Family Travel Beaches 10 Fun Things to Do With Kids in Fort Myers Beach, Florida By Suzanne Rowan Kelleher Suzanne Rowan Kelleher Instagram LinkedIn Suzanne Rowan Kelleher is a nationally recognized family travel expert and an award-winning travel writer and editor. TripSavvy's editorial guidelines Updated on 02/23/22 Philippe TURPIN / Getty Images Looking for a super laid-back Florida beach with white-sugar sands and a vibe that's as kid-friendly as can be? In southwest Florida, with Sanibel and Captiva Islands to the northwest and upscale Naples to the south, you'll find down-to-earth Fort Myers Beach. Located on a skinny barrier island in the Gulf of Mexico, Fort Myers Beach has more than 30 beach access points, making it easy to find a great spot. Got young kids? Here's our round-up of 10 fun things to do with kids in Fort Myers. 01 of 10 Set Sail with Salty Sam Alfred Huber / EyeEm / Getty Images For the most fun kids could have on the water, book a pirate cruise with Salty Sam. This interactive adventure incorporates comedy, games, dancing, and more for a swashbuckling and age-appropriate good time. Two packages offer different souvenirs—the Captain Kid and Little Buccaneer Package—but all kids aboard will receive an eyepatch and a sword. Book a sunset cruise for an extra special treat over the water. View Map Address 2500 Main St, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931, USA Get directions Phone +1 239-765-7272 Web Visit website 02 of 10 Try Kayaking Roberto A. Sanchez / Getty Images If your kids are older, this beach vacation may be the right time to encourage them to start taking on bigger adventures and kayaking is the perfect leisure activity to do just that. Not only is it great exercise, but you can also get closer to nature as you explore the local wildlife and scenery. Not to mention, it's very easy to get the hang of if you've never done it before. You'll find many rental shops and tour operators in Fort Myers, but Kayak Excursions, which operates from Bunche Beach, comes highly rated. View Map 03 of 10 Catch Fish off the Pier lightkey / Getty Images If you and the kids would like to try a little fishing without much planning or even a fishing license, then the pier at Fort Myers Beach is the place to go. Everything you need is right there on the pier, and no license is required. If you need to rent a rod and reel, Rudy's Treasure Chest can rent one for you. Rudy's also has snacks, ice cream, bait, and water toys available. View Map Address 10 Old San Carlos Blvd, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931-2196, USA Get directions Phone +1 239-463-3333 Web Visit website 04 of 10 Hang out in Times Square Danita Delimont/Getty Images A far cry from its neon-lit namesake in New York City, this palm-studded pedestrian area known as Times Square is considered the epicenter of Fort Myers Beach. You'll find open-air restaurants, cute shops, and street performers here, and it's a great place to grab a meal and hang out. Try Pete's Time-Out for an old-school, al fresco meal, or Fresh Catch Bistro for sizzling steaks and locally-caught seafood. View Map Address 1035 Estero Blvd, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931, USA Get directions Web Visit website Continue to 5 of 10 below. 05 of 10 See Gators and Pet Stingrays Greg Elms / Getty Images At the Imaginarium Hands-On Museum and Aquarium, families can get their science fix, thanks to an array of interactive exhibits that offer opportunities to dig for dinosaur fossils or feel what it's like to be caught in a hurricane. The Animal Lab gives you an up-close look at critters such as alligators, iguanas, pythons, prairie dogs, and tree frogs, while the aquarium includes not only tanks of fish and eels but a Sea-to-See Touch Tank that lets kids pet stingrays, urchins, and starfish. View Map Address 2000 Cranford Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33916, USA Get directions Phone +1 239-243-0043 Web Visit website 06 of 10 Scream for Ice Cream Michal Galczynski / EyeEm / Getty Images Located on Fort Myers Beach's main drag between Mango Street and Fairweather Lane, Royal Scoop offers dozens of flavors of creamy ice cream made in nearby Bonita Springs. With sundaes, banana splits, and milkshakes, there is something for everyone craving a sweet, cool treat. View Map Address 2307 Estero Blvd, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931, USA Get directions Phone +1 239-314-5379 Web Visit website 07 of 10 Become a Savvy Seashell Collector Ed Reschke/Getty Images Fort Myers Beach offers terrific shelling, particularly on the southern half of the island. Start on the beach side of Strandview Avenue (across from the Publix grocery store) and begin walking south along the beach. The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum in Sanibel also offers a guided beach walk, with experts who can help you identify your discoveries. Note that Florida state laws prohibit collecting live creatures, which include live shells, sand dollars, and starfish. View Map Address 3075 Sanibel Captiva Rd, Sanibel, FL 33957-3111, USA Get directions Phone +1 239-395-2233 Web Visit website 08 of 10 Play the Royal Mini-Golf Course Castle Golf Billed as the best mini-golf course in Southwest Florida, the medieval-themed Castle Golf course is lushly landscaped and complete with dragons, knights in shining armor, rope bridges, fog machines, gallows, and water features. Located on the mainland in Fort Myers, this course is challenging and very fun. View Map Address 7400 Gladiolus Dr, Fort Myers, FL 33908-5118, USA Get directions Phone +1 239-489-1999 Web Visit website Continue to 9 of 10 below. 09 of 10 Learn About Manatees and More Colors and shapes of underwater world/Getty Images Fascinated by the local sea life? The non-profit Ostego Bay Marine Science Center teaches families about the unique ecology of the barrier islands and estuary ecosystem. You'll learn about dolphins, manatees, and sharks, and there are touch tanks and exhibits for smaller creatures. View Map Address 718 Fishermans Wharf, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931, USA Get directions Phone +1 239-765-8101 Web Visit website 10 of 10 Catch a Ball Game at "Fenway South" Joel Auerbach/Getty Images During Florida's Cactus League spring training season, head to JetBlue Park (also known as "Fenway South"), the spring home of the Boston Red Sox, where you can see the boys of summer play pre-season ball. A number of the characteristics of the ballpark are taken from Fenway Park, including a "Green Monster" and a manual scoreboard. View Map Address 11500 Fenway South Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33913, USA Get directions Phone +1 239-226-4700 Web Visit website Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Share Pin Email Tell us why! Submit Share Pin Email