Once we take into consideration our favourite locations in Florida, Fort Myers is all the time on the prime of our checklist. We love the white sandy seashores, attractive sunsets, and engaging eating places. We simply acquired again from our first journey with younger kids, and it was a number 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 wished to get again and assist unfold the phrase about what’s open on Fort Myers Seaside and the encircling space.
We couldn’t wait to discover extra of Fort Myers and see it by way of our youngsters’ 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 little thing from our most up-to-date journey, together with what was open in Fort Myers Seaside, the place we stayed in Fort Myers Seaside, and a few of our favourite issues to do in Fort Myers Seaside with children.
The place to Keep in Fort Myers Seaside
We stayed on the Diamondhead Resort situated proper on Fort Myers Seaside – which is ideal for us. We love waking as much as the dawn (or little children leaping on the lodge 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 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, 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 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 Seaside with Youngsters
1. Shell Amassing on the Seaside
Our youngsters had a blast simply strolling alongside the seashore, searching for “treasures” and shells. Each two toes, 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 seashore if we allow them to. Fort Myers Seaside is among the finest locations for shell amassing, so be sure to convey a seashell bag on your children to fill with their favourite seashells.
2. Salty Sam’s Pirate Cruise
Probably the greatest issues to do in Fort Myers with children is go on Salty Sam’s Pirate Cruise. Each of our toddlers had a blast. The youngsters had a blast enjoying pirate video games, searching for treasures, face portray, dancing, and extra.
It’s a 90-minute cruise that leaves Fort Myers Seaside 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 Seaside
Generally you want a day of doing nothing on trip, and one of the simplest ways to try this is to spend it on the seashore. You possibly can lease a cabana on the seashore, or in case you are staying at a lodge on the seashore like we did, there might be chairs and umbrellas on your use.
If you’re touring with toddlers or kids who nonetheless nap, staying at a lodge on the seashore is finest as a way to 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 lodge pool.
If in case you have older children, there are a number of watersport actions they’ll get pleasure from and beg to do. One of the vital widespread 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 checklist! With western publicity overlooking the calm gulf, the sunsets on Fort Myers Seaside 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 just a little seashore stroll, the youngsters all the time ended up going for just a little sundown swim. It was the proper ending of the day and a good way for the youngsters to burn off just a little extra power earlier than mattress.
One other good 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
The easiest way to beat the Florida warmth is with ice cream at Love Boat. We’re responsible of visiting thrice 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 definitely worth the journey.
The parts are massive. Ensure that to order the kid-size cone for youths. A small waffle cone continues to be large. Two individuals can simply break up this. If you understand me in actual life, you understand 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 manner, 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 can be open now within the Fort Myers space that we liked 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 if in case you have massive 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 most probably be an engineer sometime. He loves seeing how issues are constructed, and he’s all the time “fixing” one thing.
Our youngsters liked touching the starfish and feeding the stingrays within the SEA-to-SEE contact tanks. The enormous aquarium was a success with the youngsters. If you’re fortunate, you’ll go to the dwelling lab animal shows after they take one of many animals out – Isla acquired to the touch a snake!
Click on right here to see all present displays at IMAG Historical past & Science Museum.
7. Splash at Solar Splash Waterpark
What higher method to spend a sizzling summer season day in Florida than on the waterpark? We actually liked this waterpark. It’s simply the fitting measurement. There aren’t large 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. If in case you have children beneath 5 years previous, this might be the place to seize a couple of chairs.
Sunsplash Household Waterpark is about half-hour from Fort Myers Seaside and an incredible place to spend half the day or an entire day like we did. Our youngsters love waterparks. We had been right here for over 5 hours, they usually didn’t wish to go away.
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 sure to pay for parking.
- Play on the train-inspired large playground. Our youngsters liked 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.
- Trip the practice across the lake and thru the park that passes by way 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 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 in case you are fortunate, possibly a dolphin or a manatee within the water.
There are kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards out there for lease. For those who 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. Stand up and near flamingoes, alligators, macaws, and extra.
Youngsters aged 5 and up can take part within the Wild Wonders Animal Encounters, however be sure to e book them prematurely. Click on right here to see which encounters are presently out there.
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 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 one in all our favourite issues to do in Fort Myers than the youngsters, 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 pa can get pleasure from a beer.
Listed below are a couple of 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 Seaside
Once we visited in July 2023, there have been a number of eating places on Fort Myers Seaside 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 Seaside have arrange meals vehicles/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 Seaside are open, click on right here.
The place to Eat in Fort Myers Seaside with Youngsters
Listed below are a couple of family-friendly eating places in Fort Myers Seaside that we ate at.
Greatest Breakfast on Fort Myers Seaside – 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 large, nice choices for adults and youngsters, and the meals is absolutely good.
We advise getting a well-known cinnamon roll to share. The biscuits & gravy are nice – the half portion was massive sufficient to share. They do have a couple of tables arrange, however we acquired ours to go on the best way to go exploring for the day.
Greatest Espresso on Fort Myers Seaside – Mojo’s Espresso Cafe
Mojo’s Espresso Cafe can 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 Seaside Eating places
We usually search for informal family-friendly eating places with children with reside music or outside seating. It makes our meals extra fulfilling, figuring out that our youngsters don’t need to be tremendous quiet and never fear about disturbing individuals.
Listed below are a couple of 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 Seaside Stand Bar & Grill
- Junkanoo Under Deck
- Cosy Harbor Waterfront Restaurant
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If you’re a neighborhood enterprise open in Fort Myers Seaside and wish to be added to the checklist, please go away a remark.
