A Day in Cape Coral & North Fort Myers

Taking a break from the beach? Pack the kids in the rental car and make a beeline for The Shell Factory & Nature Park, a sprawling, old-time roadside attraction in North Fort Myers. More than 5 million shells from near and far, and in all sizes, fill the Shell Factory itself. There’s even a rare shell section for collectors.

Jewelry, amusement games, a Money Museum and a Christmas-themed store round out the offerings. There are bumper boats, a restaurant, The Nature Park, mini golf and gemstone and fossil mining to keep the kiddies occupied.

Head down Cape Coral Parkway for a Mexican lunch at Iguana Mia, then on to the impressive Sun Splash Family Waterpark in Cape Coral, open from March through September. A quarter-mile-long pool snakes its way past water slides built for every level of excitement. There’s even a toddler area for the wee ones.