Suzanne Rowan Kelleher is a nationally recognized family travel expert and an award-winning travel writer and editor. Another note, Sunburned Willie, the host of the crab race, can be a bit crass. 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. 74. Less busy. One of the main reasons I love coming here so much is for the shells. Joe is a great teacher, and storyteller. Definitely can do an adult only trip there too! One person mentioned that it comes from Alabama. You can also watch a live video feed of behind-the-scenes animal rescue and care. Here are a few things to think about when narrowing down the best Sanibel Island family resorts for your vacation. 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). Sanibel Island is an island on the west of the Florida panhandle. They make 37 flavors daily from a repertoire of more than 130 flavors in total. There are several ways to explore the refuge. KathrynAnywhere is a participant in the Booking.com affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees upon guests booking reservations at the accommodations listed. I think their minds were blown! Sanibel Island with kids really is a lovely vacation! Fully Equipped with an upgraded kitchen featuring stainless steel, Sunzero Wolf appliances, and quartz countertops. Lounge on a Fort Myers Beach. 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! The Sanibel Inn provided kayaks and paddle boards for us to use! Always make sure to bring plenty of water in your backpack or day bag, wear sunscreen, please wear hats, apply bug spray, and wear comfortable walking shoes when doing day trips or walking about. Ever been to Captiva or Sanibel? Not so much. We had a fun morning riding out to see the Sanibel lighthouse. 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). If the ocean is a little to rough for your likes, be sure to be booked at a hotel with a pool for guests to use because you will want it! Your Sanibel Island vacation rental lets you enjoy 15 miles of pristine beaches, 22 miles of bike paths, and zero traffic lights. The kids were told that if they waited and were quiet, theres a good chance they could spot a manatee somewhere in the wildlife refuge. Things to Do in Sanibel with Kids Enter dates Filters 1 Attractions Map Traveler favorites All things to do 1 place sorted by traveler favorites Clear all filters 2022 1. Sanibel is a beautiful and well-protected Gulf Coast barrier island. 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. We only took a handful home with us as I didnt want to break them in our luggage. The island is approximately a 30-45 minute drive depending on traffic and time of day. Here is my short list of family friendly restaurants on Sanibel Island. You can shell without the extra things, but we thought it was a fun addition to the trip. I would absolutely stay there again. As I am a big craft beer aficionado, I had to hit up Doc Fords Rum Bar & Grille. I think we stopped here three times during our stay. Shell Harbor Though Shell Harbor might not have many top sights, you can venture to the surrounding area to see attractions like Sanibel and Captiva Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center and Sanibel Moorings Botanical Gardens. Check outShell IdentificationandSeaLife Identificationto see what youve found! Time seems to move differently on Sanibel. Sanibel Stars & Stripes 43 Boat Tours By 797brendank Friendly staff, great experience, had multiple dolphins chasing and jumping behind the boat for majority of the the r. 39. You to get to the beach by boat, and its simply amazing. It's a great and inexpensive activity for the family that doesn't involve having everyone sit at a table for an entire meal. No matter the time of year, Sanibel sees some brilliant sunsets. Having a car made getting to Fort Myers quick and easy as well. However, the island is spread out depending on where you stay. With all we had to do, we had plenty to keep us occupied for our three night visit. Made to order, this is one of thebest restaurants on Sanibel Islandfor kids and adults. Sanibel Island is a barrier island located on the Gulf Side of Florida, about 30 minutes from the Fort Myers. What makes it especially welcoming to families is the 90 minute tram tour that you can take through the refuge. There is something for everyone on the menu and the servings are enormous. For more shopping fun, check out the shops in Times Square at the nearby Fort Myers Beach Pier. 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. It is located nearby Blind Pass Bridge, which connects the two islands. Grab A Map & Participate In A Treasure Hunt By Bike Stop in at the Sanibel Chamber Commerce and ask for the treasure hunt map. (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.) Tip: Check with your hotel or condo because some units come with bikes. Blind Pass Beach 827 Beaches By 994linday They loved running and collecting new shells. Ha I would not have done it at their age. Sanibel Island just has a different vibe. These include the Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge, Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum, dolphin and wildlife cruises, and more. Unsure of the treasure found on Sanibel Island? Things to Do in Sanibel Island with Kids Enter dates Filters 1 Attractions Traveler favorites All things to do Category types Attractions Tours Day Trips Outdoor Activities Concerts & Shows Food & Drink Shopping Transportation Traveler Resources Types of Attractions Boat Tours & Water Sports Nature & Parks Sights & Landmarks Museums If you have kids and have been considering a Florida vacation you'd be crazy to not visit Fort Myers & Sanibel Island. Here are the activities they have for kids! Also, check out the show-stopping Captiva Pass, which is the strait that separates North Captiva Island from La Costa Island. By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. These eye-popping gardens host wild creatures like butterflies, turtles, rabbits, and birds. Captiva Island: Felt more off the beaten path and exclusive. Celebrate Women's History Month and commemorate pioneering figures in science, technology, arts & design, and mathematics. Stuff your face at Island Cow. We got these super easy-to-use kid-friendly Octopus Kites and they have been great. I've heard you can even spot manatees there. Any suggestions on the beat and least expensive fishing guide? After 9:00 p.m on Sanibel, itsturtle time. Sunbathing in the sugar white sand, shelling, kayaking, and swimming in the oceans emerald waters are some of the top activities here. Once youre there, walk down the dock and see if the local fisherman are having any luck. 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. The ferry terminal is located on neighboring Captiva Island and accessed via a short drive over the bridge. Sanibel Island is as much about world-class as it is about beaches. If you plan on dining out, get your hands on the. Check out the accommodation options for your dates through my booking.com affiliate search box: Booking.com(function(d,sc,u){var s=d.createElement(sc),p=d.getElementsByTagName(sc)[0];s.type='text/javascript';s.async=true;s.src=u+'?v='+(+new Date());p.parentNode.insertBefore(s,p);})(document,'script','//aff.bstatic.com/static/affiliate_base/js/flexiproduct.js'); And always remember, Florida can be very HOT! Fun Things to Do in Sanibel Island with Kids: Family-friendly activities and fun things to do. Get our travel tips Delivered to your inbox. Offering free cancellations and no added fees, our {31 fun activities in South Plainfield fun activities in South Plainfield } are also worth a look. 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. Join Little Learners for a Seuss-a-Bration at Once Upon a Treetop. Here you'll find shell-strewn beaches, a laid-back vibe, terrific restaurants and shops, and an incredibly diverse wildlife sampling. Sanibel and Captiva Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center 907 Visitor Centers By mrsmarinara great information givien with a really generous spirit 4. With an early sunset time in winter, we'd take the boys out and walk up the beach toward the sunset. I've tried to keep treats healthier at home too while they were super young, but always had the intentions of loosening that up a bit as they get older. Photo: Courtesy of The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel 1. Learn how your comment data is processed. Just make sure there is nothing living inside of the shell. Photo: Courtesy of The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel. 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. Sanibel Island Rentals: Billy's Bike : 1509 Periwinkle Way (239) 472-3620 Finnimore's Bike & Beach Shop: 2353 Periwinkle Wa (239) 472-5577 3. Less restaurants and shopping. You can show up in a bathing suit and flip flops and get everything from salad to burgers to fried alligator. They dont seem startled one bit! Florida is traditionally a state that screams family travel. Note you will have to head back into Fort Myers to get picked up by there van for this excursion. There are no big mega resorts. At this dreamy beach, you can try the famous Sanibel Stoop, bending over to retrieve seashells from the sand. . 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. Bristol Ocala Vacation Rental. 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