Our family will visit Sanibel Island for the first time in June for a week. Any good restaurant ideas and fun things to do? Our children are ages 5(boy) and ll(girl).

I hope you like hot weather because it gets really warm there. There is a bird conservatory that's nice and a lot of water sports. The place is famous for shells (yes, washed up on the shore shells) by the way. It's really, really pretty there but having 2 kids that small might cramp your vacation a lttle bit. Where r u from? Families with small kids who go there are from the area like Ft. Myers. Send me an e-mail as i was just there 2 summers ago and still have vivid memories.

The Ding Darling Wildlife Reserve does have many interesting birds and wildlife- take bug repellant. There's also a nice seashelll museum with many interesting shells. Names of Sanibel restaurants escape me right now, but watching sunset at Captiva's Mucky Duck is fun (it was very busy there when we went- not sure if they take reservations) The kids (and the kid in you) may enjoy the toy decorations at another Captiva restaurant, the Bubble Room. They have huge desserts. Hope this helps.

We have gone there as a family for the last 3 years as a family during the first week of summer break. Will be there again this year. The kids are 7, 11, and 14 now. I'm not sure who looks forward to going back more, my wife and I or the kids. In any case, it is warm, but I've never found it to be oppressive. Also, there is always a nice breeze off of the Gulf. As mentioned before the Mucky Duck, and Bubble Room on Captiva are good spots to hit. We especially like the Mucky Duck for it's location (Gulf front), atmosphere, and the guy playing guitar on the beach who encourages everyone to try singing in front of a buch of people they have nver met before. The Pink Flamingo on the northern tip of Sanibel is also worth a try. Don't be put off over the fact some places are on Captiva instead of Sanibel. Both islands are very small, and it's an easy drive to get from one end to the other in the off-season (summer). Have fun.

Thanks so much for this information - it will definitely help. After much research, we decided to stay at Casa Ybel. Any comments?? P. S. We are from Louisiana so we are used to heat and humidity.

For a very safe bet at a very good italian restaurant, you have to try ummm....can't recall the name, but I'm pretty sure it may be a chain (though we don't have any here). It sits back from the road on the right hand side, on the road to Capitiva. You'll see it, since there's only one road leading to Capitiva! I think it starts with an M. (Mazzareti's or somthing like that) Anyway, they have the BEST italian bread and olive oil for dipping while you wait for your meal. And your 5-yr. old will love coloring on the tablecloth (which is encouraged)

Sorry I can't be more specific. I went to Sanibel two years ago and LOVED it. Your kids will have blast finding awesome shells on the shore!

Bike riding is great fun, too.

Matzaluna is the name of the Italian place you were trying to think of. We loved that one, too. Also for great family atmosphere, try The Hungry Heron.

I don't know what the above poster meant when saying that kids that young would cramp your style. Sanibel is the perfect laid-back family vacation. Kids love just exploring the beach, digging in the sand, looking for shells, hanging out at the pool. Sanibel just is not a hopping place. We went last year and the kids want to return asap and they're 10 and 14 now.

Bubble Room is overpublicized, overpriced and overrated.

Mucky Duck has a nice atmosphere on the beach. A good choice.

Another good restaurant to bring kids to is the Hungry Heron. The menu selection is huge, portions are large, prices very reasonable,,and the food is good.

Do not miss the Bubble Room--it is a children's and adult's paradise. the decor is just eyepopping and the red snapper in parchment is a great grownup dish. I also think the Hungry Heron is a fun place-call ahead and see if the magician is performing that night. Sanibel is a great vacation spot with kids. Do a nature drive thru Ding Park--we saw several alligators. We also did a very cool dolphin boat ride from the marina.