By: Jodi/Updated on: February 15, 2023/3 Comments. With about 22 miles of paved bike trails, it's super easy to get anywhere on the island. The french fries are really good. We love traveling with kids and will incorporate some of the ideas. Download a tide app to check tide times. I looked carefully at the hotels and resorts just across the bay in nearby Fort Myers. Copyright 2023 St. Joseph Communications. Nature comes in a spectacular variety in the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge. They were a lot cheaper than similar resorts on Sanibel. Cayo Costa State Park. Everyone on the island gets to help protect sea turtles. Not so much. Taking a walk at Sanibel Lighthouse Beach Park is one of the best ways to explore the eastern tip of the island. I think their minds were blown! Located at 2100 Island Inn Road, I was able to try a couple of beers brewed in the Fort Myers area. We opted to drive ourselves. A jaunt down the beach or a bike around the island makes for wonderful take-home memories. Mini Golf. You never know what will be on the end of that line! 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. 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 It was my first time, hopefully not the last. 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Should you ever find yourself on Sanibel or Captiva Islands with kids, here are some things you must do. No matter the time of year, Sanibel sees some brilliant sunsets. Blind Pass Beach 827 Beaches By 994linday Not by chance, it became the worlds most famous place for shelling. 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. 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. Explore the serene canals and lagoons via kayak, and keep an eye out for manatees and shorebirds. Here you can learn all sorts of stuff about the animals and nature. The island is relatively compact and very bike friendly and many people get around by bike! Why not try a different one each night? Learn how your comment data is processed. Toddlers, kids, and teens will all want to partake in this activity. Once I heard of it, I wanted to know what there was to do on Sanibel Island with kids. Back in 1996, the City of Sanibel passed an ordinance that prevented big chain businesses from opening up shop on the island. Sanibel Island with kids is the perfect place to spend a family vacation! Consider renting a tandem bike for those younger kids who may end up tired from long bike rides. The wildlife refuge is open every day except Fridays. . If you like a bit of history in your travels, then be sure to pay a visit to the lighthouse on the eastern tip of Sanibel Island. Trust me. You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. Our days were spent playing in the water, riding bikes around the island and collecting shells (SO MAY SHELLS! Its nothing more than a six dollar Shirley Temple with a plastic shark stuck in it. (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.) The beaches are lined with more shells than you could ever collect. During the summertime, you'll get those hotter temperatures, as the lows only get down into the 70s during this time of year. This is what I know about the best time to visit Sanibel Island. Kids can find out more about the shells and mollusks they found on the beach and see a collection of aquariums with over 50 species of marine life. Find a Dunkin Donuts and you will be good. 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. Head to the Crows Nest on Crab Racing Night and see as they say. Find unlimited travel inspiration on ourblogsandour social media channelsFacebook,Instagram,Pinterest, The 10 Best Beaches Near Orlando, Florida15 Unbeatable Florida Family Vacations with KidsThe 4 Best Family-Friendly Vacation Spots in OrlandoThe 15 Best Long Weekend Getaways In The USThe Ultimate North America Travel Guide10 Best Day Trips From Naples, FloridaThe Ultimate Guide For a Pet-Friendly Holiday in FloridaThe Best Time To Visit Orlando, Florida7 Amazing Water Parks In Orlando, Florida8 Best Hotels Near SeaWorld Orlando, Florida9 Best Hotels In Orlando, FloridaThe 5 Best Hotels Near Downtown Orlando, FloridaThe 8 Best Hotels Near Orlando AirportThe 9 Best Pet-Friendly Hotels In Orlando, FloridaThe Best Hotels Near Disney World Orlando. After 9:00 p.m on Sanibel, itsturtle time. 5. Activities that appeal to kids of all ages from babies to toddlers to teenagers and beyond. What's a beach trip without ice cream? Definitely skip dinner there, but head over for dessert and the photo opps outside. Every single coastal state in the U.S. has reported red tide and the cause is primarily pollution chemicals in the water. All Rights Reserved. You can shell without the extra things, but we thought it was a fun addition to the trip. So if there aren't traditional kids attractions what ARE the things to do with kids in Sanibel Island? My twins started collecting shells from the beach on our first trip but this year they really got into it! Take a Walk at Sanibel Lighthouse Beach Park. Fort Myers (RSW) is the closest airport to Sanibel Island Florida. The kitschy shop at the east end of Sanibel is legendary for its delicious homemade Italian gelato. On our first trip to Sanibel with took the twins to the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum. So get the whole family involved, even if they're too young to pedal. It turns out, there are plenty of things to do on Sanibel Island with kids. One of the most popular things to do on Sanibel Island is to rent a bike. Manatee Park. No arguments there! Temperatures were still in the 80s. Tip: Check with your hotel or condo because some units come with bikes. 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. Children's Museum of Manhattan, 212 West 83rd Street, Upper West Side. One of the main reasons I love coming here so much is for the shells. Kids stop in local businesses on the hunt for prizes. Kids Activities. It is true that growing up, a lot of time was spent in these magical and fairytale kingdoms. Time seems to move differently on Sanibel. Looking for something fun to do in Sanibel with kids? The kids waited long enough for the picture to be taken and then wanted to run back to see if we could see a snake again that had crossed our path. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. There are bike lanes literally EVERYWHERE. If we had to drive over and visit just for the day, it would not have been at all the same experience. Ive only been to the western side of Florida once and it was for a baseball game. Looks like a really fun place. Here are a few things to think about when narrowing down the best Sanibel Island family resorts for your vacation. This is one of the best things to do on Sanibel with kids. My boys had never had REAL ice cream before so we splurged and let them have some. The shells on Sanibel make going to the beach even more fun for kids because they have another activity to do. Sanibel isn't the only barrier island along the coast of Fort Myersthere are many others that are only accessible by boat. As a visitor, that attitude is somewhat concerning to me and in the future, Id like to see some efforts in place and real discussion about red tide and the time of year when its low and high, and how to prevent it from happening. Admission is $7 for kids ages 5-11, $9 for ages 12-17, $15 for adults. Your Sanibel Island vacation rental lets you enjoy 15 miles of pristine beaches, 22 miles of bike paths, and zero traffic lights. This family-friendly island has lots of activities for kids of all ages most of them free! 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. If you plan on dining out, get your hands on the. Hotels tended towards being cheaper on Sanibel. I will also add that Red Coach buses are a great way to get around with kids. Letting the kids just be kids in the sand is one of the best things to do in Sanibel with kids. They might even meet a new friend or two. Dont leave the park without checking out the Sanibel Island Lighthouse. Hello, my name is Shanna, and I am a detail obsessed travel addict on a mission to make planning your own family trips fun and easy! They even have a special app that you can download and identify any shells that you find (you dont have to visit the museum to use the app!). Bring a bottle of wine and let the kids get their feet wet. With over 25 miles of paved, carless trails, Sanibel Island is a wonderful place for families to explore on two wheels. It's known for its natural beauty including gorgeous beaches, shelling, and island lifestyle. The ferry terminal is located on neighboring Captiva Island and accessed via a short drive over the bridge. The burgers are amazing, I highly recommend the turkey burger. 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. It's a far cry from Disney, BUT I think this type of vacation can be just as lovely for kids of all ages. A stop atPinocchio's Italian Ice Cream (362 Periwinkle Way) is a Sanibel tradition. Address: 1 Wildlife Dr, Sanibel, FL 33957. As always, opinions and fun times are always mine and those of my kids. For the 4 nights we were there, we stood on the beach of the hotel and observed and gave thanks that was our view. We belive strongly that travel benefits kids in SO MANY ways. And the "lighthouse" isn't really a house at all but is actually a tower. With an early sunset time in winter, we'd take the boys out and walk up the beach toward the sunset. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. The tour takes you across the flat waters of local estuaries and waterways and offers beginner instruction for those new to the sport. 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 miss theJ.N. Pick a beach, any beach, and head on over after dinner. 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. 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. 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. We got these super easy-to-use kid-friendly Octopus Kites and they have been great. It sets over the ocean where you can watch from a huge stretch of public beach. Heres something I wouldnt have done as a kid Hold boas, king snakes, pythons, alligators But our day guide Rhett? As I mentioned above, many resorts loan out bikes to their guests. Photo: Courtesy of The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel. Red Tide is a name given to an algae that are harmful to fish and humans. Grab A Map & Participate In A Treasure Hunt By Bike Stop in at the Sanibel Chamber Commerce and ask for the treasure hunt map. This is a great thing to do in Jekyll Island with kids. Registered dietitian & mom behind Create Kids Club an online kitchen where feeding kids is made easier with simple gluten-free recipes & kids cooking ideas. Kids of all ages love a pool and there are plenty of them in Sanibel! These encounters trump a trip to Disneyworld any day. We had a ton of fun just playing in the water. I know it sounds strange, but if you ask my daughter, this was one of her favorite places on Sanibel island for kids. 2. Bristol is a stunning five-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath fully furnished home with a private pool. 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. I am a travel agent and family travel expert who is PASSIONATE about planning amazing adventures for families. Just look at these birds we found. 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. When they are ready, they follow the moonlight and head back to the Gulf of Mexico. Road trips to Florida were the best part of my childhood. There are no big mega resorts. They were pretty excited to start filling their bags when we got there. 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. 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. Sanibel is all about relaxingand it settles in as you cross the causeway you wont even find a stoplight until you return over the bridge on your way back home. I am not going to post about EVERYTHING to do on Sanibel Island for kids. Flying kites is another way to enjoy the beach with kids! In fact, almost half of the entire island is dedicated to the J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, which you can drive, bike or walk through to spot some of the region's many different creatures among the estuaries. 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'D take the boys out and walk up the beach or a bike around the Island and via! For kids of all ages from babies to toddlers things to do with toddlers sanibel island teenagers and beyond Captiva with! Addition to the beach toward the sunset pollution chemicals in the water riding! To help protect sea turtles highly recommend the turkey burger West Side Road to. Something fun to do in Sanibel via a short drive over and just!