After your walk, you can enjoy a picnic lunch. Kids Activities. Here are a few that seem to welcome and appreciate kids. The island is a special place for any type of trip, but there is a unique charm in taking kids there because it allows them to appreciate nature a bit more than more developed beach cities. And while you won't find theme parks or children's museums to keep your kids entertained, instead, give them the opportunity to spot dolphins, hold small sea creatures, and kayak through the mangroves. Here is my short list of family friendly restaurants on Sanibel Island. Everyone on the island gets to help protect sea turtles. These eye-popping gardens host wild creatures like butterflies, turtles, rabbits, and birds. Sanibel and Captiva have some different shells, so be sure to hit beaches on both islands. I was blind to what else existed in the State. #1 in Sanibel Island Address: 1700 Bowman's Beach Rd. Leave the kids with your husband and get a massage at the Tween Waters Inn. The Sanibel Island Lighthouse is on the east end of the island and has a lovely fishing pier, nature trail, and beaches with great shelling. Collect shells along the beach Sanibel is known as the Shelling Capital of the World, and it's not hard to see why. We collected shells every day we were there and it never got old for the boys. Your new neighbors will be just as curious about you as you are about them. 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. Should you ever find yourself on Sanibel or Captiva Islands with kids, here are some things you must do. Included with admission: $16; $13 seniors and visitors with disabilities. Home to all kinds of Floridian wildlife (have your little ones try to spot the mangrove crabs scuttling around among the branches), the mangroves are best experienced by a guided kayak tour through the mangrove tunnels, where the trees naturally form a closed canopy to create a tunnel over the waterway. Recommended Read: The 10 Most Beautiful Islands in Florida. Suzanne Rowan Kelleher is a nationally recognized family travel expert and an award-winning travel writer and editor. The beach was not sandy, it was made of crushed shells. Since little ones don't just sit around having a few kites to fly is a great way to pass the day. Photo: Courtesy of The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel. They make 37 flavors daily from a repertoire of more than 130 flavors in total. Sanibel Island in Florida offers a breathtaking reprieve for families who want to get away from the hustle-bustle of everyday life. Definitely worth a half-day trip adventure. Its perfectly legal and encouraged to head down to the beach with a bucket and scoop up as many beauties as you can. Your email address will not be published. It's known for its natural beauty including gorgeous beaches, shelling, and island lifestyle. See these marine mammals leaping and frolicking in the waters of Pine Island Sound. As a bonus for families, the captain usually invites kids to steer the boat and take a photo with him in his captain's cap. What a great way to vacation around Sanibel! 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. It takes justone visittoSanibel Islandbefore youll start planning yournext trip back. I know it sounds strange, but if you ask my daughter, this was one of her favorite places on Sanibel island for kids. 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. Explore the serene canals and lagoons via kayak, and keep an eye out for manatees and shorebirds. Sanibel and Captiva Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center 907 Visitor Centers By mrsmarinara great information givien with a really generous spirit 4. Hit the big grocery stores in Fort Myers on your way. 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. All Rights Reserved. There isfree entryinto the Visitor & Education Center that includes ahands-on area for children. One day we went for a later brunch at the Lighthouse Cafe, which was very busy! Bring goggles for kids to get a good look at the sandy ocean bottom. Kids will find themselves immersed for hours in this natural treasure huntwithout a care given to the backbreaking stance known as the"Sanibel stoop." The tour price covers the rental of all gear, including a PDF, leash, tie-downs, and fresh drinking water for each person. And this is truly the way to see the island, as the trails take you past beautiful mansions, through wooded forests, and to hard-to-reach areas like Sanibels pioneer cemetery and beaches unreachable by car. They also offer a kids program (if you feel like a little adult time needs to be a part of your vacation!). Head to Matzaluna for some variety. Photo: Courtesy of The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel 1. Make sure to bike to the east end of the island to see the Sanibel Lighthouse, and if you get hungry for some ice cream while you there, Pinocchio's Original Italian Ice Cream is right there for you on the way back. 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. 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. Sanibel has so much wildlife that spotting cool animals and birds is one of the best things to do in Sanibel with kids. Looking for a little fun in the sun. This is the first lighthouse north of the Keys. We are Shanna and Aaron + kiddos. Sanibel Island Lighthouse 2,675 Lighthouses Open now By Anxsmomt The lighthouse is a public beach, plenty of parking. It's such a great way to spend a bright and sunny afternoon almost any time of year! You never know what will be on the end of that line! During the summertime, you'll get those hotter temperatures, as the lows only get down into the 70s during this time of year. Parenting lesson learned? Kayaking through a mangrove swamp is a must-do activity while visiting this Florida island. The Sanibel Inn offered the use of paddleboards, kayaks and bikes free of charge for their guests. Copyright 2023 St. Joseph Communications. Lounge on a Fort Myers Beach. Bring a bottle of wine and let the kids get their feet wet. 8. Too badwill have to make another trip . Here you'll find healthy vegetarian and pescatarian recipes, health & wellness tips, healthy travel guides, plus behind the scenes fun from my life as a twin Mom. The park is home to a pristine, family-friendly beach offering spectacular views of the Gulf Coast. Sanibel Island: Much better shelling. Make sure to go during low tide because that's when a lot of the birds, including brown and white pelicans, ibis, cormorants and spoonbills, flock to the refuge to feed on fish stuck in the shallow water. Sanibel Island in Florida offers a breathtaking reprieve for families who want to get away from the hustle-bustle of everyday life. Just ask! Your Sanibel Island vacation rental lets you enjoy 15 miles of pristine beaches, 22 miles of bike paths, and zero traffic lights. Sanibel and the surrounding islands are home to a myriad of different animals. We definitely suggest sharing plates, since each dinner portion is huge and comes with a sticky bun, garlic bread and a side salad. Once I heard of it, I wanted to know what there was to do on Sanibel Island with kids. Billys Bike: 1509 Periwinkle Way (239) 472-3620, Finnimores Bike & Beach Shop: 2353 Periwinkle Wa (239) 472-5577. 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! However, the island is spread out depending on where you stay. Our days were spent playing in the water, riding bikes around the island and collecting shells (SO MAY SHELLS! You might want to bring water shoes or sandalsfor walking on the beach. This is a great thing to do in Jekyll Island with kids. Sanibel Island isworld-renownedfor its abundance of seashells. This sounds like a great island to visit. Stop in at theSanibel Chamber Commerceand ask for the treasure hunt map. Take them to the shopping center with Jerry's, which is one of the local grocery stores on the island. 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! Compare native and invasive species of reptiles; hang out with a red-tailed hawk; play hide and seek with a bashful opossum. Cayo Costa State Park. 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. When travelling with my kids, I have to know where the good ice cream places are! If the ocean is a little to rough for your likes, be sure to be booked at a hotel with a pool for guests to use because you will want it! In fact, almost half of the entire island is dedicated to the J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, which you can drive, bike or walk through to spot some of the region's many different creatures among the estuaries. It's a great activity for kids and families. This wildlife refuge is a great place to check out the local flora and fauna. You can drive through the preserve at your own pace and get out to spot wildlife. . TripHobo Things to do with Family & kids in Sanibel; timesoftheislands.com Top 16 Spots To Take The Kids Around Sanibel & Captiva Islands | Times of the Islands Magazine; Family Destinations Guide 17 Best Things to Do in Sanibel Island, FL (for 2022) iTripVacations 6 Sanibel Island Beaches Where Stress Melts Away and Kids Can . Toddlers, kids, and teens will all want to partake in this activity. Address: 1 Wildlife Dr, Sanibel, FL 33957. You can show up in a bathing suit and flip flops and get everything from salad to burgers to fried alligator. There are activities and family friendly places to visit for families of any size and children of any age. Eating out in Sanibel with kids? With over 25 miles of paved, carless trails, Sanibel Island is a wonderful place for families to explore on two wheels. You wont regret taking a drive up to Captiva. Manatee Park. Florida always holds a special place in my heart and the more I explore, the more I love it too. Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment. I'd highly these smaller trucks and this bigger dump truck and excavator. With beaches that boast over 60 different kinds ofseashells, Sanibel Island is a shell hunter's dream. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge On this part of Sanibel you'll find a protected piece of nature with quite an impressive wildlife! We were also able to take advantage of a free daily tour of the beach with a naturalist guide during which we learned some really neat tidbits about the beach and its creatures. Spotting one of these loggerhead turtles is certainly on the Sanibel Island Florida Things To Do list! Captiva And Sanibel Islands are just over an hour from Ft. Myers and relatively easy to get to, but feel like a tropical paradise. Private tour guidesare also available to take your family around the islands in search of dolphins and manatees while sharing all kinds of tales about the islands' rich history. This is definitely one of the best Sanibel Island activities for families, and one of the top reasons that many people plan a visit here. Sanibel Island is as much about world-class as it is about beaches. These encounters trump a trip to Disneyworld any day. Ever been to Captiva or Sanibel? We booked the guide out of Fort Meyers. And right along with the ocean side, we spotted starfish, crabs, and lots of critters inside shells. We really loved the fact that they walk right out onto a perfect stretch of pristine beach that we had nearly all to ourselves. We visited the museum that belongs to the area first. Unique Experiences and Travel Inspiration. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. 3. The kids and I did an Everglades Gator and bird spotting tour withEverglades Day Safari Fort Myers in an airboat. Summer Waves Water Park is a thrilling experience with plenty of waterslides the whole family can enjoy. Learn how your comment data is processed. You can also watch a live video feed of behind-the-scenes animal rescue and care. Relax on the beach, enjoy a picnic, go on a bike ride, or take a hike on one of the trails found . Eat at RC Otters. Corrie P./CROW - Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife, Inc. At the Crow Clinic Animal Rehab, kids can interact with animal ambassadors for a remarkable learning experience. It sets over the ocean where you can watch from a huge stretch of public beach. Your email address will not be published. We might have to visit one day. 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. With an early sunset time in winter, we'd take the boys out and walk up the beach toward the sunset. With themed activities and hands-on experiences, children ages 6 to 13 can foster their love and appreciation for the ocean. Now? Winters the weather can be hit or miss, and the months between December-February are busier with snowbirds escaping winter. 5. 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. I've tried to keep treats healthier at home too while they were super young, but always had the intentions of loosening that up a bit as they get older. Most of the nicer resorts on Sanibel provide some variety of activities. Battlegroundz has a 20,000-square-foot . The gator viewing wasnt plentiful, there were a few eyes popping up here and there, but it certainly was exciting to try to see them! We stayed at the Sanibel Inn and absolutely LOVED it. Not by chance, it became the worlds most famous place for shelling. One person mentioned that it comes from Alabama. Another note, Sunburned Willie, the host of the crab race, can be a bit crass. The island is approximately a 30-45 minute drive depending on traffic and time of day. We also recommended Algiers Beach (aka Gulfside City Park Beach), one of the most popular dog-friendly beaches in Sanibel. It's a cool way for them to understand what's beneath the ocean that they spent the week playing in. 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. The Sanibel Moorings Botanical Gardens takes visitors on a colorful journey through idyllic tropical gardens. Here is a story about patience. This was a "giant clapper" in our world for the week. 1. Visit Cayo Costa Beach. While meandering through the colorful stalks of this vibrant farmers market, youll come across locally sourced meat, cheese, baked goods, fresh fruit smoothies, fish, art, jewelry, and more. Download a tide app to check tide times. The ferry terminal is located on neighboring Captiva Island and accessed via a short drive over the bridge. Sunrise AND Sunset walks are some of my favorite things to do in Sanibel with kids. 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. Get there early, as parking spaces fill up. The best times for shelling were at low tide and early in the morning (even better if these coincide). Your kids will be able to touch sea creatures in touch tanks and you can book a shell walk with a naturalist. Consider renting a tandem bike for those younger kids who may end up tired from long bike rides. I definitely enjoyed having a rental car while we were on Sanibel Island. Do you want amazing sunsets or sunrises? Make sure to pack mesh shell bagsfor each member of the family to carry along the beaches. As always, opinions and fun times are always mine and those of my kids. The park is home to a pristine, family-friendly beach offering spectacular views of the Gulf Coast. Bonus tip if you come down here, make sure to include a stop at Sanibels Best Homemade Ice Cream. Required fields are marked *. We stayed at the Island Inn, the very first hotel on the island. We also had dinner there and the kids were super happy with their chicken fingers. Heres a guide to the top 9 things to do in Sanibel. Go shelling. Several outfitters like Billy's Rentals, Finnimore's Cycle Shop, and Tarpon Bay Explorers rent bikes, tandems, pull-behind child trailers, and even canopied surreys. Admission is $7 for kids ages 5-11, $9 for ages 12-17, $15 for adults. Whether you choose to be boating, kayaking, canoeing, water-skiing or fishing from one of the favorite spots, play a round of golf on the challenging scenic courses, there are over 70 of them, the perfect place to tee off and test your mettle on the green . Best Things To Do on Long Island this Weekend with Kids. There is a Publix right before paying the toll to cross the Sanibel Island Causeway. I found in my time there that Sanibel Island is like a magical place with tropical overgrown brush, no street lights and rumours of manatee sighting abound. This was my daughters favorite part of the trip! 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. We got these super easy-to-use kid-friendly Octopus Kites and they have been great. We were able to wake up and walk right out onto the beach to go shelling in the morning, without having to get in a car. I offer tools, guides and resources to help you through all of the steps of planning meaningful, memorable family vacations. If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. Looking for a fun activity for the kids that's free and not the beach? If you are staying on the east end of the island, this makes for a lovely bike ride (and you can stop for THE BEST key lime ice cream at Sanibels Best Homemade Ice Cream afterwards!). Besides relaxing and playing on the beaches, there are kid-friendly restaurants, museums, and historical sites to enjoy with your family. This is one of the best things to do on Sanibel with kids. Kids of all ages love a pool and there are plenty of them in Sanibel! We opted to drive ourselves. And whether you order a cone or bowl, every servingis topped with an adorable little animal cracker. Here, visit the otherworldly Captiva Beach, famous for its snow-white sand and shallow crystal-clear waters. They even have a special app that you can download and identify any shells that you find (you dont have to visit the museum to use the app!). We only took a handful home with us as I didnt want to break them in our luggage. It's a pretty spectacular sight. You will not find chain restaurants, high rises, or traffic lights here. Picnic tables are available when you want to enjoy snacks under the canopy of the trees. This was a close second choice when booking our trip to Sanibel Island with kids. With older kids, you can also bike the entire path, which I think would be a lovely way to see it. 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. Your boys are just growing up so fast. Sanibel Island just has a different vibe. Whether your kids like seafood or more traditional food, there is something on the menu for everyone at these places. Your email address will not be published. Sanibel Island takes shelling very seriously! Convinced to travel to Sanibel Island and check out the cool things to do in there? 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. Kids can easily split a kids meal, especially if they fill up on the bottomless muffins that come first. Travel and World Peace: How Traveling the World has Changed My Perspective. On our first trip to Sanibel with took the twins to the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum. Budding marine biologists will love the acclaimedSanibel Sea School, offering daily and weekly programs that teach kids about marine conservation. We were gifted our accommodations at the Island Inn on Sanibel Island and with excursions while there. Don't miss theJ.N. The Visitor and Education Centre offers free admission and is open every day except holidays from 9:00 am-4:00 pm year-round. 4. The shells can be sharp, and they hurt my daughters feet at times. Things to Do in Sanibel with Kids Enter dates Filters 1 Attractions Map Traveler favorites All things to do 1 place sorted by traveler favorites Clear all filters 2022 1. Located near Fort Myers, just offshore Floridas Gulf Coast, this unique island offers visitors the opportunity to bask in many outdoor activities. But heed the warning signs, as the bridge makes for swift ocean currents and the water around it is not advisable for swimming. Sanibel Island Rentals: Billy's Bike : 1509 Periwinkle Way (239) 472-3620 Finnimore's Bike & Beach Shop: 2353 Periwinkle Wa (239) 472-5577 3. Florida is traditionally a state that screams family travel. 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. This is what I know about the best time to visit Sanibel Island. 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