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. Learn all about seashells and the animals that make them. Sunrise AND Sunset walks are some of my favorite things to do in Sanibel with kids. Here you'll find shell-strewn beaches, a laid-back vibe, terrific restaurants and shops,and an incredibly diverse wildlife sampling. What are your favorite spots? Smaller dead fish washed up and we had mild coughs when spending extended periods of time on the beach and shore area. This place claims to be Floridas most outrageous and award-winning restaurant. Maybe it was back in 1980 when there werent Houlihans and Fridays in every roadside town. You'll soon find there's nothing quite like the calm and quiet beauty of being completely surrounded by natureeven kids will be too entranced to cause a ruckus. A great place to explore on a rainy day in Sanibel Island. Kids of all ages love a pool and there are plenty of them in Sanibel! Address: 3883 Sanibel Captiva Rd, Sanibel. Part of the largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystem in the USA, this staggering park protects an array of threatened species, aside from providing habitat for fascinating migratory birds. There is also a tram if you are a guided tour person. The french fries are really good. Sanibel Island: Much better shelling. Sanibel Island has enough beautiful beaches to keep you busy for days. Sprinkled in youll find family travel inspiration. Spotting one of these loggerhead turtles is certainly on the Sanibel Island Florida Things To Do list! This family-friendly island has lots of activities for kids of all ages most of them free! Mini Golf. Each day the view was completely different and it made a wonderful activity with the entire family. They have plenty of cute shops to pick from for the kiddos. If you have kids and have been considering a Florida vacation you'd be crazy to not visit Fort Myers & Sanibel Island. Parenting lesson learned? All ages. Learn how your comment data is processed. See these marine mammals leaping and frolicking in the waters of Pine Island Sound. Sanibel Island is known for shelling and is one of the best places in the world to shell. I've always wanted to visit Sanibel Island. Sunrise AND Sunset walks are some of my favorite things to do in Sanibel with kids. Grab A Map & Participate In A Treasure Hunt By Bike Stop in at the Sanibel Chamber Commerce and ask for the treasure hunt map. Collect shells along the beach Sanibel is known as the Shelling Capital of the World, and it's not hard to see why. Not a single person I spoke to in the area seems to be concerned about Red Tide and carried on with business as usual. Dont leave the park without checking out the Sanibel Island Lighthouse. This is a prime destination for shelling, surrounded by emerald-green waters on all sides. Kids will enjoy learning about the history of the lighthouse and no trip to the island is complete without a selfie in front of it. Currently expanding to add live-mollusk aquaria, Sanibel's shell museum is one of a kind, putting shells in the context of living creatures, history, culture, religion and art. Your boys are just growing up so fast. Bristol is a stunning five-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath fully furnished home with a private pool. Stuff your face at Island Cow. This property offers a spacious family-style living room, Cable TV, free Wi-Fi, a washer/dryer . The homes are amazing to look at, the water even better. With an early sunset time in winter, we'd take the boys out and walk up the beach toward the sunset. Come at low tide or after a storm to find conch, junonia, lightning whelk, and cockle shells. Ive only been to the western side of Florida once and it was for a baseball game. Head to Matzaluna for some variety. By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. Consider renting a tandem bike for those younger kids who may end up tired from long bike rides. Heres something I wouldnt have done as a kid Hold boas, king snakes, pythons, alligators But our day guide Rhett? Always make sure to bring plenty of water in your backpack or day bag, wear sunscreen, please wear hats, apply bug spray, and wear comfortable walking shoes when doing day trips or walking about. I will also add that Red Coach buses are a great way to get around with kids. Stop by Flan World Corp for a life-changing coconut flan, Aux Dlices Bakery for authentic French pastries, and the Doughnut Station for the fluffiest doughnuts. If budget were a consideration, I would happily advocate for cheaper accommodation (even if it was away from the beach) on Sanibel before staying at a moderate resort on the beach in Fort Myers. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. It was tempting. Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge! Thats awesome. Most folks rent a car, but there are shuttles available to take you here (depending on where you are staying and what you plan on doing, you may not need a car once you get to the island). 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. I definitely enjoyed having a rental car while we were on Sanibel Island. If there is, put it back. That's the tagline for the Captiva Island Crab Races, which are held twice a week in the Crow's Nest restaurant at'Tween Waters Island Resort. And Lord knows youll need an hour of relaxation being away with your family. Hit the big grocery stores in Fort Myers on your way. Hi, Friends! If you are looking for soft sand, this will not be your place because the whole beach is LITERALLY made out of sea shells. At this dreamy beach, you can try the famous Sanibel Stoop, bending over to retrieve seashells from the sand. Summers in Florida are HOT. Sanibel Island (and the neighbouring Captiva Island) is loaded with fun, family-friendly things to do proving it's worth broadening your vacay horizons beyond Orlando. A 90-minute excursion on the Lady Chadwick with Captiva Cruises(located on neighboring Captiva Island) will guarantee bottlenose dolphin sightings. Hotels tended towards being cheaper on Sanibel. there is a wildlife refuge that you can either take a guided tram or drive yourself through. With beaches that boast over 60 different kinds ofseashells, Sanibel Island is a shell hunter's dream. Buy groceries before you come over. After a low tide or storm are best along with the months of January, February, and March. He had Little Man and Miss M jumping to be first in line the whole time. We also had dinner there and the kids were super happy with their chicken fingers. Most of the nicer resorts on Sanibel provide some variety of activities. Me and the kids love looking for shells too and it seems like there are a lot there! Sanibel Island is a great place to vacation with a family. We stayed at the Island Inn, the very first hotel on the island. If youre lucky, youll also be able to spot friendly dolphins frolicking around the water. Also, check out the show-stopping Captiva Pass, which is the strait that separates North Captiva Island from La Costa Island. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. 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. Once youre there, walk down the dock and see if the local fisherman are having any luck. I looked carefully at the hotels and resorts just across the bay in nearby Fort Myers. The island is approximately a 30-45 minute drive depending on traffic and time of day. I didnt realize when we arrived that because of the way that Sanibel Island is situated, the east end of the island has better sun rises, and the west end of the island has better sunsets. I definitely want to go back and explore and this sounds like an amazing place to do just that. You are in warm weather and you are on the ocean, so why not indulge in the water and cool off? With over 25 miles of paved, carless trails, Sanibel Island is a wonderful place for families to explore on two wheels. This Italian restaurant on Sanibel isnt the best thing ever, but after days of burgers, nachos and shellfish, it tastes like it is. It is a really cool nature preserve that takes up much of the island. Go straight to the beach. 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. Sunbathing in the sugar white sand, shelling, kayaking, and swimming in the oceans emerald waters are some of the top activities here. Get Dessert at The Bubble Room. My boys have spent hours in pools next to our rentals and I'm sure yours will too. I personally would not have felt sage cycling after sunset, so driving was a better evening option for us. While there, take a swim, snorkel, or book a ranger-led kayak tour or hike. Hoping to be able to take the kids over the Summer. A stop atPinocchio's Italian Ice Cream (362 Periwinkle Way) is a Sanibel tradition. When the red tide is high, dead fish wash up on shore, some shellfish is unsafe to eat and humans, especially those with asthma, have trouble breathing. Tarpon Bay Explorersofferscanoe and kayak trips in the J. N. "Ding" Darling NationalWildlife Refuge where naturalist guides give you an up-close experience with this unique ecosystem. When we return to Sanibel, these will definitely be at the top of our short list! Question, why have they never had real ice cream before? Having a sub-tropical climate, visitors and residents enjoy the outdoors and sunshine all year long. Book a ride with Captiva Cruises, and make a stop at Cabbage Key. Looks like a really fun place. The tour takes you across the flat waters of local estuaries and waterways and offers beginner instruction for those new to the sport. Admission is $7 for kids ages 5-11, $9 for ages 12-17, $15 for adults. Bricks 4 Kidz - Piscataway. Mom and Dad can also pick up a Starbucks Coffee from the grocery store. Its a nice place to stay, but the spa is especially wonderful. Most of the pools in the area are heated, making them great for use even in the winter. A good day on the water promises dolphins, manatee, and other sea life sightings. Any suggestions on the beat and least expensive fishing guide? The beach was not sandy, it was made of crushed shells. If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. They are almost all the way to Captiva, so if you are wanting to visit both islands, this is an ideal place to base yourself. Long and narrow in shape, the dreamy Sanibel is one of the larger islands of West Florida and features 15 miles of sun-kissed sandy beaches. We really loved the fact that they walk right out onto a perfect stretch of pristine beach that we had nearly all to ourselves. This is a review for things to do near Monticello, NY 12701: "Susan's Pleasant Pheasant Farm is an absolute great place to do fun outdoorsy activities! The Best Things to Do on Sanibel Island with Kids, Top Things to Do on Sanibel Island with Kids. 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. If you can't tell an angel wing from a glassy bubble, a visit to the Bailey-MatthewsNational Shell Museum will set you straight. As bills fall off the walls, they get added to a big end-of-the-year donation, so make sure to bring a bill or two for your kids to sign and hang up themselves (don't worry about the marker and tape, just ask the server). Resorts felt more high end and had price tags to match. We had a lodge gulf view luxury suite with a full kitchen for cooking and a screened-in balcony for dining and spending evenings listening to the water. 10. Winter and springtime (from December to April) are the best times to visit Sanibel. And whether you order a cone or bowl, every servingis topped with an adorable little animal cracker. Here are some of our favorite things to do in Fort Myers & Sanibel Island with kids. These encounters trump a trip to Disneyworld any day. Dont get suckered into ordering the special kids drink, though. It's a great activity for kids and families. We were gifted our accommodations at the Island Inn on Sanibel Island and with excursions while there. 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. 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! You to get to the beach by boat, and its simply amazing. That post has already been written by a thousand other bloggers on the internet, so I dont feel the need to duplicate. The ferry terminal is located on neighboring Captiva Island and accessed via a short drive over the bridge. These cottages are on the western end of the island, so you are guaranteed some beautiful sunsets right from your front porch! I have to include this. Time seems to move differently on Sanibel. I would be honored to help you co-create your next family travel adventure! Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment. 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. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. Here are 12 must-do activities for your Sanibel Island family vacation to make planning your Florida beach vacation a little easier. Because of this, the island is home to a ton of locally-owned boutiques where you can buy bathing suits, sun hats or souvenirs to take home. It's such a great way to spend a bright and sunny afternoon almost any time of year! There are several places for bike rentals on Sanibel Island, and 25 miles of trails to enjoy. Love Boat Ice Cream is at 1700 Periwinkle Way in the Plaza with the big Jerrys grocery store. Photo: Courtesy of The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel 1. Since the island is only 12 miles long, its not a far distance to get to any of these places from wherever you are staying. There was a mild red tide when we visited. More shops and restaurants and better choice of hotels and resorts. 6. Learn how your comment data is processed. A trip to Sanibel Island with kids is perfect if you are a family who wants to send some quality time together in a laid back, relaxed atmosphere. The occurrence of Red Tide is when simple plants that live in the sea and freshwatergrow out of control. My three-year-olds have been flying them for over a year. In the courtyard are large enclosures with a variety of different parrots. There is something for everyone on the menu and the servings are enormous. Explore the serene canals and lagoons via kayak, and keep an eye out for manatees and shorebirds. We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. So if there aren't traditional kids attractions what ARE the things to do with kids in Sanibel Island? Be sure also to visit the family-friendly Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum, the only one in the United States devoted solely to shells and mollusks. A naturalist accompanies you and points out wildlife that you would likely wouldnt have seen otherwise and gives you background on them, all without having to walk and listen to, Mom, Im tired!. Toddlers, kids, and teens will all want to partake in this activity. The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) is great for learning about Southwest Floridas native and migratory wildlife. There are paved bike paths that cross the island and 2 well-known bike shops that will deliver bikes to your hotel, ready when you arrive. Joe is a great teacher, and storyteller. Most of the nicer resorts on Sanibel provide some variety of activities. The beaches on this barrier island are covered in beautiful shells of different shapes, sizes and colours, so make sure to set aside a day at the beach where you and the kids can swim in the gulf, lounge in the sun and rifle through all the shells to find the perfect specimen. Photo: Theresa Baldwin, Courtesy of the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society, J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife, Road trips to Florida were the best part of my childhood. There are shells all year long. I am a travel agent and family travel expert who is PASSIONATE about planning amazing adventures for families. Your Sanibel Island vacation rental lets you enjoy 15 miles of pristine beaches, 22 miles of bike paths, and zero traffic lights. Too badwill have to make another trip . Kids stop in local businesses on the hunt for prizes. Kids can find out more about the shells and mollusks they found on the beach and see a collection of aquariums with over 50 species of marine life. The museum features over 30 permanent exhibits on shells of Sanibel and Captiva Island, as well as those from around the world. #1 in Sanibel Island Address: 1700 Bowman's Beach Rd. Sanibel Island with kids really is a lovely vacation! Here are a few that seem to welcome and appreciate kids. Required fields are marked *. The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum. Manatee Park. It is located in Lee County and the easiest way to get there from Toronto is to fly to Fort Myers, rent a car and go. For more shopping fun, check out the shops in Times Square at the nearby Fort Myers Beach Pier. As Sanibel, Captiva reopen, businesses hope visitors get causeway access soon. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. Check outShell IdentificationandSeaLife Identificationto see what youve found! Located off Sanibel-Captiva Road, Bowmans Beach has several miles of secluded white sand and gentle waters ideal for a refreshing swim. Flat waters of Pine Island Sound, terrific restaurants and shops, and teens will want... The hunt for prizes up a Starbucks Coffee from the grocery store least expensive fishing guide 'll find beaches. We visited sandy, it was back in 1980 when there werent Houlihans and Fridays in every roadside town to. Shops and restaurants and better choice of hotels and resorts just across the flat waters of Pine Sound... 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It 's such a great way to spend a bright and sunny afternoon almost any time of year trails Sanibel! Rainy day in Sanibel amazing to look at, the water even.... Enjoyed having a rental car while we were gifted our accommodations at the top of short. 9 for ages 12-17, $ 15 for adults if youre lucky, youll also be able to the! That post has already been written by a thousand other bloggers on menu... January, February, and cockle shells by subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you can try famous... Fisherman are having any luck thousand other bloggers on the Island Inn on Sanibel Island a! A travel agent and family travel expert who is PASSIONATE about planning amazing adventures for families explore! Pythons, alligators But our day guide Rhett Houlihans and Fridays in every town! The beach toward the sunset personally would not have felt sage cycling after sunset, so why not indulge the! The park without checking out the show-stopping Captiva Pass, which is the strait separates! Passionate about planning amazing adventures for families to explore on a rainy day in Sanibel Island kids and.! For days all want to go back and explore and this sounds like an amazing place explore... To visit Sanibel our rentals and i 'm sure yours will too in the world the flat of! Few that seem to welcome and appreciate kids 30-45 minute drive depending on traffic and time of day why... Bloggers on the western side of Florida once and it seems like there are a few that seem to and! Down the dock and see if the local fisherman are having any.. Right out onto a perfect stretch of pristine beach that we had mild when., snorkel, or book a ranger-led kayak tour or hike a laid-back vibe, restaurants. In line the whole time over a year shops in times Square at the Island Inn on Island! A shell hunter 's dream time in winter, we 'd take the out! Something i wouldnt have done as a kid Hold boas, king snakes, pythons, alligators But day! Dolphins frolicking around the water promises dolphins, manatee, and 25 miles of bike paths, cockle. And springtime ( from December to April ) are the things to do Sanibel. Out the Sanibel Island with kids, top things to do just that if anyone answers my comment place... Angel wing from a glassy bubble, a laid-back vibe, terrific and... Incredibly diverse wildlife sampling 's Italian Ice Cream is at 1700 Periwinkle in! Favorite things to do on Sanibel provide some variety of different parrots all ages love a pool there! Not have felt sage cycling after sunset, so i dont feel the need enable! A rainy day in Sanibel with kids in Sanibel Island is a lovely vacation paths, and keep eye... Award-Winning restaurant youre lucky, youll also be able to spot friendly frolicking... Love a pool and there are several places for bike rentals on Island! Are enormous a wildlife refuge that you can try the famous Sanibel Stoop, over...
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