San Carlos Bay - Bunche Beach Preserve
Family First
In Fort Myers, you’ll find that family time is easy-breezy – with room to explore, play and reconnect.
Trade screen time for sunshine when you bring the family to Fort Myers. This is the place to unplug, reconnect and rediscover the simple fun of being together. Spend your days on the beach, in nature preserves, or at parks and playgrounds made for exploring.
Which Family Are You?
Beach Lovers
Foodies
Curious
Adventurous
What's New for Families
There’s always something new for families in the Fort Myers area, from fun parks with exciting attractions to brand-new hotspots worth checking out.
SunSplash Family Waterpark, Cape Coral
Water Park Fun
When balmy days call for cooling off, dive into one of the area’s water parks. Spend the afternoon at our newest “get-soaked” entertainment spot, Brightwater Lagoon in North Fort Myers, with its open-water play areas, kayaking and floating cabanas. Or experience Captiva Landing, a new water park open to guests of South Seas resort. In Cape Coral, visit SunSplash Family Waterpark, where a new, giant surf pool with its own sundeck adds to the fun of thrill slides and kiddie play areas.
New Go-Karts at FastTrax Fort Myers
FastTrax Fort Myers has the longest go-kart track in Florida and revs things up with brand-new, state-of-the-art vehicles designed by international karting experts. The karts are built for competitive racing but include built-in safety features. Hop behind the wheel and you’ll find digital steering displays and live tracking, along with multiple track options that let racers of all ages and skill levels get in on the action. Off the track, challenge the family to duckpin bowling or shuffleboard, hit the arcade or grab a bite while watching the race from trackside seating.
Fort Myers, @thetravelingchild
River Otters at Wonder Gardens
Wonder Gardens in Bonita Springs gives rescued and rehabilitated animals a safe place to thrive while helping kids connect with wildlife in a meaningful way. The newest addition? The Otter Grotto, where playful river otters splash in a habitat with a pond, waterfalls and a glass viewing panel for front-row views.
Big City Kids
When you and the littles need a break from the sun, head to Big City Kids in Bonita Springs. This indoor play space recreates a city in miniature, where kids step into real-world roles and interact just like the grown-ups do. They can run an auto repair shop, stock up at the grocery store and explore a world built entirely at their scale.
Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum
On Sanibel Island, the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium has unveiled a newly reimagined Great Hall of Shells, where families can wander through a vaulted, octagonal space and see shells displayed like works of art. In the Living Gallery of Aquariums, get up close to live mollusks – including the crowd-favorite giant Atlantic octopus – with interactive exhibits that invite both touching and observing.
Wonder Gardens, Bonita Springs
Learning and Volunteering
Learning feels like part of the adventure at our family-friendly programs and hands-on volunteer experiences.
Sanibel Sea School
Sanibel Sea School
At Sanibel Sea School, learning happens outside, naturally! Part of the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF), the school helps kids explore the beach and sea. Children can participate in hands-on lessons in marine life, mangroves, biology and even surfing during immersive day programs and seasonal camps. As a parent, you can get in on the fun as well, on educator-guided beach walks, paddling trips and custom-made coastal adventures.
Voluntourism
SCCF has launched a Voluntourism program that lets visitors add purpose to their stay and give back to a place they love. Roll up your sleeves to plant mangroves, build oyster reefs or help maintain nature trails. Join a coastal cleanup through SCCF, Keep Lee County Beautiful or other local organizations, and make a hands-on difference. Looking for more ways to pitch in? Volunteer with a Fort Myers nonprofit, even for a day (tip: register your family through the United Way Volunteer Center).
Resorts with Kids' Programs
Resorts here make it easy to keep everyone happy, with daily activities just for kids and plenty the whole family can join. Stop by the front desk at your resort for the latest lineup.
Pink Shell Beach Resort and Marina
This cotton-candy-colored resort on Fort Myers Beach doesn’t just have one of the coolest pools around – its marine-themed Octopool makes a splash before you even hit the sand. You and the kids can enjoy a full calendar of family activities, from crafts and games (Candy Bar Bingo, anyone?) to beach walks, nature-themed fun and water sports programs that bring everyone together.
Pink Shell Resort and Marina, Fort Myers Beach
Sundial Beach Resort, Sanibel Island
Sundial Beach Resort & Spa
On beautiful Sanibel Island, Sundial Beach Resort & Spa has a whole team dedicated to fun! Compete in table tennis tournaments, paint seashells, or learn about the island’s ecosystem on a guided beach and shelling walk led by educators from the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium.
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa
Head to Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa in Bonita Springs for water park thrills right on property. Kids can jump into Camp Hyatt, leaving parents free to relax and recharge. Full- and half-day sessions make it easy to create a vacation schedule that works for your family.
South Seas
At South Seas on Captiva Island, Captiva Landing water park has become a hub of kid-approved fun. The resort is also home to Camp-tiva, a supervised program offering fun half-day, full-day and Friday evening Kids’ Night Out sessions. Designed for ages 3 to 11, Camp-tiva blends crafts, interactive games and arcade play into your family vacation.
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