How to plan a family vacation in Fort Myers, Florida
Fort Myers, Florida is a great place to take a family vacation. We’ve visited multiple times and we love the area so much that we would consider getting a rental home. The Fort Myers area offers great beaches, shelling, sunsets, and options for all budgets.
Fort Myers since Hurricane Ian
On September 28, 2022, Hurricane Ian caused catastrophic damage to Fort Myers and Southwest Florida. A 12-foot storm surge destroyed homes and caused extensive flooding. 72 people in Lee County lost their lives.
Even though it’s been nearly three years, the devastation caused by Ian can still be seen throughout Fort Myers Beach. Numerous lots are empty. Many hotels and resorts are still rebuilding. However, despite the ongoing work, the beach is back to its splendor and I would still consider it a great vacation spot for families.
Is Fort Myers family-friendly?
Yes! Like all cities that one visits, some areas are better than others. For instance, for a family-friendly vacation, I recommend the south end of Fort Myers Beach because of the laid-back vibe and lack of parties. The northern end of the island tends to get more of the nightlife crowd because of its proximity to dining and nightclubs.
Sanibel Island is very close to Fort Myers and also offers a place for a quiet, family vacation.
Fort Myers Florida Airport Tips
Fort Myers Airport (RSW) is easy to navigate. It’s small enough to handle with kids but large enough to offer United, American, Delta, Southwest, Spirit, and Frontier airlines. Dining and shopping options aren’t great, so you may want to eat before departure or pack some snacks.
Car rentals are available on-site, but you must use the pedestrian crosswalk to leave the airport and enter the car rental office.
We like to check car rental prices with Kayak.
Using points to travel to Fort Myers
From our home in Northeast Ohio, we prefer to fly from Columbus or Cleveland. From Cleveland airport, United offers a seasonal nonstop flight to RSW. From Columbus, Southwest offers a nonstop flight to RSW. Both of these airlines can be booked for free using Chase UR points transferred to their rewards program.
On a recent trip, we also transferred our Chase UR points to Hyatt to stay at the Hyatt Place Coconut Point. This hotel is approximately 30 minutes from Fort Myers Beach and 30 minutes from the bridge for Sanibel Island. The hotel could use some updating, but it is an inexpensive option (with a healthy, free breakfast), for families on a budget.
Fort Myers Beach
Fort Myers is the city that encompasses the business district, but most vacationers make their way to Fort Myers Beach or one of the surrounding resort areas. Estero Island is home to Fort Myers Beach. The island is 6 miles long.
I often joke that Fort Myers Beach is a mix of Bob Marley and Bob Dole. Lol! You’ll find a lot of college spring break types and a lot of retired grandmas and grandpas. They seem to all live in harmony! Don’t worry, middle-aged families are also plentiful.
As mentioned before, we prefer to stay on the southern end of Estero Island. This area is low-key and family-friendly. If you’re looking for more nightlife, I recommend staying close to the beach near the Mantanzas Pass bridge.
One of the best parts of a stay on Fort Myers Beach are the sunsets. They never get old.
From the south side of Estero Island, it is a quick jaunt over to Lover’s Key State Park. Lover’s Key is the perfect place to spend the day relaxing on the beach, looking for wildlife, or hiking. See my list of things to do for more information.
Getaway to Florida with these flexible cancellation vacation rentals from Vrbo!
Cape Coral
Cape Coral is a residential area across the Caloosahatchee River from Fort Myers. Families that wish to stay in Cape Coral will mostly find Airbnb-style lodging.
Cape Coral has more canals than Venice! The town is a boater’s and fisherman’s dream.
During our time exploring Cape Coral, our kids enjoyed the Rotary Park. The Park offers an Environmental Center, a playground, walking trails, and public restrooms. Rotary Park is at 1340-1372 Rose Garden Rd, Cape Coral.
Sanibel Island
Sanibel Island is the place to relax and unwind as a family. Sanibel has strict zoning laws, so you won’t find high rises here – the island is mostly a mix of condos and single-family homes.
Sanibel Island offers great dining and multiple chances to see wildlife, but what she is best known for is the “Sanibel stoop.” Yes, Sanibel Island is a shell collector’s dream.
Sanibel offers more than just seashells though, check out my list of the best things to do on Sanibel Island.
Click here for a first-timer’s guide to Sanibel Island, where I will share more in-depth information about where to stay and what to expect during your visit.
Most of the lodging options in Sanibel are rentals through real estate companies, Airbnb, or VRBO. I highly recommend this 2-bedroom condo we enjoyed at Loggerhead Cay or a stay at Blind Pass Condominiums.
Things to do in Fort Myers, Florida
There are so many things to do with kids in Fort Myers! Here are some of our favorite things to do in SW Florida:
Shopping
You’ll find no lack of shopping to suit every taste! There are small shops throughout the area. If you’re looking for an outlet mall, our favorite is the Miromar Outlets near Estero. The outlets have everything from Abercrombie to Adidas to Ann Taylor, so you’re likely to find something for each member of the family.
Hiking & things to do outdoors near Fort Myers
In Southwest Florida, we want to be outside as MUCH as possible. There are plenty of places to enjoy the outdoors, but our favorite place is Lover’s Key State Park. Lover’s Key offers kayaking, hiking, a gorgeous beach, and maybe even a chance to spot manatees.
During our most recent trip to Florida, we parked at the parking lot for the Eagle Trail. This parking lot is located just south of the Big Carlos Pass Bridge. From here you can walk Lover’s Key Beach (we found starfish!) or walk the Eagle Trail. Parking is $8/car.
The Eagle Trail is stroller-friendly if you have a jogging stroller or something with solid wheels that can make it through sand. I wouldn’t recommend trying a wheelchair. Overall, this is a flat and easy trail.
Looking for a guided kayaking tour or sunset cruise. Check rates here.
The best beaches in Fort Myers area
Wildlife encounters
There are so many ways to enjoy wildlife along the Southwest Florida coast! Some places you will want to check out: J.N. “Ding” Darling Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island, Manatee Park in Fort Myers, and Lovers Key State Park near Bonita Springs. While it’s a short drive away, visitors should also consider taking an Everglades airboat tour! Here’s my full review of the Everglades Airboat Tour that we took.
For more in-depth information on wildlife encounters, check out this post on family-friendly wildlife viewing near Fort Myers.
Where to stay in Fort Myers Beach
Fort Myers has a mix of lodging options. From hotels to resorts to condos and rental homes, there is something to fit every budget and family size. If you’re looking for a family-friendly beach, I recommend staying on Sanibel Island or the south end of Fort Myers Beach. For nightlife and plenty of dining options, you may pick Fort Myers Beach. Looking for a place to make your boating and fishing dreams come true? Check out canal-front homes in Cape Coral, Florida.
Where to stay in Fort Myers Beach with kids? We recently enjoyed five nights at the Gullwing Resort on Fort Myers Beach. This tall condo-style resort is on a quiet part of an expansive beach. Island view rooms offer obstructed views of the beach and the island and full-sized kitchens and the 2 & 3-bedroom condos, making Gullwing Beach Resort Perfect for families.
We used our Chase Sapphire points to book the Gullwing Beach Resort – learn more about using credit card points for travel HERE.
Fort Myers Florida Weather
Fort Myers can be beautiful throughout the year, but the summers are VERY hot! We visited one year in late May and felt like we may have been burnt alive if we stayed in the sun for too long. However, we enjoyed the bluest water and the least amount of rain.
The rainy season is from July to September. Hurricanes and tropical storms are more likely from August to November. If you plan a trip during the time, make sure to understand the cancellation policy of your hotel or condo, should a hurricane threaten the area.
January and February bring lower temps, but bigger crowds, too, as “snowbirds” head south from the Midwest and Northeast USA. Make sure that the pool at your condo or hotel is heated. The ocean temperature in the winter months will only be for the bravest souls, lol, but those cold days are the best times to spot manatees at a place like Manatee Park.
Packing for Florida? Find my packing list HERE.
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What a beautiful vacation spot. Is it walkable? I like to take a bus like Red Coach and then walk around the town.
Fun blog, Leah!
Thank you!