I had not heard of it until earlier this year. Book family tours. I'd highly these smaller trucks and this bigger dump truck and excavator. After a low tide or storm are best along with the months of January, February, and March. Pick a beach, any beach, and head on over after dinner. It's a far cry from Disney, BUT I think this type of vacation can be just as lovely for kids of all ages. Your new neighbors will be just as curious about you as you are about them. 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. We've taken the twins twice and both times they loved running out on the boardwalk and spotting animals. We also recommended Algiers Beach (aka Gulfside City Park Beach), one of the most popular dog-friendly beaches in Sanibel. Each time, we had to walk around and see the parrots (the naughty one on the end kept throwing his toys out of the cage and pouting as passersby to pick them upshe thought it was hilarious!) Located off Sanibel-Captiva Road, Bowmans Beach has several miles of secluded white sand and gentle waters ideal for a refreshing swim. Shelling is one of the best things to do on Sanibel Island, so plan to spend lots of time at the beach! By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. A good day on the water promises dolphins, manatee, and other sea life sightings. Less restaurants and shopping. Admission is $7 for kids ages 5-11, $9 for ages 12-17, $15 for adults. The Island also offers many opportunities for kids to learn and have fun at the same time. Sanibel Island with kids really is a lovely vacation! The fun never stops on Sanibel Island. Here are the activities they have for kids! Get there early, as parking spaces fill up. Sanibel Island with kids is the perfect place to spend a family vacation! During the summertime, you'll get those hotter temperatures, as the lows only get down into the 70s during this time of year. Registered dietitian & mom behind Create Kids Club an online kitchen where feeding kids gluten-free is made easier with simple recipes & kids cooking ideas. This Italian restaurant on Sanibel isnt the best thing ever, but after days of burgers, nachos and shellfish, it tastes like it is. Unique Experiences and Travel Inspiration. We opted to drive ourselves. Kids Activities. Sanibel Island is known for shelling and is one of the best places in the world to shell. A great place to explore on a rainy day in Sanibel Island. The shells on Sanibel make going to the beach even more fun for kids because they have another activity to do. Stop by Flan World Corp for a life-changing coconut flan, Aux Dlices Bakery for authentic French pastries, and the Doughnut Station for the fluffiest doughnuts. By: Jodi/Updated on: February 15, 2023/3 Comments. Reach out to me using this form and lets start brainstorming and planning your next amazing escapebecause to me it is more than just a vacation. Not by chance, it became the worlds most famous place for shelling. Resorts felt more high end and had price tags to match. But heed the warning signs, as the bridge makes for swift ocean currents and the water around it is not advisable for swimming. We ate breakfast in the room. The shelling is the best and the kids love climbing all over the driftwood and making their way through the forest. For more shopping fun, check out the shops in Times Square at the nearby Fort Myers Beach Pier. With over 25 miles of paved, carless trails, Sanibel Island is a wonderful place for families to explore on two wheels. Heres a guide to the top 9 things to do in Sanibel. It takes justone visittoSanibel Islandbefore youll start planning yournext trip back. Stop in at theSanibel Chamber Commerceand ask for the treasure hunt map. Summer Waves Water Park is a thrilling experience with plenty of waterslides the whole family can enjoy. More shops and restaurants and better choice of hotels and resorts. Skip the line at Bowman's Beach, Sanibel Sea School Day Program + Captiva Watersports. Ever been to Captiva or Sanibel? Get our travel tips Delivered to your inbox. Your little ones are really brave for embracing boas and alligators. I'd venture to say that if you look for it you can find as much adventure on this little island as a lot of other tourist destinations. 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. 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. Go straight to the beach. Hotels tended towards being cheaper on Sanibel. My boys had never had REAL ice cream before so we splurged and let them have some. Captiva Island is a wonderful day trip from Sanibel Island. First lit in 1884, the area around the lighthouse is open to public, but the lighthouse itself is not. Heres something I wouldnt have done as a kid Hold boas, king snakes, pythons, alligators But our day guide Rhett? 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. Located at 2100 Island Inn Road, I was able to try a couple of beers brewed in the Fort Myers area. They were a lot cheaper than similar resorts on Sanibel. You might spot a dolphin or two from there. It was my first time, hopefully not the last. And right along with the ocean side, we spotted starfish, crabs, and lots of critters inside shells. Dairy-Free (All recipes on CKC are gluten-free). Most folks rent a car, but there are shuttles available to take you here (depending on where you are staying and what you plan on doing, you may not need a car once you get to the island). Here are a few things to think about when narrowing down the best Sanibel Island family resorts for your vacation. 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 arent really any great public transportation on Sanibel Island, so unless you are planning to take an Uber to and from the airport (expensive given the distance) you will need a car to get around. Hi, Friends! Some bucket-list experiences here are sunbathing, kayaking, bird watching, and exploring idyllic parks like the Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge. Its amazing! When travelling with my kids, I have to know where the good ice cream places are! The best times for shelling were at low tide and early in the morning (even better if these coincide). 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. I know it sounds strange, but if you ask my daughter, this was one of her favorite places on Sanibel island for kids. Here you can learn all sorts of stuff about the animals and nature. They might even meet a new friend or two. With beaches that boast over 60 different kinds ofseashells, Sanibel Island is a shell hunter's dream. It's a unique, quirky, and unusual place that is full of old Florida charm. It has an authentic, old Florida vibe. Florida is traditionally a state that screams family travel. Collect shells along the beach Sanibel is known as the Shelling Capital of the World, and it's not hard to see why. Depending on the time of year, Sanibel's sunset locales vary. Not so much. 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 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. The lighthouse dates back to 1884. Sign up for simple dinner ideas, easy step by step instructions, and fun recipes for kids. Read More: The Best Hawaii Resorts for Families on Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island. You'll probably not be surprised to see this list includes enjoying the beaches fully with different beach activities, swimming, and even shelling! Watch the sunset on the beach. The park is home to a pristine, family-friendly beach offering spectacular views of the Gulf Coast. We got to one area and a couple said they had heard one there and were waiting. Groceries on Sanibel were significantly more expensive than on the main land. The island acts like a big scoop and because of the way that the ocean currents flow, the shells just wash up on the beach. I am a travel agent and family travel expert who is PASSIONATE about planning amazing adventures for families. Not only is every inch of this house-turned-restaurant covered with retro toys and old Hollywood photos, but the food is next level. 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. Where else but the seashell capital of the world would you find the national shell museum? We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. That is until I heard of the western side of the panhandle and more specifically Sanibel Island. The island is home to many burrowing gopher turtles and lush plantlife grows wild here giving the island an old Florida feel. The french fries are really good. The wildlife refuge is open every day except Fridays. 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 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. Definitely can do an adult only trip there too! It's a great and inexpensive activity for the family that doesn't involve having everyone sit at a table for an entire meal. That night in bed? Eat at RC Otters. 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