If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. Blind Pass Beach 827 Beaches By 994linday 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! It's a cool way for them to understand what's beneath the ocean that they spent the week playing in. Dont miss out on mobile-only deals and one-of-a-kind offers. Nature comes in a spectacular variety in the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge. Have a look! Relax on the beach, enjoy a picnic, go on a bike ride, or take a hike on one of the trails found . In the courtyard are large enclosures with a variety of different parrots. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. This family-friendly island has lots of activities for kids of all ages most of them free! Winter and springtime (from December to April) are the best times to visit Sanibel. Sanibel Island is a barrier island located on the Gulf Side of Florida, about 30 minutes from the Fort Myers. The burgers are amazing, I highly recommend the turkey burger. We spend a ton of time on North Captiva and always make trips over to Sanibel truly a beautiful spot. Whether your kids like seafood or more traditional food, there is something on the menu for everyone at these places. Your Sanibel Island vacation rental lets you enjoy 15 miles of pristine beaches, 22 miles of bike paths, and zero traffic lights. The kids waited for 5 minutes and wanted to go. Tip: Many guides will clean the fish for you so you can enjoy your catch for dinner. Sanibel Island is as much about world-class as it is about beaches. My three-year-olds have been flying them for over a year. Offering free cancellations and no added fees, our {31 fun activities in South Plainfield fun activities in South Plainfield } are also worth a look. I've heard you can even spot manatees there. Note you will have to head back into Fort Myers to get picked up by there van for this excursion. There are shells all year long. It turns out, there are plenty of things to do on Sanibel Island with kids. You can drive through the preserve at your own pace and get out to spot wildlife. Having a sub-tropical climate, visitors and residents enjoy the outdoors and sunshine all year long. It sets over the ocean where you can watch from a huge stretch of public beach. Kids have their own hands-on learning room, and staff members conduct daily beach walks. As always, opinions and fun times are always mine and those of my kids. With all we had to do, we had plenty to keep us occupied for our three night visit. Don't forget the camera some of my best shots have come at this time. If youre lucky, youll also be able to spot friendly dolphins frolicking around the water. Sure, you could take your kids to a more touristy place in Florida with lots of official attractions, but there is something so charming about a vacation that really enjoys nature and some of the more simple things in life! Jerrys Foods has a lovely outdoor courtyard that it shares with Love Boat Ice Cream (which was super yummy and definitely worth a stop, btw). I think their minds were blown! 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. The Island also offers many opportunities for kids to learn and have fun at the same time. Here are some of our favorite things to do in Fort Myers & Sanibel Island with kids. Question, why have they never had real ice cream before? They dont seem startled one bit! Fort Myers Brewery. 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). there is a wildlife refuge that you can either take a guided tram or drive yourself through. Plan your trip to Captiva before sunset and head to the beach across from the Mucky Duck for the best sunset view available. They loved running and collecting new shells. 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. The two ice cream places we tried on Sanibel Island are Joeys Custard and Love Boat Ice Cream. The beach was lovely, and the locals that we talked to told us that we had come before the winter sun-seeking crowds. Sanibel Island has enough beautiful beaches to keep you busy for days. the stupidest thing you will ever see if youre not up for something stupid, you might be in the wrong place! Top 10 things to do on Sanibel Island with kids J.N. 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. You should get an annual pass to the wildlife refuge. There is also a tram if you are a guided tour person. 2022 5. I had the Key Lime Ice Cream and my daughter had something called Unicorn poop. A great time. 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. Sprinkled in youll find family travel inspiration. The french fries are really good. March 4-26, Saturdays and Sundays, 10 am - 5 pm. We also recommended Algiers Beach (aka Gulfside City Park Beach), one of the most popular dog-friendly beaches in Sanibel. 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. So if there aren't traditional kids attractions what ARE the things to do with kids in Sanibel Island? 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. And shells of all different textures, shapes, and sizes show up on the shores here. Captiva Island: Felt more off the beaten path and exclusive. Just ask! If you are looking for soft sand, this will not be your place because the whole beach is LITERALLY made out of sea shells. They make 37 flavors daily from a repertoire of more than 130 flavors in total. You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. 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. Turner Beach, in particular, is known for itsspectacularsunsets. Copyright 2023 St. Joseph Communications. Address: 1 Wildlife Dr, Sanibel, FL 33957. 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. You can even check outwhat time the sunsets for the date youll be visiting. This Italian restaurant on Sanibel isnt the best thing ever, but after days of burgers, nachos and shellfish, it tastes like it is. 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. Its not cheap, but the kids will love it. Having a car made getting to Fort Myers quick and easy as well. Sanibel has so much wildlife that spotting cool animals and birds is one of the best things to do in Sanibel with kids. You might want to bring water shoes or sandalsfor walking on the beach. Kids of all ages love a pool and there are plenty of them in Sanibel! Sanibel Island: Much better shelling. I'm Julie Wunder Emmy award-winning former WLOS meteorologist. Visit the Sanibel Chamber of Commerce's . Get Dessert at The Bubble Room. If we had to drive over and visit just for the day, it would not have been at all the same experience. Sanibel Island takes shelling very seriously! More shops and restaurants and better choice of hotels and resorts. There are bike lanes literally EVERYWHERE. Parking at Blind Pass Beach costs $5 per hour and the beach is free to explore. 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. Manatee Park. There are many fishing companies in the Sanibel area. Edison & Ford Winter Estates. 8. After 9:00 p.m on Sanibel, itsturtle time. We stayed at the Island Inn, the very first hotel on the island. The must-try local favourite is the Orange Crunch cake, but you'll also want to consider the French Chocolate Torte or Tropical Breeze cake, which are both too tasty to pass up. It's a great activity for kids and families. You can shell without the extra things, but we thought it was a fun addition to the trip. It's such a fun way to have even more fun at the beach with kids. Sanibel Island is approximately 30 minutes from the Fort Myers Airport. 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. Not a single person I spoke to in the area seems to be concerned about Red Tide and carried on with business as usual. And right along with the ocean side, we spotted starfish, crabs, and lots of critters inside shells. Watch the sunset on the beach. Head to the Crows Nest on Crab Racing Night and see as they say. Your email address will not be published. Winters the weather can be hit or miss, and the months between December-February are busier with snowbirds escaping winter. Things to Do in Sanibel Island with Kids Enter dates Filters 1 Attractions Traveler favorites All things to do Category types Attractions Tours Day Trips Outdoor Activities Concerts & Shows Food & Drink Shopping Transportation Traveler Resources Types of Attractions Boat Tours & Water Sports Nature & Parks Sights & Landmarks Museums Its located right on the beach in the premier spot for shelling. 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. Hit the big grocery stores in Fort Myers on your way. 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. Hi, Friends! Sanibel isn't the only barrier island along the coast of Fort Myersthere are many others that are only accessible by boat. With an early sunset time in winter, we'd take the boys out and walk up the beach toward the sunset. Here is a story about patience. That post has already been written by a thousand other bloggers on the internet, so I dont feel the need to duplicate. We are beach people and love to spend lots of time at the beach on our trips! Sanibel Island Rentals: Billy's Bike : 1509 Periwinkle Way (239) 472-3620 Finnimore's Bike & Beach Shop: 2353 Periwinkle Wa (239) 472-5577 3. This is Tampa's Ybor City is a National Historic Landmark District. Ever been to Captiva or Sanibel? My boys have spent hours in pools next to our rentals and I'm sure yours will too. 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. Map of kid-friendly places. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge On this part of Sanibel you'll find a protected piece of nature with quite an impressive wildlife! It also taught the boys a bit about wind and weather because they only knew they could fly the kites on windy days. Warm Gulf waters and calm surf make most of the island's beaches great for families withsmall children. 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. Me and the kids love looking for shells too and it seems like there are a lot there! This was a close second choice when booking our trip to Sanibel Island with kids. Our days were spent playing in the water, riding bikes around the island and collecting shells (SO MAY SHELLS! Time seems to move differently on Sanibel. 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. 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. Groceries on Sanibel were significantly more expensive than on the main land. If you're lucky, you may see manatees and pods of dolphins in the waters. Find Places To Stay In Sanibel Island, Florida. Here are a few that seem to welcome and appreciate kids. The Sanibel Moorings Botanical Gardens takes visitors on a colorful journey through idyllic tropical gardens. 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. Its perfectly legal and encouraged to head down to the beach with a bucket and scoop up as many beauties as you can. The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum. 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. With an early sunset time in winter, we'd take the boys out and walk up the beach toward the sunset. Sprinkled in youll find family travel inspiration. Unfortunately for me, there are no craft breweries on the island. Nope, they were thrilled to do this! Here you can learn all sorts of stuff about the animals and nature. The balcony was huge and screened in. Registered dietitian & mom behind Create Kids Club an online kitchen where feeding kids gluten-free is made easier with simple recipes & kids cooking ideas. There was a mild red tide when we visited. Captiva Cruises offers three kinds of sunset cruise: the Sunset Serenade with live music and cocktails, the Wildlife Sunset cruise with views of birds and dolphins and the Sunset Sail on a 40-foot catamaran. These cottages are on the western end of the island, so you are guaranteed some beautiful sunsets right from your front porch! The whole family has endless opportunities for fun. The island is relatively compact and very bike friendly and many people get around by bike! Get our travel tips Delivered to your inbox. Make sure to pack mesh shell bagsfor each member of the family to carry along the beaches. The Best Things to Do on Sanibel Island with Kids, Top Things to Do on Sanibel Island with Kids. 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. These encounters trump a trip to Disneyworld any day. I definitely want to go back and explore and this sounds like an amazing place to do just that. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. The fun never stops on Sanibel Island. We've even spotted lots of dolphins just along the coast. Summer Waves Water Park is a thrilling experience with plenty of waterslides the whole family can enjoy. Travel and World Peace: How Traveling the World has Changed My Perspective. (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.) Take a Walk at Sanibel Lighthouse Beach Park. Sanibel Island with kids is the perfect place to spend a family vacation! 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. 5. Pick from one of many competitive games at Battlegroundz in Lincoln including dodgeball, laser tag, paintball, archery tag, airsoft, darts and cornhole. Not by chance, it became the worlds most famous place for shelling. We are Shanna and Aaron + kiddos. We upgraded our regular beach toys to fun trucks that our boys love. Each time, we had to walk around and see the parrots (the naughty one on the end kept throwing his toys out of the cage and pouting as passersby to pick them upshe thought it was hilarious!) Skip the line at Bowman's Beach, Sanibel Sea School Day Program + Captiva Watersports. Kids Activities. 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! 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! Celebrate Women's History Month and commemorate pioneering figures in science, technology, arts & design, and mathematics. We ate THE best burgers at the poolside bar at the Sanibel Island Inn, and we ate out once or twice for dinner. You wont regret taking a drive up to Captiva. Tip for Canadians Tim Hortons coffee is served at Joeys Custard! Fully Equipped with an upgraded kitchen featuring stainless steel, Sunzero Wolf appliances, and quartz countertops. Less busy. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. 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. The shelling is the best and the kids love climbing all over the driftwood and making their way through the forest. Required fields are marked *. It's a far cry from Disney, BUT I think this type of vacation can be just as lovely for kids of all ages. All Rights Reserved. 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. Things to Do in Sanibel Island with Kids Dolphin Tour in Captiva Kids love animals so . 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. Cayo Costa State Park. If you can't tell an angel wing from a glassy bubble, a visit to the Bailey-MatthewsNational Shell Museum will set you straight. While you can't exactly access the light,the site itself features agreat shelling beach, a fishing pier, and a nature trail. The island is approximately a 30-45 minute drive depending on traffic and time of day. He had Little Man and Miss M jumping to be first in line the whole time. Stuff your face at Island Cow. Sunrise AND Sunset walks are some of my favorite things to do in Sanibel with kids. What a great way to vacation around Sanibel! Bonus: Shelling is freeas long as you clean and dry the shells before you leave, they make the perfect souvenirs. Go straight to the beach. The time lost in driving, the tolls and just the increased level of relaxation that staying on the island gave us were completely worth the extra money. Get there early, as parking spaces fill up. Throughout the year, the temperatures on Sanibel Island can range anywhere from the mid-50s to the low 90s. 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. We've taken the twins twice and both times they loved running out on the boardwalk and spotting animals. The homes are amazing to look at, the water even better. While the water is not clear, they will be able to find starfish, conch, and sand dollars. We had just never gone out to a regular ice cream shop with them! This was a "giant clapper" in our world for the week. I am so glad that I chose to stay on Sanibel proper for our trip to Sanibel Island with kids, because it would have been a whole different trip if we hadnt been right here.
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