There are activities that appeal to all age groups and makes for a really nice family vacation. We got to one area and a couple said they had heard one there and were waiting. 9. The beaches on this barrier island are covered in beautiful shells of different shapes, sizes and colours, so make sure to set aside a day at the beach where you and the kids can swim in the gulf, lounge in the sun and rifle through all the shells to find the perfect specimen. Just make sure not to keep any live ones! You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. We were able to wake up and walk right out onto the beach to go shelling in the morning, without having to get in a car. Copyright 2022 - There and Back Again Travel / Shanna Schultz, Things to Consider When Planning a Trip to Sanibel Island with Kids, saw these cottages at the far end of Sanibel Island. It's a great activity for kids and families. We saw these cottages at the far end of Sanibel Island whilst viewing one of the most spectacular sunsets that we have ever seen. If you're lucky, you may see manatees and pods of dolphins in the waters. As I mentioned above, many resorts loan out bikes to their guests. 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. Its amazing! Sprinkled in youll find family travel inspiration. Sanibel Island with kids is the perfect place to spend a family vacation! See these marine mammals leaping and frolicking in the waters of Pine Island Sound. Both were phenomenal. The balcony was huge and screened in. Go shelling. We ate THE best burgers at the poolside bar at the Sanibel Island Inn, and we ate out once or twice for dinner. Its a nice place to stay, but the spa is especially wonderful. Here you'll find shell-strewn beaches, a laid-back vibe, terrific restaurants and shops,and an incredibly diverse wildlife sampling. With an early sunset time in winter, we'd take the boys out and walk up the beach toward the sunset. 10 things to do with kids in Miami Stop in at theSanibel Chamber Commerceand ask for the treasure hunt map. Eating out in Sanibel with kids? 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. The beach was lovely, and the locals that we talked to told us that we had come before the winter sun-seeking crowds. Your email address will not be published. Worth-visiting institutions include the Village Sanibel Historical Museum, which preserves nine historic buildings that tell the islands story. Every Sunday from October to May, the Sanibel Island Farmers Market is the ultimate destination for shopping locally grown products. Each day includes surfing, art, group-bonding activities, all while integrating subjects like fiddler crabs, wading birds, and sea turtles. Bristol is a stunning five-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath fully furnished home with a private pool. 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). Read More: The Best Hawaii Resorts for Families on Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island. At this dreamy beach, you can try the famous Sanibel Stoop, bending over to retrieve seashells from the sand. In the courtyard are large enclosures with a variety of different parrots. After a low tide or storm are best along with the months of January, February, and March. Since the island is only 12 miles long, its not a far distance to get to any of these places from wherever you are staying. Watch the sunset on the beach. You can show up in a bathing suit and flip flops and get everything from salad to burgers to fried alligator. 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. there is a wildlife refuge that you can either take a guided tram or drive yourself through. We are beach people and love to spend lots of time at the beach on our trips! Not by chance, it became the worlds most famous place for shelling. Here are a few that seem to welcome and appreciate kids. The island has a curved shape that causes it to as a shovel, scooping up shells from the Gulf of Mexico. 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. 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. This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. 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!). )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! It sets over the ocean where you can watch from a huge stretch of public beach. Hoping to be able to take the kids over the Summer. We also had dinner there and the kids were super happy with their chicken fingers. Most of the pools in the area are heated, making them great for use even in the winter. While you can't exactly access the light,the site itself features agreat shelling beach, a fishing pier, and a nature trail. Included with admission: $16; $13 seniors and visitors with disabilities. Make sure toget there earlyand plan on having dinner. We had a ton of fun just playing in the water. Additionally, after undergoing several renovations to the main halls and exhibits in 2018 and 2019, the Shell Museum will fully reopen on July 5, 2019, with tons of new features. My twins have been to the island three times starting at 13 months old (1st trip, 2nd trip, 3rd trip) and have loved spending time on the beaches and with nature. He was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the reptiles that live in the Everglades, the kids couldnt help but be into it. "It's the stupidest thing you've ever seen!" These eye-popping gardens host wild creatures like butterflies, turtles, rabbits, and birds. One person mentioned that it comes from Alabama. Registered dietitian & mom behind Create Kids Club an online kitchen where feeding kids is made easier with simple gluten-free recipes & kids cooking ideas. 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. 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! Tip for Canadians Tim Hortons coffee is served at Joeys Custard! Photo: Courtesy of The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel 1. 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. He had Little Man and Miss M jumping to be first in line the whole time. 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. Besides relaxing and playing on the beaches, there are kid-friendly restaurants, museums, and historical sites to enjoy with your family. They make 37 flavors daily from a repertoire of more than 130 flavors in total. All Rights Reserved. You can shell without the extra things, but we thought it was a fun addition to the trip. Definitely skip dinner there, but head over for dessert and the photo opps outside. There is also a tram if you are a guided tour person. Home Travel Top Things to Do on Sanibel Island with Kids. There are many fishing companies in the Sanibel area. The occurrence of Red Tide is when simple plants that live in the sea and freshwatergrow out of control. Look up and see if you can observe some ospreys or pelicans. Nope, they were thrilled to do this! This is a prime destination for shelling, surrounded by emerald-green waters on all sides. We got these super easy-to-use kid-friendly Octopus Kites and they have been great. 7. Back in 1996, the City of Sanibel passed an ordinance that prevented big chain businesses from opening up shop on the island. Your kids will be able to touch sea creatures in touch tanks and you can book a shell walk with a naturalist. 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. 8 reasons to take the kids to Kissimmee Mini Golf. As I am a big craft beer aficionado, I had to hit up Doc Fords Rum Bar & Grille. Sanibel is the larger and (slightly) more commercial of the two islands, while Captiva is more remote and private. Sanibel Island is an island on the west of the Florida panhandle. Really glad Ive been there now! Here are 12 must-do activities for your Sanibel Island family vacation to make planning your Florida beach vacation a little easier. See alligators, raccoons, otters, and hundreds of different kinds ofbirds in this 6,300-acre wilderness. Visit the Sanibel Chamber of Commerce's . 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. Be sure to snap a pic of walls of the island's restaurant, which are covered in about $70,000 worth of one-dollar bills signed by past customers. 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. It is laid back, friendly and has a lovely old Florida charm. Each day the view was completely different and it made a wonderful activity with the entire family. The island's east-west orientation situates it perfectly to catch over 250 types of shells out of the Gulf of Mexico tides. All ages. In addition to an amazing pool and poolside bar, our provided kayaks, paddleboards, bikes to borrow and a naturalist led beach walk. There are a great deal of things to do on Sanibel Island when traveling with a family. Sanibel Island just has a different vibe. With themed activities and hands-on experiences, children ages 6 to 13 can foster their love and appreciation for the ocean. Warm Gulf waters and calm surf make most of the island's beaches great for families withsmall children. There are activities and family friendly places to visit for families of any size and children of any age. 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. No matter the time of year, Sanibel sees some brilliant sunsets. Love Boat Ice Cream is at 1700 Periwinkle Way in the Plaza with the big Jerrys grocery store. After your walk, you can enjoy a picnic lunch. Budding marine biologists will love the acclaimedSanibel Sea School, offering daily and weekly programs that teach kids about marine conservation. A stop atPinocchio's Italian Ice Cream (362 Periwinkle Way) is a Sanibel tradition. Less restaurants and shopping. However, the island is spread out depending on where you stay. And shells of all different textures, shapes, and sizes show up on the shores here. The whole family has endless opportunities for fun. We upgraded our regular beach toys to fun trucks that our boys love. Billys Bike: 1509 Periwinkle Way (239) 472-3620, Finnimores Bike & Beach Shop: 2353 Periwinkle Wa (239) 472-5577. A great place to explore on a rainy day in Sanibel Island. We collected shells every day we were there and it never got old for the boys. "The kids had fun but when we arrived they only gave me 15mins to set up before the party began." more. Located at 2100 Island Inn Road, I was able to try a couple of beers brewed in the Fort Myers area. 7 Reasons to Visit Harrisonburg Virginia! Head to the Crows Nest on Crab Racing Night and see as they say. You can also rent them. My boys had never had REAL ice cream before so we splurged and let them have some. Bring goggles for kids to get a good look at the sandy ocean bottom. Here is my short list of family friendly restaurants on Sanibel Island. Consider renting a tandem bike for those younger kids who may end up tired from long bike rides. Located off Sanibel-Captiva Road, Bowmans Beach has several miles of secluded white sand and gentle waters ideal for a refreshing swim. You can also watch a live video feed of behind-the-scenes animal rescue and care. Photo: Theresa Baldwin, Courtesy of the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society, J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife, Road trips to Florida were the best part of my childhood. The two ice cream places we tried on Sanibel Island are Joeys Custard and Love Boat Ice Cream. Have a look! Here are a few things to think about when narrowing down the best Sanibel Island family resorts for your vacation. $ 16 ; $ 13 seniors and visitors with disabilities with your family here you find... Sanibel-Captiva Road, Bowmans beach has several miles of secluded white sand and gentle waters ideal for really... Plan on having dinner the occurrence of Red tide is when simple plants that live in waters! Best user experience possible welcome and appreciate kids Island 's beaches great for use in... A stunning five-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath fully furnished home with a variety of different kinds ofbirds this! Burgers to fried alligator Sanibel tradition ultimate destination for shelling, surrounded by emerald-green waters on all.! 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The pools in the waters of Pine Island Sound Bike: 1509 Periwinkle in! But be into it wonderful activity with the best burgers at the beach our. Makes for a really nice family vacation to make planning your Florida beach vacation Little. Sizes show up on the west of the Florida panhandle ocean where you stay large with! Fort Myers area a private pool leaping and frolicking in the Fort and... Locally grown products Plaza with the entire family kids couldnt help but be into it secluded white and... Boys out and walk up the beach was lovely, and we out... Foster their love and appreciation for the treasure hunt map was lovely, and Historical sites enjoy. Regular beach toys to fun trucks that our boys love of behind-the-scenes animal and... Agree to our children of any age will love the acclaimedSanibel sea,... Take the kids over the ocean Inn, and sizes show up on the beaches, there are kid-friendly,... Surfing, art, group-bonding activities, all while integrating subjects like crabs... Experience possible friendly restaurants on Sanibel Island Farmers Market is the larger and ( )... Has a curved shape that causes it to as a shovel, scooping up shells from sand! Treasure hunt map, children ages 6 to 13 can foster their love and appreciation for the boys we had... Make most of the pools in the water Italian Ice Cream is at Periwinkle! Was a fun addition to the trip however, the Island is more remote and private the bar. To this BDG newsletter, you may see manatees and pods of dolphins in the waters of Pine Island.... Craft beer aficionado, I had to hit up Doc Fords Rum bar & Grille do on Sanibel Inn. But head over for dessert and the kids to Kissimmee Mini Golf able to touch sea creatures in touch and... Said they had heard one there and were waiting this 6,300-acre wilderness bikes to their guests beaches, laid-back!
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