LEE COUNTY, FL­ -- Families are likely to run out of time before running out of things to do at The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel in Southwest Florida. Traditionally, the most popular attractions throughout the area have been the area's miles of unspoiled beaches, award-winning state parks and wildlife preserves.  In addition to experiencing wildlife, shells and birds along the shores of Sanibel, Captiva, Cayo Costa and other barrier islands, there is much to experience by land and water.  And almost everything on The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel is family-friendly.  From learning about Calusa Indian culture on Pine Island to attending sailing school or a spring training baseball game, sharing memories is what vacation is all about.

What families will not find: crowded theme parks with endless lines and admissions fees that break the budget. Not here.

What they will find: 50 miles of sandy beaches filled with seashells, blue skies, warm Gulf waters, islands to explore, waterways to paddle, sandcastles to build and wildlife to view in natural habitats.  Educational experiences that are fun include the area's natural and historical attractions, which make for memorable bonding experiences for the entire family. 

A few not-to-be-missed family experiences that are unique to The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel include:

Start a (really great) shell collection

Wandering beautiful beaches in search of sea treasures is a favorite pastime.  Before they know it, visitors are doing the “Sanibel Stoop” in search of the area's most popular shells. Families may take a shelling cruise or charter with a captain who knows where to find the best shells.  Another treasure is the Bailey-Matthews Shell National Museum on Sanibel Island. With ties to

The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel family travel 

the Smithsonian Institution, this museum is a must for shell enthusiasts.  Shells from Southwest Florida are displayed along with huge and rare specimens from all over the world.  The museum also has a prized collection of Sailors' Valentines.  Kids (and their parents) enjoy the popular undersea-inspired interactive children's section. www.shellmuseum.org

CROW Education Center, Sanibel Island

Located at the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW), the Education Center shows how injured animals are admitted, diagnosed, cared for and released.  CROW is a teaching hospital and visitor education center dedicated to saving wildlife through state-of-the-art veterinary care, research, education and conservation medicine. Under the hospital director and full-time veterinarians, CROW's staff provides the highest quality medical care to all of their patients. CROW veterinarians and staff treat more than 200 species with 3,500 patients each year.  Visitors enjoy a self-guided tour about the life-cycle of patients from the time they are admitted until their ultimate re-release into the wild. www.crowclinic.org

Island hopping

Explore this tropical paradise by water.  Treat the family to a tour of some of the area's islands. Captiva Cruises (www.captivacruises.com) on Captiva Island takes visitors for lunch and exploring on Useppa Island and Cabbage Key.  The Tropic Star (www.tropicstarcruises.com) on Pine Island has trips to remote Cayo Costa.  The island is mainly a state park with wide, unspoiled white-sand beaches, rustic cabins and tent campsites, along with outstanding bird and other wildlife to watch. Water taxis are available for island tours and boats are available to rent for those who want a nautical adventure.

Learn about marine habitats

The Sanibel Sea School on Sanibel Island is dedicated to teaching children and adults about marine ecosystems using the setting of the barrier island habitats of Sanibel and Captiva as an opportunity to touch, feel and understand. Through their experience, students gain an intimate perspective of the ocean, its inhabitants and the tightly woven fabric of our global environment. The program includes all the elements of a marine ecosystem:  animals, people, plants, land, ocean and weather. Contact the school for information and schedules for adult and children's programs. Visit www.sanibelseaschool.org

Paddler's paradise

The Great Calusa Blueway, with nearly 190 miles of clearly marked waterways and trails, provides a chance to explore the area's back bays and estuaries.  Here, visitors experience wildlife viewing at its best.  Guided tours are available or paddlers may explore on their own as they go through aquatic preserves, wildlife refuges, creeks, bayous, rivers and mangrove forests.

The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel family travel 

Many of the trails follow the course charted some 2,000 years ago by the area's earliest residents, the Calusa Indians.  Recognized as among the best U.S. kayaking destinations by both Paddler

and Canoe & Kayak magazines, the waterway provides outings that last a few hours to week-long adventures.  To enhance the paddling experience, the trail utilizes Global Positioning

System (GPS) coordinates.  Key points are marked along the trail to aid in navigation and detailed maps are available. Paddlers may stay in accommodations along the way or camp at the Koreshan State Historic site, Cayo Costa State Park or Caloosahatchee Regional Park.  Bring your own craft or rent from local outfitters.  For information, detailed maps and GPS coordinates, visit www.fortmyers-sanibel.com/calusablueway/explore.

J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge

One of the most popular paddling trails is located at the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island. The more than 6,400-acre refuge was listed among the nation's Top 10 bird watching spots by Dick Hutto, host of the PBS series BirdWatch. Besides exotic birds, other wildlife species such as manatees, alligators, gopher tortoises and river otters may be seen throughout the refuge. Visitors can explore the refuge on foot or bicycle, by car or tram tour, paddleboard or boat tour. For families, the Wildlife Education Boardwalk features replicated animal tracks and scat samples and a two-story observation deck. Wildlife Drive is closed Fridays (to give the wildlife a rest!), but Indigo Trail, which leads to the wildlife boardwalk, and Tarpon Bay Recreation Area are open.  www.fws.gov/dingdarling

A tour back in time

Take a step back in time at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates in downtown Fort Myers.  Tour the 20-acre riverfront estates, complete with laboratory, experimental gardens, rare antique automobiles and other memorabilia from the genius inventor. A delightful blend of scientific fact and personal anecdotes will fascinate children and adults alike. Next door, Henry Ford's winter estate features several antique vehicles on display.  Visit www.edisonfordwinterestates.org

The ultimate sandcastle

The intricate sculptures at the 33rd Annual American Sand Sculpting Championship on Fort Myers Beach is a fun-filled event with world-class master sand sculptors, a state championship contest, an amateur contest, sand sculpting demonstrations and lessons, and much more. With more than 1,000 tons of sand, master sand sculptors are returning to Fort Myers Beach forming the largest sand sculpting event in the state, plying their craft and showcasing their artistry in what USA Today and CNN Travel have named a “must-see” and one of the 10 best sand sculpting competitions in the world. www.fmbsandsculpting.com

The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel family travel 

Family sailing

Offshore Sailing School has taught more than 150,000 adults and their families to sail or hone their sailing skills since Olympian and America's Cup sailor, Steve Colgate, founded it in 1964. The school packages its courses with accommodations at South Seas Island Resort on Captiva Island, Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina on Fort Myers Beach and Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village in Cape Coral. www.offshoresailing.com

More reasons for families to visit The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel:

Sanibel Island

• The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation offers more than 1,800 acres of wildlife habitat and freshwater wetlands. The facility includes 4-1/2 miles of nature trails, along with a native plant nursery, nature center and gift shop. Visit sccf.org
• The Children's Learning Lab at the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum is a major
  attraction for visitors of all ages. Features of the learning lab include a variety of touch activities and interactive displays, educational puzzles and games and a live shell tank. shellmuseum.org

Captiva Island

• Take a cruise to an island or meet wildlife up close!  Captiva Cruises sails to Cabbage Key (think “Cheeseburger in Paradise” www.cabbagekey.com), Useppa Island, Boca Grande and Cayo Costa State Park.  Special dolphin, wildlife, sunset, shelling and sailing tours are also available.  www.captivacruises.com

Fort Myers Beach

• Eco-attractions on Estero Island include Matanzas Pass Wilderness Preserve with 56 acres of unspoiled live oak hammock and 4,000 feet of mangrove shoreline along Estero Bay, as well as an elevated boardwalk, a canoe landing and viewing deck. www.leegov.com/parks/beaches/matanzaspass
• Visitors will not want to miss a chance to experience old Florida at the Mound House where Estero Island's oldest standing structure sits on an ancient Calusa Indian mound. Through archaeology and history, 2,000 years of island life are revealed in a variety of tours and educational programs. Situated on Estero Bay, the site is accessible by boat and car and visitors are encouraged to picnic on the park grounds and enjoy the beautiful view. For details on tour times and educational programs, visit www.moundhouse.org
• Just south of Fort Myers Beach, Lovers Key State Park is one of the area's most pristine parks. For the price of admission, a beautiful beach, scenic boardwalk, and picnic areas are available to visitors.  The Travel Channel ranked this park's beach fourth in the state of Florida.  Visit www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/lovers-key-state-park

The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel family travel

Fort Myers

• Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve is a 2,000-acre wetland ecosystem featuring a mile-long boardwalk.  Naturalist-led walks and self-guided tours are offered throughout the year. Visit www.sloughpreserve.org
• Manatee Park features three observation decks for viewing the endangered West Indian Manatee in their non-captive aquatic habitat when the Gulf water dips below 70° F, typically from November through March.  Visitors also enjoy a butterfly garden, facilities for year-round picnicking, fishing, canoeing and kayaking. Visit www.leegov.com/parks/parks/manateepark

• The Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium features three miles of hiking trails and nature exhibits with 100 species, ranging from eagles to rattlesnakes. In addition, the facility offers educational programs, lectures, laser light shows, field trips and guided tours throughout the year. calusanature.org

• Visitors surround themselves with thousands of butterflies at The Butterfly Estates.  Located in the downtown Fort Myers river district, the attraction includes a botanical garden and butterfly habitat with cascading waterfalls, lush tropical nectar plants and butterflies that delight guests with their astounding beauty. www.thebutterflyestates.com
• IMAG History & Science Center Science Center is a fun-filled, interactive learning center that encourages visitors of all ages to explore the principles of science, the mysteries of the humanities and the geographical region. Visitors experience a hurricane-simulator, fossil dig, a puppet theatre and a marine touch tank.  www.theimag.org
• Baseball is another family favorite in Southwest Florida, which hosts spring training for two professional teams.

Spring Training 2020

The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel is the spring training home of the Boston Red Sox and he Minnesota Twins. Get up close and see your favorite baseball players. What could be better than beautiful spring days and great baseball? 

Boston Red Sox spring training

February/March 2020

JetBlue Park, Fort Myers

redsox.com

Minnesota Twins spring training

February /March 2020

CenturyLink Sports Complex, Fort Myers

twinsbaseball.com

The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel family travel

Cape Coral

• Mike Greenwell's Bat-A-Ball and Family Fun Park

Owned by former Boston Red Sox left fielder, Mike Greenwell, the park offers go cart tracks, miniature golf, batting cages, an arcade and a paintball field. For more information, visit www.greenwellsfamilyfunpark.com  

• Sun Splash Water Park

Spend a day splashing, sliding and soaking up the fun at the largest water park in   Southwest Florida! Sun Splash offers over 14 acres of for a day of family fun. Open seasonally March-September. www.SunSplashWaterpark.com

North Fort Myers

• Take a ride on the wild side at Babcock Wilderness Adventures. Visitors experience the Telegraph Cypress Swamp and scenic woods on a 90-minute swamp buggy tour. View native wildlife, including panthers, alligators, deer, wild turkey, Florida cracker cattle and boars. Learn about native flora and fauna. Daily tours are available by reservation only.  babcockranchecotours.com
• The Shell Factory and Nature Park has something for everyone. Billed as the world's largest collection of rare shells, corals, sponges and fossils, this unique attraction also features an aviary, miniature golf, nature park, video arcade, food court, bumper boats and cars, and souvenirs galore. shellfactory.com

Bonita Springs

• Visitors to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, southeast of Bonita Springs, find a gentle, pristine wilderness that dates back more than 500 years. A 2.25-mile boardwalk meanders through pine flatwoods, wet prairie, around a marsh and finally into the largest old growth Bald Cypress forest in North America. These impressive trees, relatives of the redwood, tower 130 feet into the sky and have a girth of 25 feet. Their massive branches are draped with mosses, lichens, bromeliads and ferns. The forest is also home to hundreds of

alligators, otters, white-tailed deer and red-bellied turtles. A wide variety of wading birds, songbirds, and raptors can be seen throughout the year.

Established in 1936, Everglades Wonder Gardens, is one of the last survivors of Florida's golden age of roadside attractions.  A place for visitors to enjoy a botanical jungle filled with birds and reptiles and to see Florida's wildlife in an intimate way, something that modern parks cannot provide. It includes a butterfly garden, Pink Flamingos and a swinging bridge that takes visitors right over an alligator pond. www.evergladeswondergardens.com

The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel family travel

For kids only!

       Many area resorts have developed creative programs that let mom and dad schedule play

time with and without the kids.   Programs provide daytime and evening activities led by qualified counselors that give parents time alone for adult activities.  The area has been recognized as "No. 1 Beach in the South" in FamilyFun magazine's Family-Friendly Travel Awards.

For information on planning a family vacation to The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel, please visit www.FortMyers-Sanibel.com.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel in southwest Florida includes: Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, Fort Myers Beach, Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Estero, Cape Coral, Pine Island, Boca Grande & Outer islands, North Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres. Family and children images av