Do We Beach House

Families are the heart of summer on Fort Myers Beach. The island rebuilt strong after Hurricane Ian, and today it’s a fresh, revitalized place to bring the crew — new playgrounds, reopened parks, and the same wide white-sand beach that’s been drawing Florida families for generations. From our house, you’re about 600 steps from the sand, which means the hardest part of the day is deciding which way to point the stroller.

Here’s how we’d spend a week with kids on the island — the spots locals actually use.

1. Crescent Beach Family Park — the new favorite

At the south end of the island, Crescent Beach Family Park just reopened after a $1.3 million restoration, and it was worth the wait. Fresh playground equipment, shaded picnic areas, and direct beach access from the park itself. It’s the kind of place where the grown-ups can sit in the shade while the kids burn through the morning, then walk ten steps onto the sand when they’re ready. Arrive early on weekends — the locals found it fast.

2. Times Square — the classic, with live music

Times Square is the island’s front porch: ice cream, beach shops, and the famous fishing pier. On Thursday evenings, live music runs year-round, and kids can dance on the pavement while the sunset does its thing over the Gulf. Note: the historic pier is being rebuilt right now — groundbreaking just happened this month, and the new one will be even longer. The square itself, the music, and the food are all very much open.

3. Bowditch Point Park — nature at the north tip

At the northern end of Estero Island, Bowditch Point Park is a 17-acre preserve with a wide, natural beach — no buildings, no shops, just dunes and sea oats. It’s our pick for dolphin spotting (morning is best), a gentle nature walk, and sunsets that feel like you have the island to yourself. The parking lot is small, so bike or walk if you can. It’s a flat, easy ride from most mid-island rentals.

4. Estero Bay by kayak or paddleboard

For the 8-and-up crowd, Estero Bay is the best first paddle on the Gulf Coast — calm, protected water with mangroves, manatees, and dolphins. Several outfitters on the island rent kayaks and paddleboards by the hour and run family-friendly tours. A morning paddle into the bay is a totally different view of the island than the one from the beach, and the kids will talk about the manatee they saw for the rest of the trip.

5. Lovers Key State Park — a ten-minute escape

Just south of the bridge, Lovers Key is one of Florida’s best state parks and an easy day trip: miles of undeveloped beach, a tram ride from the lot to the sand, kayak trails through the mangroves, and some of the best shelling on this coast. Entrance is $8 per vehicle, and there’s a snack bar, restrooms, and rental gear right at the beach. It’s the anti-crowd move when Times Square feels busy.

6. Mound House — 2,000 years of island history

Tucked mid-island on Estero Bay, Mound House sits on a shell mound built by the Calusa people — the original Fort Myers Beach residents. The museum is small enough to hold a kid’s attention, and the guided tours bring the mound to life in a way a textbook never will. They host family-friendly programs and presentations throughout the year. It’s the perfect air-conditioned break on a hot afternoon.

7. The beach itself — shelling and sandcastles

Never underestimate the headline act. Fort Myers Beach has some of the best shelling in Florida, especially in the hour after a storm front or on the south end near Lovers Key. Give the kids a bucket each (there’s a starter set at the house), set a morning shell-hunt alarm, and watch the competition get serious. Afternoons are for sandcastles — the American Sand Sculpting Championship returns to the island every November if you want inspiration from the pros.

Base camp: the house

Some afternoons, nobody wants to go anywhere, and that’s fine. The house has a private heated pool, a hot tub, and room for the whole crew — four bedrooms plus a den, four and a half baths, and beds for eleven. When the midday heat peaks, the pool is the best air conditioner on the island. And yes, the beach gear at the house means you can walk out the door with nothing but towels.

A few practical notes for parents

• Florida sun is real: sunscreen before breakfast, and again after the pool.
• Some stretches of beach have no lifeguards — pick a spot near an access with lifeguards for the littlest swimmers, and keep an eye on the surf flags.
• Summer afternoons bring quick storms. They blow through fast; when thunder rolls, the pool and the screened lanai are where you wait it out.
• Book summer weeks early — the good ones go, and families who book a full week save the most.

Fort Myers Beach is one of those places kids remember forever. Bring them, point them at the water, and let the island do the rest.

Planning a family trip? Check availability at our beach house on Fort Myers Beach — four bedrooms plus a den, private pool, and about 600 steps to the sand: view availability and rates here.

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