Discover the Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel: Your Family's Ultimate Beach Paradise
While summer camps offer fun, the Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel deliver unmatched family adventures. Highlights include kayaking past manatees, pirate ship cruises, shelling on uncrowded shores, and catching the legendary green flash at sunset—with or without a daiquiri.
Access is simpler than ever with 50 direct domestic and international flights to Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW). Affordable options abound, from vacation rentals to resorts with kitchen-equipped rooms.
Discover seven standout attractions below.
Effortless Accessibility
RSW welcomes 50 nonstop flights, including new weekly services from Denver and Rochester, and daily ones from Columbus.
Getting around is simple: trolleys serve Fort Myers Beach, Bonita Springs, and Sanibel Island; North Captiva offers water taxis. Rentals for bikes, scooters, and golf carts are widely available.
Affordable lodging options include condos, inns, and resorts with in-room kitchens for cost-saving meals.
Thrilling Watersports
Kayaking, canoeing, and stand-up paddleboarding in manatee and dolphin habitats are highlights. The 190-mile Great Calusa Blueway winds through mangroves, Lovers Key State Park, Estero Bay, and more—ideal for beginners and experts alike.
For diving enthusiasts, 21 artificial reefs support marine life like goliath grouper and hogfish. Charter boats for unforgettable underwater explorations.
Inland Natural Wonders
Beyond the coast, inland gems shine. The Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve in Fort Myers spans 3,400 acres with boardwalks, a butterfly garden, and wildlife including otters, alligators, and turtles—preserved by 1970s high school activists. 
Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary features a 2.25-mile boardwalk through pine flatwoods, wet prairies, and the largest old-growth bald cypress forest in North America. Spot alligators, otters, deer, turtles, and painted buntings.
The J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge covers 6,400 acres of mangroves, seagrass beds, marshes, and hammocks, hosting nearly 300 bird species via trails, kayaking, and paddleboarding.
World-Class Shelling
Sanibel and Captiva Islands' east-west beaches collect shells via Gulf and Caribbean currents. Shelling induces the famous “Sanibel Stoop” and “Captiva Crouch.” Rule: Leave live shells. 
Best at low tide on sandbars; Blind Pass yields the Sanibel Six: banded tulips, lightning whelks, lettered olives, alphabet cones, lace murexes, and Florida fighting conchs. Prime season (May-September) offers up to 60 varieties daily. Celebrate National Seashell Day on June 21.
Family-Friendly Activities
Calm, warm waters reveal marine life. Sanibel Sea School provides educational full- or half-day programs.
The IMAG History & Science Center features touch tanks, a USS Mohawk reef replica, and animal shows.
For pure fun, Sunsplash Family Waterpark in Cape Coral offers slides, a lazy river, and play areas. 
Pirate cruises on Fort Myers Beach include treasure hunts, face painting, cannons, and games.
Floribbean Flavors
Fresh seafood, tropical fruits, and spices define local cuisine. At Big Hickory Seafood Grille, savor Florida lobster stew or mahi-mahi coco loco. Fisherman's Wharf's Doc Ford's offers banana leaf snapper, Yucatan shrimp tacos, and bay views. 
Try Queenie's ice cream flavors like Pine Island Mango, Butter Brickle, or Key Lime Pie. Adults: Explore 15 microbreweries and two distilleries.
Exceptional Camping
Embrace the outdoors with RV resorts, rugged sites at Cayo Costa State Park (cabins, trails, wildlife), or historic Koreshan State Park (19th-century ruins, kayak-launch preserve). For glamping, Pine Island KOA offers deluxe cabins, courts, pool, and hot tub. 
Plan Your Trip
Ready to visit? Explore deals on hotels and attractions, and request a free guide today.
