See Tripadvisor's 128,735 traveller reviews and photos of kid friendly Sanibel Island attractions The family-friendly museum is one of the few official "attractions" on the island is a fun way to spend a cooler or rainy day. )If this sound like a trip to Sanibel Island with kids is in your future, here are my best tips for planning the perfect escape! Definitely worth the drive! 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. And Lord knows youll need an hour of relaxation being away with your family. You wont regret taking a drive up to Captiva. 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. there is a wildlife refuge that you can either take a guided tram or drive yourself through. Yolo Board Adventures Sanibel offers two-hour guided eco-tours for both adults and children 12 and older. Visit the Sanibel Chamber of Commerce's . The beach here was beautiful white sand, and the water was a bright shade of beautiful blue. Admission is $7 for kids ages 5-11, $9 for ages 12-17, $15 for adults. 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. If you can't tell an angel wing from a glassy bubble, a visit to the Bailey-MatthewsNational Shell Museum will set you straight. Collect shells along the beach Sanibel is known as the Shelling Capital of the World, and it's not hard to see why. There are several places for bike rentals on Sanibel Island, and 25 miles of trails to enjoy. 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 Italian restaurant on Sanibel isnt the best thing ever, but after days of burgers, nachos and shellfish, it tastes like it is. Mound House. 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. There is also a tower about halfway through the drive with fun telescopes. It feels special because it is. 6. Hit the big grocery stores in Fort Myers on your way. You can drive through the preserve at your own pace and get out to spot wildlife. Get Dessert at The Bubble Room. It's a pretty spectacular sight. I definitely enjoyed having a rental car while we were on Sanibel Island. Every single coastal state in the U.S. has reported red tide and the cause is primarily pollution chemicals in the water. Not so much. Sanibel Island is as much about world-class as it is about beaches. 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. And why wouldnt they do that? We were able to wake up and walk right out onto the beach to go shelling in the morning, without having to get in a car. This is one of the best things to do on Sanibel with kids. Be sure also to visit the family-friendly Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum, the only one in the United States devoted solely to shells and mollusks. Join Little Learners for a Seuss-a-Bration at Once Upon a Treetop. 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. Sign up in advance because space is limited to24 students per day. They didnt see a manatee. Eat at RC Otters. When travelling with my kids, I have to know where the good ice cream places are! Your little ones are really brave for embracing boas and alligators. However, the island is spread out depending on where you stay. During the summertime, you'll get those hotter temperatures, as the lows only get down into the 70s during this time of year. 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. They dont seem startled one bit! But Sanibel Island, which faces due west in the Gulf of Mexico, is one of them. Bricks 4 Kidz - Piscataway. 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. Summer Waves Water Park. Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW). Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment. It was a day of ribbons and confetti cannons, hugs and back-slapping as two more island business emerged from . I think their minds were blown! I know it sounds strange, but if you ask my daughter, this was one of her favorite places on Sanibel island for kids. 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. From beautiful beaches for shelling to countless water activities for kids, Sanibel Island is a great place to vacation for families. We definitely suggest sharing plates, since each dinner portion is huge and comes with a sticky bun, garlic bread and a side salad. 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. Take a Walk at Sanibel Lighthouse Beach Park. When they are ready, they follow the moonlight and head back to the Gulf of Mexico. The beach was not sandy, it was made of crushed shells. Mini Golf. Eating out in Sanibel with kids? Consider renting a tandem bike for those younger kids who may end up tired from long bike rides. There are bike lanes literally EVERYWHERE. The refuge also offers tram rides hosted by a naturalist, so kids can learn more about what they're seeing. Definitely can do an adult only trip there too! Kids love being responsible for shutting curtains and blinds to help protect the turtles! Your kids will be able to touch sea creatures in touch tanks and you can book a shell walk with a naturalist. These encounters trump a trip to Disneyworld any day. Bonus tip if you come down here, make sure to include a stop at Sanibels Best Homemade Ice Cream. 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. Our days were spent playing in the water, riding bikes around the island and collecting shells (SO MAY SHELLS! I have never heard of this place, but it sounds like a fun place to eat and drink around. Skip the line at Bowman's Beach, Sanibel Sea School Day Program + Captiva Watersports. The kids waited for 5 minutes and wanted to go. Stop by Flan World Corp for a life-changing coconut flan, Aux Dlices Bakery for authentic French pastries, and the Doughnut Station for the fluffiest doughnuts. Leave the kids with your husband and get a massage at the Tween Waters Inn. Should you ever find yourself on Sanibel or Captiva Islands with kids, here are some things you must do. Stop in at theSanibel Chamber Commerceand ask for the treasure hunt map. Don't miss theJ.N. Learn all about seashells and the animals that make them. If you have kids and have been considering a Florida vacation you'd be crazy to not visit Fort Myers & Sanibel Island. The kitschy shop at the east end of Sanibel is legendary for its delicious homemade Italian gelato. This lighthouse is picture perfect and worth exploring for a morning. You'll probably not be surprised to see this list includes enjoying the beaches fully with different beach activities, swimming, and even shelling! This is a fantastic place for viewing Florida manatees. This is a great thing to do in Jekyll Island with kids. Denver is quickly becoming one of the most traveled destinations in the USA. Hi, Friends! While there, take a swim, snorkel, or book a ranger-led kayak tour or hike. 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. The ferry terminal is located on neighboring Captiva Island and accessed via a short drive over the bridge. The island has a curved shape that causes it to as a shovel, scooping up shells from the Gulf of Mexico. They have plenty of cute shops to pick from for the kiddos. Check out the accommodation options for your dates through my booking.com affiliate search box: Booking.com(function(d,sc,u){var s=d.createElement(sc),p=d.getElementsByTagName(sc)[0];s.type='text/javascript';s.async=true;s.src=u+'?v='+(+new Date());p.parentNode.insertBefore(s,p);})(document,'script','//aff.bstatic.com/static/affiliate_base/js/flexiproduct.js'); And always remember, Florida can be very HOT! Fully Equipped with an upgraded kitchen featuring stainless steel, Sunzero Wolf appliances, and quartz countertops. The same currents that bring all of the shells and wash them up on the shore also stir up the shallow bottom, making the water less than clear. With an early sunset time in winter, we'd take the boys out and walk up the beach toward the sunset. The french fries are really good. 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. 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They also offer a kids program (if you feel like a little adult time needs to be a part of your vacation!). These include the Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge, Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum, dolphin and wildlife cruises, and more. This was my daughters favorite part of the trip! 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. Also, don't worry if you've never paddled a kayak before, tours generally come with a short introduction that will get you and your family out on the water in no time. 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!). There are few places on the East Coast of the United States where you can revel in a western sunset. I looked carefully at the hotels and resorts just across the bay in nearby Fort Myers. There is also a tram if you are a guided tour person. You never know what will be on the end of that line! The island's east-west orientation situates it perfectly to catch over 250 types of shells out of the Gulf of Mexico tides. 1.Rent A Convertable There's no better way to explore this tropical location with the roof down and the wind in your face. 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! Taking a walk at Sanibel Lighthouse Beach Park is one of the best ways to explore the eastern tip of the island. Watch the sunset on the beach. Visiting this lighthouse is one of the more popular Sanibel things to do. Not by chance, it became the worlds most famous place for shelling. 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. We had just never gone out to a regular ice cream shop with them! 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. The island is approximately a 30-45 minute drive depending on traffic and time of day. My boys have spent hours in pools next to our rentals and I'm sure yours will too. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Here are some of our favorite things to do in Fort Myers & Sanibel Island with kids. After 9:00 p.m on Sanibel, itsturtle time. I think we stopped here three times during our stay. 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. 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). Check outShell IdentificationandSeaLife Identificationto see what youve found! Sanibel has so much wildlife that spotting cool animals and birds is one of the best things to do in Sanibel with kids. If you are looking for soft sand, this will not be your place because the whole beach is LITERALLY made out of sea shells. 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. Crab racing is fun for both kids and adults. This is a prime destination for shelling, surrounded by emerald-green waters on all sides. Compare native and invasive species of reptiles; hang out with a red-tailed hawk; play hide and seek with a bashful opossum. We got to one area and a couple said they had heard one there and were waiting. Photo: Courtesy of The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel. 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. Sanibel Island takes shelling very seriously! Sanibel Island with kids really is a lovely vacation! Joeys Custard is located at 2467 Periwinkle Way. A great place to explore on a rainy day in Sanibel Island. On our first trip to Sanibel with took the twins to the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum. 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. Just make sure not to disturb their nests! 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