Your family is happiest with sandy toes, salty air and a cooler full of adult beverages. You love unwinding to the rhythm of the waves, collecting seashells and toasting the sunset. When you're on the beach, there's no place you'd rather be.
Here's your list of beachside fun.
Visit Sanibel Island for a relaxing day at Lighthouse Beach Park. Collect seashells (the island is known as the seashell capital of the world!) and take photos of the iconic lighthouse. For lunch, head to charming Gramma Dot’s for fresh seafood and a waterside view.
Rent a jet ski from Holiday Water Sports for an exhilarating ride around sparkling waterways.
Join the fun at Fins Up! Beach Club at Margaritaville Beach Resort (accessible to guests staying at the resort or with a day pass). Dip into the sprawling, lagoon-style pool and enjoy live entertainment and a margarita delivered right to your poolside seat.
Soak up Fort Myers Beach’s festive atmosphere with a variety of fun restaurants, tiki bars and bars right on the sand offering waterside views and live music.
At Crow’s Nest Steakhouse on Captiva Island, you’ll enjoy 180-degree views of the Gulf, and a sunset as spectacular as the food and service.
Find the perfect souvenir of your beach getaway with a beach-inspired work of art. Discover amazing creations from local artists in all mediums at Tower Gallery on Sanibel Island or Jungle Drums Gallery on Captiva Island.
Spend an afternoon at lovely Bonita Beach then head into charming downtown Bonita Springs for dinner and live music at Sugarshack Downtown. You can even splurge on “The Sugarshack Experience,” a private recording session with a three-course meal and premium craft cocktail open bar.
Explore the natural wonders at J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, home to 245+ bird species like the magnificent Roseate Spoonbill. Paved trails and on-site bike rentals make it easy to explore, or drive in your own car or golf cart. You can also enjoy a guided tour via kayak or tram.
Take a boat tour with the “Dolphin Whisperer,” Captain Cathy Eagle. A four-decade resident of Southwest Florida, Cathy has an uncanny ability to attract dolphins during her guided boat tours.
Visit Lovers Key State Park to collect shells on its pristine beaches and see a wealth of wildlife, including dolphins, manatees, shore birds, gopher tortoises, crabs and more.
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW), which treats more than 6,000 wildlife patients each year in its veterinary hospital and is one of the nation’s leading rehabilitation facilities for native and migratory wildlife.
Play 18 holes of championship golf with views of the shimmering Gulf waters at The Dunes Golf & Tennis Club on Sanibel.
Stay and play pickleball at the Sundial Beach Resort, featuring 16 Plexicushion courts and professional-led clinics. Or enjoy the game at a number of other facilities throughout the area.
Cast your line from the beach at Blind Pass Beach Park, located between Sanibel and Captiva Islands. Strong currents attract snook, redfish, mangrove snapper, sheepshead and more.
Rent a fat-tire beach cruiser from Fun N’ Sun Rentals for a scenic ride along the water’s edge of Fort Myers Beach at low tide.
Rent a boat from Monroe Canal Marina and Boat Rentals and head to the remote island of Cayo Costa. Pack a picnic lunch and enjoy collecting seashells, snorkeling, wandering on nature trails and spotting wildlife. On the way back, dock and dine at The Waterfront Restaurant & Marina.
Join the party aboard Tiki Pub Cruises out of Fort Myers Beach. The lively crew will keep you dancing, laughing and singing karaoke while you take in breathtaking sunset views. Bring your own beer, wine, seltzers, and ciders - they provide the cooler to keep it cold. Bottoms up!
Paddle the Great Calusa Blueway with Kayak Excursions Pelican Bay. Mangrove channels and backwaters offer the chance to see manatees and turtles in grassy shallows and shorebirds near tidal flats and creek mouths.
Enjoy a guided paddleboard eco-tour with Gulf Coast Kayak. Spot wildlife on calm backwaters and mangrove estuaries — great for beginners.
Whether young or old, there’s something irresistible about finding seashell treasures. Collect shells at dusk, and you can also share a magical sunset. Then learn more about your finds together with a visit to the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium.
Cruise with Captiva Cruises to Cabbage Key, where the historic Cabbage Key Inn and Restaurant awaits. Thousands of dollar bills are taped on the walls (add your own!) and Jimmy Buffet was a frequent patron back in the day – rumor has it this place was the inspiration for “Cheeseburger in Paradise.”
Treat your fur baby to the best dog beach on the planet: Dog Beach Park. At this secluded tropical oasis in Bonita Springs, dogs run leash-free and play in the shallow waters. Then head to Doc’s Beach House and dine with your toes - and paws - in the sand and stunning views of the Gulf.
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