J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge Visitor and Education Center

$10 dollars to drive through about 4 miles of wildlife. It used to be free and donations but I guess time Changes. Don’t get me wrong I don’t mind paying to get in and help the wildlife and preserve the nature for next generation of people to enjoy. You can still see the damages from the last storms but in good condition.

The island is so damaged from Ian. There was not much wildlife to see. Some of the trails are still closed. There is new growth with some of the plants. Employees were very friendly. The gift shop was very nice and reasonably priced. I'm sure this area was beautiful before the hurricane. I'm looking forward to going back next year. Hopefully, things will have improved by then.

Wonderful center. Many interactive learning stations ranging from techy tablets to physical, hands-on stations to a blend of the two. The life-sized visuals were impressive and the walking trail and Outlook were nice. Even the artwork was in a one-of-a-kind fashion. I'm glad I didn't have my wallet on me in the gift shop or I would have bought everything. Great, enforced gem of a stop.

Had a great ride around Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge today. The temperature was around 70 degrees and breezy. Parking at the visitor parking lot is free. Entrance to "Wildlife Drive" is about 200 meters from the parking lot. Cars are $10 and bicyclists and hikers are $1 and share a fairly wide road. There is an annual pass for $25 as of January 2022. The drive is one way and is 4-miles long. (Note. If you ride your bicycle, it is one way only. Wildlife Drive exits onto Sanctuary Road and onto Sanibel Captiva Road. It is approximately 4 more miles back to the visitor parking lot). Speed limit is 15 mph but most people will drive slower. There are pull offs, observation decks, paths to viewing areas, and kayak and canoe launches. Motor boats are not permitted in the protected areas. It was low tide at the time. There were many "water birds" feeding and resting in the shallow waters and exposed sand bars. There was one 6-foot alligator sunning near the road just on the other side by the mangroves. The visitor and education center has displays about how the refuge came about as well as a gallery for rotating art exhibits (which may be available for sale) and a gift shop that also sells Vortex birding scopes. There are tram tours available with a tram ticket booth in the parking lot. There are public restrooms in the Visitor Center and one along Wildlife Drive. There are picnic tables in grassy areas in the parking lot. And there are several restaurants on the island.

Amazing museum and gift shop. They have a wonderful assortment of gifts, shirts, books, kids’ stuffed animals, and decor. The museum was closed for renovations to the AC unit during our visit in June 2025, but we have been in previous years and it’s really wonderful.

This is a great national wildlife park! I saw some really unique wildlife! Tree crabs! Have you ever heard of them? We rode our bikes over from where were staying on awesome bike trails

Visiting this refuge is all about timing. One December, during a low tide, we saw thousands of birds, including some 500 white pelicans feeding in the shallows along with reddish egrets, snowy and great egrets, and white ibis. Yesterday, I drove through at 8 a.m. and saw one yellow-crowned night heron, six wood storks, and a few white ibis and reddish egrets (low tide was at 6 p.m. yesterday). So check the tide charts before your visit!

Nice walk! It was warm but we enjoyed seeing the sites along the way. The portable classrooms was great and the nature center was really done well.

We stopped by here just towards the end of spring and unfortunately, most of the wildlife was gone for the summer. It was a beautiful drive with several places to pull over and check out the area. We really liked the observation platform where you can go up a little higher for a better surrounding view. The Visitor Center was being remodeled so we did get to see it, however the very friendly and extremely knowledgeable volunteers gave us a very good overview of the refuge. We will absolutely come back in the season.

Amazing Nature preserve. We took a ride in our car, there's 10$ charge per car. If you want to see something you're more than welcome to pull aside and spend as long as you like. Right before you start your drive there a walking trail to the left that takes you to overlook tower that it's great spot to see wildlife. There are a lot of people fishing.

They're open every day except Friday. We stopped in on a Monday afternoon on our way to the Bubble Room, and it wasn't busy at all. Jim at the booth was welcoming and very knowledgeable--he suggested we take the path closest to him and check out the tower, which was a great tip! We saw tons of birds, manatees playing in the water, a gator, and even a bald eagle. A few trails were closed, but it was still well worth the drive through.

Very large preserve between Sanibel Captiva Road and the waterway between Sanibel Island and Pine Island. The first stop is the visitor center where you can get a map and various options (including renting kayaks!). The visitor center provides information about the area. We took the 4-mile one-way drive. You can stop anywhere along the way. It was $10/car. There are quite a few varied stops for seeing mangroves, birds, water, fishing, and an observation tower. There were people on bikes as well. Two bathrooms along the drive. We spent 3 hours from start to finish.

Atrocious rangers since the hurricane they are gestapos. Today I was told I couldn't use the bottle fill station and would be trespassed due to me riding a bike partially up a ramp with no signage saying no bikes. This is the third incident this year bike riders have had with rangers at ding. Appalling appalling behaviors. The gentleman w his go tee had a horrible attitude escalating matters and trying to call police when all I wanted was some water that is provided for the public by US tax payers Do I also need to add I am a long time resident and seasonal pass holder. Atrocious and will be following up with management. 8am and your staff treat the public like that?! All of it is on go pro and will be posted In the Facebook group.

Awesome programs, tons of wildlife, loved the tram ride! The tram driver was extremely knowledgeable, explained the ecology, history and pointed out so many things along the way. Bonus, check out the restroom murals!

A must-go with if you're on Sanibel Island! Even if you don't drive through the park itself. (If you do, go at dawn or dusk- you'll see more birds..but also, more mosquitoes). But if you don't want to go in, just check out the gift shop/ entry area. There's lots of cool stuff to look at and learn about. Highly recommend.

I haven't been out to Ding Darling in forever! We checked out the inside and saw some ducks, along with the most scenic bathrooms in America! We went on a very rainy day so we didn't see much, but it was still a nice drive. Most of the boardwalks are still down from Ian, but we saw many crabs. Worth the visit if you are around, and it's only $10 or so to do the drive. The inside stuff is free.

Great little wildlife refuge on Captiva. We're spending the weekend there and decided to drive through on a rainy morning. They have a tram tour and several hiking trails as well as canoe/kayak sites and a small observation tower. We were able to see many types of birds and some others that were in the park got to see manatees. Would highly recommend for a quick break. Very peaceful!

We went here after the Tarpon Bay Explorers boat tour and Bailey Tract because I wanted to see more than just birds. The long path/road is hard to walk without a sidewalk, so we chose to avoid walking it. I didn't realize how big the refuge is, which is worth the cost if you can do it all. We were too tired to do most of it, so we stuck around the observation tower closest to the visitor center. There was tons of raccoon poop (what I suspect) all over the tower and path leading to it, so be aware of that. The water by this tower was also so murky, I didn't bother looking for any gators, etc. It was definitely a cool, strange color, though. We saw lots of different birds we haven't seen anywhere else. If it wasn't for other people with binoculars, we wouldn't have noticed the pink roseate spoonbill in a tree. I was disappointed we didn't see more, but it was probably bad timing. Sounds like we were there at the wrong time/season for manatees and other animals as well. Also, they say they have the best restrooms, but the stalls are personally too high for my standards. Maybe it's all the imagery on the walls that make it so "good"? The restrooms definitely didn't have the same terrible smell portable toilets and most public restrooms have.

Such an awesome place! We started at the education center, which had several informational exhibits and, when we went, was displaying student artwork inspired by wildlife. The staff in the building were very helpful, and provided us with information pamphlets and gave us some tips as it was our first time visiting. We saw an alligator, and two nesting shorebirds off the boardwalk/trail right before the toll booth before the drivable portion of the preserve. We pulled over several times during our drive through and saw ospreys, needlefish, iguanas, and several cool plants! We unfortunately did not visit the Bailey Tract yet, but hopefully next time! It was the highlight of our Sanibel trip!

Where else can you go open to close (at 4pm) for $10? You can leave and come back the same day with the receipt. About a 4 mile drivable loop, and several trails to hike. We drove the first go round, and went back to hike the 1.9 mile trail round trip, so 3.8 miles. Not very crowded early for the drive, but on the return it was getting crowded. Very nice overall. The spoonbills alone were worth the admission.

I didn't know Sanibel island is such a protector of the wild life, but you always learn. While on the island, we had to visit the JN Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge. My in laws raved about it. The visitor center is big with plenty to learn about the area's animals and birds and their effort of conserving many species and how it started in the area. Lots to see and learn. Free to visit. I loved their store, great merchandise, nice quality, cheaper prices than usual. I snagged a few souvenirs for ourselves and I am glad I did. The restrooms are the best/most famous in USA. Not sure about that, but the decor on the hallway is funny and also they keep going with it inside the restrooms where you can keep learning about local bird species while using the facilities. There are water fountains and they keep the restrooms opened a tad after 4 pm closing time which I think it's too early. Maybe 5 pm would be better? They open at 9 am daily! We booked their tram tour, check their site, we got tickets in advance,$18 for adults, $10 for kids. Parking for it is in a different spot, ask for directions. Not far thoug. It is worth since you get a docent who know the area, has updates and stops at the right places and is full of information about the species you get to see. My in laws did the tour a few times and they saw various type of birds and animals each time. It's nature, can't control it, be surprised! I wish they wouldn't allow so many cars to get inside the refuge and people to fish. I get they need some money, but I saw people's behavior and it's not always protective toward nature. If you visit Sanibel stop by the Refuge's Visitor Center, if you have time, take the tram tour, it's an unique experience, you'd get to see unusual species!

Travel the road less travel is what comes to mind after visiting J.N. Ding Darling Nature Preserve. We chose the road most traveled. That is the one where you drive through and stop anywhere you choose. Perfect for Social distancing and if the weather is extreme. I'm sure if we traveled the road less traveled we would find fascinating finds. Birds, animals, trees, nature. Everything that this place has. I would definitely do that in the winter. In the meantime, it's still a great place to drive, walk, and ride. Perhaps you will be lucky and find some cool wildlife! $10 per car, $1 per bike at this time!

The place to be if you're looking for a nature hike while staying on Sanibel Island. Indigo trail provides the perfect blend of palm tree scapes and sparkling gulf water views. This hike took us about a couple of hours from start to finish. While walking through the trail we hit a dead end without warning. Would've loved to continue through the woods. Instead of heading directly back to the parking lot, we walked toward the road meant for scenic drives. The shelter along the way provided a much needed break in the shade. We also passed by the park restrooms. While walking along the road a few cars passed us, some were stopped for nature viewings. Would've been slightly better if there were sidewalks. The gulf views and docks made it worth it. Also, made for a much longer walk. Pristine grounds and quiet escape from tourists. Would do this again!

It's important to support all businesses during this pandemic and spread the word about those that are going the extra mile!!   We are visiting Sanibel Island from Texas and it's been very difficult to explore everything the area has to offer with COVID19 going on.  The reserve is going the extra mile by offering free admission!! We fully expected to pay for the privilege but we were pleased as we pulled up to the booth to read a memo that said, "Enjoy!"

This is probably the 5th or 6th time I have visited this place when on holiday in the area. It never disappoints. Even though we did not see any gators this time we saw plenty of birds of all types. I have not been here during the peak of migration so that would be great to see. The $10 fee is reasonable. Don't hurry - take your time and bring your binoculars and camera.

I love Ding Darling! I really wish they would enforce the speed limit though. Too many times a leisurely drive has been interrupted/ruined by the speeders. A real shame since this is to the wildlife's benefit and not mine.

If you are a fan of nature.. wildlife.. bird watching.. nature hiking, fishing this is a must. We got free admission because my husband is a veteran and thanks to Trump we can get free admission to national parks. I looked and didnt see anything about this was a national park ..but it is. Used to be if you paid for admission you got in all week. Now if you dont have national park pass its 5 dollars a day for cars. We learned the tides in the park and different than the gulf. You can get tide chart at service center. Have to ask at counter. Bathroom are award winning. I dont know what I was expecting ... it's nice.. clean with nature pics on walls and bathroom doors. I expected more .. but I usually do. Walk trails. Look up and all around. Birds, alligators, manatees, bobcat., rabbits, huge banana spiders, raccoons, iguanas, ospreys, eagles, Lots and lots of birds. Spoon bowls and pelicans, wood storks. Egrets, ibis,ect. Usually see most at low tide and early in the morning at the lake at 2 mile mark with the wood viewing station. We never used viewing platform. Bring camera and binoculars. Water, sunglasses and bug repellent This is a 4 mile drive that you have to drive slowly. 15 mile speed limit and lots of serious speed bumps. We came here several times a day every day. But I'm a photo nerd.. didnt do much walking the trails because it was 90 degrees and bugs had ate me up. If you stay in the car you can miss alot.

My husband and I recently took. A road trip to Sanibel Island for a change of scenery and to relax. J.N Ding Darling Nature Refuge was on our list of things to do and didn't disappoint. We knew in advance that a good portion of the Welcome Center would be closed due to COVID restrictions but knew the Nature Drive would be a great escape. The cost for accessing the four-mile-long Wildlife Drive was $10 per vehicle and the park ranger informed us it included a return visit the next day - either way a great deal. The road is nicely paved and wide enough to pull over and enjoy the views. We pulled off the roadway a number of times to see what fishermen were catching and look at birds on the waterways. The overlooks have well-maintained boardwalks, and we really enjoyed the observation tower. The tower had a well-designed, handicapped-accessible ramp that lead to the first deck. And each of the two decks had bird identification signage and binoculars. The restroom facilities along the road were rustic but well maintained. We wandered along the Wulferts Key Trail, the packed shell base still made it easily accessible for those with mobility issues. We relaxed on the bench and watched people boating off the coast and saw a Marsh Rabbit, Iguana, and lots of tiny crabs along the walk back. We also stopped to walk along the Calusa Shell Mound Trail - the boardwalks were well maintained and there was some wonderful signage at the beginning of the trail. I guess we just expected a bit more information or a 'site' along the trail loop. On the main road we had seen signage for a Tram Stop but didn't see anyone in that parking lot, nor did we see a tram during our visit. We just figured it was also not running due to COVID regulations. We had a wonderful, relaxing day, great views, and joyed the drive as well as the walkability of the trails. Well worth the cost of admission.

We went in the visitor center to try to book the tram ride, they've been sold out since seven this morning so that's out of the question. We did the self drive tour, free with our parks pass. We stopped a few time's along the 4 mile loop, walked through mangroves and we saw a pretty lakes with lots of birds in the distance. We got out and walked along trails coming to the cross Dyke pavilion, Educational wildlife boardwalk and observation tower. I would love stops with an audio tour so we know what we're looking at. We did stop at the observation towers walked along a few paths, Saw lots of birds, most looked like what we see in our backyard or at Green Cay. We saw a lot of license plates from all over the country sure hope they were more enthralled than we were. There was a gift shop with the usual T-shirts and some tchotchkes of local wildlife

AMAZING PLACE! I wish I lived closer to see the changes throughout the year. The entire place is pristine and makes you never want to leave the area.

Not really sure what the point of this place is. Thank god it was free. I would have been really disappointed if I had to pay for this. I drove through saw some water. A couple birds and an iguana. Got mosquito bites on my back within a min of stepping out of my car.

Jay Northwood Darling also known as Ding Darling was born in Norwood Michigan, in 1876. He was a Pulitzer prize winning cartoonist and an important figure in the conservation movement. Darling was elected as a member of the Boone and Crockett Club, a wildlife conservation organization, on December 13, 1934 and he was instrumental in founding the National Wildlife Federation in 1936. Darling had a winter home in Florida on Captiva Island and was influential in the effort to block the sale of environmentally sensitive land to developers on Sanibel Island. At the behest of Darling, President Harry S. Truman signed an Executive Order that created the Sanibel National Wildlife Refuge in 1945. The refuge was created on Sanibel Island from land donated by local citizens and purchased by the federal government. Since 1945 the protected wildlife habitat was been administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The refuge was renamed in Jay Norwood Darling's honor and officially dedicated to him in 1967. The 7,600 acre refuge consists has over 6,400 acres of mangrove forest, submerged seagrass beds, cordgrass marshes, and West Indian hardwood hammocks. 2,800 acres of the refuge are designated by Congress as a Federal Wilderness Area. It was created to protect endangered and threatened species, and to provide feeding, nesting, and roosting areas for migratory birds. The refuge is home to 51 types of reptiles and amphibians, 32 mammal species, and more than 245 species of birds. It is recommended to visit the refuge between the months of November through April to see the most wildlife. One of the most popular visitors to the refuge are the roseate spoonbills but non were in residence during my visit. I did see cormorants, osprey, and herons. Refuge amenities include paddling, hiking/biking trails, observation towers and a four-mile scenic drive which is closed on Fridays. You can take a naturalist led tram tour for $13 (closed now due to the pandemic) or drive yourself for $5 (fee is currently waved but will go up to $10 in October of this year). Bikers and hikers can do the four mile loop for $1. The Indigo Trail is open daily and leads to the Wildlife Education Boardwalk. The Shell Mound Trail is a loop around an ancient Calusa midden in a tropical hammock. The visitors center is currently closed but when it is open it is free. I had gone through it on a previous visit and it has a nice exhibit dedicated to Ding Darling. I actually didn't see too many birds during my visit although the free admission was a nice surprise. I think the winter months are the best time to visit. What you see is hit and miss based on Mother Nature cooperating. I have seen some really incredible pictures taken here. The refuge is definitely one of the premier attractions in Sanibel. When you finish your exploration there are a lot of great places to dine nearby as well as other nature trails.

Another must do when you go to Sanibel. I was fortunate enough to grow up on the island and we went to field trips here as part of the Sanibel School education program. They do a lot of wildlife education. They do a great job of preserving nature and wild life here.

Ehhh, not really worth the hype. This was a fine trail to bike through, but it wasn't much different than biking around other parts of the island. Nothing about it felt like a wildlife refuge. We saw a few birds and that's about it. The grounds weren't super dazzling. The entire park also reeked of sulfur which wasn't enjoyable. Admission is a dollar or so on bike, otherwise I think it's a bit more if you bring your car in. This could have been an off day for both the grounds and the wildlife (it was cool and cloudy) but I left with a bad taste in my mouth. I probably would not return!

This review is for Bailey Tract, which is part of the Ding Darling wildlife Refuge. It's located around 3 miles away from the main Ding Darling area. This is the perfect spot to come for great views and wildlife sightings! You can choose to walk, run or bike. Bailey Tract is located right on the bike path. There is parking there (not a ton) and at the lot down the street, where you have to pay to park. There is a bike rack before the trails- we decided to bike there but walk the trails. We got to see lots of different birds: ducks, herons and egrets. We also saw a few different turtles sunning themselves on rocks and branches in the water. I even saw a bunny! (I didn't know there were any on Sanibel Island!) The paths are not long and all loop around. We spent about an hour there, exploring the paths and stopping to take pictures. It is mostly near water so you have a chance to look for alligators! We didn't see any. This is a protected area for wildlife so make sure to leave no trace and stay on the trails.

Best place to see alligators on Sanibel! (Worst place to see a 'gator? At the end of your leash, with your small dog in his mouth.). And yes; there are also a ton of beautiful swamp birds, river otters, other small animals and fish - but alligators are king. Walk in free; there is a shorter 2 mile circuit suitable for pedestrians - or walk the full 4 miles. Bike riders pay only $1, and the full circuit is easy on a bike. Or be lazy like us, and pay $5/car to enjoy the scenery in air-conditioned comfort! Car folks can park on the right side of road and get out, so you can still explore almost anywhere you want. We saw two huge alligators on our visit, plus a lot of turtles, birds, and fish! Score!

My wife and I recently took a day trip to J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Preserve. Overall, it was an a ok kind of place. We started on the beach which was awesome. There were lots of birds just flittering about. During our walk along it, we found an incredible number of shells. Some were very unique some were, not so much. After the beach, we went inland to do some hiking. Before starting the hike we stopped in the visitor center/museum/gift shop. The museum had the work of a photographer who focused on the Everglades. My wife and I took some time to explore those before heading out on the hike. They were stunning. The hike leading to the refuge was great because the boardwalk had a bunch of different plants alongside it. To take the guessing out of it, J.N. Ding Darling had them labelled. My favorite? The wild coffee! The refuge costs a dollar per person to hike through. Cars cost five. Save your receipt and you get the money off (we paid two to hike and only three more to drive). Lookouts along the refuge trail offered nice glimpses of nature and plenty of opportunities to snap pictures. The negative about J.N. Ding Darling? Poorly labelled signs at the money station led some to think only cars have to pay. While taking our money to hike, a number of other hikers walked right through. Better labeled signs so that hikers are aware that they need to pay too.

Been going there for 15 years, the drive is hit or miss depending on the time of year and what birds are migrating. The visitor center is very educational and they have won awards for their bathrooms, that's right, their bathrooms you have to see them to understand!

Craig Rumpf was our tour guide for this trip. The tram ride was really delightful and was filled with information as Craig spoke on the microphone as we drove. We did stop at one area and got out of the tram and we were able to walk on a small bridge out towards the water. We saw white pelicans, double crested comarant , osprey, gray pelican, and tons of mullet jumping in the water many near the red mangrove. Craig could answer every question and he was very pleasant to listen too! He asked if people have questions and encouraged people to participate. We really enjoyed this tour and I would do it again. It was really interesting !

Took the tramride August 20th. Extremely hot but we had a great naturalist guide named Justin. He was extremely enthusiastic and knowledgeable and it made it so much more enjoyable. He took the time to point out the small creatures in the refuge you might pass by. I never knew about the mangrove cuckoo bird, though we have been to the refuge previously. After the tour, he even told us places off the refuge where we see flocks of my favorite bird, the roseate spoonbill. The refuge has a nice visitors center with a display of the kinds of wildlife there. There's also a gift shop where you can purchase items such as hand engraved wine glasses and stuffed animals. J. Ding Darling is a lovely refuge with acres of land and wetlands. As a Floridian, I'm extremely thankful to Jay Norwood Darling for founding the National Wildlife Federation and his conservation efforts in preserving land for generations to come. Thank you to all the staff and volunteers at J. DING DARLING for helping to preserve this national treasure!

This is a good stop if you have some extra time but I wouldn't go out of my way for it. Not that it isn't beautiful, it is, but there isn't really much to see that you don't see everywhere else on the island. There is a nominal $5 admission to drive through. With a couple stops it took about an hour (or less) to see everything. If you love birds you will love the drive. The highlight of our drive was an alligator bathing on the bank. You could get right up close - probably too close... The educational center there is free and is worth a quick stop.

Great Preserve on Sanibel Island. We did the Wildlife Drive and it's totally worth the $5 per car fee. You always see lots of birds during the drive..... Ospreys, heron, green heron, pelicans, cormorans, willets, etc.. Lots and lots of them. Bring your binoculars...it's much better that way. The visitor center is also nice with lots of displays and videos to enjoy. Several tours leave from the center, check the events calendar.

Husband and I took the 1.5 hour tram tour at 12:30 with Naturalist Megan. She does a great job of sharing so much insight about what you are seeing and answering questions while exploring. My favorite part was getting off the tram with the group and watching the mullet fish jumping, and catfish swimming around. Pricing is so reasonable for what you get out of it- knowledge! I was able to enjoy the rest of my trip even more because I knew a little more about the surroundings. Biggest thing i wish I'd known before, bring bottles of water/ snacks along but use the "darling" restrooms before you go on the tour.

Bike riding thru this preserve was absolutely wonderful! We saw so many birds & wildlife last weekend- I was amazed. Even though I forgot my binoculars we still were able to see a lot (especially with the help of the rangers that were thruout the preserve). Not pictured was the tree crabs (I had no idea crabs climbed red bamboo & ate bamboo leaves- crazy!) and manatees (they are so hard to photograph but they are my fav!) Loved the convenience of all traffic inside the preserve going in one direction, and there was restrooms if needed. If I lived nearby I would certainly have an annual pass. It would be so neat to see different birds & creatures at different times of the year and also when there are less tourists. FYI most of the preserve is closed on Fridays.

Great place for a day trip or half a day. We walked the entire road/trail. Took some time but definitely worth the walk and time spent. If you are going to walk just make sure you are used to doing 8-10 miles and bring water!

Great place for fishing! It's 4 mile one way road that let you pull over where you want and do fishing or kayaking

Nice refuge to visit if you like wildlife $5.00 to drive through the park You can bike or walk go $1.00 Very pretty drive. Not much wildlife today Birds. More birds. That was all It was very pretty though Maybe I'll be back on another day I think biking would be the best way to experience this place

Don't go on Fridays! On Fridays, they do not have trams running, or are you able to drive through the refuge. Since this was our last day on the island, we did the walking trail. It was a nice morning but wished we could have explored more. Next time...

It was a rainy and cloudy day. But out of desperation, I had to get the kids out of the house, so we decided to try out the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge. We were all tickled pink with what we discovered. I decided to stop by the visitors building, not really expecting anything. Boy was I wrong! There were tons of hands on activities to keep my 5 and 7 year olds busy. From rubbing crayons over paper to get fossil rubs, to seeing an alligator skeleton to watching nature videos, we spent more than an hour just inside. We didn't spot any alligators outside along the refuge, but we saw a gazillion birds. Lots of folks were out taking pictures (with crazy huge cameras so you know they're serious birders) to a couple of families riding bikes through the preserve. I had a feeling if it had been a sunny day, we would have seen lots more people walking and biking through. We all earned a ton about the local animals and a better appreciation for the area. If you are anywhere near Ding Darling, you owe yourself a trip out here.

So this is located on the Beautiful Sanibel Island. We visit Sanibel/Captiva every year and always try and take a couple of hours to drive thru. This is a wildlife refuge. They have a central area with a couple of exhibits and a gift shop. We usually stop here first, check out the exhibit, learn something new and buy something in the gift shop. The actually refuge, you can either drive thru or bike. I have never biked since we visit this island in the summer. No thank you! We usually drive and it is one price, I believe $5 for the car. You can stop along the way at different points and get out and take pictures. You need to drive slowly because there could be animals crossing the road. We have on occasion witnessed an alligator sitting on the road or crossing. There are no fences or cages, everything is free to roam where they want. I would recommend, if you see an alligator, stay in the car and do not try and feed it. I believe when it is cooler, they also have a tram tour but we only go in the summer. If you are visiting the island, I would definitely recommend driving thru. It's pretty cheap and you can see some fantastic wildlife along with getting some great pictures!

What a lovely National Wildlife Refuge!!! The birds seem to be totally enjoying being here!!...We were there on a Monday morning in January.We are glad we visited this place! Because it was MLK day, they did not have entrance fees also (otherwise it is $6 per car, I think!). The visitor's center itself is apleasure to visit! Very helpful docents and volunteers. Colorful maps of the refuge and trails. Visit the restrooms in the Visitors' center. The roof is decorated like the insides of a pond with ducks and alligators stuck on the ceiling as if you are at the bottom of the pond looking up! Very unique!! The 4 mile drive with many stops is very relaxing and nice. We stopped every 200 -300 feet to take pictures of birds who are everywhere! There si a very nice observation tower (see pictures) from which you can see a bird's eye view of two bodies of water on either side of the 4 mile drive! Very nice and we will be back again to this wonderful corner of Sanibel island!! Just watch out for backed up traffic in Sanibel Island. There is only one road in and out! Patience needed in spades.

Folks who are not curious or do not love learning & being exposed to experiences in nature should not bother and best stay away. For the rest of us including kids of an age who can behave & love to observe natural phenomena, animals in their natural habitat this is a fantastic experience- (most of which you will not see frequently in your own neighborhood). Start off in the well- designed visitor center which gives an instructive overview, and where the staff are helpful and eager to answer your questions. If you are lucky you may see special exhibit like we did: The large format photo exhibit of the Everglades by renown photographer Clyde Butcher was spectacular, and it was as well-presented as you will see in any museum! Your first visit should include the 90 minute tram ride with an entertaining and knowledgeable naturalist who will point out animals and plants that would be otherwise totally passed by, as well as giving insights to the ecology of this area and its importance to the ecology of the entire planet. Thus, any subsequent bike ride or hike at you own pace will be enhanced and give you a greater appreciation for what goes on here beyond the roadside, behind the scenes, and beneath the surface. We saw mangrove crabs crawling up the mangrove trees, two different snake species intertwined with each other, roseate spoonbills, reddish egret, white pelicans, snowy and white egrets, cormorants,plovers, and ibis. Impressive even for those who are not birders! If you make the effort to get to Sanibel, you are likely more interested than just sitting on the beach soaking up rays, so make this is a "Don't Miss"!

My parents have inadvertently become bird watchers. It probably started with my Mother's excitement over seeing barn owls or hawks land on our swing set when we were kids. She would whisper-shout at my father to get the binoculars! Hurry, before it's gone! This enthusiasm later evolved when she would wake up in the middle of the night to an owl hooting in the distance. She would shake my father awake asking "Did you hear it?! Can you hear it? Where do you think it is..? DAVID! Are you awake?!" My poor Dad would groggily respond and roll over saying something along the lines of "That's nice. Go back to sleep." Years later, my Father would eventually share the same excitement. So I guess you could say it was a long time coming. When we visited the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, my parents were thrilled. Grandma was present and accounted for too. .My sisters, husband and I were crammed into the back of the minivan listening to the eager narration of the wannabe ornithologists. The doors were slid back on both sides, and the safari had begun. As we slowly made the drive through the refuge, we viewed some really nice sights. The younger people in attendance weren't exactly thrilled to see Horseshoe Crabs or this bird or that bird, but we were along for the ride. It was nice overall, but my folks really loved it. If I had to count how many times my mother wished she brought her binoculars, that number would be... 13. 13 times that woman verbally longed for her binoculars. We could have easily left her there all day and she wouldn't have noticed we were gone. (We didn't though.)

The irony of a refuge park that bulldozes and paves nearly 5-6 miles of nature with cement, but then fails to educate you during that journey. We enjoyed the car ride through the winding mangroves and waterways, but wish there was more educational material and signage during the trip. The education center is fine, but why not really make the park come to life with more interactive information visitors can use while making their way around? Oh well, still worth a visit.

This was a nice place to bring the kids, we did some fishing, saw some bright green iguanas, snakes and then the manatees by the exit.

This is a review for the Bathroom at the main Visitor's Center. This is a must visit bathroom. It is easy accessible, clean, decorative and informative. It's right next to the parking lot, just outside the visitor center, and you don't need to pay the park admission fee to use it. It was extremely clear for a "Park" Bathroom on a weekday afternoon. There was a class trip worth of kids that just exited it but was still clean with plenty of stalls and trash bins. It was decorated with painting of local wildlife from floor to ceiling, and there was info on the walls about what each animal was. As I said this is a most visit bathroom, even if you don't need to actually go.

Driving around the park at low tide. What a great place to visit, we first visited the visitor education centre and were greeted by Ken, a retired school teacher. He was extremely helpful and provided us with tips to maximize our visit and the potential for seeing as many birds as we could while there. The visitor education centre is well organized and full of valuable information for adults and kids. We did the drive around the park in our convertible and stopped and took some great pictures of birds including a beautiful red-shouldered hawk. One advice, bring no-see um repellent if you intend to stand around and take pictures. We had a gorgeous day no breeze so we experienced some bites. Great park to visit. Some photos from the hallway at the education centre. My camera was in he car so these are from my iPhone.