Once we take into consideration our favourite locations in Florida, Fort Myers is all the time on the prime of our listing. We love the white sandy seashores, beautiful sunsets, and engaging eating places. We simply acquired again from our first journey with younger youngsters, and it was loads of enjoyable exploring the entire issues to do in Fort Myers with children.
Fort Myers is a vacation spot we now have been wanting to return to for some time, and now, post-hurricane Ian, we actually wished to get again and assist unfold the phrase about what’s open on Fort Myers Seashore and the encompassing space.
We couldn’t wait to discover extra of Fort Myers and see it by means of 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 lodge mattress), having the ability to go proper from our room onto the seaside, and by no means miss a sundown on the sand.
Each night time, we had been out on the seaside for sundown with the youngsters. They all the time ended up going for a sundown swim with their garments on, however it didn’t matter as a result of our room was steps away, and so they had a blast, so we didn’t care.
The Diamondhead Resort was 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.
In case you are touring with children, you know the way essential it’s to separate the bed room. The rooms are arrange nicely 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 Amassing on the Seashore
Our youngsters had a blast simply strolling alongside the seaside, searching for “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 amassing on the seaside if we allow them to. Fort Myers Seashore is among the greatest locations for shell amassing, so make certain to convey a seashell bag to your children to fill with their favourite seashells.
2. Salty Sam’s Pirate Cruise
The most effective 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 taking part in pirate video games, searching for 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 one of the best ways to do this is to spend it on the seaside. You may hire a cabana on the seaside, or if you’re staying at a lodge on the seaside like we did, there shall be chairs and umbrellas to your use.
In case you are touring with toddlers or youngsters who nonetheless nap, staying at a lodge on the seaside 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 seaside or down by the lodge pool.
You probably have older children, there are a number of watersport actions they’ll take pleasure in and beg to do. Some of the standard and my favourite is parasailing. The views are wonderful.
4. The Sunsets
The sunsets in Fort Myers are an occasion price placing in your issues to do listing! 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 seaside someplace, watching the sundown.
Whereas we watched the sundown and went for just a little seaside stroll, the youngsters all the time ended up going for just a little sundown swim. It was the proper ending of the day and an effective way for the youngsters to burn off just a little extra vitality earlier than mattress.
One other excellent spot to observe the sundown is on a sundown sail. Salty Sam’s Pirate Cruise affords a sundown cruise in addition to different native distributors.
5. Cool Down with Ice Cream at Love Boat
The easiest way 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 seaside is simply over the bridge, however it’s definitely worth the journey.
The parts are huge. Ensure to order the kid-size cone for teenagers. A small waffle cone remains to be big. Two individuals can simply break up this. If you recognize me in actual life, you recognize I really like ice cream, and sharing ice cream shouldn’t be an choice, so we every acquired our personal.
They’ve tons of flavors to select from. Gator Tracks was my private favourite. In addition they have sundaes and shakes too.
Child-Pleasant Issues to Do in Fort Myers & Surrounding Space
There are such a lot of points of interest in Fort Myers it’s best to get a rental automotive. That approach, 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 points of interest 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, and so they have an aquarium too, with a contact tank. Regardless 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 certainly be an engineer sometime. He loves seeing how issues are constructed, and he’s all the time “fixing” one thing.
Our youngsters beloved touching the starfish and feeding the stingrays within the SEA-to-SEE contact tanks. The large aquarium was successful with the youngsters. In case you are fortunate, you’ll go to the residing lab animal shows once they take one of many animals out – Isla acquired 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 strategy to spend a sizzling summer time day in Florida than on the waterpark? We actually beloved this waterpark. It’s simply the best dimension. There aren’t big 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. You probably have children beneath 5 years previous, this is able to be the place to seize just a few chairs.
Sunsplash Household Waterpark is about half-hour from Fort Myers Seashore and an excellent place to spend half the day or a complete day like we did. Our youngsters love waterparks. We had been right here for over 5 hours, and so they 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 make certain to pay for parking.
- Play on the train-inspired large playground. Our youngsters beloved it.
- Hire a motorbike or surrey (4-wheeled bike) and discover the park.
- Hire a swan pedal boat or kayak and get out on the water.
- Experience the practice across the lake and thru the park that passes by means of 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 beautiful two-mile stretch of seaside. 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. Should you favor to affix a guided tour, we recommend this Lovers Key kayak tour.
10. Surprise Gardens
The Surprise Gardens is a beautiful botanical backyard and residential to over 300 rescued, rehabilitated, and non-releasable birds and animals. Rise up and near flamingoes, alligators, macaws, and extra.
Children aged 5 and up can take part within the Wild Wonders Animal Encounters, however make certain to e book them upfront. Click on right here to see which encounters are at the moment accessible.
In case you are 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 Surprise Gardens, we recommend 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 youngsters, however most breweries are kid-friendly. A number of breweries have out of doors video games, video games, meals choices, and canine pleasant – all of which make them a kid-friendly place to go to whereas mother and pa 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
Once 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 vehicles/short-term meals home windows the place they will serve hungry prospects and nonetheless run their enterprise whereas they’re rebuilding after the hurricane.
For an up-to-date listing 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.
Greatest 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 through the hurricane. Parts are big, nice choices for adults and youngsters, and the meals is actually good.
We propose getting a well-known cinnamon roll to share. The biscuits & gravy are nice – the half portion was massive sufficient to share. They do have just a few tables arrange, however we acquired ours to go on the way in which to go exploring for the day.
Greatest 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 usually search for informal family-friendly eating places with children with reside music or out of doors seating. It makes our meals extra pleasing, realizing that our children don’t must be tremendous quiet and never fear about disturbing individuals.
Listed below are just a few of the eating places we ate at that we beneficial 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 Under Deck
- Cosy Harbor Waterfront Restaurant
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In case you are a neighborhood enterprise open in Fort Myers Seashore and want to be added to the listing, please depart a remark.
