document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Summer Waves Water Park is a thrilling experience with plenty of waterslides the whole family can enjoy. 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. Winters the weather can be hit or miss, and the months between December-February are busier with snowbirds escaping winter. 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. 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. 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). We spend a ton of time on North Captiva and always make trips over to Sanibel truly a beautiful spot. Pick a beach, any beach, and head on over after dinner. The Visitor and Education Centre offers free admission and is open every day except holidays from 9:00 am-4:00 pm year-round. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Kids Activities. One of the main reasons I love coming here so much is for the shells. When travelling with my kids, I have to know where the good ice cream places are! This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. Sanibel Island Lighthouse 2,675 Lighthouses Open now By Anxsmomt The lighthouse is a public beach, plenty of parking. The options are endless but here are a few of the activities my kids enjoyed the most on our recent trip. Dedicated to saving wildlife through state-of-the-art veterinary care, this center offers various educational experiences. It's such a fun way to have even more fun at the beach with kids. Time seems to move differently on Sanibel. 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!) Parenting lesson learned? Most of the nicer resorts on Sanibel provide some variety of activities. 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! I offer tools, guides and resources to help you through all of the steps of planning meaningful, memorable family vacations. 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. Some bucket-list experiences here are sunbathing, kayaking, bird watching, and exploring idyllic parks like the Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge. As Sanibel, Captiva reopen, businesses hope visitors get causeway access soon. We ate THE best burgers at the poolside bar at the Sanibel Island Inn, and we ate out once or twice for dinner. We've taken the twins twice and both times they loved running out on the boardwalk and spotting animals. 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. Groceries on Sanibel were significantly more expensive than on the main land. The two ice cream places we tried on Sanibel Island are Joeys Custard and Love Boat Ice Cream. Looking for things to do in Sanibel Island with kids? You might want to bring water shoes or sandalsfor walking on the beach. As always, opinions and fun times are always mine and those of my kids. Have a look! I've heard you can spot Alligators, otters, and turtles on the property. Not by chance, it became the worlds most famous place for shelling. Barefoot Charters 54 Boat Tours Fishing Charters & Tours By Fearless825280 Wonderful day with Captain Joe. Although I had never been before, I knew I wanted to take Miss M and Z Man. Every single coastal state in the U.S. has reported red tide and the cause is primarily pollution chemicals in the water. 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 Sanibel is the larger and (slightly) more commercial of the two islands, while Captiva is more remote and private. Make sure toget there earlyand plan on having dinner. Sanibel Island with kids is lovely! Bricks 4 Kidz - Piscataway. 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. They were pretty excited to start filling their bags when we got there. Tip: Many guides will clean the fish for you so you can enjoy your catch for dinner. 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 . It's such a great way to spend a bright and sunny afternoon almost any time of year! Thats awesome. Shelling is one of the best things to do on Sanibel Island, so plan to spend lots of time at the beach! Now? Baby sea turtles hatch late at night when the moon is bright. There are many things for kids to do on Sanibel & Captiva Island from the beaches, museums, craft stores, wildlife tours and more! Grab A Map & Participate In A Treasure Hunt By Bike Stop in at the Sanibel Chamber Commerce and ask for the treasure hunt map. I love Sanibel!! Admission is $7 for kids ages 5-11, $9 for ages 12-17, $15 for adults. See alligators, raccoons, otters, and hundreds of different kinds ofbirds in this 6,300-acre wilderness. 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. Watch the sunset on the beach. Sanibel Island is a great place to vacation with a family. You wont regret taking a drive up to Captiva. You are in warm weather and you are on the ocean, so why not indulge in the water and cool off? Both were phenomenal. This is a fantastic place for viewing Florida manatees. I would also be remiss to not mention Red Tide. We booked the guide out of Fort Meyers. At this dreamy beach, you can try the famous Sanibel Stoop, bending over to retrieve seashells from the sand. Here, visit the otherworldly Captiva Beach, famous for its snow-white sand and shallow crystal-clear waters. Consider renting a tandem bike for those younger kids who may end up tired from long bike rides. Bring a bottle of wine and let the kids get their feet wet. Captiva And Sanibel Islands are just over an hour from Ft. Myers and relatively easy to get to, but feel like a tropical paradise. J. N. "Ding" Darling NationalWildlife Refuge. Sign up for simple dinner ideas, easy step by step instructions, and fun recipes for kids. Download a tide app to check tide times. Smaller dead fish washed up and we had mild coughs when spending extended periods of time on the beach and shore area. If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. 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. Plan a stop for dinner or a drink outside at theMucky Duck. Skip the line at Bowman's Beach, Sanibel Sea School Day Program + Captiva Watersports. I am not going to post about EVERYTHING to do on Sanibel Island for kids. Look up and see if you can observe some ospreys or pelicans. 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. Book a ride with Captiva Cruises, and make a stop at Cabbage Key. 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. Here are the Top Things to Do with Kids on Sanibel Island, Florida. 9. Here's how to make the right first impression. It's a pretty spectacular sight. That post has already been written by a thousand other bloggers on the internet, so I dont feel the need to duplicate. I definitely enjoyed having a rental car while we were on Sanibel Island. 8 reasons to take the kids to Kissimmee Your email address will not be published. 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. Hotels tended towards being cheaper on Sanibel. 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! 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. Pick from one of many competitive games at Battlegroundz in Lincoln including dodgeball, laser tag, paintball, archery tag, airsoft, darts and cornhole. Go shelling. Letting the kids just be kids in the sand is one of the best things to do in Sanibel with kids. Come at low tide or after a storm to find conch, junonia, lightning whelk, and cockle shells. That night in bed? Visiting this locale is a feel-good endeavor, too, as your admission fee goes towards the care of approximately 3,500 injured and orphaned animals each year. 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. What are your favorite spots? This was my daughters favorite part of the trip! The homes are amazing to look at, the water even better. The kids were told that if they waited and were quiet, theres a good chance they could spot a manatee somewhere in the wildlife refuge. We've even spotted lots of dolphins just along the coast. 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. Yolo Board Adventures Sanibel offers two-hour guided eco-tours for both adults and children 12 and older. Places To Stay In Sanibel Island, Florida, The 10 Best Beaches Near Orlando, Florida, 15 Unbeatable Florida Family Vacations with Kids, The 4 Best Family-Friendly Vacation Spots in Orlando, The 15 Best Long Weekend Getaways In The US, The Ultimate Guide For a Pet-Friendly Holiday in Florida, 7 Amazing Water Parks In Orlando, Florida, 8 Best Hotels Near SeaWorld Orlando, Florida, The 5 Best Hotels Near Downtown Orlando, Florida, The 9 Best Pet-Friendly Hotels In Orlando, Florida, The Best Hotels Near Disney World Orlando, The 5 Most Stunning Hotels Near Denver International Airport, 5 Great Things To Do In Ybor City, Tampa, FL, 17 Amazing Things to do in London with Kids. 2. 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. 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. Me and the kids love looking for shells too and it seems like there are a lot there! With about 22 miles of paved bike trails, it's super easy to get anywhere on the island. If you plan on dining out, get your hands on the. Indulge in the Signature Arabian Rose treatment, an all-over body scrub, or a deep tissue massage at the spa. From national historic sites to beautiful beaches, there are many fun things to do on the Kohala Coast. 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. While you can't exactly access the light,the site itself features agreat shelling beach, a fishing pier, and a nature trail. Your little ones are really brave for embracing boas and alligators. One person mentioned that it comes from Alabama. Florida is traditionally a state that screams family travel. Its the only way to get a seat at the race table! 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. 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. It's known for its natural beauty including gorgeous beaches, shelling, and island lifestyle. Having a car made getting to Fort Myers quick and easy as well. The island is relatively compact and very bike friendly and many people get around by bike! The beach here was beautiful white sand, and the water was a bright shade of beautiful blue. It's a cool way for them to understand what's beneath the ocean that they spent the week playing in. Here you'll find shell-strewn beaches, a laid-back vibe, terrific restaurants and shops, and an incredibly diverse wildlife sampling. It's a great and inexpensive activity for the family that doesn't involve having everyone sit at a table for an entire meal. We also had dinner there and the kids were super happy with their chicken fingers. . My twins started collecting shells from the beach on our first trip but this year they really got into it! Hop on a flyboard or ride through the waves on . 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. Don't forget the camera some of my best shots have come at this time. All ages. And the "lighthouse" isn't really a house at all but is actually a tower. 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. The beaches are lined with more shells than you could ever collect. March 4-26, Saturdays and Sundays, 10 am - 5 pm. The lighthouse dates back to 1884. No arguments there! Sanibel Island is an island on the west of the Florida panhandle. This is for sure at least worth a stop for ice cream (or a place to leave the kids and hubby so you can go in and grocery shop BY YOURSELF!). 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. The burgers are amazing, I highly recommend the turkey burger. Nature comes in a spectacular variety in the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge. Anyone who has visited Sanibel Island will tell you the JN Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge is tops on a Sanibel Island things-to-do list. Temperatures were still in the 80s. Address: 3883 Sanibel Captiva Rd, Sanibel. Leave the kids with your husband and get a massage at the Tween Waters Inn. From action-packed water sports to relaxing spa treatments, we have something for everyone. They were a lot cheaper than similar resorts on Sanibel. Heads up, you'll want to arrive early as spots fill up quickly. I'd highly these smaller trucks and this bigger dump truck and excavator. Learn how your comment data is processed. The island has a curved shape that causes it to as a shovel, scooping up shells from the Gulf of Mexico. He had Little Man and Miss M jumping to be first in line the whole time. The fun never stops on Sanibel Island. 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. I'm Julie Wunder Emmy award-winning former WLOS meteorologist. For more shopping fun, check out the shops in Times Square at the nearby Fort Myers Beach Pier. More shops and restaurants and better choice of hotels and resorts. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Map of kid-friendly places. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Here are a few that seem to welcome and appreciate kids. This property offers a spacious family-style living room, Cable TV, free Wi-Fi, a washer/dryer . 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. Party & Event Planning. Watching the sun dip into the Gulf of Mexico is magic. My kids spent hours walking up and down the beach from our hotel doing shelling. Should you ever find yourself on Sanibel or Captiva Islands with kids, here are some things you must do. Toddlers, kids, and teens will all want to partake in this activity. Here you'll find shell-strewn beaches, a laid-back vibe, terrific restaurants and shops,and an incredibly diverse wildlife sampling. There are activities and family friendly places to visit for families of any size and children of any age. Your boys are just growing up so fast. 2022 5. It was my first time, hopefully not the last. Taking a walk at Sanibel Lighthouse Beach Park is one of the best ways to explore the eastern tip of the island. 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. 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. Make sure to also stop by the idyllic Blind Pass Beach on both Sanibel & Captiva Islands. From beautiful beaches for shelling to countless water activities for kids, Sanibel Island is a great place to vacation for families. Each day includes surfing, art, group-bonding activities, all while integrating subjects like fiddler crabs, wading birds, and sea turtles. Looking for something fun to do in Sanibel with kids? 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!). Afamily vacation to Florida is usually synonymous with Disney, but it doesn't have to be. I wasnt sure there was much else to see and do in Florida. Collect shells along the beach Sanibel is known as the Shelling Capital of the World, and it's not hard to see why. You to get to the beach by boat, and its simply amazing. This is what I know about the best time to visit Sanibel Island. We came back with so many amazing shells (a whole suitcase full of them in fact). Your kids will be able to touch sea creatures in touch tanks and you can book a shell walk with a naturalist. Once I heard of it, I wanted to know what there was to do on Sanibel Island with kids. 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. 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. I would absolutely stay there again. The island is approximately a 30-45 minute drive depending on traffic and time of day. 7 Reasons to Visit Harrisonburg Virginia! He was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the reptiles that live in the Everglades, the kids couldnt help but be into it. 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! And shells of all different textures, shapes, and sizes show up on the shores here. 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. There is a Publix right before paying the toll to cross the Sanibel Island Causeway. Unique Experiences and Travel Inspiration. 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. Blind Pass Beach 827 Beaches By 994linday And why wouldnt they do that? I was blind to what else existed in the State. It has an authentic, old Florida vibe. Fully Equipped with an upgraded kitchen featuring stainless steel, Sunzero Wolf appliances, and quartz countertops. Picnic tables are available when you want to enjoy snacks under the canopy of the trees. The kitschy shop at the east end of Sanibel is legendary for its delicious homemade Italian gelato. We had a ton of fun just playing in the water. Ding Darling is known as one of the best places to visit for birding. Copyright 2022 - There and Back Again Travel / Shanna Schultz, Things to Consider When Planning a Trip to Sanibel Island with Kids, saw these cottages at the far end of Sanibel Island. There was a mild red tide when we visited. 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. I looked carefully at the hotels and resorts just across the bay in nearby Fort Myers. Eat at RC Otters. Billys Bike: 1509 Periwinkle Way (239) 472-3620, Finnimores Bike & Beach Shop: 2353 Periwinkle Wa (239) 472-5577. Just make sure not to disturb their nests! We had a fun morning riding out to see the Sanibel lighthouse. Sanibel Island is a barrier island located on the Gulf Side of Florida, about 30 minutes from the Fort Myers. Depending on the time of year, Sanibel's sunset locales vary. If you are staying at a resort and arent planning on straying too far from your quarters, you might be able to get by without a car (especially if your resort has bikes that you can use, which many Sanibel Island family resorts do). Trust me. It connects by bridge to Captiva Island. If you have kids and have been considering a Florida vacation you'd be crazy to not visit Fort Myers & Sanibel Island. In the winter, catch both sunrise and sunset on the southerly beaches. This sounds like a great place for a family vacation and so many activities! (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.)
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