These are excellent suggestions! Kids Activities. If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. There are several ways to explore the refuge. If there is, put it back. We definitely suggest sharing plates, since each dinner portion is huge and comes with a sticky bun, garlic bread and a side salad. Sanibel island is one of the most bike friendly places that we have ever been. Summer Waves Water Park. Parking at Blind Pass Beach costs $5 per hour and the beach is free to explore. 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. 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. So get the whole family involved, even if they're too young to pedal. No arguments there! Also, it's closed at this moment, but there is generally a hands-on area for kids at the Visitor and Education Center. The occurrence of Red Tide is when simple plants that live in the sea and freshwatergrow out of control. Plan your trip to Captiva before sunset and head to the beach across from the Mucky Duck for the best sunset view available. 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. My boys had never had REAL ice cream before so we splurged and let them have some. Your email address will not be published. While visiting Chateaux Sur Mer, you might make a stop by sights like Sanibel Island Southern Beach and Bowman's Beach. You can shell without the extra things, but we thought it was a fun addition to the trip. Sanibel Island is known for shelling and is one of the best places in the world to shell. Aside from endless miles of gorgeous beaches, Sanibel Island is a lush sanctuary filled with spectacular natural features, including wilderness refuges, tropical gardens, and various wildlife species. 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. We ate THE best burgers at the poolside bar at the Sanibel Island Inn, and we ate out once or twice for dinner. Everyone on the island gets to help protect sea turtles. Looks like it was a fun trip! Just ask! Any suggestions on the beat and least expensive fishing guide? There is something for everyone on the menu and the servings are enormous. 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. Cayo Costa State Park. It's a cool way for them to understand what's beneath the ocean that they spent the week playing in. #1 in Sanibel Island Address: 1700 Bowman's Beach Rd. 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. Buy groceries before you come over. Back in 1996, the City of Sanibel passed an ordinance that prevented big chain businesses from opening up shop on the island. 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. If you plan on dining out, get your hands on the. Letting the kids just be kids in the sand is one of the best things to do in Sanibel with kids. Sign up in advance because space is limited to24 students per day. 9. Cue the tears. They loved running and collecting new shells. This sounds like a great place for a family vacation and so many activities! But in the spring and summer, the northern beaches are where it's at. It is a really cool nature preserve that takes up much of the island. 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. Home Travel Top Things to Do on Sanibel Island with Kids. You can show up in a bathing suit and flip flops and get everything from salad to burgers to fried alligator. Most nights there is live music along lots of games for the kids to play. Why not try a different one each night? Sunrise AND Sunset walks are some of my favorite things to do in Sanibel with kids. 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! It takes justone visittoSanibel Islandbefore youll start planning yournext trip back. 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. Kids stop in local businesses on the hunt for prizes. Looks like a really fun place. Here, visit the otherworldly Captiva Beach, famous for its snow-white sand and shallow crystal-clear waters. It is laid back, friendly and has a lovely old Florida charm. Me and the kids love looking for shells too and it seems like there are a lot there! Your email address will not be published. See these marine mammals leaping and frolicking in the waters of Pine Island Sound. It sets over the ocean where you can watch from a huge stretch of public beach. 4. Kids of all ages love a pool and there are plenty of them in Sanibel! Located near Fort Myers, just offshore Floridas Gulf Coast, this unique island offers visitors the opportunity to bask in many outdoor activities. There is also a tower about halfway through the drive with fun telescopes. Bristol Ocala Vacation Rental. Your whole family will enjoy spending hours exploring all the creatures they find! Here are the Top Things to Do with Kids on Sanibel Island, Florida. Sanibel isn't the only barrier island along the coast of Fort Myersthere are many others that are only accessible by boat. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Having a sub-tropical climate, visitors and residents enjoy the outdoors and sunshine all year long. Sanibel is the larger and (slightly) more commercial of the two islands, while Captiva is more remote and private. The beach was lovely, and the locals that we talked to told us that we had come before the winter sun-seeking crowds. One of thebest things to do on Captiva Islandis to watch the sunset. The refuge also offers tram rides hosted by a naturalist, so kids can learn more about what they're seeing. The museum features over 30 permanent exhibits on shells of Sanibel and Captiva Island, as well as those from around the world. Sanibel Island with kids is the perfect place to spend a family vacation! Throughout the year, the temperatures on Sanibel Island can range anywhere from the mid-50s to the low 90s. There was a mild red tide when we visited. 74. The fun never stops on Sanibel Island. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge! Paddle throughmangrove swamps and winding waterways, and then keep your kayak for free for the remainder of the day. Book family tours. Its always a good sign when a place is packed on a weekday. Manatee Park. You might spot a dolphin or two from there. It takes up some real estate in the car, but the hours of fun you'll get out of it are worth it. Although I had never been before, I knew I wanted to take Miss M and Z Man. Definitely can do an adult only trip there too! It's a great and inexpensive activity for the family that doesn't involve having everyone sit at a table for an entire meal. In addition to an amazing pool and poolside bar, our provided kayaks, paddleboards, bikes to borrow and a naturalist led beach walk. We stayed at the Sanibel Inn and absolutely LOVED it. Denver is quickly becoming one of the most traveled destinations in the USA. The Sanibel Inn provided kayaks and paddle boards for us to use! There are shells all year long. 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. So if there aren't traditional kids attractions what ARE the things to do with kids in Sanibel Island? Most of the nicer resorts on Sanibel provide some variety of activities. Relax on the beach, enjoy a picnic, go on a bike ride, or take a hike on one of the trails found . Ive only been to the western side of Florida once and it was for a baseball game. 6. As always, opinions and fun times are always mine and those of my kids. Definitely skip dinner there, but head over for dessert and the photo opps outside. Worth-visiting institutions include the Village Sanibel Historical Museum, which preserves nine historic buildings that tell the islands story. This year before we left we talked to them about the different types of shells they could find and even got them a shelling Sand Dipper Jr and sea shell collecting bag. Also, check out the show-stopping Captiva Pass, which is the strait that separates North Captiva Island from La Costa Island. The kids waited for 5 minutes and wanted to go. Sprinkled in youll find family travel inspiration. Sanibel Island just has a different vibe. Its a nice place to stay, but the spa is especially wonderful. We upgraded our regular beach toys to fun trucks that our boys love. Times Square and the Fort Myers Beach Fishing Pier. With over 25 miles of paved, carless trails, Sanibel Island is a wonderful place for families to explore on two wheels. One of the main reasons I love coming here so much is for the shells. 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. You never know what will be on the end of that line! Bricks 4 Kidz - Piscataway. No matter the time of year, Sanibel sees some brilliant sunsets. The whole family has endless opportunities for fun. Just make sure not to keep any live ones! Map of kid-friendly places. 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. This is the first lighthouse north of the Keys. I would absolutely stay there again. Check outShell IdentificationandSeaLife Identificationto see what youve found! We didnt eat out that much while we were here. 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. We visited in November, and it was just the right time for us. Love Boat Ice Cream is at 1700 Periwinkle Way in the Plaza with the big Jerrys grocery store. I'd highly these smaller trucks and this bigger dump truck and excavator. They were pretty excited to start filling their bags when we got there. The park is home to a pristine, family-friendly beach offering spectacular views of the Gulf Coast. Sanibel Island isworld-renownedfor its abundance of seashells. Once youre there, walk down the dock and see if the local fisherman are having any luck. We had just never gone out to a regular ice cream shop with them! We might have to visit one day. ), and The Best Things to Eat & Drink on Sanibel. Bring a bottle of wine and let the kids get their feet wet. The island is home to many burrowing gopher turtles and lush plantlife grows wild here giving the island an old Florida feel. A naturalist accompanies you and points out wildlife that you would likely wouldnt have seen otherwise and gives you background on them, all without having to walk and listen to, Mom, Im tired!. Most folks rent a car, but there are shuttles available to take you here (depending on where you are staying and what you plan on doing, you may not need a car once you get to the island). 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. 2. This should be enough to get you started (and if you have any favorites that you think I should add, please let me know! Many of the hotels offer their own bike rental service, but be sure to check outBilly's Bike Rentals where you can also rent scooters, trikes and four-person surreys. Here you'll find shell-strewn beaches, a laid-back vibe, terrific restaurants and shops, and an incredibly diverse wildlife sampling. Required fields are marked *. There is also a tram if you are a guided tour person. Sanibel and Captiva have some different shells, so be sure to hit beaches on both islands. Head to Matzaluna for some variety. The island is approximately a 30-45 minute drive depending on traffic and time of day. Fun Things to Do in Sanibel Island with Kids: Family-friendly activities and fun things to do. Our room was clean and spacious, and had a little kitchenette (some of the units in this resort have full kitchens, if this is a need for you). A great place to explore on a rainy day in Sanibel Island. Address: 845 E Gulf Dr, Sanibel, FL 33957. 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. A trip to Sanibel Island with kids is perfect if you are a family who wants to send some quality time together in a laid back, relaxed atmosphere. 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. 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 tour takes you across the flat waters of local estuaries and waterways and offers beginner instruction for those new to the sport. He had Little Man and Miss M jumping to be first in line the whole time. 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. Dont forget the camera some of my best shots have come at this time. Kids can easily split a kids meal, especially if they fill up on the bottomless muffins that come first. The tour price covers the rental of all gear, including a PDF, leash, tie-downs, and fresh drinking water for each person. It was my first time, hopefully not the last. They didnt see a manatee. 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. Come at low tide or after a storm to find conch, junonia, lightning whelk, and cockle shells. Sanibel and Captiva Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center 907 Visitor Centers By mrsmarinara great information givien with a really generous spirit 4. Sanibel Island is a great place to vacation with a family. Thats awesome. This lighthouse is picture perfect and worth exploring for a morning. They were a lot cheaper than similar resorts on Sanibel. Dont miss out on mobile-only deals and one-of-a-kind offers. These eye-popping gardens host wild creatures like butterflies, turtles, rabbits, and birds. You should get an annual pass to the wildlife refuge. Get Dessert at The Bubble Room. And whether you order a cone or bowl, every servingis topped with an adorable little animal cracker. Sanibel Island is a barrier island located on the Gulf Side of Florida, about 30 minutes from the Fort Myers. Your email address will not be published. Where else but the seashell capital of the world would you find the national shell museum? Great and inexpensive activity for the remainder of the world to shell space is limited students. Kids: family-friendly activities and fun things to do on Sanibel Island things-to-do.. 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