I had mixed feelings when I found out we were going to spend three weeks in the Bonita Springs area. Once the fun of spending time with family we had not seen in a while wore off, what would we do? After all, Bonita Springs is a snow bird (retirement haven) area. What does a family with a 21-month old do?
My first step was to check out meetup.com to find a moms’ playgroup in the area. I crossed my fingers they would let me join for a short period of time. I’ve found the best way to find things for my daughter to do is to network with other moms. They’ll give you the 4-1-1 on the places kids love, places to avoid and overall information about the area. Next, I did an internet search on toddler activities in the area. I really did have to do some digging as my searches didn’t instantly return much useful information for our family. Finally, I had family members reach out to people they knew to provide suggestions on where they took their children/grandchildren after the fun of the family swimming pool wore off.
With that information I came up with my Top 10 list of things to do with toddlers in the Bonita Springs area. While I’m confident there are other great things to do in the area, these are the activities that worked best for my sunscreen-applying, bird-chasing 21-month old.
10 things for Toddlers in the Bonita Springs Area (in no particular order). Please make sure you verify information as this may have changed since publishing.
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9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd, Estero
Hours: Dawn – 9 pm
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This park has a well-equipped children’s playground suited for kids age 2-5. There are plenty of benches for the parents to rest and covered picnic areas. If you visit in May, be aware of the Love Bugs. They can be annoying but are generally harmless (except to the paint job on your car).
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Tinee Tots Indoor Playground
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26251 S. Tamiami Trail, Unit 19, Bonita Springs
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Hours: Tues – Sat, 10-5 pm
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Designed for children 0-5, this indoor playground has all the toys you couldn’t bring with you to the grandparents house! There is no charge for adults and the child’s fee is for as long as they (or you) are willing to stay. Kids and adults must wear socks and you’re allowed to bring outside food & beverages to eat in their picnic area.
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1500 Goodlette- Frank Rd, Naples
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Open 363 days a year from 9-5 pm (closed Thanksgiving & Christmas)
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This is a small zoo so if you come from a city that boasts a zoo that is an all-day affair, be realistic in your expectations. Like any zoo you have to enter & exit through the gift shop so be prepared. I found the map somewhat confusing (that tends to be the case with all maps) so relied on the signage to figure my way around. Make sure you attend the various shows as since the weather is so hot, it may be the only way for you to see some of the animals. There is also a large playground area for the kids so you can keep them active as you bide time between the shows.
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Residents Only
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I know it is unfair of me to include this since its only for residents of The Brooks but it is worth mentioning in the event you have a friend or relative who lives here. There is a playground that includes toddler & regular swings and three slides. What is the most fun is the spray center that consists of a fountain area that is controlled by a timer that runs in 15 minute increments. Just enough time to play in the water.
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23106 Fashion Dr, Estero
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Coconut Point is an outdoor mall that has 113 shops and 25 restaurants & have free Wi-Fi service. Strategically placed by all the kids stores (Gymboree, Stride Rite), this 1000+ square foot COVERED play area has a castle theme equipped with a couple of alligators, a dragon and a moat. The rubberized floor is perfect for those little ones lacking some grace & balance. Benches surround the play area so mom can re-energize.
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15 8th Street, Suite D, Bonita Springs
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Hours: Mon-Sat 11-10p, Sun 12-10p
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Forget about those chain ice creams shops and head over to Royal Scoop! With over 36 ice cream flavors PLUS yogurts, sorbets and sherbets, even the most finicky person can find something they like. The worst part about Royal Scoop is picking only one flavor. My personal favorite is the cherry vanilla! The ice cream is rich, creamy and filling. You can taste the freshness. Definitely a win-win for kids and adults.
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27954 Hickory Blvd.
Bonita Springs
Daily, Dawn-9p
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The park is located on the northern tip of Bonita Beach. Here you’ll find amenities such as shelters with tables and grills, playground, sand volleyball court and restrooms. Parking is $2/hour and fills quickly in peak season. The beach can be “shell-y” in places. I recommend your little ones wear aqua shoes to protect their feet. The water is relatively calm just be sure to avoid high tide if you want to take the kids out in the water.
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Imaginarium Fort Myers
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2000 Cranford Drive, Fort Myers
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Hours: Mon-Sat 10-5p, Sun 12-5p
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During our visit admission was half price as they were in the process of tearing down a traveling exhibit. Even without that exhibit, there was plenty for my toddler to see and do. The simple things such as feeding the fish in the Fisheye Lagoon & playing in the Dino Dig area kept her attention. Some of the exhibits upstairs (Hurricane Experience) were too scary for her. Instead of rushing her through to see specific shows, we let her dictate the pace and in the end, we all had a better time. Food options are limited here so don’t go in with the expectation of buying food for your children.
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15000 Livingston Rd, Naples
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Hours: Vary – check site for details
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With several different area depending on the age and swimming skills of your child, Sun-N-Fun is a great place for the entire family. My daughter and I could hang out in the Tadpole Pool and Interactive Water Fountains while my husband and step-son hit the slides and lazy river. There are even diving boards if you’re not scared of heights like me. No outside food or drink is allowed so have a little green available.
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West of Fort Myers
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I still have shells (well, if they survived the move) from my first trip to Sanibel/Captiva over 7 years ago. Shells and birds were the reason these Islands were added to the list. My daughter is captivated by birds so the JN Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge was perfect for her. This may not be every one’s cup of tea so make it a contest and see who can collect the most unique shells or spot the different kinds of birds.
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The best thing about this? Only 2 of the activities listed cost any money (gotta love the under 2 age) and let’s face it, Royal Scoop would have been “free” for her if I was willing to share. For you Naples/Bonita Springs/Fort Myers readers & visitors, what do you do for fun with your little one?
About Sarah
Sarah is a healthcare administrator, mother of one spunky 6-year old daughter and a travel blogger living in Wichita, Kansas. Join her as she tackles life in the midwest one to-do list at a time.
I grew up in Ft. Myers! I used to go to this great place called "Lakes Park" ~ http://www.leeparks.org/facility-info/facility-details.cfm?Project_Num=0101
http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-2840125-lakes_regional_park_fort_myers-i
You can rent paddle boats, kids water park, swimming in the lake, picnicing, bike rentals – the works!!
~Christy Tsiantos
Hi, I just landed here from the Adventures in Mommyhood Finding Friends blog hop. I'm a brand new follower.
That is such a brilliant idea = to contact the local meetup group.
Bella Vida by Letty
Have a great weekend.
I didn't realize you were from that area Christy! We are definitely going to spend more time down here during off-season!