1. Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum

One of the favorite activities of visitors to the beaches of Sanibel is shell collecting. Colorful, pretty, mysterious, small, and big, the shells make interesting souvenirs. But, why not learn a bit about them so that you can differentiate between your shells and determining whether one is a common fig shell, a banded tulip, ajunonia, or a pen shell? The best place to learn about the shells and the animals that made them is the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum. If you are looking for unique things to see & do on your Florida getaway, this museum will delight visitors of all ages.

This fascinating museum was established 20 years ago and contains some of the largest shells in the world, such as the Goliath conch, the Atlantic trumpet triton, the lightning whelk, and the horse conch. The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum is one of the best things to do on Sanibel Island FL for couples and families. There are exhibits of Sanibel shells and shells from all over the world and fossils of shells such as the Ecphora, which lived almost 30 million years ago. The museum is also a wonderful place to learn about the original inhabitants of Sanibel, the Calusa people. You can discover a little about their lives and the uses they had for shells in their daily lives.

2. Sanibel Historical Museum and Village

Sanibel Historical Museum and Village, founded in 1984, tells the story of the life of early residents of Sanibel through the seven historic houses they lived and worked in. It is the story of the Calusa people, Spanish conquerors and the early pioneers who made their home on the island in the 1800s. The historic buildings were moved to the Historic Village from their original locations and restored to the original look, and they are furnished with antique furniture, clothes, household items, tools, and kitchen gadgets.Among others, there is the 1896 Sanibel School House for White Children with original desks, the 1913 Rutland House, a typical “cracker” house made of Florida pine with eleven-foot ceilings and a wide hallway to keep it cool, and the 1900 Sanibel Packing House, where local farmers brought their vegetables, citrus fruits, and other produce to be packed and shipped “up north.” The museum holds frequent special events, concerts, and lectures.

The closest Aquarium exhibit with Sanibel Island is Imaginarium Science Center. Located at 2000 Cranford Ave
Fort Myers, Florida, Imaginarium Science Center offers Animal Lab features a variety of native and non-native critters including American Alligators, Green Iguanas, Ball Pythons, a red Rat Snake, a Black-Tailed Prairie Dog, Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches, Turtles, White’s Tree Frogs and Mexican Axolotls.

The Imaginarium is the type of place where you can touch a cloud, become a weatherman (and get a souvenir video tape), brave a Florida thunderstorm, or even help excavate dinosaur remains. No visit is complete without taking part in the “Hurricane Experience,” the 45-mile-per-hour winds will truly blow you away. Live animal encounter shows take place each day where kids and adults can actually touch intriguing sea creatures such as stingrays. This is one exhibit you’ll need to reserve a seat for. Enjoy interactive sports and physics exhibits as well as a popular 3-D movie.

The Imaginarium is an incredible museum meets aquarium, hands-on experience, that promises to entertain and even inspire creativity. Here, children and their adult companions enjoy diverse diversions like running through rainstorms, experiencing tropical storm force winds and reporting about it on the museum TV screen. The museum’s exhibits also include the Dino Dig where kids look for real fossils, the Sporty Science Arena to test your physical skills and Tiny Town for kids under twelve. Outside, you’ll find the Fisheye Lagoon where you can feed sea creatures and learn about marine life. You can even feel some of the resident reptiles, mammals and fish in designated touch tanks and during programs. With demonstrations every hour and feedings twice daily, you’re sure to have fun in this underwater exploration. Tanks feature a variety of aquatic life including sea urchins, sea stars, flounder, snails, stingrays, puffer fish, and horseshoe crabs!There is always something creative going on at the Imaginarium.

While Sanibel Island is home to beautiful beaches, the water parks are also the ones that keep on bringing visitors back time after time. Perfect for the year-round sunshine, they also often have gentler rides than roller-coaster parks, so they are fun for the whole family. Here are the best water parks Sanibel Island has to offer.

1. Sun Splash Family Water Park

Sun Splash Family Waterpark is Southwest Florida’s largest waterpark with more than 14 acres of slides, pools, food and fun for all ages. It is located at 400 Santa Barbara Blvd., just 2.5 miles north of Veterans Parkway in Cape Coral.  Kids go crazy for the adrenaline pumping speed slides and others that allow you to free fall through a five-and-a-half story drop. If that’s too much excitement, grab a float and peacefully bob down the Main Stream River Ride. There is
a Tot Spot for the little ones and plenty of chairs for mom and dad to stretch out in the sun. Food and concessions are available and lots of special deals are offered throughout the summer, so be sure to check the events calendar online.

This waterpark has the steepest, fastest, and most extreme attraction in the in Sanibel, the combination of them are Thunder Bump, Terror Tube and X-celator. All of them has 457 feet and you will slide drops down at speeds up to 40 feet per second and 30 mph! adrenaline pumping!. The water park closed from Monday-Friday. Only open Saturday-Sunday from 10 Am to 5 Pm.

2. Sun-N-Fun Lagoon

Located adjacent to Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples (CMON) in North Collier Regional Park, it provides a get wet, splashy sequel to a museum visit. The family can kick back in the lazy river or wave water pistol war, dare the five steep 38-foot slides, swim in the dive and lap pool or snooze on the sand beach. The little ones love the Turtle Cove Pool, where they can play with others their size – ages 5 to 12 – amid colorful fountains and showers. A concession operation sells food, ice cream, sunscreen, swim diapers and other pool and beach necessities.

Sun-N-Fun Lagoon is a family experience, therefore they ask that the appropriate swim attire is worn throughout your visit. In addition, children in diapers are required to use waterproof protectors. In order to guarantee their
guests to be comfort and safety, Sun-N-Fun Lagoons limiting their capacity. Admission into the park may be suspended during the day due to periods of high attendance.

Zoomers Amusement Park is an indoor and outdoor facility with a Family Fun Arcade, featuring  Winner’s Circle where great merchandise and the latest electronics can be won. Zoomers offer an amazing assortment of games, rides and attractions which are sure to make your experience a memorable occasion for all ages. Each of party rooms features panoramic views of the park and surrounding areas. Zoomers is a child’s dream place with Cobra Rollercoaster, Voodoo Island Mini Golf, 2 Go-Kart tracks, Bumper Boats, Tilt-A-Whirl, Go Kart Drop, Water Wars, and our six  Midway rides designed especially for younger children.

Located on Summerlin Road, Zoomer’s is conveniently close to Sanibel Island as well as Fort Myers Beach. Close to the Tamiami Trail (US-41) and easily accessed from the I-75, it provides a fun escape with hours of activity for all ages.

Go-karts are a major part of the fun with a slick Go-Kart Track for weaving skillfully around the tire-edged course. Parents take up the challenge to compete with their kids and youngsters as young as three years of age can ride along as there are two-seater karts as well as singles.

The family fun arcade is a great place to hide out from the heat or summer showers. From Pac-Man to Aliens and Kung-Fu to Whack-a-Mole there is a host of virtual entertainment for those who love games. You may even leave with a nice prize to take home.

There is no admission fee to Zoomers. You can purchase a Z-Card in any amount you wish.  Games and attractions at Zoomers range from $9.99 for adults accompanying a child and from $14.99 for children. If a parent chooses to ride with a child, the parent must pay for that specific ride.

When you going to Sanibel Island, you never thought about seeing a movie but when multiple days of bad weather, you need something different, watching movies is the best option. Sanibel Island has small but beautiful movie’s theater called Island Cinema. The Island Cinema has been a Sanibel tradition and landmark for over 20 years, with charming little theater (2 screens), Island Cinema always showing first-run movies.  They movie contracts range from 1 to 3 weeks long, depending on the movies are offered at that time. Showtimes generally change on Friday.

When you want to enjoy the movie on your vacation, Island Cinema open box office 30 minutes prior to first showtime of the day. Depending on weather, you will want to arrive before each showtime by 15-20 minutes for choice seating, but in certain circumstances like popular movies or bad weather, you may want to arrive earlier. For general admission ticket holders, the earlier you arrive will grant you a better choice of seats. For VIP ticket holders, you can arrive right at showtime when the concession line will be less crowded, and your seats will be saved where you intended when you purchased them.

Weather is the biggest determiner on whether they are busy or not. Generally sunny days mean you will have an easier time getting good seats. Stormy conditions almost guarantee they will sell out their shows, as they only have 59 seats per theater, 2 handicapped chairs that are removable in the front row, and the remainder of the rows seat 5 across.

Island Cinema privately owned and managed the theater, and are not affiliated with any third party ticketing website. You can visit this only movie’s theater on the island at 535 Tarpon Bay Rd. in the Bailey’s shopping center. The box-office generally opens 30 minutes prior to first showtime of each day.

Besides Island Cinema, Sanibel Island also has Big Arts. In 1979 Big Arts was created by and for the community, and owes its rich history to a small band of dedicated artists who drew inspiration from each other and from the breath-taking island beauty that
infused their work with grace and authenticity. They set out to create a special gathering place where artistic and educational experiences were accessible to all. Big Arts usually  serves with foreign films, documentaries and “edgy” independent films. Although unlike Cinema Island, but this place also an ideal visit if you want to relax watching movies at Sanibel Island.