Once we take into consideration our favourite locations in Florida, Fort Myers is all the time on the high of our listing. We love the white sandy seashores, beautiful sunsets, and engaging eating places. We simply received again from our first journey with younger kids, and it was numerous enjoyable exploring the entire issues to do in Fort Myers with youngsters.
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 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 youngsters.
Right here is all the pieces 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 youngsters.
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 youngsters leaping on the lodge mattress), with 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 have been out on the seaside for sundown with the children. They all the time ended up going for a sundown swim with their garments on, nevertheless 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 an excellent 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 youngsters, you understand how essential 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 Seaside with Youngsters
1. Shell Accumulating on the Seaside
Our children had a blast simply strolling alongside the seaside, searching for “treasures” and shells. Each two toes, they have been screaming, “Mother, take a look at these superior shells” and “Look what I discovered.” It was tremendous cute seeing them so excited.
They might 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 be sure that to carry a seashell bag to your youngsters to fill with their favourite seashells.
2. Salty Sam’s Pirate Cruise
Top-of-the-line issues to do in Fort Myers with youngsters is go on Salty Sam’s Pirate Cruise. Each of our toddlers had a blast. The children 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
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’ll be able to hire a cabana on the seaside, or in case you are staying at a lodge on the seaside like we did, there can be chairs and umbrellas to your use.
In case you are touring with toddlers or kids who nonetheless nap, staying at a lodge on the seaside is greatest so to simply go as much as your room for a nap. Whereas Isla napped, Adam and Atlas have been nonetheless in a position to hang around on the seaside or down by the lodge pool.
When you have older youngsters, there are a number of watersport actions they’ll get pleasure from and beg to do. Some of the fashionable 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 Seaside 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 a bit of seaside stroll, the children all the time ended up going for a bit of sundown swim. It was the proper ending of the day and an effective way for the children to burn off a bit of extra vitality earlier than mattress.
One other good 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 best 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 seaside is simply over the bridge, however it’s definitely worth the journey.
The parts are massive. Be certain that to order the kid-size cone for teenagers. A small waffle cone continues to be large. Two folks can simply cut up this. If you recognize me in actual life, you recognize I really like ice cream, and sharing ice cream just isn’t an possibility, 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 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 here are some points of interest which might be open now within the Fort Myers space that we cherished on our current journey and are nice choices for issues to do in Fort Myers with youngsters.
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 in case you have massive youngsters or little youngsters, there’s something for everybody.
Each youngsters had a blast within the engineering lab, placing issues collectively and constructing ramps. Adam and I’ve all the time stated 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 children cherished touching the starfish and feeding the stingrays within the SEA-to-SEE contact tanks. The large aquarium was a success with the children. In case you are fortunate, you’ll go to the residing 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 solution to spend a scorching summer time day in Florida than on the waterpark? We actually cherished this waterpark. It’s simply the precise 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. When you have youngsters beneath 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 have 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 youngsters, all in the identical place. The park is free to go to, however be sure that to pay for parking.
- Play on the train-inspired large playground. Our children cherished it.
- Hire a motorcycle or surrey (4-wheeled bike) and discover the park.
- Hire a swan pedal boat or kayak and get out on the water.
- Journey 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 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 in case you are fortunate, perhaps a dolphin or a manatee within the water.
There are kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards out there for hire. In the event you desire to affix 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.
Youngsters aged 5 and up can take part within the Wild Wonders Animal Encounters, however be sure that to e-book them upfront. 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 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 pa can get pleasure from a beer.
Listed here 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 vans/momentary meals home windows the place they will serve hungry clients 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 Seaside are open, click on right here.
The place to Eat in Fort Myers Seaside with Youngsters
Listed here 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 through the hurricane. Parts are large, nice choices for adults and youngsters, and the meals is basically good.
We recommend 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 way in which to go exploring for the day.
Greatest Espresso on Fort Myers Seaside – 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 occasions 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 youngsters with reside music or outside seating. It makes our meals extra gratifying, realizing that our children don’t should be tremendous quiet and never fear about disturbing folks.
Listed here are a couple of of the eating places we ate at that we advisable for consuming out with youngsters:
- 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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In case you are an area enterprise open in Fort Myers Seaside and want to be added to the listing, please depart a remark.