Traveling and vacationing with kids is a great way to build core memories while experiencing new things together, but planning trips can also be stressful. Researching where to go, where to stay, and the best things to do can be really overwhelming. Busy moms just don’t have tons of time to spend reading reviews, searching blogs, and hunting down the best deals. But don’t worry, we’re here to help! Run Wild My Child works to curate a list of some of the best places to visit with kids, from camping and glamping to resorts of all kinds. Run Wild Recommends is excited to share our newest recommendation: South Seas Island Resort in Captiva, Florida.
*Sponsored content. The author received a hosted stay in exchange for the content shared below. The views and opinions expressed belong to the author.
A special trip for a special occasion
When our children were young, my husband and I decided that we would take them on a special trip for their 10th birthday. A child’s 10th birthday is a very special occasion, and we wanted a special way to mark the milestone. We thought that a trip would be a great way to commemorate the move from young childhood and celebrate who they are.
For their 10th birthday, we let our kids decide where they’d like to go for their special trip. The only parameter is that it has to be in the contiguous United States. My son decided that he wanted to play in the ocean, so I started researching places to stay with clear water and somewhere on the Gulf Coast.
Searching for the perfect destination led me to Sanibel and Captiva Island in Florida. My son had never been to Florida, so this seemed like the perfect time to take him there. We opted to drive and took some mini detours, including a quick pit stop to check out Morrison Springs in NW Florida. I’ll never forget the joy on my son’s face as we got to take in a new experience together.
Driving to Captiva Island with kids
The drive to Florida from Arkansas was long but beautiful. We are experienced road trippers, so long drives don’t both us. If you want a few suggestions on how we road trip, check out this post on road trip safety tips for traveling with kids and this post on screen-free road trip ideas for kids.
When we crossed the causeway to get to Sanibel, we were both so excited we could hardly wait. The beautiful turquoise water was calling our name. We arrived in Sanibel and continued north toward Captiva Island. The drive takes you through the incredible J.N. “Ding” Darling Wildlife Refuge. If you have the time, it’s absolutely worth a side trip and it is well known for incredible birding.
Arriving at South Seas Island Resort
South Seas Island Resort is located at the northern tip of Captiva Island, with 330 acres of sub tropical paradise. The resort was originally was a key lime farm, and in 1946 was opened as a fishing resort. Currently, it is a luxury resort that compliments the natural landscape of the island that is available to resort guests only. My son was most excited about the 2.5 miles of private beach to explore, play, and hopefully find some amazing shells.
Outdoor lunch at South Seas
After checking into our room, we headed for the beach to check out the Attitudes and Latitudes food shack and beach bar. It’s a charming outdoor dining option with colorful seating and beautiful ocean views. My son enjoyed his own fancy drink (a non-alcoholic daiquiri), and I had a margarita. The food shack has kid friendly options like chicken quesadillas and they have vegetarian and gluten free options too. I enjoyed a vegetarian street taco made with corn tortillas. It was delicious! My son and I could hardly believe how beautiful and relaxing it was to enjoy our lunch with an ocean breeze while staring out at the ocean.
Tennis at South Seas Island Resort
There is plenty to do at South Seas, including tennis! Blackwood Tennis Academy is onsite at the resort. The tennis center has eleven courts, and there are professional instructors available for private or group lessons. My son and I had court time reserved for us, and they also have racquets and balls available for rent. After we received our racquets, new can of balls, and water, I let my son decide where we should play.
It was still hot in the afternoon, but we had a great time rallying back and forth. I won one game, and he won one game. However, when we took to a game he plays at practice at home called “drop shot city,” he easily took it to me.
We had such a great time playing on the well maintained courts, which we had to ourselves! There are also pickleball courts and equipment available to resort guests.
Dining options at South Seas Island Resort
The resort has several dining options, from beachfront-casual to marina-view formal. For our dinner the first night, we went to The Point, which overlooks the resort pool complex and, behind that, the Pine Island Sound. The menu at The Point is broad and features kid-friendly items like the “cheeseburger in paradise” or options from the kid’s menu. The gluten-free quinoa power bowl was delicious, and I highly recommend it!
We had such a peaceful dinner with hardly anyone else at the restaurant. At the end of our meal, we were treated to watching dolphins play as the sun started to dip lower.
Two other restaurants on site are: Crooked Snook Tiki Bar and Scoops and Slices. Scoops is a very cute 1950’s style pizza diner and ice cream parlor. Be prepared because when you walk inside, there is a wall of bulk candy that will have your kiddos begging for a special treat.
A sunset we’ll never forget
After dinner, we changed back into our still wet swimsuits and headed for the beach again. The sun was just above the horizon, and there was live music in the food shack area. My son and I built a sand castle and played in the waves as the last of the light faded away. As the sun slipped under the horizon, the musician brought a group down to the beach to blow a conch shell, saying goodnight to the sun and goodbye to another day in paradise. It was the most perfect end to a fun-filled day.
We stayed until the stars came out and we started to get cold from our wet swimsuits. Back in the room, we took turns enjoying the massive, walk-in tile and glass shower. We ended our evening by sharing some candy that was in our welcome basket and watching dock diving dogs on tv. What a great day!
Shelling in Sanibel
One of the things we loved about South Seas Island Resort was walking the beach to look for shells. Sanibel is known for its amazing shelling, and the beaches by the resort did not disappoint. After grabbing breakfast for my son and an almond milk latte for me at the Ship Store, we took it to the beach so we could get a jump start looking for the best shells. It was so early that we were the only ones there. It was an excellent morning for shelling, and we found so many incredible shells! My son just combed the beach, and I used my goggles to dive down into the clear water and find what I could. We make a pretty great shelling team!
Sanibel and Captiva are known for having incredible shells; in fact, there are over 250 different kinds of shells to find on the islands! Please search and collect responsibly, and be sure that the shell you picked up isn’t inhabited before taking it with you.
Onsite rentals at the resort
South Seas Island Resort is a Run Wild Recommends resort for many reasons, and one of them is all of the onsite activities and amenities that are outside and family-friendly. I already mentioned the rental for tennis, so now let’s talk about water adventures! Sunny Island Adventures is a vendor at the resort that offers everything from jet ski, paddleboard, boat, and kayak rentals, to parasailing and more. They also have golf carts and bike rentals, for adventuring on land.
A closer look at mangroves
We rented kayaks for a unique outdoor adventure into the mangroves on our second day. We each got our own kayak, and we paddled over to the bayou in search of seeing manatees! It was magical to paddle along the red mangroves. My son spotted lots of ospreys, and we saw a cownose stingray gliding along beneath us. While we didn’t see any manatees, it was so much fun to experience the bayou side of the island by kayak. Remember to take along a water bottle, hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen!
The resort pools and waterslides
After another lunch at The Point, we decided it was time to check out the swimming pools for a little more water fun. South Seas Island Resort has a resort pool complex with an adult-only pool and a family-friendly large pool. My son’s favorite part was the third pool which had waterslides.
There are two waterslides, one short and fast, and one that has more twists and turns. Somehow we lucked out with no one else there, and we went down both those slides at least twenty times. They were so much fun!
Our final night
For dinner on our final night, we had a reservation at the Harbourside Grill. The restaurant offers a fine dining experience at South Seas Island Resort, and it has both indoor and outdoor seating. My son wanted to eat outside, so we sat on the patio, where we had great views of the marina and all of the boats.
Harbourside Grill has plenty of seafood options, as well as many gluten-free choices. We shared a shrimp appetizer, and for dinner, my son went with a cheeseburger again. I enjoyed the salmon with vegetables. The meal was the perfect way to end our experience at South Seas, and after a great conversation about what my son hopes for his eleventh year, we toasted to the year ahead.
Run Wild recommends South Seas
There are so many reasons why South Seas Island Resort is a Run Wild Recommends resort. Here are a few of our favorite things:
- The Sanibel Island Sea School – This incredible sea school for kids has a location right on the resort! The summer camps are available for children aged 6 to 13. Your children can learn all about beachcombing, the diverse marine ecosystem, and the natural environment around the island while you enjoy relaxing at the resort!
- Scout About – South Seas has its own discovery app, called Scout About. There are 20 discovery points throughout the 330 acres to digitally collect. Get them all, and you can claim your prize at the pool complex.
- Water sports rentals – Sunny Island Adventures is on-site for all of your aquatic adventure needs.
- Colgate offshore sailing school – This sailing school offers a range of courses including a three-hour sailing school for families.
- Golf course and tennis courts
- Multiple outdoor dining options
- Bike, boat, and golf cart rentals
- Multiple accommodation options from guest rooms with multiple beds to houses for rent
- Captiva Cruises – This cruise company offers wildlife watching excursions and eco-cruises. We went on a wildlife tour and saw manatees, dolphins, and so much more!
An experience we’ll never forget
Our experience at South Seas Island Resort was magical. From the peaceful room with a beautiful balcony overlooking the harbor to the kayak adventures on clear water. The shelling, the sunsets, the incredible dining. And of course, the waterslides, snacks, and ice cream! Thank you to South Seas Island Resort for a tenth birthday trip that we’ll never forget.
Follow me on Instagram for even more shenanigans at coleyraeh, or check out my personal website HERE. To see a video of our trip, check out this Reel on Instagram.
More recommended destinations
For more Run Wild Recommends travel recommendations, take a look at our Travel Recommendations page, or click on any of the linked posts below for full write-ups.
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About the author
Nichole is mama to two incredible adventurers, an older boy and a younger girl, and they are on their fifth year of homeschooling. She has been married to her best friend for nearly thirteen years and they share a mutual love for the outdoors. An Iowan native now living in the south, she is happy to claim Arkansas as home. She is a wanderlust (and coffee) fueled, fearless, road-tripper who has been known to take off for epic adventures at a moment’s notice. Hiking and camping (of the backpacking variety) and crystal digging are a few of their favorite family activities. You can usually find her in the woods somewhere (probably up a creek and jumping off waterfalls), or on an epic road-tripping adventure with the kids. Nichole is also the Editor in Chief of the Run Wild My Child Get Out Guides – travel guides aimed at helping families find the best local outdoor adventures and outings in their area and while traveling.
You can find more from Nichole online in the following locations:
Website: www.luckeywanderers.com
Instagram: @coleyraeh
RWMC posts: Nichole
