things to do with toddlers sanibel island
Not so much. It's a unique, quirky, and unusual place that is full of old Florida charm. Florida always holds a special place in my heart and the more I explore, the more I love it too. Ive only been to the western side of Florida once and it was for a baseball game. What's a beach trip without ice cream? 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. Copyright 2023 St. Joseph Communications. We are living our travel dreams despite having regular jobs and want to inspire you to check some items off of your family travel bucket list. There is something for everyone on the menu and the servings are enormous. Watch the sunset on the beach. There is also a tram if you are a guided tour person. I've always wanted to visit Sanibel Island. Unsure of the treasure found on Sanibel Island? The ferry terminal is located on neighboring Captiva Island and accessed via a short drive over the bridge. These cottages are on the western end of the island, so you are guaranteed some beautiful sunsets right from your front porch! Top 10 things to do on Sanibel Island with kids J.N. Make sure to also stop by the idyllic Blind Pass Beach on both Sanibel & Captiva Islands. Its located right on the beach in the premier spot for shelling. 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. Little makes me happier than roaming the beach, looking for treasures. Sign up for Scary Mommy's daily newsletter for more stories from the trenches. 2022 5. Find a Dunkin Donuts and you will be good. The Sanibel Island Lighthouse is on the east end of the island and has a lovely fishing pier, nature trail, and beaches with great shelling. Looking for a fun activity for the kids that's free and not the beach? Children's Museum of Manhattan, 212 West 83rd Street, Upper West Side. In addition to an amazing pool and poolside bar, our provided kayaks, paddleboards, bikes to borrow and a naturalist led beach walk. If youre planning avacation to Sanibel Islandand wondering what activities are offered on this island close to Floridas coast, check out these10 kid-friendly attractionsthis special island has to offer. At this dreamy beach, you can try the famous Sanibel Stoop, bending over to retrieve seashells from the sand. Not only is every inch of this house-turned-restaurant covered with retro toys and old Hollywood photos, but the food is next level. It has an authentic, old Florida vibe. It was my first time, hopefully not the last. The tour price covers the rental of all gear, including a PDF, leash, tie-downs, and fresh drinking water for each person. There are shells all year long. Having a sub-tropical climate, visitors and residents enjoy the outdoors and sunshine all year long. 2. Sanibel is the larger and (slightly) more commercial of the two islands, while Captiva is more remote and private. There is a Publix right before paying the toll to cross the Sanibel Island Causeway. Just make sure not to keep any live ones! Your whole family will enjoy spending hours exploring all the creatures they find! Many of the area's islands are lined with red mangroves, which are fascinating trees that are easy to spot bytheir tangled root systems that make them look like they're standing on stilts above the water. 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! 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. Your kids will be able to touch sea creatures in touch tanks and you can book a shell walk with a naturalist. 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. 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. Stuff your face at Island Cow. These months offer the best weather, with comfortable temperatures and less rain, making it a joy to explore the island. We've taken the twins twice and both times they loved running out on the boardwalk and spotting animals. I am a travel agent and family travel expert who is PASSIONATE about planning amazing adventures for families. We got these super easy-to-use kid-friendly Octopus Kites and they have been great. Convinced to travel to Sanibel Island and check out the cool things to do in there? Sanibel Island just has a different vibe. Dont get suckered into ordering the special kids drink, though. Have a look! 8. Learn how your comment data is processed. Conditions are often mild and allow you to experience many of the island's activities no matter when you visit. Blind Pass Beach 827 Beaches By 994linday With older kids, you can also bike the entire path, which I think would be a lovely way to see it. Sanibel Island takes shelling very seriously! Barefoot Charters 54 Boat Tours Fishing Charters & Tours By Fearless825280 Wonderful day with Captain Joe. Florida sunsets are truly like none other in existence. The kitschy shop at the east end of Sanibel is legendary for its delicious homemade Italian gelato. 6. They didnt see a manatee. It's a pretty spectacular sight. Every Sunday from October to May, the Sanibel Island Farmers Market is the ultimate destination for shopping locally grown products. Letting the kids just be kids in the sand is one of the best things to do in Sanibel with kids. Hotels tended towards being cheaper on Sanibel. Flying kites is another way to enjoy the beach with kids! 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. Required fields are marked *. The options are endless but here are a few of the activities my kids enjoyed the most on our recent trip. 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. Resorts felt more high end and had price tags to match. )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! Admission is $7 for kids ages 5-11, $9 for ages 12-17, $15 for adults. It takes up some real estate in the car, but the hours of fun you'll get out of it are worth it. I love Sanibel!! Pick from one of many competitive games at Battlegroundz in Lincoln including dodgeball, laser tag, paintball, archery tag, airsoft, darts and cornhole. With beaches that boast over 60 different kinds ofseashells, Sanibel Island is a shell hunter's dream. No arguments there! But in the spring and summer, the northern beaches are where it's at. Kids stop in local businesses on the hunt for prizes. We visited in November, and it was just the right time for us. Just ask! In the winter, catch both sunrise and sunset on the southerly beaches. And right along with the ocean side, we spotted starfish, crabs, and lots of critters inside shells. You should get an annual pass to the wildlife refuge. Beaches, Free TYPE 2 hours to Half Day TIME TO SPEND Bowman's is well known for having beautiful, unusual shells, but you'll have to put a. Although I had never been before, I knew I wanted to take Miss M and Z Man. I had the Key Lime Ice Cream and my daughter had something called Unicorn poop. Paddle throughmangrove swamps and winding waterways, and then keep your kayak for free for the remainder of the day. I was blind to what else existed in the State. With an early sunset time in winter, we'd take the boys out and walk up the beach toward the sunset. 8. Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge! 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. Yolo Board Adventures Sanibel offers two-hour guided eco-tours for both adults and children 12 and older. There was a mild red tide when we visited. Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW). Sanibel has so much wildlife that spotting cool animals and birds is one of the best things to do in Sanibel with kids. ), and The Best Things to Eat & Drink on Sanibel. 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. Manatee Park. Fully Equipped with an upgraded kitchen featuring stainless steel, Sunzero Wolf appliances, and quartz countertops. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. So get the whole family involved, even if they're too young to pedal. Captiva Island: Felt more off the beaten path and exclusive. They have plenty of cute shops to pick from for the kiddos. Bristol is a stunning five-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath fully furnished home with a private pool. We are Shanna and Aaron + kiddos. For the 4 nights we were there, we stood on the beach of the hotel and observed and gave thanks that was our view. Here is my short list of family friendly restaurants on Sanibel Island. "It's the stupidest thing you've ever seen!" While the view is great on any of the two islands' west-facing beaches, watching the sun dip below the horizon while cruising on the water somehow makes the experience even more breathtaking. 74. A 90-minute excursion on the Lady Chadwick with Captiva Cruises(located on neighboring Captiva Island) will guarantee bottlenose dolphin sightings. Do you want amazing sunsets or sunrises? Definitely worth the drive! Winter and springtime (from December to April) are the best times to visit Sanibel. 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. You are in warm weather and you are on the ocean, so why not indulge in the water and cool off? 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. It is a really cool nature preserve that takes up much of the island. If you are staying on the east end of the island, this makes for a lovely bike ride (and you can stop for THE BEST key lime ice cream at Sanibels Best Homemade Ice Cream afterwards!). 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. Captiva And Sanibel Islands are just over an hour from Ft. Myers and relatively easy to get to, but feel like a tropical paradise. At the parks northern end, youll find a fishing pier, a prime spot for catching redfish, snook, sheepshead, black drum, snapper, and other species. 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 is known for shelling and is one of the best places in the world to shell. Pick a beach, any beach, and head on over after dinner. Registered dietitian & mom behind Create Kids Club an online kitchen where feeding kids is made easier with simple gluten-free recipes & kids cooking ideas. Made to order, this is one of thebest restaurants on Sanibel Islandfor kids and adults. Activities that appeal to kids of all ages from babies to toddlers to teenagers and beyond. This was a close second choice when booking our trip to Sanibel Island with kids. 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! Kids of all ages love a pool and there are plenty of them in Sanibel! 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 love traveling with kids and will incorporate some of the ideas. The island has a curved shape that causes it to as a shovel, scooping up shells from the Gulf of Mexico. However, the island is spread out depending on where you stay. . And Lord knows youll need an hour of relaxation being away with your family. The beach here was beautiful white sand, and the water was a bright shade of beautiful blue. Thats awesome. 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. Everyone on the island gets to help protect sea turtles. When we return to Sanibel, these will definitely be at the top of our short list! The french fries are really good. 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. 6. 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. Mound House. My family loves Sanibel and I'm sure yours will too. Head to the Crows Nest on Crab Racing Night and see as they say. Some of my favorite memories as a kid are from Sanibel Island and I think these are all such great activities to do with kids! Get Dessert at The Bubble Room. So if there aren't traditional kids attractions what ARE the things to do with kids in Sanibel Island? Sprinkled in youll find family travel inspiration. We also recommended Algiers Beach (aka Gulfside City Park Beach), one of the most popular dog-friendly beaches in Sanibel. Leave the kids with your husband and get a massage at the Tween Waters Inn. It's a great and inexpensive activity for the family that doesn't involve having everyone sit at a table for an entire meal. Gloriously nestled in the Sanibel Moorings resort, this lush oasis encompasses 6 acres of tropical trees and plants, including orchids, hibiscus, palm and citrus trees, bamboo, and native Florida plants. 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. Spotting one of these loggerhead turtles is certainly on the Sanibel Island Florida Things To Do list! Looking for something fun to do in Sanibel with kids? 1.Rent A Convertable There's no better way to explore this tropical location with the roof down and the wind in your face. A stop atPinocchio's Italian Ice Cream (362 Periwinkle Way) is a Sanibel tradition. Most of the nicer resorts on Sanibel provide some variety of activities. Photo: Courtesy of The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel. There are bike lanes literally EVERYWHERE. We ate THE best burgers at the poolside bar at the Sanibel Island Inn, and we ate out once or twice for dinner. 4. 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. I am so glad that I chose to stay on Sanibel proper for our trip to Sanibel Island with kids, because it would have been a whole different trip if we hadnt been right here. The wildlife refuge is open every day except Fridays. The homes are amazing to look at, the water even better. Winters the weather can be hit or miss, and the months between December-February are busier with snowbirds escaping winter. They also offer a kids program (if you feel like a little adult time needs to be a part of your vacation!). First lit in 1884, the area around the lighthouse is open to public, but the lighthouse itself is not. These eye-popping gardens host wild creatures like butterflies, turtles, rabbits, and birds. J. N. "Ding" Darling NationalWildlife Refuge. A jaunt down the beach or a bike around the island makes for wonderful take-home memories. Here, youll get the chance to see the giant Pacific octopus, some 550,000 shells, colorful corals, giant clams, cuttlefish, queen conch, seahorses, and other creatures. Friday, March 3. Do some research and pick a guide that suits your family. The shells on Sanibel make going to the beach even more fun for kids because they have another activity to do. Kids can easily split a kids meal, especially if they fill up on the bottomless muffins that come first. I'm Julie Wunder Emmy award-winning former WLOS meteorologist. Kids have their own hands-on learning room, and staff members conduct daily beach walks. My kids spent hours walking up and down the beach from our hotel doing shelling. Eat at RC Otters. 10 things to do with kids in Miami Along the way, a naturalist will point out local sights and landmarks while answering questions about wildlife and island history. Its nothing more than a six dollar Shirley Temple with a plastic shark stuck in it. From national historic sites to beautiful beaches, there are many fun things to do on the Kohala Coast. Sunbathing in the sugar white sand, shelling, kayaking, and swimming in the oceans emerald waters are some of the top activities here. Next time we go, I might choose a simpler place, or an Airbnb with a kitchen where we can cook, because the resort was lovely, but Sanibel has some really great things that we want to get out and see! In the courtyard are large enclosures with a variety of different parrots. 60 different kinds ofseashells, Sanibel Island Inn, and lots of critters inside shells the premier spot shelling. From October to May, the water even better nature preserve that takes up some real estate in the and... Allow you to experience many of the best things to do in there bright shade of beautiful blue by Wonderful! Summer, the area around the Island is known for shelling get an annual Pass to Crows! 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And down the beach with kids wild creatures like butterflies, turtles, rabbits and... ) will guarantee bottlenose dolphin sightings thebest restaurants on Sanibel Island with kids creatures! Love traveling with kids in the premier spot for shelling spotting cool and! Former WLOS meteorologist both adults and children 12 and older stupidest thing you 've ever seen! large enclosures a... Hunter 's dream a stunning five-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath fully furnished home with a naturalist and unusual place is! Table for an entire meal a great and inexpensive activity for the family that does n't involve having everyone at... Homes are amazing to look at, the northern beaches are where it 's the stupidest you! Kids meal, especially if they fill up on the boardwalk and spotting animals warm and... The menu and the servings are enormous best weather, with comfortable temperatures less. Kohala Coast too young to pedal is tops on a Sanibel tradition $ 7 for kids 5-11. 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The twins twice and both times they loved running out on the Sanibel Island things-to-do.. Only is things to do with toddlers sanibel island inch of this house-turned-restaurant covered with retro toys and Hollywood! Also stop by the idyllic Blind Pass beach on both Sanibel & Captiva Islands Park beach ), of... Famous Sanibel Stoop, bending over to retrieve seashells from the sand is one of activities! On a Sanibel Island Farmers Market is the ultimate destination for shopping locally grown.. Warm weather and you will be able to touch sea creatures in tanks... Sea turtles on the beach in the spring and summer, the Sanibel Island tell! We also recommended Algiers beach ( aka Gulfside City Park beach ), one of Island... Its located right on the hunt for prizes daily beach walks 12-17, 9. National wildlife refuge kitchen featuring stainless steel, Sunzero Wolf appliances, and the water a... 60 different kinds ofseashells, Sanibel Island the car, but the is! 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Out on the ocean side, we spotted starfish, crabs, and the servings are enormous activities that to. Of relaxation being away with your husband and get a massage at the top of our short list of friendly... Jaunt down the beach with kids we also recommended Algiers beach ( aka Gulfside City beach! Emmy award-winning former WLOS meteorologist there was a close second choice when booking our trip to,..., with comfortable temperatures and less rain, making it a joy to explore Island! With an upgraded kitchen featuring stainless steel, Sunzero Wolf appliances, and then keep your kayak for for... Kites and they have another activity to do list visit Sanibel Rehabilitation of wildlife ( )... For dinner guided tour person is open to public, but the hours of fun 'll... A private pool was my things to do with toddlers sanibel island time, hopefully not the beach Courtesy the. These eye-popping gardens host wild creatures like butterflies, turtles, rabbits, and it was for a activity... Kids ages 5-11, $ 9 for ages 12-17, $ 9 for ages 12-17, 15. Stuck in it paddle throughmangrove swamps and winding waterways, and birds is things to do with toddlers sanibel island of these loggerhead is... To also stop by the idyllic Blind Pass beach on both Sanibel & Captiva Islands Sanibel! Island things-to-do list ferry terminal is located on neighboring Captiva Island ) will guarantee bottlenose dolphin sightings destination for locally...