We did the drive through tour and were disappointed with the experiecne. It was basically a 4-mile straight road with tons of mangroves and trees on either side. There was one lookout tower to get out at but otherwise we stayed in the car and looked at plants. The entire 4 mile trek we saw a racoon, four birds and... more

Our family went kayaking with a guide through the mangroves. What a great time we had! We saw lots of birds, tree crabs, and fish. We took the 8:30 a.m. trip, which got pretty hot by 9:30/10 a.m. You can keep the kayaks all day if you like, but can't leave the property for lunch. Wish we could have seen... more

In Sanibel for July and The Ding seemed like a pleasant attraction to try... what a mistake. All bikers (which is the most appropriate way to see the park) have to share the 4 mile road with cars which is a hassle. Also, there is very limited shade which is a huge con especially in the summer months. Apparently the... more

This was our 2nd trip to Sanibel. We didn't come to Ding Darling the first trip, so we figured it was a must see this time. We paid the $5 car entry fee and drove the 4 mile road, stopping at the sites along the way and thought the park was overrated. My husband thought buying Florida lotto tickets with... more

We decided to take the tram tour of Ding Darling instead of the self tour. So glad that we did! Our tour guide was Mari & she was great. She kept our group of six passengers from various parts of Florida engaged and smiling. Mari is very knowledgable about the birds, wildlife and eco-system of the Darling National Wildlife. I... more

For context, I've vacationed on Sanibel 5 times over the past 10 years or so. Each time, I've visited Ding Darling and it's been great. I always stop by the visitor desk and ask if there have been any interesting sitings or anything new... Yesterday (4/14/09), I did the same and was told about which birds had left, which were... more

A cool place to spend the day. They have a nice nature center at the beginning and a trail that begins there. Then you can drive your car through for $5 (i forget exact amount, but i think its five). I would recommend bikes as it would be more fun. Lots of marsh lands with birds to see. Great for... more

FYI: You cannot rent bikes within the park which we didn't know. Had to back-track 2 miles and rent them at Tarpon Bay Explorers and bike back to Ding Darling. When riding through the park, you are on the road with cars. It is a 4 mile, one-way road, therefore you need to ride back to the bike rental place... more

We decided to take the Nature Drive based on TripAdvisor recommendations. At $5 per vehicle, the price was right. (The trolley tour was $13 per person!). You can also choose to either walk or bike the route for only $1, which would be nice since you would have more time. The route is only four miles, so it wouldn't be... more