Once we take into consideration our favourite locations in Florida, Fort Myers is at all times on the high of our record. We love the white sandy seashores, attractive sunsets, and engaging eating places. We simply received again from our first journey with younger youngsters, and it was a number of enjoyable exploring the entire issues to do in Fort Myers with children.
Fort Myers is a vacation spot now we have 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 Seaside and the encompassing space.
We couldn’t wait to discover extra of Fort Myers and see it by way 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 the whole lot 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 positioned proper on Fort Myers Seaside – which is ideal for us. We love waking as much as the dawn (or little children leaping on the resort mattress), having the ability to go proper from our room onto the seaside, and by no means miss a sundown on the sand.
Each evening, we had been out on the seaside for sundown with the youngsters. They at all times 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 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 front room space, so everybody had a spot to sleep.
In case you are touring with children, you understand how necessary it’s to separate the bed room. The rooms are arrange effectively for households – it’s at all times a giant plus to have a kitchen to reheat meals or make a fast breakfast.
Issues to do in Fort Myers Seaside with Children
1. Shell Accumulating on the Seaside
Our children had a blast simply strolling alongside the seaside, in search of “treasures” and shells. Each two ft, they had been screaming, “Mother, have 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 accumulating on the seaside if we allow them to. Fort Myers Seaside is likely one of the greatest locations for shell accumulating, so ensure that 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 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 the easiest way to try this is to spend it on the seaside. You may lease a cabana on the seaside, or if you’re staying at a resort on the seaside like we did, there can be chairs and umbrellas on your use.
In case you are touring with toddlers or youngsters who nonetheless nap, staying at a resort on the seaside is greatest as a way to simply go as much as your room for a nap. Whereas Isla napped, Adam and Atlas had been nonetheless ready to hang around on the seaside or down by the resort pool.
In case you have older children, there are a number of watersport actions they’ll get pleasure from and beg to do. Some of the well-liked and my favourite is parasailing. The views are wonderful.
4. The Sunsets
The sunsets in Fort Myers are an occasion value placing in your issues to do record! With western publicity overlooking the calm gulf, the sunsets on Fort Myers Seaside are magical. Each evening of our journey, you’d discover us on the seaside someplace, watching the sundown.
Whereas we watched the sundown and went for a bit of seaside stroll, the youngsters at all times ended up going for a bit of sundown swim. It was the proper ending of the day and an effective way for the youngsters to burn off a bit of 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
One of the simplest ways 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 seaside is simply over the bridge, however it’s well worth the journey.
The parts are massive. Be sure that to order the kid-size cone for youths. A small waffle cone continues to be big. Two individuals can simply cut up this. If you realize me in actual life, you realize I really like ice cream, and sharing ice cream will not be an choice, so we every received 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 automobile. 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 might be open now within the Fort Myers space that we cherished on our latest 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 at all times mentioned Atlas will almost certainly be an engineer sometime. He loves seeing how issues are constructed, and he’s at all times “fixing” one thing.
Our children cherished 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 dwelling lab animal shows once they take one of many animals out – Isla received 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 scorching summer season day in Florida than on the waterpark? We actually cherished this waterpark. It’s simply the precise measurement. There aren’t big strains, 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. In case you have children below 5 years previous, this is able to be the place to seize a couple of chairs.
Sunsplash Household Waterpark is about half-hour from Fort Myers Seaside and an awesome 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 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 ensure that to pay for parking.
- Play on the train-inspired huge playground. Our children cherished 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 prepare 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 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, possibly a dolphin or a manatee within the water.
There are kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards out there for lease. Should you choose to affix a guided tour, we advise 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 ensure that to e-book them prematurely. Click on right here to see which encounters are at present out there.
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 advise 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 a listing 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 vans/momentary 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 record of what eating places in Fort Myers Seaside are open, click on right here.
The place to Eat in Fort Myers Seaside with Children
Listed below are a couple of family-friendly eating places in Fort Myers Seaside that we ate at.
Finest 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 through the hurricane. Parts are big, nice choices for adults and children, 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 massive sufficient to share. They do have a couple of tables arrange, however we received ours to go on the best way to go exploring for the day.
Finest 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 occasions to seize a cup of espresso earlier than heading out for the day.
Informal Seaside Eating places
We sometimes 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 children don’t should be tremendous quiet and never fear about disturbing individuals.
Listed below are a couple of of the eating places we ate at that we really useful 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 Beneath Deck
- Cosy Harbor Waterfront Restaurant
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In case you are a neighborhood enterprise open in Fort Myers Seaside and want to be added to the record, please go away a remark.
