Having a sub-tropical climate, visitors and residents enjoy the outdoors and sunshine all year long. J. N. "Ding" Darling NationalWildlife Refuge. I had the Key Lime Ice Cream and my daughter had something called Unicorn poop. Not only is every inch of this house-turned-restaurant covered with retro toys and old Hollywood photos, but the food is next level. Kids have their own hands-on learning room, and staff members conduct daily beach walks. Sanibel Island with kids is the perfect place to let them play. Red Tide is a name given to an algae that are harmful to fish and humans. One day we went for a later brunch at the Lighthouse Cafe, which was very busy! . There is so much to explore right outside your hotel, both on the beach and in the water. 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. Winters the weather can be hit or miss, and the months between December-February are busier with snowbirds escaping winter. Sign up in advance because space is limited to24 students per day. One of our favoritethings to do at night in Sanibel islandis to come back for a delicious milkshake. (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.) We also recommended Algiers Beach (aka Gulfside City Park Beach), one of the most popular dog-friendly beaches in Sanibel. Watching the sun dip into the Gulf of Mexico is magic. 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!). Depending on the time of year, Sanibel's sunset locales vary. The must-try local favourite is the Orange Crunch cake, but you'll also want to consider the French Chocolate Torte or Tropical Breeze cake, which are both too tasty to pass up. March 4-26, Saturdays and Sundays, 10 am - 5 pm. The park is home to a pristine, family-friendly beach offering spectacular views of the Gulf Coast. Sanibel Island in Florida offers a breathtaking reprieve for families who want to get away from the hustle-bustle of everyday life. The tour price covers the rental of all gear, including a PDF, leash, tie-downs, and fresh drinking water for each person. Almost every restaurant in the area boasts its own version of Key Lime pie, but if you have kidsor a big sweet toothyou HAVE to make a stopfor a slice of cake at the Bubble Roomlocated on Captiva island (which is accessible from Sanibel by car). We love traveling with kids and will incorporate some of the ideas. 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. The Best, Most Unique Places to Stay In Hawaii on a Budget, Universal Studios for Kids What We Learned on our First Visit, Essential Travel Gear 10 Seemingly Random Things that I Wont Travel Without, The Ultimate Guide to Eating Cheaply in Paris, How We Spent 3 Days in Amsterdam with Kids. 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. Summer Waves Water Park. After a low tide or storm are best along with the months of January, February, and March. Love Boat Ice Cream is at 1700 Periwinkle Way in the Plaza with the big Jerrys grocery store. Unsure of the treasure found on Sanibel Island? 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. Sanibel isn't the only barrier island along the coast of Fort Myersthere are many others that are only accessible by boat. I've heard you can even spot manatees there. Tip: Many guides will clean the fish for you so you can enjoy your catch for dinner. Sanibel Island is known for its idyllic beaches filled with abundant shells. Relax on the beach, enjoy a picnic, go on a bike ride, or take a hike on one of the trails found . Battlegroundz has a 20,000-square-foot . Sign up for simple dinner ideas, easy step by step instructions, and fun recipes for kids. A trip to Sanibel Island with kids is perfect if you are a family who wants to send some quality time together in a laid back, relaxed atmosphere. 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. One person mentioned that it comes from Alabama. Stuff your face at Island Cow. Sanibel Island (and the neighbouring Captiva Island) is loaded with fun, family-friendly things to do proving it's worth broadening your vacay horizons beyond Orlando. 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. I would be honored to help you co-create your next family travel adventure! As the kids are flying down the waterslides enjoy a nice slow ride in the lazy river. Anyone who has visited Sanibel Island will tell you the JN Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge is tops on a Sanibel Island things-to-do list. The occurrence of Red Tide is when simple plants that live in the sea and freshwatergrow out of control. With an early sunset time in winter, we'd take the boys out and walk up the beach toward the sunset. It's a great and inexpensive activity for the family that doesn't involve having everyone sit at a table for an entire meal. They offer a wide variety of accommodations choices as well as a beautiful kid friendly pool with a water slide. One of thebest things to do on Captiva Islandis to watch the sunset. Reach out to me using this form and lets start brainstorming and planning your next amazing escapebecause to me it is more than just a vacation. 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. Your new neighbors will be just as curious about you as you are about them. Barefoot Charters 54 Boat Tours Fishing Charters & Tours By Fearless825280 Wonderful day with Captain Joe. Head to Matzaluna for some variety. Most of the nicer resorts on Sanibel provide some variety of activities. Plan a stop for dinner or a drink outside at theMucky Duck. 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. These eye-popping gardens host wild creatures like butterflies, turtles, rabbits, and birds. For the 4 nights we were there, we stood on the beach of the hotel and observed and gave thanks that was our view. 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. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge On this part of Sanibel you'll find a protected piece of nature with quite an impressive wildlife! 4. They dont seem startled one bit! Collect shells along the beach Sanibel is known as the Shelling Capital of the World, and it's not hard to see why. You will not find chain restaurants, high rises, or traffic lights here. Sanibel Island is approximately 30 minutes from the Fort Myers Airport. Sanibel and the surrounding islands are home to a myriad of different animals. There is a Publix right before paying the toll to cross the Sanibel Island Causeway. The burgers are amazing, I highly recommend the turkey burger. We ate breakfast in the room. And right along with the ocean side, we spotted starfish, crabs, and lots of critters inside shells. 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. Grab A Map & Participate In A Treasure Hunt By Bike Stop in at the Sanibel Chamber Commerce and ask for the treasure hunt map. We ate THE best burgers at the poolside bar at the Sanibel Island Inn, and we ate out once or twice for dinner. Definitely worth the drive! My kids spent hours walking up and down the beach from our hotel doing shelling. 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). We booked the guide out of Fort Meyers. And why wouldnt they do that? 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. Each day the view was completely different and it made a wonderful activity with the entire family. There are so many options for accommodations on Sanibel Island with kids, at all budget levels. It's such a great way to spend a bright and sunny afternoon almost any time of year! One of the main reasons I love coming here so much is for the shells. Times Square and the Fort Myers Beach Fishing Pier. Cabbage Key. The time lost in driving, the tolls and just the increased level of relaxation that staying on the island gave us were completely worth the extra money. We opted to drive ourselves. Located off Sanibel-Captiva Road, Bowmans Beach has several miles of secluded white sand and gentle waters ideal for a refreshing swim. While visiting Chateaux Sur Mer, you might make a stop by sights like Sanibel Island Southern Beach and Bowman's Beach. It was my first time, hopefully not the last. 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! Its amazing! Ever been to Captiva or Sanibel? Captiva Island: Felt more off the beaten path and exclusive. Florida always holds a special place in my heart and the more I explore, the more I love it too. Stop in at theSanibel Chamber Commerceand ask for the treasure hunt map. There are shells all year long. We stayed at the Island Inn, the very first hotel on the island. The park is home to a pristine, family-friendly beach offering spectacular views of the Gulf Coast. With themed activities and hands-on experiences, children ages 6 to 13 can foster their love and appreciation for the ocean. 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. The twins and I also spotted this unique bird on the beach. Looks like a really fun place. Hi, Friends! That way, you'll have room left over for a slice (or two!) There are activities and family friendly places to visit for families of any size and children of any age. Sanibel Island has enough beautiful beaches to keep you busy for days. Check outShell IdentificationandSeaLife Identificationto see what youve found! Our days were spent playing in the water, riding bikes around the island and collecting shells (SO MAY SHELLS! It takes justone visittoSanibel Islandbefore youll start planning yournext trip back. Mom and Dad can also pick up a Starbucks Coffee from the grocery store. You wont regret taking a drive up to Captiva. Because of its distance from the airport, there are no public transportation methods to get here. From action-packed water sports to relaxing spa treatments, we have something for everyone. Sunrise AND Sunset walks are some of my favorite things to do in Sanibel with kids. From beautiful beaches for shelling to countless water activities for kids, Sanibel Island is a great place to vacation for families. No arguments there! The shelling is the best and the kids love climbing all over the driftwood and making their way through the forest. Every Sunday from October to May, the Sanibel Island Farmers Market is the ultimate destination for shopping locally grown products. In addition to an amazing pool and poolside bar, our provided kayaks, paddleboards, bikes to borrow and a naturalist led beach walk. The beach here was beautiful white sand, and the water was a bright shade of beautiful blue. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Cayo Costa State Park. Sanibel Island with kids really is a lovely vacation! Our room was clean and spacious, and had a little kitchenette (some of the units in this resort have full kitchens, if this is a need for you). Watching the sun dip into the Gulf Coast the Sanibel Island Causeway family-friendly beach offering spectacular views of the..: Felt more off the beaten path and exclusive waterslides enjoy a nice slow ride in the water riding. One of the nicer resorts on Sanibel provide some variety of accommodations choices as well as a beautiful kid pool... Next level main reasons I love coming here so much is for treasure. Visit for families of any size and children of any size and children of any size children... 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