After 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, attractive sunsets, and engaging eating places. We simply received again from our first journey with younger youngsters, and it was a variety of enjoyable exploring all the issues to do in Fort Myers with youngsters.
Fort Myers is a vacation spot we’ve 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 encompassing space.
We couldn’t wait to discover extra of Fort Myers and see it by 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 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 positioned proper on Fort Myers Seaside – which is ideal for us. We love waking as much as the dawn (or little youngsters 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 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, but it surely 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 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.
In case you are touring with youngsters, you know the way vital it’s to separate the bed room. The rooms are arrange properly 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 Children
1. Shell Accumulating on the Seaside
Our youngsters had a blast simply strolling alongside the seaside, searching for “treasures” and shells. Each two ft, 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’d have spent all day shell amassing on the seaside if we allow them to. Fort Myers Seaside is likely one of the finest locations for shell amassing, so be sure to deliver a seashell bag in your youngsters to fill with their favourite seashells.
2. Salty Sam’s Pirate Cruise
The most effective issues to do in Fort Myers with youngsters 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 best ways 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 will probably be chairs and umbrellas in your use.
In case you are touring with toddlers or youngsters who nonetheless nap, staying at a resort on the seaside is finest so that you could simply go as much as your room for a nap. Whereas Isla napped, Adam and Atlas have been nonetheless ready to hang around on the seaside or down by the resort pool.
When you’ve got older youngsters, there are a number of watersport actions they’ll get pleasure from and beg to do. Probably the most fashionable and my favourite is parasailing. The views are superb.
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 evening of our journey, you’d discover us on the seaside someplace, watching the sundown.
Whereas we watched the sundown and went for a little bit seaside stroll, the children all the time ended up going for a little bit sundown swim. It was the right ending of the day and a good way for the children to burn off a little bit extra power earlier than mattress.
One other good spot to look at the sundown is on a sundown sail. Salty Sam’s Pirate Cruise provides 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 that to order the kid-size cone for teenagers. A small waffle cone remains to be big. Two individuals can simply cut up this. If you realize me in actual life, you realize I like ice cream, and sharing ice cream shouldn’t be 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 manner, you’ll be able to 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 liked on our latest 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. Irrespective of when you’ve got huge 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 definitely 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 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 displays at IMAG Historical past & Science Museum.
7. Splash at Solar Splash Waterpark
What higher option to spend a scorching summer season day in Florida than on the waterpark? We actually liked this waterpark. It’s simply the best measurement. 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. When you’ve got youngsters beneath 5 years outdated, this may be the place to seize a couple of chairs.
Sunsplash Household Waterpark is about half-hour from Fort Myers Seaside and an important place to spend half the day or an entire day like we did. Our youngsters love waterparks. We have been right here for over 5 hours, and so they didn’t need to go away.
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 to pay for parking.
- Play on the train-inspired huge playground. Our youngsters liked 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 practice across the lake and thru the park that passes by 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’ll be able to 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 obtainable for lease. For those who desire to hitch a guided tour, we advise 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. Rise up and near flamingoes, alligators, macaws, and extra.
Children 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 at the moment obtainable.
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 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 among 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
After 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/short-term 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 listing 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 here 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 throughout the hurricane. Parts are big, nice choices for adults and youngsters, and the meals is de facto 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 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 instances 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 youngsters with reside music or outside seating. It makes our meals extra pleasing, understanding that our youngsters don’t must be tremendous quiet and never fear about disturbing individuals.
Listed here are a couple of of the eating places we ate at that we really helpful 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 a neighborhood enterprise open in Fort Myers Seaside and want to be added to the listing, please go away a remark.
