Your family is happiest with sandy toes, salty air and a cooler full of snacks. You measure time by tides and sunsets, spend your days shell hunting and wave jumping, and believe no problem can't be solved by a late-afternoon ice cream run.
Here's your list of beachside fun.
Stay at a beach resort, many of which offer teen-friendly activities like poolside parties with live DJ’s, beach volleyball, on-site waterparks with amazing waterslides, and nature discovery programs.
Visit Mound House on Fort Myers Beach, a 2000-year-old shell mound and archeological site built by the native Calusa. Take a guided museum tour with hands-on replica artifacts or embark from their dock for a kayak tour of Estero Bay.
Rent a jet ski from Holiday Water Sports for an exhilarating ride around sparkling waterways. (Anyone born after January 1, 1988, is required to have a NASBLA-approved Safe Boating License to drive a jet ski, though many locations offer a temporary license on-site.)
Try parasailing with Paradise Parasail for an adventure you won’t soon forget. Enjoy a bird’s eye view of the beach as you drift across the sky.
Find your spot in the powder-soft sand at Fort Myers Beach, a family-friendly playground. Join the sunset celebration at Times Square with free live music on Fridays and Saturdays. Or enjoy the Bayside Concert Series every Sunday from 4-7 pm.
Visit Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve to easily spot alligators, turtles and wading birds in the wetlands from the safety of the 1.2-mile elevated boardwalk.
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 Bowman’s Beach, one of National Geographic’s beaches of a lifetime and a quiet haven for wildlife. See live sea urchins and crabs in its shallow tidal areas and manatees swimming near the shore. After relaxing on the beach, dine at The Bubble Room, a quirky favorite your kids will love.
Treat your kids to a Wild Wonder Animal Encounter at Wonder Gardens, where they’ll meet and feed Sulcata tortoises and Rainbow and Coconut lorikeets. Then stroll the scenic gardens to see everything from flamingoes to river otters.
Stay and play golf at the Gasparilla Inn, where you’ll enjoy the charming island and beaches of Boca Grande and the 18-hole championship golf course designed by legendary architect Pete Dye. They even offer golf clinics for kids and teens.
Enjoy on-site pickleball courts at Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa, located right across the bridge from Sanibel Island’s gorgeous beaches. Or enjoy the game at a number of other facilities throughout the area.
Enjoy beach fishing at Lovers Key State Park. Cast right into the surf to reel in a variety of Gulf species, from ladyfish and jacks to sharks and pompano.
With 25 miles of paved paths and flat terrain, Sanibel Island is a great place to enjoy a family bike ride. Hit the four-mile, paved Wildlife Drive Loop at J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge to see an abundance of shore birds like the magnificent Roseate Spoonbill.
Explore the waters around Captiva Island with a boat rental from Jensen’s Marina. Anchor up at Captiva Pass for a swim then dock up at the Green Flash for some Gulf-fresh seafood.
Embark on an adventure with Tiki Pub Cruises out of Fort Myers Beach. The lively crew will keep your whole family dancing, laughing and singing karaoke while you zip around breathtaking waterways.
Paddle the Great Calusa Blueway with Kayak Excursions Pelican Bay. Mangrove channels and backwaters offer a family-friendly experience with 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 and teens.
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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