8. There are activities that appeal to all age groups and makes for a really nice family vacation. If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. Kids Activities. 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. It is located nearby Blind Pass Bridge, which connects the two islands. But heed the warning signs, as the bridge makes for swift ocean currents and the water around it is not advisable for swimming. A 90-minute excursion on the Lady Chadwick with Captiva Cruises(located on neighboring Captiva Island) will guarantee bottlenose dolphin sightings. 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). ): I did not realize until we visited Sanibel and next door Captiva Islands that each of these islands is distinctively different. You can also rent them. He was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the reptiles that live in the Everglades, the kids couldnt help but be into it. It has an authentic, old Florida vibe. (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.) Also, it's closed at this moment, but there is generally a hands-on area for kids at the Visitor and Education Center. "The kids had fun but when we arrived they only gave me 15mins to set up before the party began." more. When they are ready, they follow the moonlight and head back to the Gulf of Mexico. The kids and I did an Everglades Gator and bird spotting tour withEverglades Day Safari Fort Myers in an airboat. Sign up for Scary Mommy's daily newsletter for more stories from the trenches. Back in 1996, the City of Sanibel passed an ordinance that prevented big chain businesses from opening up shop on the island. Sanibel Island is a great place to vacation with a family. While the view is great on any of the two islands' west-facing beaches, watching the sun dip below the horizon while cruising on the water somehow makes the experience even more breathtaking. 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). Resorts felt more high end and had price tags to match. 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 And while you won't find theme parks or children's museums to keep your kids entertained, instead, give them the opportunity to spot dolphins, hold small sea creatures, and kayak through the mangroves. Captiva Island is a wonderful day trip from Sanibel Island. Here are the activities they have for kids! 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. With all we had to do, we had plenty to keep us occupied for our three night visit. There are activities and family friendly places to visit for families of any size and children of any age. 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). Check out the nearby learning centre at the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife(CROW) where kids can watch as animals are nursed back to health at the animal hospital and perform their own pretend rehabilitations on stuffed versions of their favourite critters. This is a fantastic place for viewing Florida manatees. 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. Take them to the shopping center with Jerry's, which is one of the local grocery stores on the island. There was a mild red tide when we visited. However, the island is spread out depending on where you stay. Dairy-Free (All recipes on CKC are gluten-free). Also, check out the show-stopping Captiva Pass, which is the strait that separates North Captiva Island from La Costa Island. We definitely suggest sharing plates, since each dinner portion is huge and comes with a sticky bun, garlic bread and a side salad. We are Shanna and Aaron + kiddos. Captiva And Sanibel Islands are just over an hour from Ft. Myers and relatively easy to get to, but feel like a tropical paradise. What are your favorite spots? 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. Where else but the seashell capital of the world would you find the national shell museum? It's known for its natural beauty including gorgeous beaches, shelling, and island lifestyle. Bring a bottle of wine and let the kids get their feet wet. In the courtyard are large enclosures with a variety of different parrots. Sanibel is known as the Shelling Capital of the World, and it's not hard to see why. Get there early, as parking spaces fill up. That night in bed? Another note, Sunburned Willie, the host of the crab race, can be a bit crass. 9. 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. Bristol is a stunning five-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath fully furnished home with a private pool. Sanibel and Captiva have some different shells, so be sure to hit beaches on both islands. 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. 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 . Sanibel and Captiva Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center 907 Visitor Centers By mrsmarinara great information givien with a really generous spirit 4. Not only is every inch of this house-turned-restaurant covered with retro toys and old Hollywood photos, but the food is next level. Ever been to Captiva or Sanibel? Beaches, Free TYPE 2 hours to Half Day TIME TO SPEND Bowman's is well known for having beautiful, unusual shells, but you'll have to put a. Smaller dead fish washed up and we had mild coughs when spending extended periods of time on the beach and shore area. The Sanibel Causeway Bridge is a nearly 3-mile road along the west coast, near the beaches overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I would also be remiss to not mention Red Tide. Thats awesome. Your email address will not be published. I looked carefully at the hotels and resorts just across the bay in nearby Fort Myers. Pick a beach, any beach, and head on over after dinner. Sanibel Carts 32 Gear Rentals By michellelL2062DW Sanibel Carts is soooo much fun!! We really loved the fact that they walk right out onto a perfect stretch of pristine beach that we had nearly all to ourselves. This article was originally published on Oct. 14, 2014, The Cutest Grandpa Ever Took Peppa Pigs Family On Vacation With Him, United Airlines Launches A Free Family Seating Program That Actually Makes Sense. 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. Located at 2100 Island Inn Road, I was able to try a couple of beers brewed in the Fort Myers area. 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. Admission is $7 for kids ages 5-11, $9 for ages 12-17, $15 for adults. Since little ones don't just sit around having a few kites to fly is a great way to pass the day. 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. I picked it up from the airport in Fort Myers when we landed and there was at least one day where we did not leave the hotel and therefore did not use it. Suzanne Rowan Kelleher is a nationally recognized family travel expert and an award-winning travel writer and editor. Stuff your face at Island Cow. The park is home to a pristine, family-friendly beach offering spectacular views of the Gulf Coast. Sprinkled in youll find family travel inspiration. Really glad Ive been there now! Depending on the time of year, Sanibel's sunset locales vary. The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum. The shells can be sharp, and they hurt my daughters feet at times. I definitely enjoyed having a rental car while we were on Sanibel Island. These include the Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge, Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum, dolphin and wildlife cruises, and more. The options are endless but here are a few of the activities my kids enjoyed the most on our recent trip. All Rights Reserved. The refuge also offers tram rides hosted by a naturalist, so kids can learn more about what they're seeing. Read More: The Best Hawaii Resorts for Families on Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island. 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. In my personal experience, most family travel has been to the area where an infamous mouse hangs out. Indulge in the Signature Arabian Rose treatment, an all-over body scrub, or a deep tissue massage at the spa. Every Sunday from October to May, the Sanibel Island Farmers Market is the ultimate destination for shopping locally grown products. Your whole family will enjoy spending hours exploring all the creatures they find! Relax on the beach, enjoy a picnic, go on a bike ride, or take a hike on one of the trails found . There is something for everyone on the menu and the servings are enormous. The french fries are really good. By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. Kayaking through a mangrove swamp is a must-do activity while visiting this Florida island. Along the way, a naturalist will point out local sights and landmarks while answering questions about wildlife and island history. 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. This was a close second choice when booking our trip to Sanibel Island with kids. Your little ones are really brave for embracing boas and alligators. So if there aren't traditional kids attractions what ARE the things to do with kids in Sanibel Island? Dont get suckered into ordering the special kids drink, though. The Best Things to Eat & Drink on Sanibel. Take a dolphin sight-seeing boat ride. 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. 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. The kids waited for 5 minutes and wanted to go. Kids have their own hands-on learning room, and staff members conduct daily beach walks. Sanibel is a beautiful and well-protected Gulf Coast barrier island. My family loves Sanibel and I'm sure yours will too. Sign up for simple dinner ideas, easy step by step instructions, and fun recipes for kids. Recommended Read: The 10 Most Beautiful Islands in Florida. Unique Experiences and Travel Inspiration. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge On this part of Sanibel you'll find a protected piece of nature with quite an impressive wildlife! The boys learned some of the real names of the shells and also made up some of their own. Your email address will not be published. See Tripadvisor's 128,735 traveller reviews and photos of kid friendly Sanibel Island attractions 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. I know it sounds strange, but if you ask my daughter, this was one of her favorite places on Sanibel island for kids. Times Square and the Fort Myers Beach Fishing Pier. Watching the sun dip into the Gulf of Mexico is magic. My twins started collecting shells from the beach on our first trip but this year they really got into it! J. N. "Ding" Darling NationalWildlife Refuge. Worth-visiting institutions include the Village Sanibel Historical Museum, which preserves nine historic buildings that tell the islands story. Its located right on the beach in the premier spot for shelling. Sanibel Island is known for shelling and is one of the best places in the world to shell. 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