Have you heard of Fort Myers Beach? I hadn’t. At least, not until my parents asked me to join them there, in 2004, between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. They were retired and, like many other retirees, had started spending some of their winter months golfing in southwest Florida. Fort Myers Beach, a town on Estero Island, was their latest foray.
Little did I know that this stretch of Floridian coastline would become the location of future vacations. Albeit with kids. During my first visit, I was left with the impression of a small, sleepy, beach town that was full of retirees. This could have been partly due to my age, and partly due to the time of year. However, since then, I have come to appreciate all that Fort Myers Beach has to offer vacationing families; aside from nine months of sunshine and average temperatures in the low 80’s.
Here is a roundup of some of our favorite family activities in (and around) Fort Myers Beach.
Beaches
First off, let’s call a spade a spade (pun intended). If you are considering a Fort Myers Beach family vacation, the chances are you are looking for some sun, sea and sand. After all, the word “beach” is in the name. And, trust me, this beach doesn’t disappoint.
Fort Myers Beach offers seven miles of white, sandy, beach with plenty of shelling opportunities. Not to mention a gorgeous sunset. Plus, the beach is flanked by numerous restaurants and resorts that will happily serve you food and refreshments. These are especially useful if you need a “breather” after your child has collected more sand dollars than you can physically carry home. Our personal favorite is Junkanoo on the Beach. It not only offers a great lunch, but also has some beach games set up for kids.
There are also plenty of watersports available up and down Fort Myers Beach; from jet skis, to paddleboards, to kayaks, parasailing, and banana boats. You can even take your child on a guided jet ski tour to see dolphins, manatees and manta rays.
However, if Fort Myers Beach is a little too busy for you, consider journeying out to Lovers Key State Park. It is only a 12-minute drive south from Fort Myers Beach and has even whiter sand. Not to mention plenty of room to spread out. Plus, the walk to the beach is kind of fun. You have to cross a mangrove forest via a series of little pedestrian bridges.
Sanibel Island and Captiva Island are also close to Fort Myers Beach, with some award-winning beaches of their own.
Fishing
Who doesn’t like a good fishing excursion? Obviously, there are plenty of opportunities in southwest Florida to venture out for some big game. In addition to having a chance to reel in shark, tuna, king mackerel, or barracuda, this stretch of water has some of the best grouper grounds in the state.
However, as anyone who has tried sports fishing knows, your luck can be hit or miss. It requires patience and an understanding that you might not catch a whopper. This can sometimes be hard for kids to comprehend. That is why, on our last visit to Fort Myers Beach, we decided to charter a pontoon boat instead. Specifically, we chose a four-hour inland fishing trip. And the fish didn’t disappoint. They were biting from the get-go. As an added bonus, a pod of dolphins decided to play in our wash on the way back.
Mini Golf
Mini golf may seem like a weird entry to include in a Fort Myers Beach family vacation roundup. Bear with me. Smuggler’s Cove Adventure Golf in nearby Fort Myers is no ordinary mini golf course. You see it’s 18 holes come complete with smuggler caves, a pirate ship, and live alligators. That’s right, I said alligators. In fact, the alligators are the true highlight of Smuggler’s Cove, and it is even possible to feed them. Just collect a pole and bait from inside the shop and let your kids have at it.
Everglades Airboat Tour
Speaking of alligators… If you want to see these crocodilian reptiles in their own habitat, the Everglades are just an hour and a half drive from Fort Myers Beach. The most popular way to see this massive wetland ecosystem (and alligators), is through an airboat tour.
Airboats are flat-bottomed contraptions designed to navigate shallow waterways. Instead of a standard propeller, submerged in the water, they use an aircraft-style propeller to move the boat. While this makes for a very noisy ride, that requires earmuffs, the experience of skimming across the water is nothing short of exhilarating.
We’ve consistently chosen to go with Captain Jack’s Airboat Tours because they make each trip fun and unique. Our favorite is the private two-hour Mangrove Airboat Tour, which is suitable for families of up to six people. It costs $300. However, this also includes free admission to Captain Jack’s Animal Sanctuary, where your kids can hold a pint sized gator.
Shell Factory & Nature Park
The Shell Factory and Nature Park, in North Fort Myers, is unlike anywhere we’ve visited before. And it was definitely not what we were expecting. We chose to visit because of the 400 plus animals that they have on site. However we soon realized that the park was really five attractions under one name.
By the time you pull into the parking lot, your kids will have already spied the zip-line ride. It turns out that this is part of a separate Fun Park. In fact, it is one of several rides and games that the Shell Factory has to offer. However, if you purchase a Fun Park package, you automatically get free admission to the Nature Park. The most expensive Fun Park package is $45. It includes access to the animals, as well as a round of mini golf, gem mining, a $5 arcade game card, a turn on the Water Wars game, a ride on the Soaring Eagle zip line (and photo), as well as a go on the climbing pole, and a choice of either bumper boats or paddle boats. I call that a great deal!
As for the Nature Park itself, it is larger than I imagined. Inside there is an aviary, a petting farm, an alligator area, a building dedicated to reptiles and insects, as well as countless animal exhibits where you can see everything from sloths, to a bobcat, and zebra. Kids also have the opportunity to feed farm animals, as well as exotic creatures like porcupines, peacocks, parrots, and tortoises. And to cap it all off, there is a small Dinosaur Park within the Nature Park as well.
If you are wondering about the “shell” in Shell Factory, wonder no more. It is due to the 5 million shells, sponges, coral and other specimens that are available for your viewing pleasure, as well as to purchase. Last, and most random of all, is the Christmas House. This exhibit and store claims to have the largest collection of Christmas gifts, trees and ornaments in Florida. What child doesn’t like Christmas?
Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium
If you prefer a wildlife experience that is a little more intimate, consider visiting the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium. It has a small natural history museum that provides a personal and up-close introduction to the type of wildlife you can encounter in southwest Florida. Here your child will have the opportunity to touch and see creatures that they would not normally have access to.
Admission also includes entry to Calusa’s updated planetarium. When we were there it was just before they installed their new surround-sound system and laser projection system. The show we saw was both awesome and incredibly informative, so I can only imagine how good it is now.
Outside, you can explore the rest of the grounds. This includes a Raptor Aviary, as well as other wildlife enclosures containing rescued animals like racoons, alligators, and skunks. There are also two nature trails that take you through the 105-acre property. We chose the one and a half mile Wildlands Loop. It is a fairly narrow hiking path and, in one section, you go along a canal berm. Just make sure that your kids stay on the trail, and that you have eyes on them at all times. Nesting alligators have been seen along this route at certain times of the year.
Historical Sites
Here’s a fun fact for you. Fort Myers became well-known 136 years ago when Thomas Edison decided to purchase a winter retreat there. Three decades later, his long-time friend, Thomas Ford, bought the house next door.
Today it is possible to see these two homes, via either a guided or self-guided tour. Together, the Edison and Ford Winter Estates showcase more than 20 acres of historic buildings and gardens. This includes Edison’s Botanical Research Laboratory, which still houses the original equipment and machinery used to create a homegrown source of rubber.
For car enthusiasts, the onsite museum includes several Ford automobiles. This includes a 1916 Model T “Southern Trade” that Henry Ford gifted his friend and mentor for his birthday. However, it is said that Edison had his chauffeur drive it because he wasn’t a very good driver himself.
Clearwater Marine Aquarium
The Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Clearwater may not seem like an obvious destination for a Fort Myers Beach vacation. This is because it is almost a three-hour drive up the coast. However, if you are planning to squeeze in a visit to an Orlando theme park, Clearwater can be a good pitstop on the way to, or from, Fort Myers Beach.
What makes the Clearwater Marine Aquarium so special is that it is home to Winter and Hope; the two dolphins featured in “Dolphin Tale” and “Dolphin Tale 2”. Chances are your child will already know about these two amazing mammals. In which case, a chance to see them in person should not be missed.
Clearwater is also home to many other rescued marine animals, and it does a great job of educating families about the importance of wildlife conservation. You can even go on a behind the scenes tour.
Happy Travels!
So interesting and not known to me