Dixie Beach derives its name from the steamship 'The Dixie' that served as a vital lifeline for Sanibel Island after 1921 and 1926 hurricanes destroyed farming businesses, with the Kinzie Brothers Steamship Line carrying mail, passengers, ice, and fresh food twice weekly to Bailey brothers dock at Sanibel Packing Company before the 1963 Causeway ended ferry service era. This Lee County beach evolved from Calusa Indian habitation through Spanish exploration to modern development marked by Dixie Beach Boulevard at the island's widest 3-mile point on the 13-mile-long barrier island bounded by Gulf of Mexico, Longboat Pass, Anna Maria Sound, and Tampa Bay, serving Florida's Gulf coast heritage with quiet stretches surrounded by stunning Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation and J.N. 'Ding' Darling Wildlife Refuge nature preserves culminating in Dixie Beach Sanctuary Overlook.
The beach offers kayak launching from Dixie Beach Sanctuary Overlook with incredible San Carlos Bay views, biking along the quiet stretch making a good 3-mile round trip walk with nature preserves on either side, and wildlife observation throughout the surrounding conservation lands. Limited parking requires residents-only access or B-sticker passes obtained through Sanibel Recreation Center, while nearby Lighthouse Beach provides world-famous shelling opportunities thanks to Sanibel's unique east-west orientation depositing shells along south-facing shores with early morning low tide optimal for collecting. The sanctuary overlook features bike racks and stunning bay vistas, complemented by miles of nature trails through protected habitats showcasing the island's commitment to conservation and wildlife preservation accessible from this quiet boulevard destination.
Sanibel Island dining includes Gramma Dots Seaside Saloon at 634 N Yachtsman Drive nestled in Sanibel Marina for fresh seafood, salads and waterfront outdoor dining, Doc Ford's at 975 Rabbit Road for American, seafood and Caribbean dishes with live music nightly, and Sweet Melissa's Cafe at 1625 Periwinkle Way for refined high-end locally sourced American cuisine, serving Lee County's barrier island community along this historic steamship-named boulevard where nature preserves frame the journey to San Carlos Bay overlook.
