SANIBEL ISLAND DAY TRIPS
From Fort Myers To Key West
Departing from nearby Fort Myers Beach you can board a ferry which will sail directly
to Key West. From there, you can explore all the best bars, places to eat, nightlife
and romantic recommendations for couples that Key West has to offer – including
the best things to do in Key West at night. Group, family/friend, and individual tickets
are available.
Visit https://www.keywestexpress.net/ for more info and departure times.
Gift certificates are available.
Coya Costa State Park
Located about 2 hours northwest in Boca Grande, this 2400 acre state park is a recreational paradise. Swimming, snorkeling, off-road biking, hiking, fishing, the occasional dolphin and so much more. Coya Costa State Park is surrounded by stunning pine forests, mangrove swamps and over 9 miles of beautiful beaches, and makes for a fulfilling day trip and a splendid place to camp. Primitive cabins available for overnight stays in addition to regular tent camping. Accessible by ferry and private boat only. Reservations required. Please call ahead. 880 Belcher Rd. Boca Grande, FL (941) 964-0375
Sea World Orlando
Sea World Orlando is approximately 3 ½ hours north of Sanibel Island. You’ll find dolphins, whales, polar bears, tricks, entertainment shows and more.
7007 Sea Harbor Dr. Orlando, FL
Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens
Open 363 days a year (closed Thanksgiving & Christmas), the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens is a family-friendly zoo and historic garden filled with fun exhibits, exciting shows, and interactive tours. The nationally accredited zoo, located about an hour south of Sanibel Island, is not your typical walk-through zoo, with the staff constantly creating new events and things to do, including camel rides and night-vision after dark tours, to name a few. Additionally, the botanical garden has a bounty of exotic plants and trees. Makes for another fantastic day trip! 1590 Goodlette-Frank Rd. Naples, FL (239) 262-5409
Sun Splash Family Waterpark Cape Coral
Sun Splash Family Waterpark in Cape Coral is the largest waterpark in SWFL. It features water slides, a lazy rizer, a speed slide, and plenty of more fun water activities. The park is about 30 minutes north of Sanibel Island and makes for a fantastic fun-filled family trip, especially for younger kids. You can even put your lounge chairs in the pool if you like!
400 Santa Barbara Blvd. Cape Coral, FL
Lovers Key State Park
Considered the quietest, most isolated state park/beach in the area, Lovers Key State Park is peaceful and inviting spot for hiking, biking, kayaking, canoeing, boating, swimming, picnicking, two playgrounds for kids, in addition to fabulous shelling and wildlife. Isolated and not-crowded, this is excellent for both families and couples. Black Island is also within the grounds of the park, featuring over five miles of pleasant walking and bike trails. Cost is $8 per car or $4 per single for entrance into the park. While in the park, to get to the actual beach, there is a tram or boardwalk available, which is nice after a long day (the walk from the boardwalk to the beach is a little over a mile long). There is also a boat launch available in addition to kayak, canoe and bike rentals. Public restrooms and concessions available.
8700 Estero Blvd. Fort Myers Beach, FL
Estero Bay Preserve
10,000-acre aquatic preserve offering miles of walking trails, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, biking as well as diverse wildlife, including Bald Eagles, fiddler crabs, birds and gopher tortoises.
Take the Corkscrew Road exit from I-71, go west on Corkscrew Road, turn right on U.S. 41. Turn west (left) on Broadway West. Public access point is on the north (right) side of the road next to the Florida Power & Light substation. Estero, FL
Fleamasters Fleamarket
With over 900 stores of very unique variety, there is an enormous selection available at Fleamasters Fleamarket, where you can easily spend the entire day browsing till your heart’s content. From home décor, clothing, souvenirs, memorabilia, dollar stores, golf gear, hair salons, paintings, rugs, zany hats, fresh foods, wine bar, jewelry, pets, to even bingo supplies, if you think of it, it will be at Fleamasters Fleamarket. PLEASE NOTE: It is recommended to bring cash, as many stores and vendors do not accept credit or debit cards. There are plenty of places to rest and refreshment stands are available serving breakfast, lunch and snacks. Open year round, 8 am – 4 PM Friday, Saturday and Sunday only.
4135 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Fort Myers, FL
Everglades Day Safari & Captain Bob's Excellent
Everglades Adventure Tour
Full-day and half-day eco-tours through the majestic Everglades! On each tour, patrons experience an airboat ride, boat cruise, wildlife drive within the Big Cypress Preserve, nature walk and lunch. Seeing alligators is a definite on this tour! CLICK HERE for more info.
Walt Disney World
4600 N. World Dr. Lake Buena Vista, FL
LEGOLAND
LEGOLAND® is a 150-acre interactive Lego-themed family fun park with over 50+ rides, entertainment shows, attractions and more, serving as the world's largest LEGOLAND park! They have super neat rides and exhibits, including MiniLand USA which features detailed replicas of famous cities built entirely out of Lego bricks, Ford Driving School, where kids can drive little LEGO cars, and, of course, the famous Conquer The Dragon roller coaster! The park is geared more for kids between the ages of 2-12 so it makes a nice family day trip for younger families. 1 LEGOLAND Way Winter Haven, FL
Manatee Park
Manatee Park is a nice smaller park with a few walking trails, canoe and kayak rentals, picnic tables, a small gift shop and, of course, manatees. These exotic creatures settle in the waters of the park and are typically best seen during the winter months of January, February and March. This park is ideal for a day trip or even a lunch picnic. Fantastic option off island. Parking is $1 per hour or $5 for the entire day.
SANIBEL ISLAND FESTIVALS
CROW'S Annual Taste Of The Islands Festival
Local restaurants serve up their best dishes in this annual food tasting competition and festival, dubbed one of Sanibel Island’s best events! With “Best Of” categories in appetizer, vegetarian, meat, seafood, dessert and others, there is an appealing variety of both choice and taste. A panel of celebrity judges picks the Taste of The Taste for Best Restaurant and the People’s Choice Award encourages attendee participation. The event is the perfect opportunity to see what the Sanibel Island restaurants have to offer. Live music adds to the spirit of the event. Visit tastesanibelcaptiva.com for specific date and time.
Sanibel Music Festival
Each year Sanibel Music Festival presents a series of 7 high standard classical music concerts, featuring chamber music, piano, recital, vocal ensemble, and more. The Festival helps to promote both the careers of emerging artists and high standard classical music, all at an affordable price.
Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival
The Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival is a eco-themed outdoor festival which runs along the 190-mile marked paddling trail, The Great Calusa Blueway, which stretches from the southern tip at Bonita Springs to its northern-most points around Pine Island Sound and up the Caloosahatchee River, covering the beaches of Sanibel Island and Ft. Myers Beach of course. The event features kayak/canoe races, a kayak fishing tournament, paddling demonstrations and seminars, sand sculpting, a photo contest, guided tours and many other eco activities. Hugely popular within the paddling community, the festival draws people from all over the nation as it offers a one-in-a-kind experience upon the beautiful water of Southwest Florida as its canvas. There are 8 launch points throughout the trail.
