Family tours
Things to do with kids at night in Sarasota, Siesta Key & Anna Maria Island
One night out that works for every age in the family.
What families are looking for
Parents tend to search the same handful of things before they plan an evening on the Gulf Coast. Here is how our night shelling tour answers each one.
"Things to do with kids in Sarasota at night"
After the beach closes and the heat drops, this is a real activity for kids: wade in, hunt, and keep what you find. Sarasota tour.
"Family activities on Siesta Key"
A guided night out that is not a restaurant or a screen. The group meets at the Sarasota-side bridge lot. Siesta Key tour.
"Kid friendly tours on Anna Maria Island"
Meet next to the King Fish boat ramp in Holmes Beach. Anna Maria Island tour.
"Siesta Key with toddlers"
Kids 5 and under are free with a parent. See how it works.
"Night shelling with kids"
Under 4 feet of water, a guide with every group, and a light that makes the bottom easy to see. What will my kid find?
"Things to do in Bradenton with kids"
We are a family-run company based in Bradenton, and all three meeting spots are a short drive away.
A night out for every age
Ages 5 and under: free
Hands-on with a parent the whole time. Bring that child's own properly fitted life jacket and water shoes. Book by text at 941-229-8372. If a little one has had enough, you can return to the lit resting spot on shore and keep shelling from the beach.
Ages 6 to 11:
Full gear: optional mask and snorkel, aqua socks (yours to keep), noodle, whistle, glow stick, net and mesh bag. Kids do the hunting and the show-and-tell on the sand afterward.
Ages 12 and up:
Teens and adults join the same group in the same shallow water. Parents can wade alongside and never put their face in.
Grandparents and watchers
Welcome on the sand near the light. Tell us when you book so we know who is with your group.
It is your tour
Go as shallow as you want, or out to about 4 feet. Stay at your ankles with a toddler, wade to your knees, or go waist deep with your 10-year-old. Nobody is on a schedule and nobody has to keep up.
The guides are there for safety, to teach you about the sea life you are seeing, and to help everyone find something. Ask them anything. If your family would rather hunt together in one spot, that is fine too.
See a night on the water
Real finds from our tours
Kids and grown-ups hold what they find, look closely, and then it goes back in the water.
Why this tour works for the whole family
- Water under 4 feet. You wade in from shore.
- No strong swimming needed. Every guest wears a safety noodle, whistle and glow stick.
- One guide stays with the group, and a 10,000-lumen LED light pod lights up the water.
- All gear is included, and masks are optional. You bring a swimsuit and a towel.
- 1 hour 15 minutes: about 60 minutes in the water plus a 15-minute show-and-tell on the sand.
- Starts at 8:30 PM every night, so it fits after dinner and before bedtime.
- Kids keep the empty shells they find. Anything alive goes back in the water.
- Family-run, seven nights a week.
What it costs for a family
Ages 5 and under are free but must be booked by text at 941-229-8372. Parents bring that child's own properly fitted life jacket and water shoes. We do not provide swim gear for ages 5 and under, and they stay hands-on with a parent instead of using shelling gear. Read the free-tour details.
Example: two adults and two kids ages 6 to 11 is . Add a child 5 or under and that child is free.
Plan your family night
What to bring
A swimsuit and a towel. We provide the mask and snorkel (masks are optional), aqua socks, noodle, whistle, glow stick, net and bag. Please do not bring your own mask or snorkel.
When to arrive
Tours start at 8:30 PM nightly. Arrive 20 minutes early. Parking is free, and there are no restrooms at the meeting spots, so go before you come.
If the weather turns
We run rain or shine when it is safe. If we cancel for heavy rain, lightning or wind, you get a full refund, a reschedule or a raincheck. Full terms.
Family questions
What are the best things to do with kids in Sarasota at night?
Night shelling is one of the few evening activities where kids are in the water, hunting for real finds with a light, and home by about 10. Our tour starts at 8:30 PM nightly and runs 1 hour 15 minutes.
Is there a family night activity for kids of different ages?
Yes. Kids 5 and under are free with a parent, ages 6 to 11 are $45, and adults and teens 12 and up are $60. Everyone is in the same shallow water with the same guide.
Can grandparents come along?
Yes. Grandparents can wade with the group or watch from the shore near the light. Tell us when you book.
Is it good for a family with a toddler?
Ages 5 and under are free. They stay hands-on with a parent and do not use the shelling gear. You bring that child's own properly fitted life jacket and water shoes, and you book by text at 941-229-8372.
Is it safe for a family that is not strong swimmers?
The water is under 4 feet and you wade in from shore. No strong swimming is needed. Every guest wears a safety noodle, whistle and glow stick, and one guide stays with the group.
How much does a family of four cost?
Two adults and two kids 6 to 11 is $60 + $60 + $45 + $45 = $210. Add a child 5 or under and that child is free.