J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Florida, United States
4.5 (6.295 reviews) Spent More than 3 hours Ranking #6 in Southwest Gulf Coast Nature & Wildlife Areas
Fun couple hours for kids and adults alike
Established in 1945, this wildlife refuge occupies one-third of Sanibel Island and is a prime spot for bird watching. Fees are required for Wildlife Drive, which is open everyday but is closed on Fridays, gate times vary. The best way to plan your visit is to stop in the informative FREE visitor center first which is open daily 9am-4pm. Then begin your adventure with many activities including the wildlife drive, tram tour, kayaking, fishing opportunities, picnic benches, and even a free scavenger hunt style game and wildlife spotting app (Discover Ding) if you prefer a self-guided tour.
Address
1 Wildlife Dr, Sanibel Island, FL 33957-3032
Mobile
Website
http://www.fws.gov/refuge/jn
Current local date and time now
Sunday, May 12, 2024, 12:14
User Ratings
4.5 based on (6.295 reviews)
Reviews
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5Betsy L 5:00 PM Nov 21, 2020
Fun couple hours for kids and adults alike
We went to Ding Darling and saw a black racer snake within 10 minutes, boy was that a hoot for our 8yr and 6 yr boys! We walked the boardwalk, free for the first portion than $1/person, and enjoyed seeing many birds, and hoping for an alligator sighting, though we didn't see one. We then got in the car and drove the 4mi loop which had a handful of spots to pull of and enjoy the preserve. I would suggest doing the 4 mile loops by bike if you are able and bringing along binoculars- there is a lot to view. Also, don't miss the last pull off towards the end that has a very low hanging tree/vine covered boardwalk detailing the life and times of the Calusa Indeginuous People. Overall, very much worth the trip. The visitor center which we heard was a real gem was closed bc of COVID, but the hike/drive was an enjoyable activity none the less. Make sure to check the restrooms at the visitor center building, they have intricate murals and educational designs that were a fun treat.
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4[email protected] 5:00 PM Oct 13, 2020
Excellent Park!
Really enjoyable Park! This is a walkable, bike rideable & drive thru park. Highly recommend visiting this park. Bring plenty of water & a hat if walking or biking. They have a very cool overlook & I can't wait for the Visitor's Center to open - currently closed due to covid. Even though the visitor's center is closed, I would recommend taking the walk up to their entrance area - really sweet ceiling art display. Kids will especially love it, but we found it pretty creative too. Make sure that you stop at the overlook areas to see plenty of fish jumping & gorgeous birds. Lastly, look for the displays at the raised overlook that will show you some tracking info for the wildlife in the area. It's $1 pp to walk it & $10 per car to drive-thru. I'm not sure what the cost is for biking it. We walked a few trails & then drove the rest of it because of the heat. The entry clerk deducted our walking fee from the driving fee so that we paid a total of $10 for both the walk & drive. In any case, very well worth it
