Cruises Dolphins are a familiar sight on a coastal cruise. A variety of educational programs for families are offered throughout every month and focus on everything from Florida black bears to hurricanes. Take some time to visit the nature center and butterfly house or head out for a short hike along the 4-miles of trails. Located right on Sanibel-Captiva Road, SCCF is committed to the conservation of the island’s costal habitats. Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) Wildlife cruises are also offered and visitors can rent bicycles, stand-up paddleboards, kayaks and canoes for some solo exploration. Paddle your way through the Commodore Creek water trail where your guide will talk about the islands’ ecosystem and help you to identify some of the many island shorebirds. These folks are the official tour outfit within the Darling Refuge. Grab a bike and head out along Wildlife Drive, a 4-mile loop through the refuge that offers access to several short hiking trails along the way, or spend an afternoon kayaking through the refuges prolific waterways. Start your visit at the Refuge’s excellent education center where there are free, naturalist-lead tours offered throughout each day.

“Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge is not to be missed. Possibly the crown jewel of outdoor exploration on Sanibel, the J.N. JN Ding Darling Work your leg muscles on a bike tour. Here are some of the best places on Sanibel-Captiva for families to get right up close to the island’s natural wonders. The islands’ postcard-perfect beaches are inarguably the big draw for visitors and are considered some of the best for shelling anywhere.īut when you’re ready to explore beyond the idyllic seashore, these unspoiled barrier islands are an outdoor lover’s paradise-a mecca of land and sea adventures where visitors can do everything from kayaking through mangrove forests to spending time with rescued sea turtles. With 15 miles of beaches, more than 250 different kinds of shells and no roads wider than two lanes, Sanibel and Captiva Islands might be just off the coast of Fort Myers, but they are a world away from its buzz and bustle. Unwind on Sanibel and Captiva Islands with the family. Put away the phones shut down the computer.

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