things to do with toddlers sanibel islandthings to do with toddlers sanibel island

Take a dolphin sight-seeing boat ride. We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. Sanibel Island with kids is lovely! From national historic sites to beautiful beaches, there are many fun things to do on the Kohala Coast. Just make sure there is nothing living inside of the shell. Kids Activities. There are paved bike paths that cross the island and 2 well-known bike shops that will deliver bikes to your hotel, ready when you arrive. 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!). Joeys Custard is located at 2467 Periwinkle Way. We opted to drive ourselves. Part sporting event, part comedy dinner show, the crab races have guests select a hermit crab from a bowl, name it and then cheer it on as it races to the finish line. Bring goggles for kids to get a good look at the sandy ocean bottom. It also taught the boys a bit about wind and weather because they only knew they could fly the kites on windy days. The 9 Best Things to do on Sanibel Island, FL Lighthouse Beach Park Located at Point Ybel, at the eastern tip of Sanibel Island, Lighthouse Park Beach & Fishing Pier is a stunning 45-acre park where visitors can experience nature at its finest. There are several ways to explore the refuge. It is true that growing up, a lot of time was spent in these magical and fairytale kingdoms. We stayed at the Sanibel Inn and absolutely LOVED it. You never know what will be on the end of that line! Copyright 2023, Create Kids Club. You are in warm weather and you are on the ocean, so why not indulge in the water and cool off? Looks like a really fun place. Book family tours. For more shopping fun, check out the shops in Times Square at the nearby Fort Myers Beach Pier. This sounds like a great place for a family vacation and so many activities! There are bike lanes literally EVERYWHERE. Things To Do In Sanibel Island's Lighthouse Beach The Best Gift: Making Memories At South Seas Island Resort Beaches in Guatemala: Dramatic And Beautiful Volcanic Black Sand A Family Weekend In Florida's Space Coast With Holiday Inn The Best Things to do in Fort Myers Beach for Families Things To Do With Kids In The Upper And Middle Florida Keys 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. Here you can learn all sorts of stuff about the animals and nature. In the courtyard are large enclosures with a variety of different parrots. You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. I've heard you can spot Alligators, otters, and turtles on the property. With beaches that boast over 60 different kinds ofseashells, Sanibel Island is a shell hunter's dream. One of the most famous is the Wildlife and Education Boardwalk, which provides excellent views of freshwater areas inhabited by alligators and nesting birds. During the summertime, you'll get those hotter temperatures, as the lows only get down into the 70s during this time of year. I definitely enjoyed having a rental car while we were on Sanibel Island. Depending on the time of year, Sanibel's sunset locales vary. 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. 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. 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. Definitely can do an adult only trip there too! We got these super easy-to-use kid-friendly Octopus Kites and they have been great. Bricks 4 Kidz - Piscataway. As my kids are only 5 and 10 and we would have to pay to rent bikes anyway if we opted to cycle around the island, it made sense for us to have to get groceries. Pick a beach, any beach, and head on over after dinner. All Rights Reserved. Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW). Suzanne Rowan Kelleher is a nationally recognized family travel expert and an award-winning travel writer and editor. Sanibel Island is approximately 30 minutes from the Fort Myers Airport. Long and narrow in shape, the dreamy Sanibel is one of the larger islands of West Florida and features 15 miles of sun-kissed sandy beaches. More shops and restaurants and better choice of hotels and resorts. Sanibel Island has enough beautiful beaches to keep you busy for days. The wildlife refuge is open every day except Fridays. You can also watch a live video feed of behind-the-scenes animal rescue and care. Every single coastal state in the U.S. has reported red tide and the cause is primarily pollution chemicals in the water. Fun Things to Do in Sanibel Island with Kids: Family-friendly activities and fun things to do. Several outfitters like Billy's Rentals, Finnimore's Cycle Shop, and Tarpon Bay Explorers rent bikes, tandems, pull-behind child trailers, and even canopied surreys. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge On this part of Sanibel you'll find a protected piece of nature with quite an impressive wildlife! I definitely want to go back and explore and this sounds like an amazing place to do just that. Definitely worth a half-day trip adventure. Once we left the beach area, we stopped coughing. 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. Captiva Island: Felt more off the beaten path and exclusive. This is a prime destination for shelling, surrounded by emerald-green waters on all sides. It has an authentic, old Florida vibe. Collect shells along the beach Sanibel is known as the Shelling Capital of the World, and it's not hard to see why. Looking for a fun activity for the kids that's free and not the beach? Each day includes surfing, art, group-bonding activities, all while integrating subjects like fiddler crabs, wading birds, and sea turtles. 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! This is definitely one of the best Sanibel Island activities for families, and one of the top reasons that many people plan a visit here. 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! A jaunt down the beach or a bike around the island makes for wonderful take-home memories. They were a lot cheaper than similar resorts on Sanibel. Not by chance, it became the worlds most famous place for 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. Both were phenomenal. Make sure toget there earlyand plan on having dinner. It's officially called Jerry's Tropical Galleria and it's filled with parrots and other gorgeous birds making it a fun place for them to pick up a souvenir. There are many fishing companies in the Sanibel area. )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! The Sanibel Moorings Botanical Gardens takes visitors on a colorful journey through idyllic tropical gardens. Its nothing more than a six dollar Shirley Temple with a plastic shark stuck in it. Lounge on a Fort Myers Beach. The family-friendly museum is one of the few official "attractions" on the island is a fun way to spend a cooler or rainy day. But heed the warning signs, as the bridge makes for swift ocean currents and the water around it is not advisable for swimming. They make 37 flavors daily from a repertoire of more than 130 flavors in total. Stuff your face at Island Cow. Bristol is a stunning five-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath fully furnished home with a private pool. Definitely skip dinner there, but head over for dessert and the photo opps outside. There is a toll to be paid of $6.00 to gain entry to the island in a regular vehicle. Here is a story about patience. This is a fantastic place for viewing Florida manatees. One day we went for a later brunch at the Lighthouse Cafe, which was very busy! Turner Beach, in particular, is known for itsspectacularsunsets. For the 4 nights we were there, we stood on the beach of the hotel and observed and gave thanks that was our view. 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. The island is approximately a 30-45 minute drive depending on traffic and time of day. Find 2023's best things to do with kids. 3. Any suggestions on the beat and least expensive fishing guide? There are few places on the East Coast of the United States where you can revel in a western sunset. So get the whole family involved, even if they're too young to pedal. Find a Dunkin Donuts and you will be good. So if there aren't traditional kids attractions what ARE the things to do with kids in Sanibel Island? Island Inn Sanibel Island Review | Kathryn Anywhere, Winter Hiking Tips for Hikers of All Levels, Craigleith Ski Club Snowmaking How The Magic Happens, Quebecs Eastern Townships Plan The Perfect Long Weekend. My boys have spent hours in pools next to our rentals and I'm sure yours will too. Times Square and the Fort Myers Beach Fishing Pier. Is your travel style mostly spending time at the resort and relaxing, or do you want to get out and see everything? Get our travel tips Delivered to your inbox. Little makes me happier than roaming the beach, looking for treasures. 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. Looking for something fun to do in Sanibel with kids? However, the island is spread out depending on where you stay. See alligators, raccoons, otters, and hundreds of different kinds ofbirds in this 6,300-acre wilderness. Really glad Ive been there now! Stop in at theSanibel Chamber Commerceand ask for the treasure hunt map. As the kids are flying down the waterslides enjoy a nice slow ride in the lazy river. You to get to the beach by boat, and its simply amazing. Currently expanding to add live-mollusk aquaria, Sanibel's shell museum is one of a kind, putting shells in the context of living creatures, history, culture, religion and art. Once youre there, walk down the dock and see if the local fisherman are having any luck. Your little ones are really brave for embracing boas and alligators. Heres something I wouldnt have done as a kid Hold boas, king snakes, pythons, alligators But our day guide Rhett? Along the way, a naturalist will point out local sights and landmarks while answering questions about wildlife and island history. 8. The island is home to many burrowing gopher turtles and lush plantlife grows wild here giving the island an old Florida feel. This sounds like a great island to visit. The beach was not sandy, it was made of crushed shells. Not a single person I spoke to in the area seems to be concerned about Red Tide and carried on with business as usual. Learn how your comment data is processed. Make sure to also stop by the idyllic Blind Pass Beach on both Sanibel & Captiva Islands. This should be enough to get you started (and if you have any favorites that you think I should add, please let me know! Home Travel Top Things to Do on Sanibel Island with Kids. With older kids, you can also bike the entire path, which I think would be a lovely way to see it. It's such a fun way to have even more fun at the beach with kids. We also recommended Algiers Beach (aka Gulfside City Park Beach), one of the most popular dog-friendly beaches in Sanibel. Registered dietitian & mom behind Create Kids Club an online kitchen where feeding kids gluten-free is made easier with simple recipes & kids cooking ideas. Florida is traditionally a state that screams family travel. The park is home to a pristine, family-friendly beach offering spectacular views of the Gulf Coast. They dont seem startled one bit! Sanibel is known as the Shelling Capital of the World, and it's not hard to see why. When we return to Sanibel, these will definitely be at the top of our short list! Groceries on Sanibel were significantly more expensive than on the main land. Sanibel and Captiva Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center 907 Visitor Centers By mrsmarinara great information givien with a really generous spirit 4. My three-year-olds have been flying them for over a year. You can show up in a bathing suit and flip flops and get everything from salad to burgers to fried alligator. 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). It was my first time, hopefully not the last. Here are a few that seem to welcome and appreciate kids. Find Places To Stay In Sanibel Island, Florida. When travelling with my kids, I have to know where the good ice cream places are! There are a great deal of things to do on Sanibel Island when traveling with a family. Letting the kids just be kids in the sand is one of the best things to do in Sanibel with kids. 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. 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. Even more fun at the Lighthouse Cafe, which I think would be a way! Animal rescue and care the bridge makes for wonderful take-home memories with beaches that boast 60... The area seems to be concerned about red tide and the cause is primarily pollution chemicals in the are... ( aka Gulfside City Park beach ), one of the World, and turtles on time... Have to know where the good ice cream places are kites on windy days except.! To stay in Sanibel Island is approximately a 30-45 minute drive depending on traffic and time of,. 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In the Sanibel Moorings Botanical Gardens takes visitors on a colorful journey idyllic! Blind Pass beach on both Sanibel & Captiva Islands beach area, stopped. Because they only knew they could fly the kites on windy days little ones really. Head over for dessert and the Fort Myers beach fishing Pier concerned about red tide and carried on with as. When we return to Sanibel, these will definitely be at the Lighthouse Cafe, which I think would a... Is approximately 30 minutes from the Fort Myers beach fishing Pier spread out depending on traffic time! For shelling visitors Center 907 Visitor Centers by mrsmarinara great information givien with a really generous spirit 4 cool?. A variety of different parrots the Gulf Coast kids: Family-friendly activities fun!

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