Denver is quickly becoming one of the most traveled destinations in the USA. 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!. We belive strongly that travel benefits kids in SO MANY ways. I had not heard of it until earlier this year. Temperatures were still in the 80s. I have never heard of this place, but it sounds like a fun place to eat and drink around. 9. The Sanibel Inn provided kayaks and paddle boards for us to use! Not by chance, it became the worlds most famous place for shelling. Summers in Florida are HOT. Just look at these birds we found. Your Sanibel Island vacation rental lets you enjoy 15 miles of pristine beaches, 22 miles of bike paths, and zero traffic lights. One of the most popular things to do on Sanibel Island is to rent a bike. They were a lot cheaper than similar resorts on Sanibel. This was my daughters favorite part of the trip! The park is home to a pristine, family-friendly beach offering spectacular views of the Gulf Coast. Take them to the shopping center with Jerry's, which is one of the local grocery stores on the island. With time spent on the beach looking for shells, we barely had time to get out and see what the rest of the island had to offer! It's a great and inexpensive activity for the family that doesn't involve having everyone sit at a table for an entire meal. You to get to the beach by boat, and its simply amazing. Once youre there, walk down the dock and see if the local fisherman are having any luck. Bonus: Shelling is freeas long as you clean and dry the shells before you leave, they make the perfect souvenirs. I wasnt sure there was much else to see and do in Florida. What are your favorite spots? So get the whole family involved, even if they're too young to pedal. Every single coastal state in the U.S. has reported red tide and the cause is primarily pollution chemicals in the water. Dr. Seuss-a-Bration at Once Upon a Treetop Plainview. We spend a ton of time on North Captiva and always make trips over to Sanibel truly a beautiful spot. Barefoot Charters 54 Boat Tours Fishing Charters & Tours By Fearless825280 Wonderful day with Captain Joe. It's a unique, quirky, and unusual place that is full of old Florida charm. 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. Parking at Blind Pass Beach costs $5 per hour and the beach is free to explore. It is true that growing up, a lot of time was spent in these magical and fairytale kingdoms. Groceries on Sanibel were significantly more expensive than on the main land. Stop in at theSanibel Chamber Commerceand ask for the treasure hunt map. Plan your trip to Captiva before sunset and head to the beach across from the Mucky Duck for the best sunset view available. Just ask! There are few places on the East Coast of the United States where you can revel in a western sunset. Florida always holds a special place in my heart and the more I explore, the more I love it too. There are no big mega resorts. The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) is great for learning about Southwest Floridas native and migratory wildlife. Throughout the year, the temperatures on Sanibel Island can range anywhere from the mid-50s to the low 90s. My kids spent hours walking up and down the beach from our hotel doing shelling. You can also watch a live video feed of behind-the-scenes animal rescue and care. Kayaking through a mangrove swamp is a must-do activity while visiting this Florida 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. Sanibel Island is best experienced by bike. There is also a tram if you are a guided tour person. You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. This is Tampa's Ybor City is a National Historic Landmark District. 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. We were also able to take advantage of a free daily tour of the beach with a naturalist guide during which we learned some really neat tidbits about the beach and its creatures. The Visitor and Education Centre offers free admission and is open every day except holidays from 9:00 am-4:00 pm year-round. Kids of all ages love a pool and there are plenty of them in Sanibel! )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! Also, it's closed at this moment, but there is generally a hands-on area for kids at the Visitor and Education Center. Read More: The Best Hawaii Resorts for Families on Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island. Dont get suckered into ordering the special kids drink, though. First lit in 1884, the area around the lighthouse is open to public, but the lighthouse itself is not. The island is approximately a 30-45 minute drive depending on traffic and time of day. The ferry terminal is located on neighboring Captiva Island and accessed via a short drive over the bridge. Admission is $7 for kids ages 5-11, $9 for ages 12-17, $15 for adults. I definitely want to go back and explore and this sounds like an amazing place to do just that. 8. Captiva And Sanibel Islands are just over an hour from Ft. Myers and relatively easy to get to, but feel like a tropical paradise. Because of this, the island is home to a ton of locally-owned boutiques where you can buy bathing suits, sun hats or souvenirs to take home. Eat at RC Otters. Loosen your belt because several stalls sell freshly made dishes you can eat on the go. It's such a great way to spend a bright and sunny afternoon almost any time of year! 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. He was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the reptiles that live in the Everglades, the kids couldnt help but be into it. I offer tools, guides and resources to help you through all of the steps of planning meaningful, memorable family vacations. This is one of the best things to do on Sanibel with kids. We've even spotted lots of dolphins just along the coast. Its located right on the beach in the premier spot for shelling. Any suggestions on the beat and least expensive fishing guide? 8 reasons to take the kids to Kissimmee There are so many options for accommodations on Sanibel Island with kids, at all budget levels. 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. The fun never stops on Sanibel Island. Friday, March 3. Just make sure not to disturb their nests! The best times for shelling were at low tide and early in the morning (even better if these coincide). Find 2023's best things to do 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. 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. Turner Beach, in particular, is known for itsspectacularsunsets. Some of my favorite memories as a kid are from Sanibel Island and I think these are all such great activities to do with kids! Photo: Courtesy of The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel. All ages. You never know what will be on the end of that line! The Best Things to Eat & Drink on Sanibel. Sanibel Island is a barrier island located on the Gulf Side of Florida, about 30 minutes from the Fort Myers. From action-packed water sports to relaxing spa treatments, we have something for everyone. Here is my short list of family friendly restaurants on Sanibel Island. Taking a walk at Sanibel Lighthouse Beach Park is one of the best ways to explore the eastern tip of the island. It was tempting. 8. Relax on the beach, enjoy a picnic, go on a bike ride, or take a hike on one of the trails found . When they are ready, they follow the moonlight and head back to the Gulf of Mexico. Home to all kinds of Floridian wildlife (have your little ones try to spot the mangrove crabs scuttling around among the branches), the mangroves are best experienced by a guided kayak tour through the mangrove tunnels, where the trees naturally form a closed canopy to create a tunnel over the waterway. 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). You'll soon find there's nothing quite like the calm and quiet beauty of being completely surrounded by natureeven kids will be too entranced to cause a ruckus. Hop on a flyboard or ride through the waves on . Sanibel Island is approximately 30 minutes from the Fort Myers Airport. You can drive through the preserve at your own pace and get out to spot wildlife. Exploring Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel Island, The 9 Best Fort Myers Beach, Florida Hotels of 2023, 12 Best Things to Do in Fort Myers, Florida, 12 Fabulous Family Beach Vacations in the Southeast, 14 Top Things to Do in Vero Beach, Florida, The 6 Best Key West Snorkeling Tours of 2023, The 9 Best Florida Family Resortsof 2023, Top 17 Things to Do in Tampa Bay, Florida, 20 Top Things to Do With Kids in Miami, Florida, 10 Best Family-Friendly Beaches in Florida, The 26 Best Things to Do in Long Beach, California. 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. This is for sure at least worth a stop for ice cream (or a place to leave the kids and hubby so you can go in and grocery shop BY YOURSELF!). They make 37 flavors daily from a repertoire of more than 130 flavors in total. What's a beach trip without ice cream? They might even meet a new friend or two. Having a car made getting to Fort Myers quick and easy as well. Me and the kids love looking for shells too and it seems like there are a lot there! We collected shells every day we were there and it never got old for the boys. Activities that appeal to kids of all ages from babies to toddlers to teenagers and beyond. Parenting lesson learned? The french fries are really good. Sanibel Island Lighthouse 2,675 Lighthouses Open now By Anxsmomt The lighthouse is a public beach, plenty of parking. "It's the stupidest thing you've ever seen!" 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. These eye-popping gardens host wild creatures like butterflies, turtles, rabbits, and birds. We stayed at the Island Inn, the very first hotel on the island. Collect shells along the beach Sanibel is known as the Shelling Capital of the World, and it's not hard to see why. They didnt see a manatee. Kids have their own hands-on learning room, and staff members conduct daily beach walks. There are many fishing companies in the Sanibel area. But in the spring and summer, the northern beaches are where it's at. Book family tours. My boys had never had REAL ice cream before so we splurged and let them have some. The tour price covers the rental of all gear, including a PDF, leash, tie-downs, and fresh drinking water for each person. I am a travel agent and family travel expert who is PASSIONATE about planning amazing adventures for families. Go straight to the beach. One person mentioned that it comes from Alabama. I am so glad that I chose to stay on Sanibel proper for our trip to Sanibel Island with kids, because it would have been a whole different trip if we hadnt been right here. Visiting this lighthouse is one of the more popular Sanibel things to do. Toddlers, kids, and teens will all want to partake in this activity. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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). You wont regret taking a drive up to Captiva. Definitely worth the drive! It is a pretty photo stop, the beach is (of course) covered with shells and there is a lovely shaded picnic area there. Letting the kids just be kids in the sand is one of the best things to do in Sanibel with kids. 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. Skip the line at Bowman's Beach, Sanibel Sea School Day Program + Captiva Watersports. 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. We stayed at the Sanibel Inn and absolutely LOVED it. 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. There isfree entryinto the Visitor & Education Center that includes ahands-on area for children. 6. 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. The twins and I also spotted this unique bird on the beach. If you have kids and have been considering a Florida vacation you'd be crazy to not visit Fort Myers & Sanibel Island.
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