At one with nature: spot sea turtles at Fort Myers Beach
Family holidays. Remember those? After more than a year of travel infringements, amazing adventures are back within reach in sunny Florida. Make your first major trip extra peaceful by swerving the theme parks and heading for The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel. This Gulf Coast enclave offers 50 miles of bone-white sands spread across over 100 barrier islands. And with the calm waters of Pine Island Sound, you've got the perfect environment for water sports and family-friendly activities.
For a laid-back getaway by the sea, The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel
– perhaps the Sunshine State’s best kept secret
– come highly recommended
why southwest Florida
is a hit with families
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Virgin Atlantic Holidays can package a seven-night stay at Pink Shell Beach Resort and Marina from £1189pp. Package includes deluxe Gulf view room, return flights from London Heathrow to Miami (departing June 18, 2022) and car hire with basic insurance. Based on two sharing. For more information call 0344 472 9646 or visit
Virgin Atlantic Holidays.
For more information on The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel, visit fortmyers-sanibel.com
Go wild
“It’s very varied too, with each area having its own personality, from our favourite spot, Estero Island – where we recommend staying at the Pink Shell Beach Resort or GullWing serviced apartments – to sleepy Captiva and Sanibel, which are brilliant for gathering seashells and nature spotting.”
“Although Martin may have outgrown coming on holiday with his parents, I’d love for us all to head back out to The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel. I’ve got a milestone birthday coming up soon, so that would be the perfect opportunity for a sunshine escape – especially if Martin were to bring his fiancée. I’ve no doubt that she’ll enjoy it just as much as we do.”
Follow the Flints to discover the highlights from The Beaches of
Fort Myers & Sanibel
“This end of Florida is perfect for family beach holidays,” says Peter. “You’re spoilt for choice for accommodation in The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel. Whether we’ve booked self-catering or a full-service resort, we’ve always gone for a beachfront option. It’s wonderful waking up right by the sea, surrounded by nature.”
Wake up in paradise
“If we’re staying put on Estero Island, we might ride the trolley [the local bus] along the beach, but we’ll also voyage further afield by car. It’s very easy to do so. Cape Coral is worth checking out: it has excellent waterfront restaurants (many serving fresh seafood) and more canals than Venice, plus many houses have their own private dock. We also love popping over the causeway to spend a day on Sanibel Island. We always see lots of people here exploring and getting around by bike."
Island hop
“Sanibel Island has beautiful white-sand beaches. It’s particularly famous for seashells; people bending to pick them up are said to be doing the ‘Sanibel stoop’. The area is also known for its nesting sea turtles between May and October – there’s over five different species. The beach on Captiva Island is lovely too, but Lovers Key (located on the southern end of Fort Myers Beach) – another Flint family favourite – is more off the beaten track. It has gorgeous, unspoilt sands and you can see manatees if you go out on a kayak. But I think my son likes it best for its on-beach wi-fi!”
Daydream on sandy shores
Friendly faces: the Flint family always feel welcome in Florida
Take it all in: the road to Sanibel Island
Quick dip: a great blue heron on the shore of Fort Myers Beach
Serene scene: take a boat trip along one of Cape Coral’s many canals
Off the beaten track: Lovers Key is another Flint family favourite
Keep it real: roseate spoonbills and white ibis at the wildlife refuge
Down by the sea: the Flints enjoy hopping between islands
Read on for Peter’s top tips...
Inspire the kids with the great outdoors at J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, whose woodlands, marshes and mangroves harbour all kinds of amazing animals from otters to roseate spoonbills. Alternatively, take a kayak on Cape Coral’s endless waterways or join an immersive, full or half-day programme at Sanibel Sea School, which encourages kids to experience the wonders of the marine environment.
City life in the City of Palms: there are plenty of places to eat and relax in Fort Myers
Enjoy day trips and lunch spots
“Beyond the beach, we enjoy visiting spots like Bonita Springs and Downtown Fort Myers, both of which have olde worlde charm. Downtown’s River District is good for waterfront bars and restaurants on the Caloosahatchee River. Our go-to spot though is Gulf Coast Town Center, a mall with indoor/outdoor shopping for stocking up on our favourite brands. There’s great dining here too: it may be a chain, but LongHorn Steakhouse serves the best steaks we’ve had in America, while Carrabba’s Italian Grill is a fail-safe bet. If we don’t want to drive though, we’ll hit the smaller, independent eateries close to the beach that are much more laid-back.
Lightbulb moment
Learn from the best: soak up some history at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates
On a sub tropically rainy day (or if you just fancy a break from all that sunshine), make a beeline for the homes and landscaped gardens of two of America’s best-known inventors. The Edison and Ford Winter Estates are the side-by-side retreats of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, with exhibits on their most famed innovations: the lightbulb and mass-produced motor cars. Visitors can also peek into the Edison Botanic Research Laboratory.
Dance the night away
“Another highlight of our family trips is the variety of nightlife. We’re all big fans of live music, and there are plenty of performances from bands and local talents. It’s the sort of grown-up entertainment that’s great if you’re travelling with older children like us, or young children too. The River District seems to attract some excellent performers, but there’s generally lots to take in at the various beach resorts too.” Times Square in Fort Myers Beach is a buzzy place to go: it’s full of shops, outdoor restaurants and entertainers.
Pull up a seat: Times Square is the place to go for food, shopping and entertainment in Fort Myers Beach
Cultural exploration
Engage creative minds (and let them stay up late!) at Downtown Fort Myers’ monthly Art and Music Walks. The popular events fill the vibrant River District with demonstrations, performances and hands-on activities for all the family. There’s more music during the annual Island Hopper Songwriter Fest, which draws musicians from Nashville and across the US for 10 days each September.
"We love it because it’s laid-back, welcoming, tranquil and easy to get around"
This is certainly a favourite destination for the Flint family of Whitchurch in Hampshire. They’ve holidayed many times over the years in The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel. Their most recent trip proved to be particularly memorable – with son Martin hitting his twenties, it was their last holiday together as a family. “We’ve had so many great experiences there,” says Martin’s dad, Peter. “We love it because it’s laid-back, welcoming, tranquil and easy to get around. Plus of course there’s the weather: you won’t wonder why they call it the Sunshine State!”
The good life: soak up the atmosphere with live music
