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. 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. Fort Myers Brewery. Back in 1996, the City of Sanibel passed an ordinance that prevented big chain businesses from opening up shop on the island. Most of the pools in the area are heated, making them great for use even in the winter. This is a great thing to do in Jekyll Island with kids. Parenting lesson learned? I have never heard of this place, but it sounds like a fun place to eat and drink around. 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. March 4-26, Saturdays and Sundays, 10 am - 5 pm. Exploring Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel Island, The 9 Best Fort Myers Beach, Florida Hotels of 2023, 12 Best Things to Do in Fort Myers, Florida, 12 Fabulous Family Beach Vacations in the Southeast, 14 Top Things to Do in Vero Beach, Florida, The 6 Best Key West Snorkeling Tours of 2023, The 9 Best Florida Family Resortsof 2023, Top 17 Things to Do in Tampa Bay, Florida, 20 Top Things to Do With Kids in Miami, Florida, 10 Best Family-Friendly Beaches in Florida, The 26 Best Things to Do in Long Beach, California. Party & Event Planning. Leave the kids with your husband and get a massage at the Tween Waters Inn. Find Places To Stay In Sanibel Island, Florida. Here are a few that seem to welcome and appreciate kids. Letting the kids just be kids in the sand is one of the best things to do in Sanibel with kids. Recommended Read: The 10 Most Beautiful Islands in Florida. Read more: The park is home to a pristine, family-friendly beach offering spectacular views of the Gulf Coast. The kids waited long enough for the picture to be taken and then wanted to run back to see if we could see a snake again that had crossed our path. Our next stop was rumoured to be the place to see the manatee. 2022 5. A great time. 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. I'd venture to say that if you look for it you can find as much adventure on this little island as a lot of other tourist destinations. That way, you'll have room left over for a slice (or two!) One person mentioned that it comes from Alabama. Kids can easily split a kids meal, especially if they fill up on the bottomless muffins that come first. Each day includes surfing, art, group-bonding activities, all while integrating subjects like fiddler crabs, wading birds, and sea turtles. The tour price covers the rental of all gear, including a PDF, leash, tie-downs, and fresh drinking water for each person. What I am going to tell you is some insights what we did while visiting Sanibel, and what is on our shortlist for next time: This is the number one reason that many folks make the trip to Sanibel, and for good reason. Fully Equipped with an upgraded kitchen featuring stainless steel, Sunzero Wolf appliances, and quartz countertops. Not by chance, it became the worlds most famous place for shelling. You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. Here, visit the otherworldly Captiva Beach, famous for its snow-white sand and shallow crystal-clear waters. )If this sound like a trip to Sanibel Island with kids is in your future, here are my best tips for planning the perfect escape! Find 2023's best things to do with kids. Here, youll get the chance to see the giant Pacific octopus, some 550,000 shells, colorful corals, giant clams, cuttlefish, queen conch, seahorses, and other creatures. Where else but the seashell capital of the world would you find the national shell museum? The Sanibel Moorings Botanical Gardens takes visitors on a colorful journey through idyllic tropical gardens. Take a Walk at Sanibel Lighthouse Beach Park. Kids stop in local businesses on the hunt for prizes. 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. Sanibel Island is known for shelling and is one of the best places in the world to shell. Cayo Costa State Park. See alligators, raccoons, otters, and hundreds of different kinds ofbirds in this 6,300-acre wilderness. 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. Nature comes in a spectacular variety in the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge. There are a great deal of things to do on Sanibel Island when traveling with a family. That night in bed? Another note, Sunburned Willie, the host of the crab race, can be a bit crass. Also, check out the show-stopping Captiva Pass, which is the strait that separates North Captiva Island from La Costa Island. See Tripadvisor's 128,735 traveller reviews and photos of kid friendly Sanibel Island attractions One of the most popular things to do on Sanibel Island is to rent a bike. 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. It's a far cry from Disney, BUT I think this type of vacation can be just as lovely for kids of all ages. Sprinkled in youll find family travel inspiration. If you're looking for untouched beaches, hop a ferry to Cayo Costa State Park with its nine miles of pristine sand, pine forests, oak-palmhammocks,and mangrove swamps. And the "lighthouse" isn't really a house at all but is actually a tower. Explore the serene canals and lagoons via kayak, and keep an eye out for manatees and shorebirds. Sign up in advance because space is limited to24 students per day. This Italian restaurant on Sanibel isnt the best thing ever, but after days of burgers, nachos and shellfish, it tastes like it is. What's a beach trip without ice cream? I would absolutely stay there again. Lounge on a Fort Myers Beach. During the summertime, you'll get those hotter temperatures, as the lows only get down into the 70s during this time of year. The boys learned some of the real names of the shells and also made up some of their own. Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge! Once youre there, walk down the dock and see if the local fisherman are having any luck. Cue the tears. 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. 1. Part sporting event, part comedy dinner show, the crab races have guests select a hermit crab from a bowl, name it and then cheer it on as it races to the finish line. Although I had never been before, I knew I wanted to take Miss M and Z Man. Bonus tip if you come down here, make sure to include a stop at Sanibels Best Homemade Ice Cream. Depending on the time of year, Sanibel's sunset locales vary. The options are endless but here are a few of the activities my kids enjoyed the most on our recent trip. 9. This was a "giant clapper" in our world for the week. They have a great kids menu, too, and are really patient with annoying children. You can even check outwhat time the sunsets for the date youll be visiting. Visit the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum to get a more in depth understanding of the areas shells, and book a guided beach walk where a seasoned naturalist will teach you how to find the best shells. Stuff your face at Island Cow. Question, why have they never had real ice cream before? Looks like a really fun place. Their learning lab is a great place for children to engage in hands-on play with displays, games, a tank with indigenous mollusks, and continuously-playing children's videos. 1.Rent A Convertable There's no better way to explore this tropical location with the roof down and the wind in your face. We definitely suggest sharing plates, since each dinner portion is huge and comes with a sticky bun, garlic bread and a side salad. Kids have their own hands-on learning room, and staff members conduct daily beach walks. Indulge in the Signature Arabian Rose treatment, an all-over body scrub, or a deep tissue massage at the spa. We collected shells every day we were there and it never got old for the boys. My boys had never had REAL ice cream before so we splurged and let them have some. Relax on the beach, enjoy a picnic, go on a bike ride, or take a hike on one of the trails found . Plan a stop for dinner or a drink outside at theMucky Duck. There is also a tram if you are a guided tour person. And right along with the ocean side, we spotted starfish, crabs, and lots of critters inside shells. Hit the big grocery stores in Fort Myers on your way. As the kids are flying down the waterslides enjoy a nice slow ride in the lazy river. Sanibel Island is as much about world-class as it is about beaches. We belive strongly that travel benefits kids in SO MANY ways. There are several ways to explore the refuge. 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. 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. With time spent on the beach looking for shells, we barely had time to get out and see what the rest of the island had to offer! The island acts like a big scoop and because of the way that the ocean currents flow, the shells just wash up on the beach. Its not cheap, but the kids will love it. 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. Sunbathing in the sugar white sand, shelling, kayaking, and swimming in the oceans emerald waters are some of the top activities here. Here are some of our favorite things to do in Fort Myers & Sanibel Island with kids. We upgraded our regular beach toys to fun trucks that our boys love. Find out when low tide is and hit the beach before anyone else can snatch up all the good stuff. Address: 845 E Gulf Dr, Sanibel, FL 33957. Since little ones don't just sit around having a few kites to fly is a great way to pass the day. Kids Activities. It's a great activity for kids and families. There are no big mega resorts. Red Tide is a name given to an algae that are harmful to fish and humans. Plan your trip to Captiva before sunset and head to the beach across from the Mucky Duck for the best sunset view available. 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. 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. The beaches are lined with more shells than you could ever collect. Joeys Custard is located at 2467 Periwinkle Way. Unfortunately for me, there are no craft breweries on the island. My boys have spent hours in pools next to our rentals and I'm sure yours will too. We also recommended Algiers Beach (aka Gulfside City Park Beach), one of the most popular dog-friendly beaches in Sanibel. Times Square and the Fort Myers Beach Fishing Pier. Taking a walk at Sanibel Lighthouse Beach Park is one of the best ways to explore the eastern tip of the island. Things To Do In Sanibel Island's Lighthouse Beach The Best Gift: Making Memories At South Seas Island Resort Beaches in Guatemala: Dramatic And Beautiful Volcanic Black Sand A Family Weekend In Florida's Space Coast With Holiday Inn The Best Things to do in Fort Myers Beach for Families Things To Do With Kids In The Upper And Middle Florida Keys Your email address will not be published. Photo: Courtesy of The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel 1. We are Shanna and Aaron + kiddos. 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