Crab racing is fun for both kids and adults. If you aren't familiar with Sanibel Island, Florida it's a small island off the coast of West Florida near Fort Myers. 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! You'll probably not be surprised to see this list includes enjoying the beaches fully with different beach activities, swimming, and even shelling! 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. If you're ready to explore South Plainfield, sign up for one of the top tours & day trips on offer, and have a friendly guide show you some of the most popular sights. Joeys Custard is located at 2467 Periwinkle Way. The shelling is the best and the kids love climbing all over the driftwood and making their way through the forest. Friday, March 3. Here are a few things to think about when narrowing down the best Sanibel Island family resorts for your vacation. Joe is a great teacher, and storyteller. Bonus tip if you come down here, make sure to include a stop at Sanibels Best Homemade Ice Cream. What a great way to vacation around Sanibel! 8. Back in 1996, the City of Sanibel passed an ordinance that prevented big chain businesses from opening up shop on the island. Here, visit the otherworldly Captiva Beach, famous for its snow-white sand and shallow crystal-clear waters. 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! Tip for Canadians Tim Hortons coffee is served at Joeys Custard! Tarpon Bay Explorersofferscanoe and kayak trips in the J. N. "Ding" Darling NationalWildlife Refuge where naturalist guides give you an up-close experience with this unique ecosystem. Along the way, a naturalist will point out local sights and landmarks while answering questions about wildlife and island history. This Italian restaurant on Sanibel isnt the best thing ever, but after days of burgers, nachos and shellfish, it tastes like it is. Find Places To Stay In Sanibel Island, Florida. Don't worry too much about the being out in sun while you're riding as most of the trails are shaded by the islands dense plant life (although it's probably still a good idea to put on some SPF and a hat). We definitely suggest sharing plates, since each dinner portion is huge and comes with a sticky bun, garlic bread and a side salad. There are so many options for accommodations on Sanibel Island with kids, at all budget levels. While visiting Chateaux Sur Mer, you might make a stop by sights like Sanibel Island Southern Beach and Bowman's Beach. Sign up for Scary Mommy's daily newsletter for more stories from the trenches. Once I heard of it, I wanted to know what there was to do on Sanibel Island with kids. Recommended Read: The 10 Most Beautiful Islands in Florida. 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! Just make sure not to keep any live ones! 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! Sanibel is known as the Shelling Capital of the World, and it's not hard to see why. Find 2023's best things to do with kids. The kitschy shop at the east end of Sanibel is legendary for its delicious homemade Italian gelato. 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. This is a great thing to do in Jekyll Island with kids. Your boys are just growing up so fast. Food shopping on the islands is ridiculously expensive and youll kick yourself if you end up having to buy a weeks worth of food there. As Sanibel, Captiva reopen, businesses hope visitors get causeway access soon. A stop atPinocchio's Italian Ice Cream (362 Periwinkle Way) is a Sanibel tradition. Its a nice place to stay, but the spa is especially wonderful. It is located in Lee County and the easiest way to get there from Toronto is to fly to Fort Myers, rent a car and go. 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. My goal with Running in a Skirt is to help YOU live a happier, healthier life! We upgraded our regular beach toys to fun trucks that our boys love. Your email address will not be published. Also, check out the show-stopping Captiva Pass, which is the strait that separates North Captiva Island from La Costa Island. I was blind to what else existed in the State. Get Dessert at The Bubble Room. Make sure to also stop by the idyllic Blind Pass Beach on both Sanibel & Captiva Islands. This sounds like a great island to visit. Sanibel Island with kids is the perfect place to spend a family vacation! We didnt eat out that much while we were here. Budding marine biologists will love the acclaimedSanibel Sea School, offering daily and weekly programs that teach kids about marine conservation. The Visitor and Education Centre offers free admission and is open every day except holidays from 9:00 am-4:00 pm year-round. And shells of all different textures, shapes, and sizes show up on the shores here. The Sanibel Moorings Botanical Gardens takes visitors on a colorful journey through idyllic tropical gardens. It's a pretty spectacular sight. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. The tour takes you across the flat waters of local estuaries and waterways and offers beginner instruction for those new to the sport. . These months offer the best weather, with comfortable temperatures and less rain, making it a joy to explore the island. 4. 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. Definitely can do an adult only trip there too! 2022 5. Take a dolphin sight-seeing boat ride. March 4-26, Saturdays and Sundays, 10 am - 5 pm. 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. When they are ready, they follow the moonlight and head back to the Gulf of Mexico. Aside from endless miles of gorgeous beaches, Sanibel Island is a lush sanctuary filled with spectacular natural features, including wilderness refuges, tropical gardens, and various wildlife species. It takes up some real estate in the car, but the hours of fun you'll get out of it are worth it. The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum. Taking a walk at Sanibel Lighthouse Beach Park is one of the best ways to explore the eastern tip of the island. Sanibel Island is best experienced by bike. 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. Located off Sanibel-Captiva Road, Bowmans Beach has several miles of secluded white sand and gentle waters ideal for a refreshing swim. Several hiking trails allow visitors to explore the wonders of this wildlife refuge. You to get to the beach by boat, and its simply amazing. Kids love being responsible for shutting curtains and blinds to help protect the turtles! Hoping to be able to take the kids over the Summer. Not so much. Learn how your comment data is processed. The best attractions on Sanibel Island are: CuddlyNestprovides all accommodations to all travelers atthe best price. Tip: Many guides will clean the fish for you so you can enjoy your catch for dinner. Summer Waves Water Park is a thrilling experience with plenty of waterslides the whole family can enjoy. Kids have their own hands-on learning room, and staff members conduct daily beach walks. Turner Beach, in particular, is known for itsspectacularsunsets. Edison & Ford Winter Estates. A great time. I definitely enjoyed having a rental car while we were on Sanibel Island. Learn all about seashells and the animals that make them. Kids of all ages love a pool and there are plenty of them in Sanibel! 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. There is something for everyone on the menu and the servings are enormous. Private tour guidesare also available to take your family around the islands in search of dolphins and manatees while sharing all kinds of tales about the islands' rich history. Just look at these birds we found. CROWs Visitor Education Center features a collection of interactive exhibits and videos, while the guided Wildlife Walk through the hospital allows you to observe veterinarians treating sick and injured wildlife. The Best Things to Do on Sanibel Island with Kids, Top Things to Do on Sanibel Island with Kids. We've found lots of fun ways to spend our days on the island and I'm sure we'll continue to do that as the kids grow older. Visiting this locale is a feel-good endeavor, too, as your admission fee goes towards the care of approximately 3,500 injured and orphaned animals each year. 6. Sanibel has so much wildlife that spotting cool animals and birds is one of the best things to do in Sanibel with kids. 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. With an early sunset time in winter, we'd take the boys out and walk up the beach toward the sunset. Collect shells along the beach Sanibel is known as the Shelling Capital of the World, and it's not hard to see why. Sanibel Island Lighthouse 2,675 Lighthouses Open now By Anxsmomt The lighthouse is a public beach, plenty of parking. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Our next stop was rumoured to be the place to see the manatee. This is what I know about the best time to visit Sanibel Island. It is laid back, friendly and has a lovely old Florida charm. Map of kid-friendly places. 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. Fort Myers (RSW) is the closest airport to Sanibel Island Florida. Once youre there, walk down the dock and see if the local fisherman are having any luck. They dont seem startled one bit! The island is approximately a 30-45 minute drive depending on traffic and time of day. There are activities that appeal to all age groups and makes for a really nice family vacation. From national historic sites to beautiful beaches, there are many fun things to do on the Kohala Coast. I offer tools, guides and resources to help you through all of the steps of planning meaningful, memorable family vacations. You should get an annual pass to the wildlife refuge. I definitely want to go back and explore and this sounds like an amazing place to do just that. Dont leave the park without checking out the Sanibel Island Lighthouse. With about 22 miles of paved bike trails, it's super easy to get anywhere on the island. We had a fun morning riding out to see the Sanibel lighthouse. As the kids are flying down the waterslides enjoy a nice slow ride in the lazy river. 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. 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. By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. 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