From national historic sites to beautiful beaches, there are many fun things to do on the Kohala Coast. You can show up in a bathing suit and flip flops and get everything from salad to burgers to fried alligator. Read more: With an early sunset time in winter, we'd take the boys out and walk up the beach toward the sunset. 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. 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! Here's how to make the right first impression. Plan your trip to Captiva before sunset and head to the beach across from the Mucky Duck for the best sunset view available. Learn how your comment data is processed. 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!. 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 . Admission is $7 for kids ages 5-11, $9 for ages 12-17, $15 for adults. Kids will enjoy learning about the history of the lighthouse and no trip to the island is complete without a selfie in front of it. Budding marine biologists will love the acclaimedSanibel Sea School, offering daily and weekly programs that teach kids about marine conservation. Dedicated to saving wildlife through state-of-the-art veterinary care, this center offers various educational experiences. Kids of all ages love a pool and there are plenty of them in Sanibel! Watch the sky burn a bright orange fromthe Mucky Duck, where they hold a sunset celebration on the beach just steps away from their patio. Join Little Learners for a Seuss-a-Bration at Once Upon a Treetop. Captiva Cruises offers three kinds of sunset cruise: the Sunset Serenade with live music and cocktails, the Wildlife Sunset cruise with views of birds and dolphins and the Sunset Sail on a 40-foot catamaran. Heres something I wouldnt have done as a kid Hold boas, king snakes, pythons, alligators But our day guide Rhett? We came back with so many amazing shells (a whole suitcase full of them in fact). Since 1884, the Sanibel Lighthouse (or Sanibel Island Light), has stood on Point Ybel at the eastern tip ofSanibel Island, markingthe entrance to San Carlos Bay. Located at 2100 Island Inn Road, I was able to try a couple of beers brewed in the Fort Myers area. They might even meet a new friend or two. Find a Dunkin Donuts and you will be good. 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. With all we had to do, we had plenty to keep us occupied for our three night visit. Its nothing more than a six dollar Shirley Temple with a plastic shark stuck in it. Go straight to the beach. . 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. Sanibel Island just has a different vibe. The best attractions on Sanibel Island are: CuddlyNestprovides all accommodations to all travelers atthe best price. Once youre there, walk down the dock and see if the local fisherman are having any luck. When they are ready, they follow the moonlight and head back to the Gulf of Mexico. What's a beach trip without ice cream? Find Places To Stay In Sanibel Island, Florida. I was blind to what else existed in the State. Offering free cancellations and no added fees, our {31 fun activities in South Plainfield fun activities in South Plainfield } are also worth a look. 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. Sanibel Island with kids is the perfect place to spend a family vacation! They offer a wide variety of accommodations choices as well as a beautiful kid friendly pool with a water slide. While you can't exactly access the light,the site itself features agreat shelling beach, a fishing pier, and a nature trail. The Best Things to Eat & Drink on Sanibel. That post has already been written by a thousand other bloggers on the internet, so I dont feel the need to duplicate. What a great way to vacation around Sanibel! Is your travel style mostly spending time at the resort and relaxing, or do you want to get out and see everything? The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum. One of the most famous is the Wildlife and Education Boardwalk, which provides excellent views of freshwater areas inhabited by alligators and nesting birds. The homes are amazing to look at, the water even better. Most nights there is live music along lots of games for the kids to play. Required fields are marked *. If you have kids and have been considering a Florida vacation you'd be crazy to not visit Fort Myers & Sanibel Island. Taking a walk at Sanibel Lighthouse Beach Park is one of the best ways to explore the eastern tip of the island. Bring a bottle of wine and let the kids get their feet wet. 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! Its amazing! Ding Darling is known as one of the best places to visit for birding. 8. There are several places for bike rentals on Sanibel Island, and 25 miles of trails to enjoy. The Best Things to Eat & Drink in Sanibel, Weekly Happenings - More Snow, Sick & Sick. Get our travel tips Delivered to your inbox. Get Dessert at The Bubble Room. So get the whole family involved, even if they're too young to pedal. There are so many options for accommodations on Sanibel Island with kids, at all budget levels. Sprinkled in youll find family travel inspiration. Nature comes in a spectacular variety in the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge. In my personal experience, most family travel has been to the area where an infamous mouse hangs out. Your boys are just growing up so fast. Here are a few things to think about when narrowing down the best Sanibel Island family resorts for your vacation. Road trips to Florida were the best part of my childhood. I've heard you can spot Alligators, otters, and turtles on the property. I've heard you can even spot manatees there. The best times for shelling were at low tide and early in the morning (even better if these coincide). Take them to the shopping center with Jerry's, which is one of the local grocery stores on the island. There arent really any great public transportation on Sanibel Island, so unless you are planning to take an Uber to and from the airport (expensive given the distance) you will need a car to get around. Sign up for simple dinner ideas, easy step by step instructions, and fun recipes for kids. The two ice cream places we tried on Sanibel Island are Joeys Custard and Love Boat Ice Cream. Here are a few that seem to welcome and appreciate kids. I definitely enjoyed having a rental car while we were on Sanibel Island. Connecting the Florida mainland to Sanibel Island, this majestic roadway rises 70 feet over beautiful San Carlos Bay and offers show-stopping views over the aquamarine waters. The park is home to a pristine, family-friendly beach offering spectacular views of the Gulf Coast. 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. We ate breakfast in the room. Kids can easily split a kids meal, especially if they fill up on the bottomless muffins that come first. I have never heard of this place, but it sounds like a fun place to eat and drink around. 74. If you're lucky you may even spot a gator! Fort Myers Brewery. 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. 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. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. It is a pretty photo stop, the beach is (of course) covered with shells and there is a lovely shaded picnic area there. Captiva And Sanibel Islands are just over an hour from Ft. Myers and relatively easy to get to, but feel like a tropical paradise. The island is approximately a 30-45 minute drive depending on traffic and time of day. Unique Experiences and Travel Inspiration. 6. It was my first time, hopefully not the last. Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge! Relax on the beach, enjoy a picnic, go on a bike ride, or take a hike on one of the trails found . I'm Julie Wunder Emmy award-winning former WLOS meteorologist. They didnt see a manatee. Bring goggles for kids to get a good look at the sandy ocean bottom. Barefoot Charters 54 Boat Tours Fishing Charters & Tours By Fearless825280 Wonderful day with Captain Joe. 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. We visited the museum that belongs to the area first. It also taught the boys a bit about wind and weather because they only knew they could fly the kites on windy days. Bricks 4 Kidz - Piscataway. Kids Activities. There are a great deal of things to do on Sanibel Island when traveling with a family. Conditions are often mild and allow you to experience many of the island's activities no matter when you visit. The shells on Sanibel make going to the beach even more fun for kids because they have another activity to do. That night in bed? Located near Fort Myers, just offshore Floridas Gulf Coast, this unique island offers visitors the opportunity to bask in many outdoor activities. Really glad Ive been there now! 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. By foot or bike would be my preference, but you can also drive, or take a 90-minute tram tour with Tarpon Bay Explorers. 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. If you're looking for untouched beaches, hop a ferry to Cayo Costa State Park with its nine miles of pristine sand, pine forests, oak-palmhammocks,and mangrove swamps. 2. 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. ), and The Best Things to Eat & Drink on Sanibel. Check outShell IdentificationandSeaLife Identificationto see what youve found! 5. It's a great activity for kids and families. Find 2023's best things to do with kids. Party & Event Planning. Bring a bottle of wine and let the kids get their feet wet. Learn how your comment data is processed. The shelling is the best and the kids love climbing all over the driftwood and making their way through the forest. I would be honored to help you co-create your next family travel adventure! I definitely want to go back and explore and this sounds like an amazing place to do just that. My twins started collecting shells from the beach on our first trip but this year they really got into it! This sounds like a great island to visit. The tour price covers the rental of all gear, including a PDF, leash, tie-downs, and fresh drinking water for each person. 2. 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. Sprinkled in youll find family travel inspiration. Children's Museum of Manhattan, 212 West 83rd Street, Upper West Side. Definitely worth the drive! 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. Dont miss out on mobile-only deals and one-of-a-kind offers. Sanibel Island has enough beautiful beaches to keep you busy for days. Winters the weather can be hit or miss, and the months between December-February are busier with snowbirds escaping winter. It's a unique, quirky, and unusual place that is full of old Florida charm. Hi, Friends! All ages. Visiting this lighthouse is one of the more popular Sanibel things to do. We are Shanna and Aaron + kiddos. Trust me. Thats awesome. That's the tagline for the Captiva Island Crab Races, which are held twice a week in the Crow's Nest restaurant at'Tween Waters Island Resort. Every single coastal state in the U.S. has reported red tide and the cause is primarily pollution chemicals in the water. 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. In the winter, catch both sunrise and sunset on the southerly beaches. This Italian restaurant on Sanibel isnt the best thing ever, but after days of burgers, nachos and shellfish, it tastes like it is. One of our favoritethings to do at night in Sanibel islandis to come back for a delicious milkshake. When we return to Sanibel, these will definitely be at the top of our short list! Another note, Sunburned Willie, the host of the crab race, can be a bit crass. Not only is every inch of this house-turned-restaurant covered with retro toys and old Hollywood photos, but the food is next level. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge On this part of Sanibel you'll find a protected piece of nature with quite an impressive wildlife! We love traveling with kids and will incorporate some of the ideas. The kids waited for 5 minutes and wanted to go. In addition to an amazing pool and poolside bar, our provided kayaks, paddleboards, bikes to borrow and a naturalist led beach walk. Do some research and pick a guide that suits your family. Located off Sanibel-Captiva Road, Bowmans Beach has several miles of secluded white sand and gentle waters ideal for a refreshing swim. Now? 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. During the summertime, you'll get those hotter temperatures, as the lows only get down into the 70s during this time of year. This was my daughters favorite part of the trip! We had just never gone out to a regular ice cream shop with them! Here are some of our favorite things to do in Fort Myers & Sanibel Island with kids. That way, you'll have room left over for a slice (or two!) This is what I know about the best time to visit Sanibel Island. Watch the sunset on the beach. Back in 1996, the City of Sanibel passed an ordinance that prevented big chain businesses from opening up shop on the island. Dr. Seuss-a-Bration at Once Upon a Treetop Plainview. The balcony was huge and screened in. They dont seem startled one bit! In the courtyard are large enclosures with a variety of different parrots. Resorts felt more high end and had price tags to match. Its the only way to get a seat at the race table! No arguments there! Sanibel Island is as much about world-class as it is about beaches. If you are looking for soft sand, this will not be your place because the whole beach is LITERALLY made out of sea shells. 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! Dont forget the camera some of my best shots have come at this time. Sanibel island is one of the most bike friendly places that we have ever been. 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With them, quirky, and turtles on the Island is as much world-class!
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