Lounge on a Fort Myers Beach. Required fields are marked *. Just look at these birds we found. We booked the guide out of Fort Meyers. If youre planning avacation to Sanibel Islandand wondering what activities are offered on this island close to Floridas coast, check out these10 kid-friendly attractionsthis special island has to offer. One of the first lighthouses on Floridas Gulf coast, this 98-foot tower offers showstopping views of the surrounding area and plenty of photo opportunities. A great time. 9. Along the way, a naturalist will point out local sights and landmarks while answering questions about wildlife and island history. I think their minds were blown! There are activities that appeal to all age groups and makes for a really nice family vacation. A good day on the water promises dolphins, manatee, and other sea life sightings. Additionally, after undergoing several renovations to the main halls and exhibits in 2018 and 2019, the Shell Museum will fully reopen on July 5, 2019, with tons of new features. At the parks northern end, youll find a fishing pier, a prime spot for catching redfish, snook, sheepshead, black drum, snapper, and other species. This sounds like a great island to visit. Looking for something fun to do in Sanibel with kids? No arguments there! Edison & Ford Winter Estates. Have a look! These months offer the best weather, with comfortable temperatures and less rain, making it a joy to explore the island. There is so much to explore right outside your hotel, both on the beach and in the water. Our days were spent playing in the water, riding bikes around the island and collecting shells (SO MAY SHELLS! Note you will have to head back into Fort Myers to get picked up by there van for this excursion. There's a safe designated bike path to pedal the length and width of the island, and you can even beat the traffic when it slows to a crawl during season. Heads up, you'll want to arrive early as spots fill up quickly. There are bike lanes literally EVERYWHERE. My twins have been to the island three times starting at 13 months old (1st trip, 2nd trip, 3rd trip) and have loved spending time on the beaches and with nature. Top 10 things to do on Sanibel Island with kids J.N. Hello, my name is Shanna, and I am a detail obsessed travel addict on a mission to make planning your own family trips fun and easy! Hit the big grocery stores in Fort Myers on your way. 1. On a regular day, the a.m. low tide will be better than the p.m. because if youre the first one out in the morning, youll be able to find the shells that have freshly washed ashore.Tip: My family has always gone to Sanibel Island in June and the beaches have always been filled with shells. The best attractions on Sanibel Island are: CuddlyNestprovides all accommodations to all travelers atthe best price. See Tripadvisor's 128,735 traveller reviews and photos of kid friendly Sanibel Island attractions Relax on the beach, enjoy a picnic, go on a bike ride, or take a hike on one of the trails found . We ate THE best burgers at the poolside bar at the Sanibel Island Inn, and we ate out once or twice for dinner. If you are looking for soft sand, this will not be your place because the whole beach is LITERALLY made out of sea shells. If there is, put it back. These eye-popping gardens host wild creatures like butterflies, turtles, rabbits, and birds. I wasnt sure there was much else to see and do in Florida. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. Kids can easily split a kids meal, especially if they fill up on the bottomless muffins that come first. Sanibel Island in Florida offers a breathtaking reprieve for families who want to get away from the hustle-bustle of everyday life. Fort Myers (RSW) is the closest airport to Sanibel Island Florida. Really glad Ive been there now! Photo: Courtesy of The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel 1. Travel and World Peace: How Traveling the World has Changed My Perspective. Me and the kids love looking for shells too and it seems like there are a lot there! Conditions are often mild and allow you to experience many of the island's activities no matter when you visit. Leave the kids with your husband and get a massage at the Tween Waters Inn. The family-friendly museum is one of the few official "attractions" on the island is a fun way to spend a cooler or rainy day. There are few places on the East Coast of the United States where you can revel in a western sunset. Many of the hotels offer their own bike rental service, but be sure to check outBilly's Bike Rentals where you can also rent scooters, trikes and four-person surreys. Also, don't worry if you've never paddled a kayak before, tours generally come with a short introduction that will get you and your family out on the water in no time. Hop on a flyboard or ride through the waves on . First lit in 1884, the area around the lighthouse is open to public, but the lighthouse itself is not. Just make sure there is nothing living inside of the shell. We've found lots of fun ways to spend our days on the island and I'm sure we'll continue to do that as the kids grow older. Here are the Top Things to Do with Kids on Sanibel Island, Florida. A quick drive from Fort Myers, Florida will take you to a tropical island getaway with so much family-friendly fun to explore. This was a "giant clapper" in our world for the week. By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. This is a review for fun things to do near Landfield Ave, Monticello, NY 12701: "Amazing place: gorgeous view, extremely pleasant people and lots of fun. If you're ready to explore South Plainfield, sign up for one of the top tours & day trips on offer, and have a friendly guide show you some of the most popular sights. The 9 Best Things to do on Sanibel Island, FL Lighthouse Beach Park Located at Point Ybel, at the eastern tip of Sanibel Island, Lighthouse Park Beach & Fishing Pier is a stunning 45-acre park where visitors can experience nature at its finest. One of the most famous is the Wildlife and Education Boardwalk, which provides excellent views of freshwater areas inhabited by alligators and nesting birds. Sanibel and Captiva have some different shells, so be sure to hit beaches on both islands. Convinced to travel to Sanibel Island and check out the cool things to do in there? These cottages are on the western end of the island, so you are guaranteed some beautiful sunsets right from your front porch! What makes it especially welcoming to families is the 90 minute tram tour that you can take through the refuge. I love Sanibel!! Manatee Park. Nature comes in a spectacular variety in the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge. Question, why have they never had real ice cream before? We love traveling with kids and will incorporate some of the ideas. Dont leave the park without checking out the Sanibel Island Lighthouse. Several hiking trails allow visitors to explore the wonders of this wildlife refuge. Island Inn Sanibel Island Review | Kathryn Anywhere, Winter Hiking Tips for Hikers of All Levels, Craigleith Ski Club Snowmaking How The Magic Happens, Quebecs Eastern Townships Plan The Perfect Long Weekend. Every single coastal state in the U.S. has reported red tide and the cause is primarily pollution chemicals in the water. Little makes me happier than roaming the beach, looking for treasures. Party & Event Planning. I have to include this. Most of the pools in the area are heated, making them great for use even in the winter. Sanibel Island Lighthouse 2,675 Lighthouses Open now By Anxsmomt The lighthouse is a public beach, plenty of parking. We stayed at the Sanibel Inn and absolutely LOVED it. Should you ever find yourself on Sanibel or Captiva Islands with kids, here are some things you must do. The beach here was beautiful white sand, and the water was a bright shade of beautiful blue. Shell Harbor Though Shell Harbor might not have many top sights, you can venture to the surrounding area to see attractions like Sanibel and Captiva Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center and Sanibel Moorings Botanical Gardens. Sanibel Stars & Stripes 43 Boat Tours By 797brendank Friendly staff, great experience, had multiple dolphins chasing and jumping behind the boat for majority of the the r. 39. The fun never stops on Sanibel Island. Join Little Learners for a Seuss-a-Bration at Once Upon a Treetop. Admission is $7 for kids ages 5-11, $9 for ages 12-17, $15 for adults. Sanibel isn't the only barrier island along the coast of Fort Myersthere are many others that are only accessible by boat. During the summertime, you'll get those hotter temperatures, as the lows only get down into the 70s during this time of year. While the water is not clear, they will be able to find starfish, conch, and sand dollars. Tip: Many guides will clean the fish for you so you can enjoy your catch for dinner. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. It also taught the boys a bit about wind and weather because they only knew they could fly the kites on windy days. Love Boat Ice Cream is at 1700 Periwinkle Way in the Plaza with the big Jerrys grocery store. See these marine mammals leaping and frolicking in the waters of Pine Island Sound. Here's how to make the right first impression. Copyright 2022 - There and Back Again Travel / Shanna Schultz, Things to Consider When Planning a Trip to Sanibel Island with Kids, saw these cottages at the far end of Sanibel Island. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. We had just never gone out to a regular ice cream shop with them! Come at low tide or after a storm to find conch, junonia, lightning whelk, and cockle shells. Here you can learn all sorts of stuff about the animals and nature. It was nice to be able to sit out there when the bugs came out later in the evening, and to be able to leave the balcony door open to soak up that lovely sea air. Looks like a really fun place. The beach was lovely, and the locals that we talked to told us that we had come before the winter sun-seeking crowds. Be sure to snap a pic of walls of the island's restaurant, which are covered in about $70,000 worth of one-dollar bills signed by past customers. That night in bed? It has an authentic, old Florida vibe. Gloriously nestled in the Sanibel Moorings resort, this lush oasis encompasses 6 acres of tropical trees and plants, including orchids, hibiscus, palm and citrus trees, bamboo, and native Florida plants. We are living our travel dreams despite having regular jobs and want to inspire you to check some items off of your family travel bucket list. The Best Things to Eat & Drink in Sanibel, Weekly Happenings - More Snow, Sick & Sick. The kids and I did an Everglades Gator and bird spotting tour withEverglades Day Safari Fort Myers in an airboat. (Plus, if you didn't happen upon a coveted shell while strolling on the beach, you can easily find intact specimens available for purchase in many different stores.) In addition to an amazing pool and poolside bar, our provided kayaks, paddleboards, bikes to borrow and a naturalist led beach walk. Florida always holds a special place in my heart and the more I explore, the more I love it too. They were pretty excited to start filling their bags when we got there. Many of the area's islands are lined with red mangroves, which are fascinating trees that are easy to spot bytheir tangled root systems that make them look like they're standing on stilts above the water. There are a lot of super kid-friendly restaurants on the island but there are some that specifically ask you not to bring tots online, so check ahead of time! Included with admission: $16; $13 seniors and visitors with disabilities. Go shelling. But Sanibel Island, which faces due west in the Gulf of Mexico, is one of them. Located off Sanibel-Captiva Road, Bowmans Beach has several miles of secluded white sand and gentle waters ideal for a refreshing swim. Your Sanibel Island vacation rental lets you enjoy 15 miles of pristine beaches, 22 miles of bike paths, and zero traffic lights. Fun Things to Do in Sanibel Island with Kids: Family-friendly activities and fun things to do. Learn how your comment data is processed. I had the Key Lime Ice Cream and my daughter had something called Unicorn poop. 7. Cue the tears. Registered dietitian & mom behind Create Kids Club an online kitchen where feeding kids gluten-free is made easier with simple recipes & kids cooking ideas. We were gifted our accommodations at the Island Inn on Sanibel Island and with excursions while there. Visiting this locale is a feel-good endeavor, too, as your admission fee goes towards the care of approximately 3,500 injured and orphaned animals each year. Find Places To Stay In Sanibel Island, Florida. We visited the museum that belongs to the area first. There is something for everyone on the menu and the servings are enormous. Dairy-Free (All recipes on CKC are gluten-free). the stupidest thing you will ever see if youre not up for something stupid, you might be in the wrong place! Is your travel style mostly spending time at the resort and relaxing, or do you want to get out and see everything? I will also add that Red Coach buses are a great way to get around with kids. 6. We collected shells every day we were there and it never got old for the boys. Kids stop in local businesses on the hunt for prizes. After a low tide or storm are best along with the months of January, February, and March. It's a cool way for them to understand what's beneath the ocean that they spent the week playing in. What a great way to vacation around Sanibel! If your kids are particularly sensitive to teasing, maybe wait until they go to bed and come back for the adults-only late night race, which has even raunchier jokes. They were a lot cheaper than similar resorts on Sanibel. We also recommended Algiers Beach (aka Gulfside City Park Beach), one of the most popular dog-friendly beaches in Sanibel. The park is home to a pristine, family-friendly beach offering spectacular views of the Gulf Coast. Its perfectly legal and encouraged to head down to the beach with a bucket and scoop up as many beauties as you can. We got these super easy-to-use kid-friendly Octopus Kites and they have been great. My point is that if you only have a few days, and have a list of things you want to see on the island, spending the extra money for a resort with all of the bells and whistles might not be worth it for you. Kites on windy days visitors to explore the Island & # x27 ; how! Beach here was beautiful white sand and gentle waters ideal for a at... Not up for something fun to explore the Island, so you are guaranteed some beautiful sunsets from! Come before the winter really nice family vacation attractions on Sanibel Island, you... 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