Magazine Feature Story on South Seas Island Resort

Feature – South Seas Island Resort

Imagine a resort destination experience that not only places you perfectly in the lap of luxury amidst some of the most scenic island surroundings in the world, but also then delivers the added bonus of allowing you to completely immerse yourself, first-hand, into the very natural surrounds that brought you here.

That’s exactly what awaits each guest at South Seas Island Resort, an enchanting, natural oasis hugging the northern tip of Captiva Island.

At first glance, visitors to this island icon may notice the lush island foliage, the sparkling waters of the South Seas Yacht Harbor & Marina and the expertly manicured golf links. But after just a few hours here, they soon learn that South Seas Island Resort offers their guests a huge variety of ways to actually become one with the natural beauty that surrounds them, and provide them with an unexpected eco-vacation experience they will never forget.

“Eco-tourism is something that just comes naturally at South Seas,” explains Daniel Smock, the resort’s Marketing Director & Communications Manager. “With so many options for our guests to actually get outdoors and experience everything Sanibel and Captiva Islands are known for, and to learn so much in the process, is something people frequently tell us is the best part of their vacation”.

From the sea to the sky, South Seas Island Resort allows their guests the chance to get up close and personal with just about any aspect of our island treasures, and the surrounding waters. Smock details some of the most popular amenity experiences enjoyed by the resort’s guests. “One of our partners, Captiva Cruises, operates an Astronomy Excursion, in addition to their island-hopping, dolphin, sunset or shelling tours”, Smock says. “We have an astronomy enthusiast from the world-renowned Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum lead our guests out onto the Gulf waters, show them the stars and planets through a telescope and explain how they’ve been used for ship navigation for centuries – it is always one of our most popular excursions”, he notes.

So many visitors from around the world are families, so South Seas makes sure there is always something on tap that excites and interests all age groups. The resort came up with their ScoutAbout 20 Points of Discovery challenge, a sort of scavenger hunt and educational experience rolled up into a fascinating look into the island’s natural resources. Guests get a map when they begin the excursion, and punch a mark at each map icon denoting a different discovery about native vegetation, animal and sea-life species and other stops that reveal a world that remains unknown to those that simply see the island’s beauty from a distance.

“It is great to see so many families with kids suddenly realize that they’re seeing our islands from a totally new perspective, and it almost feels like we are ‘tricking’ them into learning – they’re having so much fun, it takes a few minutes to realize the educational value of the hunt”, Smock asserts. The hunt culminates with awards and prizes for guests that correctly complete the most ScoutAbout points of interest. Guests are encouraged to post photos of their fun on social media, and awards the Scout of the Week honors to those whose pictures prove the most popular. The ScoutAbout program is based on information provided by the Sanibel Sea School, and revolves around an experience-based learning model.

If you are feeling a bit more adventurous, there are many opportunities to strike out on your own and explore the tranquil and life-rich local waters. Guests can take their own Jet Ski out for an island tour, or even take the whole family in one of the resort’s larger boats that are available for charter. Another partner, Sunny Island Water Sports, provides virtually every option to see the Gulf and Bay waters first-hand, from guided kayak tours and sunrise paddleboard lessons to parasailing hundreds of feet about the sparkling water.

The anglers on vacation at South Seas Island Resort will never be disappointed in their choices of ways to catch some fish. The resort holds their Go!Fish Fishing Tournament off of the T-Dock at the very northern tip of Captiva, with awards for the most fish, biggest fish and even the smallest fish caught. More serious fishermen will want to check out the charter fishing excursions for the chance to venture far out into the Gulf and wet their lines for some larger species.

If sailing is more your style, guests can experience the full-sail experience offered by the Colgate Sailing School, a partner for more than thirty years and operating directly out of the resort’s Yacht Harbour & Marina. From first-timers to the saltiest of sea dogs, sailors of every level learn about the beauty and power of the wind, and how to use it to fully realize the ultimate sailing experience.

So what often begins with expectations of a tranquil, waterside vacation retreat at South Seas Island Resort turns into an eco-vacation of a lifetime, packed with island experiences unlike any other. Eco-tourism comes naturally here, which suits those that operate the property, and it’s guests, just fine.