If you are looking for a great Florida beach vacation, look no further than Captiva Island for your next family trip. It is the perfect combination of beachy island atmosphere and fun activities. Captiva is extremely laid back for max relaxation, but still has a lot of things to do to keep a family of all ages busy. You really can adjust your days depending how active (or inactive!) you want to be. For those reasons, it quickly won us over for best family beach location!
We first went to Captiva in October 2019 over our kids’ Fall break. We wanted something far enough south to still be warm in October, but not so far from Indiana that we couldn’t drive. We didn’t know much about the island that first year, but quickly fell in love with it so much that we just had to go back in 2020 for another Fall break! If you ask our boys their favorite vacation, more than likely you’ll hear an enthusiastic “Captiva Island!”.
I’d highly recommend Captiva for your next family beach vacation, and this blog covers our favorite places that your family is sure to love as well.
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the basics you need to know
Where is Captiva and How Do You Get There?
Captiva Island is located on Florida’s Gulf Coast near Fort Myers in the southern half of the state.
We took a 2-day road trip from Indiana to Captiva, by heading west from Fort Myers, crossing the Sanibel Island toll bridge, and following Sanibel Captiva Road the length of Sanibel into Captiva. If you are planning a road trip for your next vacation, be sure to read my Best Tips for Taking a Family Road Trip with Kids and Tips for a Cheap Road Trip Vacation blog posts.
If you choose to fly, I would recommend flying into either the Punta Gorda or Fort Myers airports and renting a car. Captiva Island is only a 1 hr drive from Fort Myers and a 1.5 hr drive from Punta Gorda. My parents have found cheap flights to Punta Gorda on Allegiant airlines.
Important Tip: Be sure to buy groceries for your vacation before you leave the Fort Myers area. Captiva has very few grocery options, and you will pay a lot once you cross the bridge. On both trips we have pre-ordered our groceries through the Walmart pickup service in Fort Myers before we got to the island.
What is Captiva Island Known For?
Captiva and its neighbor Sanibel to the south are known for beautiful white sand beaches and lots of fun water activities. But they are probably most widely known for their AMAZING sea shelling. Shelling on these islands are considered some of the best in the world. When you walk the beaches, there are SO MANY shells from the Gulf of Mexico that have been caught by these islands.
Which Island is Better – Captiva or Sanibel?
Since I mentioned similarities between Captiva and Sanibel you’re probably wondering – which is better? While I’ll admit I haven’t stayed in Sanibel in the recent past, we did take a family vacation there when I was in high school. Sanibel is a great choice as well, but I prefer Captiva for our home base because it is less populated (less tourists) and has a more laid back atmosphere.
That said, both trips we have ended up in Sanibel during the trip multiple times to run to the drugstore for a prescription (thanks, pinkeye), shop at their strip mall, or visit some of their great locations like Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge.
Where Should I Stay on Captiva Island?
There are no big chain hotels on Captiva Island, but there are some small privately-owned resorts and inns. Rental homes are also widely available. The largest, most popular resort on the Island is the South Seas Island Resort, which encompasses the whole northern section of Captiva.
Both trips we have stayed inside the boundary of South Seas, but rented private condos through VRBO. I would recommend staying either at South Seas or for a more affordable option, rent one of the private condos within their property like we did. The benefit of staying within the South Seas area are private, less populated beaches and access to their private pools at each unit. However, renting from the the privately-owned condos does NOT allow access into the South Seas main pool with water slides.
What is There To Do on Captiva Island?
The answer? So much. Or so little. Or a little of both! It depends on the style of beach vacation you prefer. You can spend one day just lounging on the beach and the next reeling in the day’s catch on a fishing charter.
I will say that if you are the type that likes huge crowds, nightlife, and long rows of t-shirt shops, this island is probably not for you. Captiva is more for the families who want to slow down, relax, and spend great quality time with fun land and water activities. Read ahead for my recommendations based on our own family’s favorite activities!
Best Things to Do on Land at captiva island
Enjoy the White Sand Beaches
The beaches at Captiva are gorgeous and full of shells. The island is so small, that no matter where you stay the beach is just a short walk away. I recommend staying within the South Seas Island Resort property for less crowds on the private beaches.
Cruise the Island on a Golf Cart
This may sound silly, but this may be our family’s favorite thing about Captiva Island that sets it apart. Once you get to the main part of the island, cruising golf carts on the low speed roads of the island are legal! Our condo rentals have included unlimited use of their personal golf cart, but there are also a couple rental companies to choose from.
Make sure this is part of your Captiva Island vacation! With some minor exceptions, you can pretty much park your car for the week and tour the small island on a golf cart – it adds to the charm and relaxation of Captiva. 🙂
Race a Crab at the Crow’s Nest Bar & Grille
Have you ever raced a crab? I never thought that would be something I could say, but here we are 😛
A couple nights a week at ‘Tween Water Island Resort, the Crow’s Nest Bar and Grille hosts yep, you got it, crab races. It’s odd, quirky, and great entertainment for the family. The 6:00 show is family-friendly and I’ve heard the later show is NOT.
Arrive early to secure your spot at the crab racing table. We ate an early dinner at the Grille and each picked out and named our very own crab to race. After dinner, the crab races were on. It’s literally a bunch of hermit crabs who have no idea what’s going on “hauling shells” (very slowly I might add) to the end of a table. Add kazoos, a lot of jokes and harassment in good fun by the crab commissioner, and you end up with a really weird (but lots of fun) evening on Captiva.
Spend the Day at J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge
Ok, so technically this one is in Sanibel Island. But it’s a short drive from Captiva and is a MUST DO for your island trip. We’ve had a great time at Ding Darling on both of our trips.
Ding Darling includes over 6,400 acres of mangrove ecosystem home to endangered and threatened species (including the West Indian Manatee) and nearly 250 species of birds. It has a nice Visitor & Education Center with interactive displays.
You can take a tram around the 4 mile wildlife drive, but we chose to drive our personal vehicle. On our trips through the drive we’ve gotten close-up views of dolphins, manatee, and a variety of birds.
We’ve also taken a couple short hikes to be more immersed in the mangrove surroundings. The wildlife education boardwalk accessible near the visitor center is an easy 0.6 mile out-and-back walk through the mangrove forest that leads to an overlook tower. Close to the end of the drive, Wulfert Keys Trail is a 1/3 mile walk from the road for a nice view of Pine Island Sound.
Best Things to Do on the Water at captiva island
Rent a Fishing Charter
There are quite a few fishing charter options in Captiva, but we’ve not gone wrong twice with Santiva Saltwater Fishing. This small, family-owned fishing company has a variety of charter options. With young kids, we’ve chosen their 2-hour trip that doesn’t travel out as far and focuses on making sure you get the opportunity to catch a lot of fish. While the 2-hour charter is advertised as “catch and release” only, our son did keep a couple mackerels on one trip.
This has been a “boys trip” when we’ve vacationed on Captiva – the girls head off for a little souvenir shopping 🙂
If you are successful fishing, take your catch to The Lazy Flamingo, where they will fry or blacken your fish for you!
Go on an Eco Tour of the Area
In 2020 we really enjoyed our Florida eco tour with Captain Brian on the Water. Captain Brian is a certified Florida Master Naturalist, and is SO knowledgeable on the local flora and fauna. He offers a variety of day trips to suit your family’s interests. Max capacity onboard his boat is six, but since we had 11 on our trip he hooked up with another captain and we took two boats out.
The kids loved exploring a private beach, where Capt. Brian helped identify all the types of shells they found. We also toured North Captiva from the water, a section of the island only accessible via boat or private plane.
Take a Sunset Cruise
The best way to view the gorgeous Florida sunset on Captiva is from the water. All ages on our trip enjoyed our sunset tour with Captiva Cruises, where we saw dolphins, manatee, and of course a beautiful sunset.
best places to eat on captiva island
We typically buy groceries before we cross the bridge to cover most breakfasts and lunches at the condo. But one of the main things Josh and I look forward to on a beach vacation is eating amazing fresh seafood at a local restaurant. After we’ve come in from the beach or another outdoor adventure, we always like to clean up and find a great place for dinner. I’ve listed our favorites at Captiva depending on what you’re looking for.
Best Overall – Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille
Doc Ford’s is our overall favorite restaurant in Captiva. I think we’ve been there four times in two trips. It offers fresh local seafood and other entree options, with choices for dining both indoors or on the patio with live music. Be sure to try their Yucatan Shrimp or the Seared Tuna Appetizer!
Best Low Key – RC Otters Island Eats
After a long day exploring Captiva, we like to have a casual dinner outside at RC Otters. There is a wide variety of offerings on the menu, but we usually have one of their fried seafood platters. There is also indoor dining available.
On our last trip to Captiva, my two oldest boys, nephew, and niece thought they were big stuff getting their own kids table. We were seated nearby, and next thing we know the server walked past us with a huge pitcher of apple juice they had ordered themselves for their table. All four kids are pretty shy, so we still laugh about them being bold enough to order a whole pitcher – and the fact the waiter just went along with it!
Best for Sunsets – The Mucky Duck
Truth be told: we haven’t actually eaten at the Mucky Duck. However, we did stop by to check it out one evening after hearing it was the BEST location to watch the sunset. They offer both indoor and outdoor dining and have amazing reviews.
Best for Dessert – The Bubble Room
The Bubble Room is probably the most famous restaurant on Captiva Island. It’s always super busy, so if you are dining in you might want to get there early.
I’d say the food is just average, but it’s just a FUN place. The real draws for the restaurant are the eclectic decor throughout the dining areas and their DESSERTS! Even if you don’t eat a meal at The Bubble Room you MUST stop in and get some desserts to go. Our family likes to order a variety and make our own little sampler platters. Fair warning: portions are BIG!
I highly recommend their Red Velvet cake and Orange Crunch cake!
And about that red velvet cake: I didn’t know it’s origin, but our family has been enjoying this cake for years. The recipe was printed in a 1987 edition of Redbook called “Willard Scott’s Favorite Christmas Cake”. My mom got the recipe from my aunt, and I got it from her. It’s so good and always gets a lot of compliments! My mom remembered it came from The Bubble Room, so of course we had to buy a piece!
Honorable Mention – Cantina Captiva
On our first trip we enjoyed dinner at Cantina Captiva. It’s your typical Mexican fare. The food is good, but the fun thing about this place is that the entire restaurant is COVERED in one dollar bills left by diners. They supply the marker and stapler – you provide the dollar and the design and try to find an open spot to hang it 🙂
The Last Thing You Need to Know About visiting captiva island, Florida
We think you’ll love your next family Florida beach vacation at Captiva Island. It is the perfect combination of fun in the sun and getting away from the hustle and bustle to relax. You’ll make great memories with your kids, and it is sure to be a family favorite spot like Captiva has become for us!
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Have you been to Captiva? Drop a comment below with your favorite activities or restaurants!