsey is also very excited about the opportunities Sanibel will provide for her children starting this fall as her son is enrolled in CECI - Childrens Education Center of the Islands.

As Lindsay says, "Just growing up on an on an island in a place like Sanibel, how could it get any better?"

In May of this year, just a few short months ago, they took ownership of the Driftwood Inn and have big plans in the works to make it better and more beautiful than ever.

Newly Renovated with Amenities to the Max

Mark and Lindsay are not just the owners, they are managing and operating the Driftwood themselves with a focus on unique and personalized service.

The four Driftwood Inn cottages are contained within two separate duplexes.

Each of the four units has two comfortable and well-appointed bedrooms, two bathrooms, a spacious living area, a fully equipped kitchen, and a screened lanai. 

Clean, comfortable, and functional, our cottage became our home away from home as we spent the week exploring the recovery progress of the island.

The Driftwood Inn also provides each unit with a beach cart, chairs, umbrella and a variety of beach toys so there is no need to pack anything for your day at the beach.

Each duplex also shares a laundry room with a washer and dryer.

Guests also have a fleet of really nice 3-speed bicycles available to make it a breeze to get around the island.

And for those of you who love a cook-out, there are also two outdoor grills available.

Tiki Huts

Adding to the tropical atmosphere are the exotic tiki huts.

They are perfect for an outdoor picnic, relaxing with a favorite beverage, and especially for sorting all the amazing shells you'll bring back from the beach!

Stay One Night or Many

If you only have a few days, no problem!  The Driftwood can accommodate nightly, weekly, and monthly stays.

Pet Friendly

At the Driftwood pets are welcome.

Personal Touch

Are you celebrating a special occasion?

Is there some way that the Driftwood can assist to make everything easier for you?

Do you have any special needs or requests?

Just ask, and Mark and Lindsay will be happy to help get you everything you need.

Whether it's a grocery pickup so that you have a stocked fridge upon arrival, or special decorations, just ask, and they will do their very best to make it happen.

While most of the larger resorts on the island are making great progress on the recovery effort, you may find that many are not ready for guests quite yet.

However, there are still some great options right now that have a place for you and will make you feel very welcome.

If you’ve been wanting to get back to Sanibel, definitely take a look at the smaller inns and cottages like The Driftwood.

So fun to find these shells with a personal message near the front door of our cottage upon arrival.

A Great Remote Work Location

Since we were on the Island to work, I can't help but recommend considering the Driftwood for more than vacations and holidays.

For those fortunate enough to be able to work from anywhere that has internet connectivity, you should definitely think about setting up shop at the Driftwood.

The Driftwood's reliable wifi access to high-speed internet enabled us to stay connected with our clients and work throughout the week without missing a beat. 

Tropical Paradise Retreat

The Driftwood also provides a great setting for anyone considering any type of small group or personal retreat.

Or, perhaps you're a small business looking for a unique location for a company retreat, brainstorming, or team building event.  

The Driftwood makes for a really nice base to operate out of while leveraging everything else the island has to offer to help cultivate a vision of your future.

Multi-family Get Togethers

The other thing that I kept thinking about while we were there is how the Driftwood makes for the perfect setting for small family reunions or other multi-family gatherings.

We hope to be back with our children and grandchildren in the near future.

Biking Across Sanibel

During our stay, we took full advantage of Driftwood's complimentary bikes.

We biked all over the Island.

From The Lighthouse all the way out through Ding Darling and back!

To see what we discovered during our week-long exploration check our article here: Sanibel and Captiva Today: Two Years After Ian

From the Driftwood Inn:

Final Thoughts

We were thrilled with our stay at The Driftwood Inn - Sanibel Island.

The cottages are comfortable, spacious, and clean, and they are relatively secluded which provides a degree of privacy. 

The location puts it in close proximity to the beach, restaurants, and shopping, and they have all the amenities we could want and more. 

It's not a beach-front property, so if you're wanting views of the gulf from your room, you won't get that at the Driftwood.  It is not a resort, so if you're wanting that resort type of experience, you won't get that either.

What it does provide is a charming "Old Florida" beach cottage feel that will give you memories to treasure for a lifetime!

Don't wait!  Reserve your cottage at The Driftwood Inn today.

This article was sponsored, in part, by The Driftwood Inn.