Grandparents: We love them, our kids adore them ... and in turn they offer unconditional love (and — if you're lucky — free babysitting!). Grandparents Day is Sunday, Sept. 8 and there's no better way to show the older people in your life how much you and your kids love and appreciate them than spending the day with them. And for those of you grandparents raising your grandkids full-time? We see and very much appreciate you!
Lucky enough to have grandparents who live close by? Here are 10 ideas on how to spend Grandparents Day in Fort Myers-Fort Myers Beach.
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1. Take them out for a special meal
Here are three of our favorite Fort Myers-owned, family-friendly restaurants:
- Ford's Garage - Open 10:30am-10pm on Sundays
- Fine Folk Pizza - Free Dough Tossing Lessons for Kids! & Take and Bake Option - Open 11am-9pm
- Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille - Doc Ford’s Fort Myers Beach sits on the back of beautiful Estero Bay on San Carlos Island and offers the best waterfront dining on Ft. Myers Beach- Open 11am-10pm
2. Go for a walk in the woods
If your grandparents love fresh air and hiking in the woods, there might be no simpler way to spend the day! Here are some great hiking trails in Fort Myers that are accessible to all:
- John Yarbrough Linear Park (Six mile paved multiple-use north-to-south linear park trail. The trail is well shaded on the southern-most section. Paved parking, including ADA-compliant parking)
- Wild Turkey Strand Preserve (Although all amenities are ADA-accessible, only the western section (0.7-mile) of the 1.8-mile Gunner's Trail is ADA-accessible.)
- Billy Creek Preserve (The site features 1.5 miles of paved multi-use trails that meander around the filter marsh ponds and is a perfect location to enjoy a leisurely walk or a healthy jog.)
3. Plan a picnic
Surprise Grandma and Grandpa with a picnic! Here are three great spots in Fort Myers-Fort Myers Beach for a family picnic:
- Lakes Park - 7330 Gladiolus Dr, Fort Myers, FL 33908
- Riverside Park - 3061 E Riverside Dr, Fort Myers, FL 33916
- Manatee Park - 10901 Palm Beach Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33905
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4. Let your child share one of their favorite places in Fort Myers
Does your child have a favorite trampoline park, amusement park, or playground? Grandma and Grandpa might love to come along to take part, or if that's too much, simply watch their grandchildren enjoy themselves! Your children, in turn, will probably love to tour Grandma and Grandpa around their favorite place in Fort Myers. Here are three fun spots in Fort Myers where kids can play and there is plenty of room for adults to watch (or take part!):
- We Rock the Spectrum (They offer Open Play daily, which is when children are welcome to enjoy full use of their sensory-safe gym with parent supervision. The gym features therapy equipment, an arts & crafts area, a calming room, and more. They have a range of activities for kids no matter what they like. For grandparents that want to sit back and relax, they have seating in the lobby with a view of all the activities!)
- Fort Rock Family Adventures (Dive into their 5,000 square-foot, air-conditioned playground spanning three levels
with multiple slides and activities, making every visit a new adventure! There are lots of comfortable seating options where grandparents can relax and enjoy watching their grandbabies have fun!) - Sky Zone Trampoline Park (A fun trampoline park for the kids with lots of seating options for the adults ;) )
Grandparents live far away?
Let them know you're thinking of them on Grandparents Day! Here are three ways to tell them you love them from a distance:
Make a video
Kids can list all the things they love about grandma and grandpa.
Send them a hug
Tape together a few pieces of newspaper or use the white side of wrapping paper and outline your child with their arms outstretched. Let your kids color themselves in. Fold it up, put it in an envelope, and send that hug to Grandma and Grandpa!
DIY coasters
Grandparents love personalized gifts, so make them DIY coasters, either with your kids' picture or a drawing they've completed. See how to do it here.
5. Let grandparents share one of their favorite places in Fort Myers
Perhaps your grandparents have a favorite spot or activity in Fort Myers that you haven't been to before! Let them take you and your kids along to experience what makes it important to them. They'll love introducing you and your kids to their friends and sharing a place that's special.
6. Visit a museum together
Museums are a great place to spend a day with Grandma and Grandpa! Here are three great museums in Fort Myers that will be open on Grandparents Day:
- IMAG - General Admission $19.50, Kids $15, 2 & under FREE - Sunday hours 12pm-5pm
- Edison & Ford Winter Estates - Self-guided tour pricing: Adults $25, Teens $20, Kids $15, 5 & under FREE - Open 9am-5:30pm
- CMON (If you're up to a drive to Naples, this children's museum is a favorite in our house! General Admission $25, Local Resident Admission $18, Children under 1, members and teachers always FREE - Open 10am-5pm
7. Say hi to the animals
Grandparents probably love to see animals as much as their grandkids! Here are a couple places to go and see the animals in Fort Myers on Grandparents Day:
- Southern Fresh Farms - 8500 Penzance Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33912
- Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium - 3450 Ortiz Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33905
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8. Plan a photo scavenger hunt
We developed this fun scavenger hunt for teens and tweens but there's no reason why Grandma and Grandpa can't take part too! Make great memories by taking selfies together, recreating a famous Beatles album cover, and just generally spending the day out and about in Fort Myers being silly together.
9. Go for ice cream
Who doesn't love a sweet treat? Here are three great Fort Myers-owned ice cream places we love:
10. Plan a photo shoot
Grandparents love family photos (and who doesn't?!?), so arrange a photo shoot with a Fort Myers. photographer on Grandparents Day, or gift them a certificate to use later. Here are three great Fort Myers photographers who specialize in family photos:
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