12 Of The Best Family-Friendly Activities in Fort Myers

By: Susan Finch

The thriving city of Fort Myers offers plenty of dining, shopping, and restaurants to choose from, but also features unparalleled fun on the water and beyond. Gather the family for a kid-friendly adventure with something for everyone. Here are twelve ideas to add to your Fort Myers, Florida vacation must-do list.

Headed on a Fort Myers, Florida family vacation? Here is a list of 12 of the best activities, tours, and attractions for kids of all ages. Must Do Visitor Guides | MustDo.com

Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf

Play 18 holes of fun, adventurous, and challenging mini-golf in a lush tropical setting amid waterfalls, caves, pirate ships–and live alligators! You can even feed the alligators using a fishing pole. It’s no wonder Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf has been voted best Fort Myers mini golf course for years. Fun for both kids and adults with snacks, beer, and wine available

Pirate themed mini golf course Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf in Fort Myers Beach, Florida.
Photo courtesy Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf
Feed baby alligators with a fishing pole at Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf in Fort Myers Beach, Florida.
Photo courtesy Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf

IMAG History & Science Center

Take a break from the beach and explore IMAG History & Science Center. With exhibits like Be the Astronaut and Shaping SWFL Watersheds, families can have a blast learning more about the earth, history, science and beyond along with a hands-on-hall for a touchable, interactive experience. There’s even an on-site 3D movie theater featuring family-friendly flicks like Tiny Giants and Hidden Pacific!

Kids can bee an astronaut at IMAG History & Science Center in Fort Myers, Florida.
Photo courtesy IMAG History & Science Center
The IMAG History & Science Center in Fort Myers offers kids and adults the opportunity to create new experiences through the exploration of science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), and history with an emphasis on Southwest Florida. Photo by Nita Ettinger. Must Do Visitor Guides | MustDo.com
Photo credit Nita Ettinger

GameTime Fort Myers Entertainment Center

Head indoors for an afternoon or evening of fun with over 120 games, simulators, and mini bowling in this 22,000 square-foot entertainment center. GameTime Fort Myers is part arcade, restaurant, and sports bar so everyone can find something they love. With over 65 HDTVs and a kid’s menu GameTime is also the perfect spot to take in a game while offering cold brews, lemonades, and snacks for a festive time while on your Fort Myers, Florida vacation.

GameTime Fort Myers family entertainment center, bar and restaurant in Fort Myers, Florida.
Photo courtesy GameTime Fort Myers
Bowling alley at GameTime Fort Myers family entertainment center, bar and restaurant in Fort Myers, Florida.
Photo courtesy GameTime Fort Myers
Sports Bar and Restaurant at GameTime Fort Myers family entertainment center in Fort Myers, Florida.
Photo courtesy GameTime Fort Myers

Salty Sam’s Boat Rentals & Pirate Cruise

Salty Sam’s Marina rents a selection of pontoons, kayaks, bowriders, and power catamarans for a day of fun on the water. Or take the kids on Salty Sam’s Pirate Cruise for a 90-minute fun adventure on a 65ft Spanish galleon replica. After a day on the water, stop by the marina’s Parrot Key Caribbean Grill or Original Shrimp Dock Bar and Grill for fresh seafood, live music, and kid-friendly fare along with cocktails and cold brews for the grown-ups.

Boat rentals at Salty Sam's Marina in Fort Myers Beach, Florida.
Photo courtesy Salty Sam’s Boat Rentals
Salty Sam's Pieces of Eight pirate ship tour boat Fort Myers Beach, Florida
Photo courtesy Salty Sam’s Pieces of Eight Pirate Cruise

Sea Racer Boat Tours

Race across the waters of Fort Myers Beach and Estero Island on a narrated, kid-friendly Sea Racer boat tour. Guests get a thrilling overview of the area on a 70-foot boat with 2,300 horsepower while hearing fascinating facts about the native wildlife, area homes, and more. But the real draw is seeing the dolphins playing in the waters along Estero Island and Bird Islands. 

Race across the waters of Fort Myers Beach and Estero Island on a narrated, kid-friendly Sea Racer boat tour.
Photo courtesy Sea Racer Boat

Holiday Water Sports

Join a tour run by Florida natives focused on providing family fun adventures on the water. Holiday Water Sports offers dolphin adventure tours to see playful wildlife, wave runners to zip across the Gulf, sailboat rentals, and family-friendly activities like kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. The team also customizes packages for your Fort Myers vacation to meet your family’s needs with half and full-day options.

Jet ski, hobie cat, SUP boards and kayak rentals and other watersport activities Holiday Water Sports Fort Myers Beach, Florida.
Photo courtesy Holiday Water Sports

Pure Florida Sunset River Cruises 

Take a relaxing sightseeing or sunset cruise on the Caloosahatchee River with Pure Florida. Each 90-minute eco and history cruise offers an opportunity to see wildlife, views of downtown Fort Myers, Edison and Ford Winter Estates, and more while you unwind on a much-deserved vacation. 

Sightseeing sunset cruise on the Caloosahatchee River near downtown Fort Myers with Pure Florida.
Photo courtesy Pure Florida

Estero Island Parasail

Soar above the Gulf on one of the longest parasail flights on Fort Myers Beach. Estero Island Parasail offers solo or side-by-side adventures, along with video to help capture the magic. With a focus on family-fun, the team can also customize packages whether you’re looking to celebrate a reunion or create a thrilling afternoon for your kids.

Soar above the Gulf along Fort Myers Beach, Florida on a parasail trip with Estero Island Parasail.
Photo courtesy Estero Island Parasail

Good Time Charters Shelling & Dolphin Cruises

Get out on the water and combine your love of shelling and wildlife with Good Time Charters Shelling & Dolphin cruises. Fishing enthusiasts can opt for a morning or afternoon charter or gather the family and head out for a sunset dolphin cruise and watch the sun dip over the Gulf for a picture-perfect Fort Myers vacation.

Good Time Charters Shelling, wildlife, and dolphin cruises in Fort Myers Beach, Florida.
Photo courtesy Good Time Charters

Finnimore’s Bike & Beach Rentals

Leave your gear at home on your next Fort Myers vacation for carefree fun. Finnimore’s Bike and Beach Rentals on Sanibel Island offer a stress-free experience. Choose from bikes, stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, beach carts, and more. Ask about their GoPro bike or helmet to capture footage of your vacation, or a canopied Surrey carrying up to four adults and two kids for a cruise along shady trails.

Bike, paddle board, kayak and water sport rentals in Sanibel Island, Florida.
Photo courtesy Finnimores

Sanibel Thriller Boat Tours

Take a thrill ride on a 55′ motor yacht with the Sanibel Thriller on your Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel or Captiva Island vacation. Guests zip along the Gulf of Mexico and Pine Island Sound while learning about Sanibel and Captiva Islands. Keep an eye out for dolphins playing and feeding in the area during a smooth, fun, and exciting ride that’s kid-approved.

Take a thrill ride on a 55' motor yacht with the Sanibel Thriller on your Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel or Captiva Island vacation.
Photo courtesy Sanibel Thriller

Captiva Cruises Shelling, Sightseeing and Dolphin Cruises 

Sail across the Gulf of Mexico with Captiva Cruises on your next Fort Myers vacation. Choose from island hopping, shelling, or wildlife and dolphin watching for an afternoon of fun. Operating for over 30 years, Captiva Cruises explores the islands situated around Fort Myers like Cabbage Key, Useppa, Boca Grande, Cayo Costa, and Pine Island. 

Captiva Cruises fleet of tour boats for cruises in Fort Myers, Captiva and Sanibel Island, Florida
Photo courtesy Captiva Cruises

Explore all there is to in Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel and Captiva Islands!

Headed on a Fort Myers, Florida family vacation? Here is a list of 12 of the best activities, tours, and attractions for kids of all ages. Must Do Visitor Guides | MustDo.com

Written by: Susan Finch | Author Website

Susan Finch is a travel writer and content marketer for the tourism industry who spends her time obsessing over the latest travel trends, wrangling her small kids, and planning her family's next big adventure.



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