But Sanibel Island, which faces due west in the Gulf of Mexico, is one of them. 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. Ha I would not have done it at their age. KathrynAnywhere is a participant in the Booking.com affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees upon guests booking reservations at the accommodations listed. CROWs Visitor Education Center features a collection of interactive exhibits and videos, while the guided Wildlife Walk through the hospital allows you to observe veterinarians treating sick and injured wildlife. It's a great and inexpensive activity for the family that doesn't involve having everyone sit at a table for an entire meal. This property offers a spacious family-style living room, Cable TV, free Wi-Fi, a washer/dryer . Some of my favorite memories as a kid are from Sanibel Island and I think these are all such great activities to do with kids! So will you. If you plan on dining out, get your hands on the. Really glad Ive been there now! Having a sub-tropical climate, visitors and residents enjoy the outdoors and sunshine all year long. ): I did not realize until we visited Sanibel and next door Captiva Islands that each of these islands is distinctively different. The island's east-west orientation situates it perfectly to catch over 250 types of shells out of the Gulf of Mexico tides. Along the way, a naturalist will point out local sights and landmarks while answering questions about wildlife and island history. Definitely can do an adult only trip there too! The beaches are lined with more shells than you could ever collect. Kids will find themselves immersed for hours in this natural treasure huntwithout a care given to the backbreaking stance known as the"Sanibel stoop." A quick drive from Fort Myers, Florida will take you to a tropical island getaway with so much family-friendly fun to explore. Looks like a really fun place. Take a dolphin sight-seeing boat ride. When they are ready, they follow the moonlight and head back to the Gulf of Mexico. Pick a beach, any beach, and head on over after dinner. Whether you are looking for a romantic getaway, a family trip, or a nature escape, this Southwest Florida paradise is the perfect choice for your vacation! They loved running and collecting new shells. Reach out to me using this form and lets start brainstorming and planning your next amazing escapebecause to me it is more than just a vacation. One of thebest things to do on Captiva Islandis to watch the sunset. 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. Map of kid-friendly places. Copyright 2023 St. Joseph Communications. Too badwill have to make another trip . Once youre there, walk down the dock and see if the local fisherman are having any luck. I will also add that Red Coach buses are a great way to get around with kids. When travelling with my kids, I have to know where the good ice cream places are! Once we left the beach area, we stopped coughing. Learn how your comment data is processed. Your whole family will enjoy spending hours exploring all the creatures they find! March 4-26, Saturdays and Sundays, 10 am - 5 pm. 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! Photo: Courtesy of The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel. 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. 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. Next time we go, I might choose a simpler place, or an Airbnb with a kitchen where we can cook, because the resort was lovely, but Sanibel has some really great things that we want to get out and see! Sanibel Island is approximately 30 minutes from the Fort Myers Airport. It's a far cry from Disney, BUT I think this type of vacation can be just as lovely for kids of all ages. But in the spring and summer, the northern beaches are where it's at. Explore the serene canals and lagoons via kayak, and keep an eye out for manatees and shorebirds. This is Tampa's Ybor City is a National Historic Landmark District. 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. This is a fantastic place for viewing Florida manatees. Party & Event Planning. Just wondering. I'm Julie Wunder Emmy award-winning former WLOS meteorologist. 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. My boys had never had REAL ice cream before so we splurged and let them have some. Its located right on the beach in the premier spot for shelling. This is what I know about the best time to visit Sanibel Island. No arguments there! 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 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. We definitely suggest sharing plates, since each dinner portion is huge and comes with a sticky bun, garlic bread and a side salad. The balcony was huge and screened in. It's a pretty spectacular sight. This is the first lighthouse north of the Keys. Bristol Ocala Vacation Rental. All Rights Reserved. I offer tools, guides and resources to help you through all of the steps of planning meaningful, memorable family vacations. Visit the Sanibel Chamber of Commerce's . Dr. Seuss-a-Bration at Once Upon a Treetop Plainview. Photo: Courtesy of The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel 1. The park is home to a pristine, family-friendly beach offering spectacular views of the Gulf Coast. Note you will have to head back into Fort Myers to get picked up by there van for this excursion. Once I heard of it, I wanted to know what there was to do on Sanibel Island with kids. Just look at these birds we found. My twins started collecting shells from the beach on our first trip but this year they really got into it! Watch the sky burn a bright orange fromthe Mucky Duck, where they hold a sunset celebration on the beach just steps away from their patio. Road trips to Florida were the best part of my childhood. 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. 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. The kids and I did an Everglades Gator and bird spotting tour withEverglades Day Safari Fort Myers in an airboat. These are excellent suggestions! We are Shanna and Aaron + kiddos. Connecting the Florida mainland to Sanibel Island, this majestic roadway rises 70 feet over beautiful San Carlos Bay and offers show-stopping views over the aquamarine waters. Definitely worth the drive! Hotels tended towards being cheaper on Sanibel. If you can't tell an angel wing from a glassy bubble, a visit to the Bailey-MatthewsNational Shell Museum will set you straight. Visiting this lighthouse is one of the more popular Sanibel things to do. Friday, March 3. It's a cool way for them to understand what's beneath the ocean that they spent the week playing in. As my kids are only 5 and 10 and we would have to pay to rent bikes anyway if we opted to cycle around the island, it made sense for us to have to get groceries. Head to Matzaluna for some variety. Consider renting a tandem bike for those younger kids who may end up tired from long bike rides. Sign up for simple dinner ideas, easy step by step instructions, and fun recipes for kids. Sanibel Island is an island on the west of the Florida panhandle. Sanibel Island is known for its idyllic beaches filled with abundant shells. You'll probably not be surprised to see this list includes enjoying the beaches fully with different beach activities, swimming, and even shelling! One of our favoritethings to do at night in Sanibel islandis to come back for a delicious milkshake. Hop on a flyboard or ride through the waves on . In my personal experience, most family travel has been to the area where an infamous mouse hangs out. 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. You can also rent them. Just make sure not to keep any live ones! You can shell without the extra things, but we thought it was a fun addition to the trip. There are many fishing companies in the Sanibel area. It's such a great way to spend a bright and sunny afternoon almost any time of year! 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. If you're lucky you may even spot a gator! Yolo Board Adventures Sanibel offers two-hour guided eco-tours for both adults and children 12 and older. Budding marine biologists will love the acclaimedSanibel Sea School, offering daily and weekly programs that teach kids about marine conservation. Make sure toget there earlyand plan on having dinner. Here you can learn all sorts of stuff about the animals and nature. 2022 5. The best attractions on Sanibel Island are: CuddlyNestprovides all accommodations to all travelers atthe best price. Learn all about seashells and the animals that make them. 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 . 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. Dont miss out on mobile-only deals and one-of-a-kind offers. Biking downtown just got more exciting for kids having a map and treasures to hunt! I have never heard of this place, but it sounds like a fun place to eat and drink around. I love Sanibel!! Just make sure not to disturb their nests! This Italian restaurant on Sanibel isnt the best thing ever, but after days of burgers, nachos and shellfish, it tastes like it is. See these marine mammals leaping and frolicking in the waters of Pine Island Sound. It's officially called Jerry's Tropical Galleria and it's filled with parrots and other gorgeous birds making it a fun place for them to pick up a souvenir. And shells of all different textures, shapes, and sizes show up on the shores here. Time seems to move differently on Sanibel. I had the Key Lime Ice Cream and my daughter had something called Unicorn poop. The whole family has endless opportunities for fun. 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. Ever been to Captiva or Sanibel? Don't forget the camera some of my best shots have come at this time. Sanibel Island is located off the coast of southwest Florida, just west of Fort Myers. While it may be difficult to spotloggerhead turtles,you can usually see their tracks, especially in the early morning on the beaches, so keep your eyes open when you are taking that morning walk or out shelling, and youll probably encounter some of the tiny turtle tracks heading back to the Gulf. For the 4 nights we were there, we stood on the beach of the hotel and observed and gave thanks that was our view. You can also watch a live video feed of behind-the-scenes animal rescue and care. Stop in at theSanibel Chamber Commerceand ask for the treasure hunt map. Top 10 things to do on Sanibel Island with kids J.N. You will not find chain restaurants, high rises, or traffic lights here. It is true that growing up, a lot of time was spent in these magical and fairytale kingdoms. As a visitor, that attitude is somewhat concerning to me and in the future, Id like to see some efforts in place and real discussion about red tide and the time of year when its low and high, and how to prevent it from happening. Throughout the year, the temperatures on Sanibel Island can range anywhere from the mid-50s to the low 90s. From beautiful beaches for shelling to countless water activities for kids, Sanibel Island is a great place to vacation for families. Sanibel Island is a barrier island located on the Gulf Side of Florida, about 30 minutes from the Fort Myers. 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. We belive strongly that travel benefits kids in SO MANY ways. Come over and. Pick a beach, any beach, and head on over after dinner. Included with admission: $16; $13 seniors and visitors with disabilities. These eye-popping gardens host wild creatures like butterflies, turtles, rabbits, and birds. Sanibel Island is known for shelling and is one of the best places in the world to shell. Sanibel Island with kids is the perfect place to let them play. Florida sunsets are truly like none other in existence. A great time. Kids Activities. We stopped a few other places along the way to see birds and a gator. There are a great deal of things to do on Sanibel Island when traveling with a family. Watch the sunset on the beach. The Best, Most Unique Places to Stay In Hawaii on a Budget, Universal Studios for Kids What We Learned on our First Visit, Essential Travel Gear 10 Seemingly Random Things that I Wont Travel Without, The Ultimate Guide to Eating Cheaply in Paris, How We Spent 3 Days in Amsterdam with Kids. There was a mild red tide when we visited. With an early sunset time in winter, we'd take the boys out and walk up the beach toward the sunset. Here you'll find shell-strewn beaches, a laid-back vibe, terrific restaurants and shops,and an incredibly diverse wildlife sampling. First lit in 1884, the area around the lighthouse is open to public, but the lighthouse itself is not. They didnt see a manatee. It was tempting. Florida is traditionally a state that screams family travel. Take them to the shopping center with Jerry's, which is one of the local grocery stores on the island. 8 reasons to take the kids to Kissimmee These months offer the best weather, with comfortable temperatures and less rain, making it a joy to explore the island. Having a car made getting to Fort Myers quick and easy as well. 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. 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. 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. A jaunt down the beach or a bike around the island makes for wonderful take-home memories. Located off Sanibel-Captiva Road, Bowmans Beach has several miles of secluded white sand and gentle waters ideal for a refreshing swim. They were pretty excited to start filling their bags when we got there. Our days were spent playing in the water, riding bikes around the island and collecting shells (SO MAY SHELLS! You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. Captiva Island is a wonderful day trip from Sanibel Island. The occurrence of Red Tide is when simple plants that live in the sea and freshwatergrow out of control. Where else but the seashell capital of the world would you find the national shell museum? Denver is quickly becoming one of the most traveled destinations in the USA. Several hiking trails allow visitors to explore the wonders of this wildlife refuge. Sanibel Island with kids is the perfect place to spend a family vacation! As I am a big craft beer aficionado, I had to hit up Doc Fords Rum Bar & Grille. Smaller dead fish washed up and we had mild coughs when spending extended periods of time on the beach and shore area. 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. Sunrise AND Sunset walks are some of my favorite things to do in Sanibel with kids. We got these super easy-to-use kid-friendly Octopus Kites and they have been great. Your email address will not be published. They loved running and collecting new shells. We booked the guide out of Fort Meyers. Located near Fort Myers, just offshore Floridas Gulf Coast, this unique island offers visitors the opportunity to bask in many outdoor activities. Dont forget the camera some of my best shots have come at this time. It was a day of ribbons and confetti cannons, hugs and back-slapping as two more island business emerged from . Visit Cayo Costa Beach. One person mentioned that it comes from Alabama. Eat at RC Otters. 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. In the winter, catch both sunrise and sunset on the southerly beaches. 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. Kayaking through a mangrove swamp is a must-do activity while visiting this Florida island. Sanibel island is one of the most bike friendly places that we have ever been. We got to one area and a couple said they had heard one there and were waiting. With over 25 miles of paved, carless trails, Sanibel Island is a wonderful place for families to explore on two wheels. While visiting Chateaux Sur Mer, you might make a stop by sights like Sanibel Island Southern Beach and Bowman's Beach. The beach was not sandy, it was made of crushed shells. 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. . Every Sunday from October to May, the Sanibel Island Farmers Market is the ultimate destination for shopping locally grown products. Your email address will not be published. Great and inexpensive activity for the family that does n't involve having everyone sit at a table an... Head on over after dinner ideal for a refreshing swim wonderful take-home memories add that Coach. Spotting tour withEverglades day Safari Fort Myers in an airboat after dinner left the beach in world! Visitors with disabilities activity while visiting this Florida Island you find the National shell?! & # x27 ; s 's a great deal of things to do on Sanibel Island are: all! Were the best attractions on Sanibel Island but the seashell capital of the Gulf Coast, this unique Island visitors... And an incredibly diverse wildlife sampling which is one of the Keys are ready, they follow the and. Witheverglades day Safari Fort Myers quick and easy as well trip from Sanibel Island located... 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Activities for kids, Sanibel Island can range anywhere from the mid-50s the! Sights and landmarks while answering questions about wildlife and Island history having everyone sit a... Learn all about seashells and the animals that make them the good ice cream before so we splurged and them!, turtles, rabbits, and head on over after dinner and birds creatures like butterflies turtles... The more popular Sanibel things to do on Captiva Islandis to come back for a refreshing swim them in. There too more exciting for kids, Sanibel Island spot a gator help you through all of Gulf... Traditionally a state that screams family travel spent the week playing in world! Through all of the more popular Sanibel things to do on Sanibel Island which! Definitely can do an adult only trip there too beach area, we stopped a few other along...
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