Sanibel Island is a beautiful coastal town and island off the coast of the southwestern part of Florida, an often less-visited and less-touristy location than you would find in the other areas of the Sunshine State. Located near Fort Myers and Captiva Island, Sanibel Island is perfectly situated between two of the biggest cities in Florida — Naples, and Tampa — without being overrun with crowds and tourists.
Families, friends, and solo travelers can enjoy visiting Sanibel Island at any time of the year. Whether you are headed here during the summer months to spend every single day outside in the hot weather, or you want to escape the doom and gloom of the winter months in the northeastern part of the country, this part of Florida is great for a vacation any time of year.
But what happens when you head to Sanibel Island, and it is a rainy spell? Although it is almost always sunny in the “Sunshine State”, it, of course, does rain here occasionally. During sunny days, you can head to the Pine Island Sound Aquatic Preserve, walk to the beach, go out on the water, and walk around the beautiful towns. But during rainy or cold days, it can be nice to find things to do inside.
One of the best indoor activities for those who are visioning Sanibel Island is to head to the movies. If you are headed here with kids, this is especially a good idea to keep your children entertained and happy during a family holiday! Let’s check out the best places to go to the movies during your Sanibel Island family vacation!
Fort Myers Beach Theater
Located in the heart of Fort Myers beach, the Fort Myers Beach Theater is one of the best places to visit if you are thinking of checking out some new movies that have just been released. Open from Wednesday to Sunday, there are two daily showtimes, making it easy to plan your day around this cute and quaint theater. The two showtimes are 5:30 and 8 pm, making it the perfect place to head either before or after dinner.
Of course, you can also get some great food here! Not only can you get the classic popcorn and soda that everyone loves at theaters, but you can have filling dinner food, like pizza, salmon, sandwiches, steak, and Mexican dishes!
Regal Belltower and ScreenX
Located in Fort Myers, this is another theater that is popular among many locals and tourists. You can also find a bigger variety of show times here at this large-scale theater, ranging from as early as 12 pm during the middle of the day to as late as 11 pm for some movies. This large movie theater has multiple screens that offer more flexibility for those who may spontaneously go to the theater.
Plus, this theater also offers arcade games in the lobby. This theater is great for those with kids who want to spend a few hours in the theater to keep themselves entertained during a spell of bad weather. We also love the location of this theater — head to Fort Myers for the day to explore the cool town and then wander around the Bell Tower Mall before going to the theater for the movie.
The Bell Tower Mall has plenty of shops and restaurants for you to eat in before you head to the voice for your late-night show. We recommend getting some food at Blue Pointe Tavern if you enjoy seafood, the Cantina Laredo if you are in the mood for Mexican dishes, the Burntwood Tavern if you want classic American food, Daruma Japanese Steakhouse, and Sushi Lounge if you are in the mood for Asian cuisine, or Dave and Buster’s if you have kids with you!
AMC Merchants Crossing 16
The last choice that is great for those who want to check out a just-released movie during their vacation to Sanibel Island is to head to the AMC movie theater in Fort Myers, Florida. As you can see, there are many options to choose from in the nearby Fort Myers! So, if you are in the mood to see a movie, we recommend going to Fort Myers to enjoy some shopping, local cuisine, and modern movies.
Accommodation in Sanibel Island, Florida
Sanibel Island is a great place to visit all year round. It doesn’t matter if you are coming here during the summer months for hot weather or the colder seasons for a nice break from work or school — you can always find something to do! Even if the weather is bad, heading to the movies during your holiday can be nice and relaxing.
But where should you stay? Luckily, we have that covered for you. Tropical Escapes Sanibel is a premier real estate agency that offers vacation properties you are going to love.
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