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). It was my first time, hopefully not the last. Here is my short list of family friendly restaurants on Sanibel Island. Less restaurants and shopping. We booked the guide out of Fort Meyers. We definitely suggest sharing plates, since each dinner portion is huge and comes with a sticky bun, garlic bread and a side salad. The homes are amazing to look at, the water even better. Too badwill have to make another trip . Things to Do in Sanibel Island with Kids Dolphin Tour in Captiva Kids love animals so . 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. We had just never gone out to a regular ice cream shop with them! 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. 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. Your boys are just growing up so fast. Each day includes surfing, art, group-bonding activities, all while integrating subjects like fiddler crabs, wading birds, and sea turtles. The shelling is the best and the kids love climbing all over the driftwood and making their way through the forest. What a great way to vacation around Sanibel! 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. Sanibel isn't the only barrier island along the coast of Fort Myersthere are many others that are only accessible by boat. Definitely skip dinner there, but head over for dessert and the photo opps outside. As always, opinions and fun times are always mine and those of my kids. 6. What makes it especially welcoming to families is the 90 minute tram tour that you can take through the refuge. 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. Here you'll find shell-strewn beaches, a laid-back vibe, terrific restaurants and shops, and an incredibly diverse wildlife sampling. From beautiful beaches for shelling to countless water activities for kids, Sanibel Island is a great place to vacation for families. Times Square and the Fort Myers Beach Fishing Pier. There are a great deal of things to do on Sanibel Island when traveling with a family. 7 Reasons to Visit Harrisonburg Virginia! The ferry terminal is located on neighboring Captiva Island and accessed via a short drive over the bridge. 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. This sounds like a great island to visit. 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! Copyright 2023 St. Joseph Communications. Fort Myers Brewery. Here you can learn all sorts of stuff about the animals and nature. 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). As I am a big craft beer aficionado, I had to hit up Doc Fords Rum Bar & Grille. One person mentioned that it comes from Alabama. Summers in Florida are HOT. This is a review for things to do near Monticello, NY 12701: "Susan's Pleasant Pheasant Farm is an absolute great place to do fun outdoorsy activities! See these marine mammals leaping and frolicking in the waters of Pine Island Sound. Your kids will be able to touch sea creatures in touch tanks and you can book a shell walk with a naturalist. Kids Activities. Head to Matzaluna for some variety. Cue the tears. That and snowbirds who retire there, my late paternal grandparents being them! Eating out in Sanibel with kids? There are a lot of super kid-friendly restaurants on the island but there are some that specifically ask you not to bring tots online, so check ahead of time! 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. Paddle throughmangrove swamps and winding waterways, and then keep your kayak for free for the remainder of the day. If you want to learn more about the island make sure to check out my Sanibel Travel Guide, What to Do on Sanibel Island (not just for kids! With beaches that boast over 60 different kinds ofseashells, Sanibel Island is a shell hunter's dream. The Sanibel Moorings Botanical Gardens takes visitors on a colorful journey through idyllic tropical gardens. Along the way, a naturalist will point out local sights and landmarks while answering questions about wildlife and island history. There are shells all year long. Read more: My twins have been to the island three times starting at 13 months old (1st trip, 2nd trip, 3rd trip) and have loved spending time on the beaches and with nature. 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. We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. . Fun Things to Do in Sanibel Island with Kids: Family-friendly activities and fun things to do. 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. The Island also offers many opportunities for kids to learn and have fun at the same time. Fully Equipped with an upgraded kitchen featuring stainless steel, Sunzero Wolf appliances, and quartz countertops. 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. 10 things to do with kids in Miami Is your travel style mostly spending time at the resort and relaxing, or do you want to get out and see everything? 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. Learn how your comment data is processed. The Sanibel Inn provided kayaks and paddle boards for us to use! The shells can be sharp, and they hurt my daughters feet at times. Hop on a flyboard or ride through the waves on . Mound House. Eat at RC Otters. It is true that growing up, a lot of time was spent in these magical and fairytale kingdoms. He was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the reptiles that live in the Everglades, the kids couldnt help but be into it. 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. You can drive through the preserve at your own pace and get out to spot wildlife. Collect shells along the beach Sanibel is known as the Shelling Capital of the World, and it's not hard to see why. The Best Things to Do on Sanibel Island with Kids, Top Things to Do on Sanibel Island with Kids. We only took a handful home with us as I didnt want to break them in our luggage. There are several ways to explore the refuge. Leave the kids with your husband and get a massage at the Tween Waters Inn. of the many flavours of cake, which a Bubble Scout server displays on a silver platter. 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. We stopped a few other places along the way to see birds and a gator. My kids spent hours walking up and down the beach from our hotel doing shelling. As a bonus for families, the captain usually invites kids to steer the boat and take a photo with him in his captain's cap. Recommended Read: The 10 Most Beautiful Islands in Florida. 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. 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. Here is a story about patience. Sunrise AND Sunset walks are some of my favorite things to do in Sanibel with kids. Shelling is one of the best things to do on Sanibel Island, so plan to spend lots of time at the beach! While meandering through the colorful stalks of this vibrant farmers market, youll come across locally sourced meat, cheese, baked goods, fresh fruit smoothies, fish, art, jewelry, and more. Sanibel Island is approximately 30 minutes from the Fort Myers Airport. I had not heard of it until earlier this year. 2. 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. You can also watch a live video feed of behind-the-scenes animal rescue and care. Just look at these birds we found. Any suggestions on the beat and least expensive fishing guide? Question, why have they never had real ice cream before? I offer tools, guides and resources to help you through all of the steps of planning meaningful, memorable family vacations. With all we had to do, we had plenty to keep us occupied for our three night visit. Ding Darling is known as one of the best places to visit for birding. 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. 4. 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. Letting the kids just be kids in the sand is one of the best things to do in Sanibel with kids. 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. The island is relatively compact and very bike friendly and many people get around by bike! All ages. Joe is a great teacher, and storyteller. 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. After your walk, you can enjoy a picnic lunch. In addition to an amazing pool and poolside bar, our provided kayaks, paddleboards, bikes to borrow and a naturalist led beach walk. All Rights Reserved. It is located nearby Blind Pass Bridge, which connects the two islands. Florida is traditionally a state that screams family travel. This was my daughters favorite part of the trip! Located near Fort Myers, just offshore Floridas Gulf Coast, this unique island offers visitors the opportunity to bask in many outdoor activities. With older kids, you can also bike the entire path, which I think would be a lovely way to see it. Sanibel Island is an island on the west of the Florida panhandle. Manatee Park. You should get an annual pass to the wildlife refuge. 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. The options are endless but here are a few of the activities my kids enjoyed the most on our recent trip. Ha I would not have done it at their age. 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. 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. We visited in November, and it was just the right time for us. Sanibel Island is an island on the west of the Florida panhandle. Ive only been to the western side of Florida once and it was for a baseball game. Kids of all ages love a pool and there are plenty of them in Sanibel! 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. Part of the largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystem in the USA, this staggering park protects an array of threatened species, aside from providing habitat for fascinating migratory birds. Here are 12 must-do activities for your Sanibel Island family vacation to make planning your Florida beach vacation a little easier. By: Jodi/Updated on: February 15, 2023/3 Comments. Trust me. But Sanibel Island, which faces due west in the Gulf of Mexico, is one of them. 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. 9. Registered dietitian & mom behind Create Kids Club an online kitchen where feeding kids is made easier with simple gluten-free recipes & kids cooking ideas. Winters the weather can be hit or miss, and the months between December-February are busier with snowbirds escaping winter. Sanibel Island Lighthouse 2,675 Lighthouses Open now By Anxsmomt The lighthouse is a public beach, plenty of parking. 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). This family-friendly island has lots of activities for kids of all ages most of them free! Note you will have to head back into Fort Myers to get picked up by there van for this excursion. Registered dietitian & mom behind Create Kids Club an online kitchen where feeding kids gluten-free is made easier with simple recipes & kids cooking ideas. Map of kid-friendly places. See Tripadvisor's 128,735 traveller reviews and photos of kid friendly Sanibel Island attractions Sanibel Island isworld-renownedfor its abundance of seashells. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. I think we stopped here three times during our stay. 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. 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