After we take into consideration our favourite locations in Florida, Fort Myers is all the time on the high of our checklist. We love the white sandy seashores, attractive sunsets, and engaging eating places. We simply obtained again from our first journey with younger kids, and it was loads of enjoyable exploring the entire issues to do in Fort Myers with children.
Fort Myers is a vacation spot we’ve got been wanting to return to for some time, and now, post-hurricane Ian, we actually needed to get again and assist unfold the phrase about what’s open on Fort Myers Seashore and the encircling space.
We couldn’t wait to discover extra of Fort Myers and see it via our children’ eyes. On our final journey, it was simply us two adults on a kid-free journey. This time, our journey was all about household journey and issues to do in Fort Myers with children.
Right here is every part from our most up-to-date journey, together with what was open in Fort Myers Seashore, the place we stayed in Fort Myers Seashore, and a few of our favourite issues to do in Fort Myers Seashore with children.
The place to Keep in Fort Myers Seashore
We stayed on the Diamondhead Resort positioned proper on Fort Myers Seashore – which is ideal for us. We love waking as much as the dawn (or little children leaping on the resort mattress), with the ability to go proper from our room onto the seashore, and by no means miss a sundown on the sand.
Each night time, we had been out on the seashore for sundown with the children. They all the time ended up going for a sundown swim with their garments on, but it surely didn’t matter as a result of our room was steps away, they usually had a blast, so we didn’t care.
The Diamondhead Resort was a great match for our younger household as all of the rooms are one-bedroom suites. Our room had a full kitchen and a separate bed room and lounge space, so everybody had a spot to sleep.
If you’re touring with children, you know the way necessary it’s to separate the bed room. The rooms are arrange effectively for households – it’s all the time a giant plus to have a kitchen to reheat meals or make a fast breakfast.
Issues to do in Fort Myers Seashore with Children
1. Shell Gathering on the Seashore
Our children had a blast simply strolling alongside the seashore, in search of “treasures” and shells. Each two ft, they had been screaming, “Mother, take a look at these superior shells” and “Look what I discovered.” It was tremendous cute seeing them so excited.
They’d have spent all day shell gathering on the seashore if we allow them to. Fort Myers Seashore is among the greatest locations for shell gathering, so be certain to carry a seashell bag on your children to fill with their favourite seashells.
2. Salty Sam’s Pirate Cruise
Among the finest issues to do in Fort Myers with children is go on Salty Sam’s Pirate Cruise. Each of our toddlers had a blast. The children had a blast enjoying pirate video games, in search of treasures, face portray, dancing, and extra.
It’s a 90-minute cruise that leaves Fort Myers Seashore and goes out into the Gulf of Mexico. There are a number of cruises a day, and on Friday nights, they’ve an adults-only boozy cruise.
3. Spend the Day on Fort Myers Seashore
Typically you want a day of doing nothing on trip, and the easiest way to do this is to spend it on the seashore. You possibly can hire a cabana on the seashore, or if you’re staying at a resort on the seashore like we did, there shall be chairs and umbrellas on your use.
If you’re touring with toddlers or kids who nonetheless nap, staying at a resort on the seashore is greatest so that you could simply go as much as your room for a nap. Whereas Isla napped, Adam and Atlas had been nonetheless in a position to hang around on the seashore or down by the resort pool.
When you have older children, there are a number of watersport actions they’ll take pleasure in and beg to do. One of the crucial fashionable and my favourite is parasailing. The views are superb.
4. The Sunsets
The sunsets in Fort Myers are an occasion value placing in your issues to do checklist! With western publicity overlooking the calm gulf, the sunsets on Fort Myers Seashore are magical. Each night time of our journey, you’d discover us on the seashore someplace, watching the sundown.
Whereas we watched the sundown and went for slightly seashore stroll, the children all the time ended up going for slightly sundown swim. It was the proper ending of the day and an effective way for the children to burn off slightly extra power earlier than mattress.
One other excellent spot to look at the sundown is on a sundown sail. Salty Sam’s Pirate Cruise presents a sundown cruise in addition to different native distributors.
5. Cool Down with Ice Cream at Love Boat
One of the simplest ways to beat the Florida warmth is with ice cream at Love Boat. We’re responsible of visiting 3 times on our final journey as a result of the ice cream is that good. The closest location to the seashore is simply over the bridge, however it’s well worth the journey.
The parts are huge. Be certain to order the kid-size cone for youths. A small waffle cone remains to be enormous. Two folks can simply break up this. If me in actual life, I really like ice cream, and sharing ice cream shouldn’t be an possibility, so we every obtained our personal.
They’ve tons of flavors to select from. Gator Tracks was my private favourite. Additionally they have sundaes and shakes too.
Child-Pleasant Issues to Do in Fort Myers & Surrounding Space
There are such a lot of sights in Fort Myers it’s best to get a rental automotive. That method, you may see and do extra and discover different close by cities and seashores like Sanibel, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, Boca Grande, and extra.
Listed below are some sights which are open now within the Fort Myers space that we beloved on our current journey and are nice choices for issues to do in Fort Myers with children.
6. IMAG Historical past & Science Musuem
IMAG is a enjoyable, hands-on science museum, they usually have an aquarium too, with a contact tank. Irrespective of you probably have huge children or little children, there’s something for everybody.
Each children had a blast within the engineering lab, placing issues collectively and constructing ramps. Adam and I’ve all the time mentioned Atlas will almost definitely be an engineer sometime. He loves seeing how issues are constructed, and he’s all the time “fixing” one thing.
Our children beloved touching the starfish and feeding the stingrays within the SEA-to-SEE contact tanks. The large aquarium was successful with the children. If you’re fortunate, you’ll go to the dwelling lab animal shows once they take one of many animals out – Isla obtained to the touch a snake!
Click on right here to see all present reveals at IMAG Historical past & Science Museum.
7. Splash at Solar Splash Waterpark
What higher approach to spend a scorching summer time day in Florida than on the waterpark? We actually beloved this waterpark. It’s simply the appropriate dimension. There aren’t enormous traces, they’ve loads of chairs and areas for each age group.
There’s a actually good toddler play space with dumping buckets, slides, splash pads, and shallow water. When you have children below 5 years outdated, this may be the place to seize just a few chairs.
Sunsplash Household Waterpark is about half-hour from Fort Myers Seashore and an important place to spend half the day or a complete day like we did. Our children love waterparks. We had been right here for over 5 hours, they usually didn’t need to depart.
8. Lakes Park
Lakes Regional Park has tons of enjoyable issues to do with children, all in the identical place. The park is free to go to, however be certain to pay for parking.
- Play on the train-inspired large playground. Our children beloved it.
- Lease a motorbike or surrey (4-wheeled bike) and discover the park.
- Lease a swan pedal boat or kayak and get out on the water.
- Experience the prepare across the lake and thru the park that passes via a number of “villages” made to scale alongside the route.
- Go to the Railroad Museum of South Florida (free).
- Seize an ice cream on the Whistle Cease Ice Cream Shoppe.
9. Go to Lovers Key State Park
A go to to Lovers Key State Park is greater than only a attractive two-mile stretch of seashore. There are over 5 miles of trails within the park, the place you may see wildlife, together with a number of species of birds, gopher tortoises, alligators, and if you’re fortunate, perhaps a dolphin or a manatee within the water.
There are kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards accessible for hire. In the event you choose to hitch a guided tour, we propose this Lovers Key kayak tour.
10. Marvel Gardens
The Marvel Gardens is a beautiful botanical backyard and residential to over 300 rescued, rehabilitated, and non-releasable birds and animals. Stand up and near flamingoes, alligators, macaws, and extra.
Children aged 5 and up can take part within the Wild Wonders Animal Encounters, however be certain to ebook them upfront. Click on right here to see which encounters are at the moment accessible.
If you’re visiting early within the morning, seize breakfast on the Waffle Monkey in Bonta Springs. They’ve tons of enjoyable and engaging waffle creations. After exploring the Marvel Gardens, we propose grabbing some ice cream down the road at For Heaven’s Shake.
11. Seize a Pint at a Native Brewery in Fort Myers
This one could also be extra of certainly one of our favourite issues to do in Fort Myers than the children, however most breweries are kid-friendly. A number of breweries have outside video games, video games, meals choices, and canine pleasant – all of which make them a kid-friendly place to go to whereas mother and pop can take pleasure in a beer.
Listed below are just a few breweries in Fort Myers and surrounding Areas:
- Fort Myers Brewing Firm
- Level Ybel Brewing Firm
- Ceremony Brewing
- Coastal Dayz Brewery
- Eight-Foot Brewing
Click on right here for an inventory of extra breweries & distilleries.
What Eating places are Open on Fort Myers Seashore
After we visited in July 2023, there have been a number of eating places on Fort Myers Seashore open and extra eating places in preparation for the opening up for the upcoming excessive season.
What we thought was actually distinctive was a number of eating places in Fort Myers Seashore have arrange meals vans/momentary meals home windows the place they’ll serve hungry clients and nonetheless run their enterprise whereas they’re rebuilding after the hurricane.
For an up-to-date checklist of what eating places in Fort Myers Seashore are open, click on right here.
The place to Eat in Fort Myers Seashore with Children
Listed below are just a few family-friendly eating places in Fort Myers Seashore that we ate at.
Finest Breakfast on Fort Myers Seashore – Mother’s Restaurant
Proper now, Mother’s Restaurant is working as a meals truck as the unique restaurant was completely destroyed in the course of the hurricane. Parts are enormous, nice choices for adults and youngsters, and the meals is actually good.
We advise getting a well-known cinnamon roll to share. The biscuits & gravy are nice – the half portion was giant sufficient to share. They do have just a few tables arrange, however we obtained ours to go on the best way to go exploring for the day.
Finest Espresso on Fort Myers Seashore – Mojo’s Espresso Cafe
Mojo’s Espresso Cafe can also be working as a meals truck in entrance of their authentic location whereas they rebuild.
They’ve a number of breakfast choices in addition to espresso & smoothies. We stopped by Mojo’s a number of instances to seize a cup of espresso earlier than heading out for the day.
Informal Seashore Eating places
We sometimes search for informal family-friendly eating places with children with stay music or outside seating. It makes our meals extra pleasant, understanding that our children don’t should be tremendous quiet and never fear about disturbing folks.
Listed below are just a few of the eating places we ate at that we advisable for consuming out with children:
- La Ola Surfside Restaurant
- Wahoo Willie’s
- Petey’s Higher Deck above Matanzas on the Bay
We had hoped to get these eating places, however we ran out of time
- Dixie Fish Co.
- Parrot Key Caribbean Grill
- Yucatan Seashore Stand Bar & Grill
- Junkanoo Beneath Deck
- Comfortable Harbor Waterfront Restaurant
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If you’re an area enterprise open in Fort Myers Seashore and wish to be added to the checklist, please depart a remark.