Going on a family tour of Florida? Then a visit to Fort Meyers and Sanibel Island with kids is definitely not to be missed! Fort Meyers is a larger city on the southwest coast of Florida. The city lies on the Gulf of Mexico and off the coast are the barrier islands of Sanibel and Captiva, each with their own atmosphere and beautiful sandy beaches. In this blog we list all the information you need for a great vacation in Fort Meyers and Sanibel Island with kids.
Best travel time Fort Meyers & Sanibel Island with kids
Florida is a destination that is particularly popular from January through April or October through December, as the climate here is lovely with temperatures averaging 25 degrees. In the summer months (May through September) it is a lot warmer. There is high humidity and the high air pressure means that there can be frequent heavy rain or thunderstorms.
Because we wanted to take a somewhat longer tour of Florida and are tied to school vacations, we still chose the summer months. We deliberately chose to fly back before mid-August because that is when the peak hurricane season begins (August through October).
Not an unnecessary luxury, as in recent years there has been a hurricane in this region almost every year. During our trip there was indeed a high humidity, which made it feel clammy and it averaged 40 degrees. Several times we had short and heavy tropical showers with thunderstorms, but these were often over after 1 or 2 hours and then the sun broke through again.
We had to get used to the hot pool and sea water (37 degrees), so a refreshing swim was out of the question. However, you don’t have to be put off either, because a round trip during this period also has its advantages. The attractions are a lot quieter than in the other months, and if you dress appropriately for the weather and adjust your activities accordingly, you’ll be fine!
Transportation Fort Meyers & Sanibel Island
Most people who go on a tour of Florida fly into Orlando or Miami. There are no direct flights to these cities from Amsterdam, Brussels or Düsseldorf. A tip is to book your plane tickets early, as they are often cheaper then. Through websites like Skyscanner or Kiwi, you can easily figure out the best flights for your family.
At Orlando or Miami airport you can rent a car, for example through Sunnycars. Sunny Cars has a very good insurance package and good terms regarding free cancellation and excess refund. Look online for renting a car at Orlando airport and renting a car at Miami airport.
Because the distances in America are great (even within cities), renting a car is recommended. In about 3.5 hours you drive from Orlando to Fort Meyers. From Miami it is about 3 hours drive. Optionally, you can also take a domestic flight to Fort Meyers. Fort Meyers has its own airport and several airlines such as Air Canada, Delta Airlines, American Airlines and United fly to this airport.
Children’s activities in Fort Meyers and Sanibel Island
#1 Visit Sanibel Island
During our tour of Florida, we wanted to head toward Fort Meyers to visit Sanibel Island in particular because of the positive stories we had heard about it. It would have the atmosphere of a tropical island, contain only low-rise buildings and be quiet in terms of tourism in the region.
With the white sandy beaches, azure waters and many activities you can do there, it would be a true tropical paradise and it certainly did not disappoint us!
Unfortunately, we visited the region 1 year after Hurricane Ian. This one had hit Fort Meyers and also Sanibel Island badly, which was also quite visible during our visit. As a result, some of the attractions and many of the restaurants on the island were still closed and locals were busy rebuilding.
We still considered skipping the island after all, but also wanted to support the local population with the reconstruction by our visit. We certainly don’t regret it and we and our kids found it very impressive to see the impact of this natural disaster with our own eyes. Despite the somewhat modified program, we had a very nice vacation day here!
One thing to be aware of in the Fort Meyers and Sanibel region is that there are very small critters/flies, called “No Seeums,” that can be very annoying. These critters are particularly active at sunrise and sunset and during the day in places near bushes in the shade.
We now know from experience that they bite and leave itchy bumps. Fortunately, you can find special spray there in many stores, which you can use to keep these pesky critters at bay. This spray worked well!
Explore Sanibel Island by bicycle
Sanibel is full of accessible hiking and biking trails, making it great to explore (part of) the island by bike. We rented a bike from Billy’s Rentals for half a day and went on our way. Since our kids were smaller, we rented a bike that the four of us could ride and that had a canopy to shield us from the sun.
Due in part to the heat and the heavier pedaling on this bike, renting it for part of the day was enough. If you visit Florida at a different time of year you could definitely rent the bike for a longer period of time. The bike alone was 1 big adventure for the kids and it was a fun way to explore the island and different beaches!
Visit JN ‘Ding’ Darling National Wildlife Refuge
Among other things, we cycled towards JN ‘Ding’ Darling National Wildlife Refuge. A nature park on the island where you can find a whole bunch of different birds, such as ibises, pelicans, flamingos and more. In addition, you can spot raccoons, otters, iguanas, alligators and turtles. The park is very large, so with the information we have now, we would explore it by car in the future.
However, we were able to get to trails by bike that we couldn’t reach by car. The total tour you can ride is about 6.5 kilometers. In the park you will also find a visitor center with information about the park which is offered in interactive ways. This also makes it appealing to (smaller) kids.
You can also hop on a 90-minute streetcar ride that takes you through the park and explains the flora and fauna. Admission to the park costs $10 per vehicle.
Finding shells on the beaches
Sanibel is known for its beautiful beaches. White sand, a very blue sea and shells! Lots and lots of shells. And not the shells as we can find on the beaches in the Netherlands, but 300 different kinds of shells. It is not for nothing that it is called the shell capital of the world.
Our kids really enjoyed going shell hunting and finding one special shell after another. The earlier in the day you go searching, the greater the chance of finding special shells.
Also, we visited several beaches while biking (and partly by car). For example, Northern Beach was a beautiful beach. In addition to the beach, you will find a lighthouse and small pier where locals fish. Bowman’s beach is well known to locals and has good facilities, such as restrooms, a playground and a picnic area. Turner Beach is known for its spectacular sunsets.
Bailey Matthews shell museum
Should you want to learn more about shells after searching for them on the beaches? Then visit the shell museum on the island. Here you will find shells from all over the world, but of course there is an extra emphasis on the shells you can find in this region of Florida. In addition to the shells, you can also visit an aquarium here. Kids up to 5 years old visit this museum for free. Kids 5 years and older pay $5 and adults $12.
Wildlife spotting from Tarpon Bay
If you enjoy seeing different wildlife, you can rent a kayak in Tarpon Bay or take a boat tour to look for dolphins and manatees. With the kayak, it is possible to take a guided tour, but you may also go out on your own.
Visit the Sanibel Sea School
Staying in this region a little longer? Then consider attending the Sanibel Sea School. This school is committed to educating kids and adults about marine ecosystems. To do this, they use the island itself and “field labs. For kids between the ages of 6 and 13, they have daily educational sessions in the morning and afternoon.
As parents, you may remain present at these classes. There are also classes for kids between 4-6 years old. However, it is helpful if your kids can understand some English to participate in the classes. The classes last 3 hours and cost about $60 per kid. More information can be found on the Sanibel Sea School website.
Restaurants Sanibel Island
On Sanibel Island, you will find a lot of local restaurants and bars to grab a drink or a nice meal during your stay on the island. What should not be missed for the kids is a stop at Pinocchio to get a delicious Italian ice cream. A good reward after biking around the island or searching for shells. They have as many as 37 different flavors, so there is something for everyone!
#2 Visit Fort Meyers Beach
Fort Meyers beach is about a 40-minute drive from Fort Meyers. This is also located on a barrier island called Estero Island. You will find several resorts and restaurants along the promenade. It is a long white sand beach, part of which is “Lovers Key State Park. This is a protected stretch of beach about 3 kilometers long filled with opportunities for wildlife watching, supping, hiking and fishing.
From Fort Meyers beach, you can also book several boat trips to go dolphin watching. It is a good place to spend a day at the beach because you have so many facilities and activities for the whole family, including mini golf, live music and museums.
If you visit this region in November, it is well worth visiting with the whole family to see the American sand sculpture building championships held here. They usually take place toward the end of November. You pay a small admission fee of $5 per person for this. Kids under the age of 2 get in free.
#3 Visit Captiva Island
In addition to Sanibel island, there is another barrier island off the coast of Fort Meyers called Captiva Island. You drive there in about 20 minutes from Sanibel. Here, too, you can find beautiful shells and enjoy beautiful sunsets on the beaches. Turner Beach beach (on the Captiva rather than Sanibel side) is the easiest to access on this island and offers good facilities.
It is worth watching the sunset from 1 of the beaches of Sanibel or Captiva Island. In the sea around these islands there are many dolphins. You can see these appearing regularly, especially in the evenings.
From Captiva Island you can also book an excursion to Cabbage Key. If you want to go for a real Robinson experience, this is the place to be. A catamaran will take you to this island in 1 hour (only accessible by boat). They have a restaurant there, a small hotel and several hiking trails. It is not crowded and you really get the feeling of being on an uninhabited island.
A few hours later the boat will take you back to Captiva. Please note; you are not allowed to bring your own food to this island. So it is best to have lunch at the restaurant on Cabbage Key.
#4 Visit the Everglades
A good 1.5-hour drive from Fort Meyers you will find Florida’s largest nature park, the Everglades. It is a vast area with different ecosystems. In our opinion, a visit to the Everglades should not be missed during a trip through Florida with kids. Because it is a vast area, it is good to consider in advance what you would like to see and do and make a plan accordingly.
From Fort Meyers we visited the Ten Thousand Islands. The name says it all; a whole bunch of small mangrove islands lying in the Gulf of Mexico. Via Smallwood Boat Tours we took a private boat tour with our family through the waters around these islands and across the Gulf of Mexico. We found it very impressive and saw many different birds, alligators, pelicans and dolphins during the boat tour.
The dolphins came close to the boat and also swam along for a bit. Our kids thoroughly enjoyed this excursion and despite the heat wave, it was lovely on the water with the breeze. The Smallwood Boat Tours website has more information on the excursions offered.
Another thing our kids have really enjoyed is hiking through the Everglades. There are several “trails” you can walk with various levels of difficulty and distances. We noticed that these trails are well laid out and maintained and many of them are also, for example, easily accessible for people with smaller kids (and strollers, for example).
At these trails you will often find restrooms and large parking lots where you can park your car for free. Since our kids were smaller, we chose several somewhat shorter and easily accessible trails (< 1.5 km), such as the Anhinga trail, Kirby Storter Roadside Park, Bobcat Boardwalk Trail and Otter Cave Trail.
You walk through various natural areas from Mangrove to swamps and you have a great chance of spotting an alligator up close. Our kids thought this was 1 big adventure. Unfortunately, the alligators also found it a little too hot at the time of our visit, so most of them were at the bottom of the water for hours at a time.
We were only able to see a few because of this. However, on the Internet you can read many stories of people who have walked the same trails and encountered many alligators.
Another activity suitable to do with kids in the Everglades is the Shark Valley Tram Tour. This is a 2-hour round trip through a different part of the Everglades. From Fort Meyers, this is a 2-hour drive. We did this on a day when we drove from Fort Meyers to our next destination (Homestead), which was on the other side of the Everglades.
This streetcar tour departs at fixed times and it is advisable to reserve a ticket for this in advance to be sure of a place. During this ride you will get explanations about the Everglades itself, you will have the chance to spot lots of wildlife and halfway you can climb a large observation tower for a beautiful view of this immense area.
This is especially useful with small kids because this way you can really see a bigger piece of this area, but don’t have to walk yourself. More information about this tour can be found on the Shark Valley Tram Tour website.
Also, around the Everglades you can visit various “alligator farms” and take airboat tours. We visited an alligator farm for half a day where we were given explanations about the alligators and various other animals you find in this area. They also had a reptile house, which our kids found very interesting.
Here we were explained about the many native pythons that do very well in the Florida climate and have increased tremendously in numbers over the years as a result. In addition, we took a short ride on an airboat which our kids thought was a great adventure! Especially when the captain started “stunting” the boat and spinning around, so you could get very wet.
Don’t feel like getting out of the boat soaked? Then find a spot a little further back on one of these boats. Beware; these boats really do make a huge noise. This can be quite scary and intense for smaller kids. Headphones are required on these boats for hearing protection. This made our kids fortunately not bothered by the noise.
#5 Visit Sarasota
Sarasota is a small city on the southwest coast of Florida and is about 1 hour and 20 minutes drive from Fort Meyers. The city lights on the Gulf of Mexico and off the coast are “Keys. These barrier islands each have their own atmosphere and beautiful white sandy beaches.
Siesta Key’s beaches have been voted the most beautiful in America several times. In addition to visiting the beaches, you will find beautiful parks, museums and you can visit the nearby Myakka Riverstate Park.
Are you curious about all the fun activities to do with kids in Sarasota? Then be sure to read the blog Sarasota with kids!
#6 Visit one of the festivals at Fort Meyers
Fort Meyers is known for the “elderly who go there to spend the winter,” as well as for its beautiful beaches, many activities and festivals. One of the most famous festivals is the Thomas Edison Festival of Light with a large light parade and car show. Other examples of festivals include the art festival, the film festival, various night markets, parades, festivities surrounding holidays and Cinco de mayo.
So be sure to check for a fun festival at the time of your visit to the Fort Meyers area, as these are definitely worth visiting with kids!
#7 Visit the IMAG History and Science Center
Fort Meyers is home to the IMAG History & Science Center, which is a really fun family outing. It focuses on science, technology, engineering and math. Through performances and educational programs, you will learn more about this and also be immersed in the culture and history of South West Florida.
Interactively and with changing activities, you will learn together as a family. These include various laboratories, a fossil hunt, a Google Earth wall and various aquariums. Adults pay $16 per person for a visit and kids between the ages of 3 and 17 pay $12.85.
Family-friendly restaurant Fort Meyers and Sanibel Island
Fort Meyers is a larger city in Florida and you have restaurants galore and a choice of cuisines here, so you can actually always find something to eat with kids. During our visit to Sanibel Island, we ate at a true American sports bar called the “Sanibel Grill.
Our kids really liked this because the restaurant was full of TVs showing all kinds of different sports games. The restaurant was also full of sports memorabilia, such as jerseys of famous basketball players. So there was plenty to do and see during dinner for the kids.
The restaurant was also popular among the locals. We really enjoyed the typical American atmosphere here. They had a kid’s menu there for the kids.
We did learn while traveling around Florida to always inquire about portion sizes. Our kids sometimes also ate from the regular menu and often 2 people could eat from 1 normal portion. As described earlier in this blog, a stop at the Pinocchio ice cream parlor on Sanibel should not be missed! They sell delicious ice cream here!
Family-friendly hotels Fort Meyers
You can stay in Fort Meyers with kids just fine. You have plenty of nice family-friendly accommodations you can book in this city. We list the top rated accommodations in the different price ranges. Click on the blue link for more information.
Budget accommodations: Candlewood Suites Fort Myers Interstate 75, an IHG Hotel
Mid-range accommodations: Hilton Garden Inn Fort Myers
Luxury accommodations: Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa
Also, check out the entire list of family-friendly accommodations in Fort Meyers.
About the author: we, Ronald and Maartje love to go “on adventures” with our 2 kids, discovering the world and making memories for life.
