The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel Feature Art, History & Wildlife Adventures
The attractions at The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel provide visitors with a chance to escape the day-to-day stresses and connect with what really matters in Florida’s unspoiled sanctuary.
Whether looking to recharge, reconnect with family or have an adventure, the area offers activities that continue to draw visitors back again and again. Experience Florida in its natural state. Visit museums, art galleries and sites rich in history. Paddle waters in the footsteps of the ancient Calusa Indians. See the area from a bi-plane. Hire a shelling guide. Get close to nature. See a Broadway play. The options are as endless as the area’s famous shell-covered beaches.
SANIBEL & CAPTIVA ISLANDS
New: Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (C.R.O.W.)
Recently opened, C.R.O.W.’s new Healing Winds Visitor Education Center offers a rare opportunity for visitors to learn how one of the nation’s leading rehabilitation hospitals rescues and cares for injured and abandoned wildlife; the 4,800-square-foot education center is part of a $2.8 million renovation project. Designed to inspire and educate with interactive wildlife experiences, this special center teaches how injured animals are admitted, diagnosed (by western or eastern methods), how they are cared for and how they are released. Visitors also get to play the "vet" as they follow the cases of four animals from admission to release. C.R.O.W. veterinarians and staff have treated more than 200 animal species with 4,000 patients each year receiving treatment at the facility. Location: 3883 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel Island, FL 33957. Admission: donation of $5 is recommended. Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Information: www.crowclinic.org or (239) 472-3644.
Adventures in Paradise
These popular excursions have been teaching the eco-heritage of The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel for 23 years. Trips include backwater fishing, sea life encounter excursions, tropical sunset cruises, lunch cruises, afternoon dolphin watching, power boat rentals, private fishing guides, shelling and snorkeling the outer islands and canoeing and kayaking. Shelling and lunch cruise to outer islands and Cabbage Key takes place on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Prices: $55 for adults, $19 for children, 3 and under are free. Location: 14341 Port Comfort Road, Fort Myers, FL 33908. Call (239) 472-8443 or visit www.adventureinparadiseinc.com .
Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum
The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum is the most comprehensive museum in the Western Hemisphere devoted solely to shells. It has been rated a "Gem" attraction by AAA, listed in “1,000 Places To See Before You Die” and voted "Best of the Islands" in the museum category. Over 30 exhibits are devoted to shells in art and history, shell habitats, rare specimens, fossil shells, and common southwest Florida shells. The children’s learning lab features a hands-on play area and a “live tank” with indigenous mollusks. Two half-hour videos, Mollusks in Action, and Trails and Tails alternate continuously in the auditorium and a children's video is shown continuously in the Children’s Learning Lab. A gift shop offers a wide variety of unique shell-themed gifts including books, ceramics, clothing, toys and fine jewelry. Check the Web site for a complete listing of weekly demonstrations and workshops, craft classes, beach walks, group tours, children’s camps, and special events. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $7 for adults 17 and up, $4 for youth 5-16. Children four and under are free. Handicapped accessible. Location: 3075 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel Island, FL 33957. Call (239) 395-2233 or (888) 679-6450 or visit www.shellmuseum.org .
Captiva Cruises
A great island hopping experience! Visitors have access to Cabbage Key, Useppa Island, Cayo Costa and Boca Grande. Enjoy daily lunch cruises to two of the area’s most unique coastal islands, Cabbage Key and Useppa Island, aboard the 150-passenger “Lady Chadwick.” Located at mile marker 60 on the Intracoastal Waterway, colorful Cabbage Key has a marina, historic inn, picturesque dining room, water tower view of Pine Island Sound and nature trails. Useppa Island, which operates as a private club, relives the glamour and history of a bygone era with pink pathways, lush vegetation, authentic “old Florida” architecture and the Collier Inn restaurant, as well as an island museum. Luncheon cruises to Cabbage Key and Useppa Island run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and costs $35 per adult, $20 per child (meals on Cabbage Key and Useppa Island are not included). Dolphin watch and wildlife adventure cruise is from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and costs $25 per adult and $15 per child.
Reservations are required for all cruises. Location: 11401 Andy Rosse Lane at McCarthy’s Marina, Captiva Island, FL 33924. For more information and scheduled departure days and times, call (239) 472-5300 or visit www.captivacruises.com .
Captiva Kayak Company & Wildside Adventures
Captiva Kayak Company & Wildside Adventures have been providing kayak services in the area since 1987. Explore bays, beaches, and bayous on Back Bay ecological tours to Buck Key. Tours run daily and cost is $45 for adults, $35 for children 12 and under. Seasonal sunset tours are $55 for adults, $45 for children 12 and under. Kayak, canoe, and sailboat rentals are also available. Location: 11401 Andy Rosse Lane at McCarthy’s Marina, Captiva Island, FL 33924.
Call for tour reservations (239) 395-2925 or visit www.captivakayaks.com .
J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge
This 6,400-acre wildlife refuge, named for Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist and pioneer environmentalist Jay Norwood Darling, features wonderful bird watching spots, delightful footpaths, winding canoe trails and three trails that can be accessed from Wildlife Drive. The four mile, round-trip Indigo Trail leaves from the Education Center parking lot and ends at the cross-dike, which extends from the Drive. Along the trail, visitors often spot wildlife such as alligators, night heron, or white ibis. The Wulfert Keys Trail off the Drive is a 1/4 mile trail leading to a view of Pine Island Sound. The Shell Mound Trail is a 1/4 mile, universally accessible, interpretive boardwalk where visitors learn about the ancient Calusa Indian tribe and the native vegetation while reading interpretive panels along the boardwalk.
The drive is open Saturday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to a half hour before sunset. Closed Friday. The visitor center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from January through April, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May through December. Fees are $5 to drive, $1 to bicycle or walk. Dogs permitted on a leash. Location: 1 Wildlife Drive, Sanibel Island, FL 33957, off Sanibel-Captiva Road. Call (239) 472-1100 or visit www.fws.gov/dingdarling/ .
Offshore Sailing and Power School
Operating out of South Seas Island Resort on Captiva Island and Pink Shell Beach Resort on Fort Myers Beach, the Offshore Sailing School is well-known and respected worldwide. Founded by Steve Colgate, an Olympic athlete and America's Cup veteran, and his wife Doris, the school is one of several located in the British Virgin Islands; Jersey City, NJ; Chelsea Piers, NY; St. Petersburg, FL; and the Florida Keys. Programs offered include a full range of three- to seven-day sailing courses for all levels, daily resort clinics and corporate team-building programs. Headquarters: 16731 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33908. Call (239) 454-1700, toll free (800) 221-4326 or visit www.offshoresailing.com .
Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation
The Conservation Foundation’s Nature Center encompasses 260 of the 1,800 total acres owned and managed by the Foundation as a preserve for wildlife on and around Sanibel and Captiva islands. The Foundation also operates a nature shop, bookstore, native plant nursery and conducts estuarine research. Visitors can walk 4-1/2 miles of trails, climb an observation tower, experience a butterfly exhibit and enjoy a live marine touch tank. Guided trail tours, shoreline discovery walks and many other programs are available. Admission: $3 for adults; members and
those under 17 are admitted free. Additional charges may apply to other programs. Hours of operation vary with the season: October through May, weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; June through September, weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., December through April. Location: 3333 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel Island, FL 33957. Call (239) 472-2329 or visit www.sccf.org .
Sanibel Historical Village and Museum
Visitors trace the footsteps of the island’s past as they meander along the Village trails that skirt a mangrove bordered by a pond. Dedicated to the pioneer families of Sanibel and Captiva, the Village includes “Uncle” Clarence Rutland’s home (1913), Bailey’s General Store (1926), “Morning Glories” (a Sears/Roebuck catalog home that cost $2211 when delivered in 1928), Miss Charlotta’s Tea Room, the 1926 Post Office, and the Burnap Cottage (1898) and the Sanibel School (1895). All the buildings are furnished with items from the early 1900s.
A handicapped-accessible boardwalk and shell paths take visitors past a pioneer garden, antique Model T truck and a replica of a packinghouse with farm equipment. The Village relates the history of the islands up to the mid-1900s. The Historical Village and Museum is open November through April, Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 1 through Aug. 11. Call for operating days and hours outside of this time period. Special tours are available. Closed mid-August-October. Admission: $5 per adult. Location: 950 Dunlop, Sanibel, FL 33957. For information, call (239) 472-4648 or visit www.sanibelmuseum.org .
Sanibel Sea School
Teaches children and adults about the marine ecosystems of Sanibel and Captiva islands in southwest Florida. Programs include marine ecosystems, animals, people, plants, land, ocean and weather. Students gain an intimate perspective of the ocean, its inhabitants and the tightly woven fabric of the global environment. Sanibel Sea School : 414 Lagoon Drive, Sanibel FL 33957. Call (239) 472-8585 or visit www.sanibelseaschool.com .
Shelling Charters
Walk the beautiful beaches of remote Cayo Costa with Captain Mike Fuery and find some of the treasures that make the area a paradise for shellers! His tours have been featured in National Geographic, Southern Living, Martha Stewart and many other magazines. Enjoy a half-hour boat ride to Cayo Costa or Upper Captiva and a two-hour walk. Everyone finds shells and sees dolphins, eagles and ospreys on the way. Cost: $250 for the three-hour tour for up to four people. Tours leave from ‘Tween Waters Inn Marina, Captiva Road, Captiva Island, FL 33924. Reserve a charter at (239) 466-3649 or visit www.mikefuerystours.com.
Tarpon Bay Explorers
Experience the extraordinary at Tarpon Bay Explorers. Learn more about the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge aboard an open-air tram, as a naturalist guide explains the refuge’s history and gives insight on wildlife living there. Tram tours cost $13 plus tax for adults, $8 for children 3 to 12. Kayak and canoe naturalist-guided tours through the mangroves are $30 per adult and $20 for children 12 and under. For the more experienced paddler, guided sunset tours to rookery islands are available and cost $40 for adults and $25 for children. There is also a 90-minute Nature and Sea Life Cruise aboard a pontoon boat, which includes the Touch Tank Exploration. This cruise is $20 per adult and $12 per child or check out the special breakfast or evening cruise, $25 per adult and $15 per child. Children under 3 are free on both the tram and boat tours. Guided fishing charters are also available. Canoe, kayak, pontoon, canoe with motor, fishing equipment, and bicycle rentals are available. All guided tours are by reservation. Group rates are available. Call for times and availability. Location: north end of Tarpon Bay Road inside The J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge (where Tarpon Bay Road intersects Sanibel-Captiva Road) at 900 Tarpon Bay Rd., Sanibel, FL 33957. Call (239) 472-8900 or visit www.tarponbayexplorers.com .
FORT MYERS BEACH
The Big “M” Casino
Aboard a luxurious 186 foot gaming yacht, visitors enjoy blackjack, roulette, Let-It-Ride, 3 card poker and the slots, including Wheel of Fortune, Video Poker and more. Unlimited buffet on all cruises, plus, bingo on all 10:15 a.m. cruises or live entertainment on Friday, Saturday and Sunday 6 p.m. cruises. Sails year-round from Moss Marine. Cost: $10 per person to board (must be over 21 and photo identification is required). Schedule: Wednesday through Sunday at 10:15 a.m. (returning at 4:15p.m.) and 6 p.m. (returning at 11:45 p.m.). Location: 450 Harbor Ct., Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931. Free parking. Call (239) 765-PLAY (7529) for prices, times and reservations or visit www.bigMcasino.com .
Key West Express
Enjoy the tropical island paradise of Key West in just 3 ½ hours when you travel from Fort Myers Beach to America’s southernmost city with the Key West Express. Modern and spacious jet-powered vessels offer year-round high-speed service to the vacation spot of pirates, poets, presidents and partygoers. Enjoy a tropical drink from the bar or bite to eat from the galley. Watch movies from any of the many big screen satellite TVs, lounge in one of the climate controlled cabins, or take in the beauty of the Gulf of Mexico from the sundecks.
Getting there is half the fun when traveling with Key West Express. Stay a day or for an
extended stay. Fares begin at $109 round trip with eight days advance purchase and tickets can be purchased one-way or roundtrip (prices subject to change). Departs from 2200 Main Street at Salty Sam’s Marina, Fort Myers Beach, at 8:30 a.m. and arrives in Key West at 12:30 p.m. Free parking. Return trip departs Key West at 6 p.m. and returns to Fort Myers at 9:45 p.m (exact time depends upon weather conditions). For rates and details call (239) 463-5733 or (888) 539-2628 or visit www.seakeywestexpress.com .
Matanzas Pass Preserve
This peaceful retreat on Estero Bay allows visitors to explore a live oak hammock and mangrove forest by a wandering boardwalk and foot trails. Slow your pace to fully enjoy this pristine, barrier island forest with its abundant wildlife and diverse, native, plant species. After crossing two bridges on the entry trail, a boardwalk winds through the mangrove swamp. At the end of the boardwalk, a pavilion overlooking the water provides a spectacular view of the Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve. Jumping fish, wading birds, even the shy manatee can be seen from the overlook. Open daily from sunrise to sunset. Location: 119 Bay Road off Estero Boulevard, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931. Free parking. Call (239) 463-0435 or visit www.leeparks.org .
Mound Key Archaeological State Park
Just east of Lovers Key in Estero Bay, this is home of one of the state’s premier archaeological sites. The tiny but beautiful, undeveloped island was created mainly from shells deposited by the Calusa Indians, the island's first inhabitants, more than 2,000 years ago. The site is accessible only by boat, and is a favorite with history buffs and picnickers. Seasonal tours are conducted by historians. Information: (239) 992-0311 or www.floridastateparks.org.
FORT MYERS
New: The Butterfly Estates
Located in the River District of downtown Fort Myers, visitors surround themselves with thousands of butterflies at this new eco-attraction. The venue includes a botanical garden and butterfly habitat with cascading waterfalls, lush tropical nectar plants and butterflies that delight guests with their astounding beauty. Admission: $15 for adults 17 and older, $9 for children 3 to 16. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Location: 1815 Fowler St., Fort Myers, FL 33901. Call (239) 690-2359 or visit www.thebutterflyestates.com.
Alliance for the Arts
This 10-acre campus houses the 12,000-square-foot William R. Frizzell Cultural Centre with public galleries hosting new exhibitions each month. The 150-seat Claiborne and Ned Foulds Theatre, as well as the Margaret Morrow Frizzell Amphitheatre, present theatrical productions such as dramas, comedies, recitals, concerts and other cultural events. Offering year-round classes and workshops, the Gladys G. Land School of Arts provides instruction for both children and adults. Alliance for the Arts facilities are available for private events. Gallery admission is free, other program costs vary. Open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed Sunday. Location: 10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33919, just south of the Midpoint Veterans Memorial Bridge overpass. For information about Alliance arts, cultural and community events, call (239) 939-ARTS (2787) or visit www.artinlee.org .
Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall
The Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall presents a schedule of national Broadway productions, prominent entertainers, dance performances, popular ensembles and classical music concerts year-round. The hall also is used for business conferences, seminars, meetings and wedding receptions, with dining available. Large groups are welcome. Handicapped accessible. Location: 13350 Edison Parkway, S.W., Fort Myers, FL 33919. Call the box office at (239) 481-4849 or visit www.bbmannpah.com .
Bob Rauschenberg Gallery
Named after late, world acclaimed artist and local resident, Robert Rauschenberg, the gallery at Edison State College displays his works as well as exhibits from other nationally and internationally renowned artists. It is located in the Humanities Building near the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, and is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Reservations are recommended for groups of 20 or more. Admission: Free. Location: 8099 College Pkwy. S.W., Fort Myers, FL 33919. For more information or to make a group reservation, call (239) 489-9313 or visit www.bobrauschenberggallery.com.
Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre
Broadway Palm features year-round professional musicals and comedies for adults and children, as well as a lavish, award-winning buffet. Evening performances take the stage Tuesday through Sunday and matinee days vary. Reservations are recommended. Ticket prices range from $25 to $53. Group rates are available for parties of 20 or more. Broadway Palm offers catering services and meeting spaces for parties and special events of 20 to 450 people. Handicapped accessible. Location: 1380 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33907. For reservations or schedule call (239) 278-4422 or visit www.broadwaypalm.com .
Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium
Rustic boardwalks outdoors lead visitors on a tour of 105 acres of subtropical environment. Inside, permanent and changing exhibits of the natural history of southwest Florida are on display Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Butterfly, alligator and other animal presentations are scheduled daily. Naturalists guide walks and aviary tours are scheduled several times a week. Admission: $9 for teens and adults, $6 for children ages 3 to 12. The facility is also a sanctuary for injured animals unable to be released back into the wild, including birds of prey. Advance notice is required for groups. Special rates apply to groups of 15 or more. Planetarium fans also enjoy the changing starlit astronomy shows in the relaxing 90-seat theater. Handicapped accessible. Location: 3450 Ortiz Ave., Fort Myers, FL 33905. Call (239) 275-3435 and visit www.calusanature.org.
Classic Air Ventures
Relive a golden era in aviation in an open cockpit bi-plane! Don a leather jacket, helmet and goggles to enjoy airborne sightseeing in a 1941 WACO UPF-7. Two passengers share the thrill of an authentic, scenic bi-plane ride, leaving Page Field in Fort Myers Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., October through May. Several flight choices are available including the popular 45 minute flight. Cost: $270 with no charge for second person. Call (941) 505-9226 or (888) 852-9226 for information or visit www.coastalbiplanetours.com.
Eden Vineyards Winery
Wine connoisseurs sample award-winning wines from the southernmost vineyard and winery in the continental United States. Visitors may join conducted tastings for a fee of $2.50 for the 30- to 40-minute sessions, which continue throughout the day until 3:30 p.m. The winery is located in a natural Florida setting, reminding visitors of the area’s subtropical beauty. Hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, except major holidays. Location: 10 miles east of I-75, exit 141, just off S.R. 80, 19709 Little Ln., Alva, FL 33920. Call (239) 728-9463 or visit www.edenwinery.com.
Edison & Ford Winter Estates
Both entertaining and educational, a tour of Thomas Edison’s 14- acre riverfront estate is a must-stop for visitors to southwest Florida. Steeped in history, the inventor’s charming “old-Florida” style home, laboratory and experimental gardens have been authentically maintained as a tribute to the genius of one of the world’s most remarkable men. With 225,000 visitors each year, it is one of the most visited national Historic Homes in the country.
The Estates include: Nine National Register Historic buildings as well as the botanical and research gardens. The historic research and contemporary gardens consist of approximately 20 acres of lush tropical botanical gardens, 500 unique plants, flowers and trees, including four champion trees, federal C.I.T.E.S. orchid program and propagation greenhouse and nursery. The Estates are ADA accessible and wheelchairs are available. Food service and picnic areas available.
Rare antique automobiles and Edison phonographs are among the carefully preserved memorabilia. His gardens are a wonderland of rare and exotic tropical vegetation, including a banyan tree that was a gift from Harvey Firestone in 1925. It is now the largest banyan tree in the continental U.S. The laboratory, where Edison turned goldenrod to rubber, echoes the past. The home and guesthouse, built in 1886, are on the National Register of Historic Places. They were deeded to the City of Fort Myers in 1947 by Edison’s widow, Mina Miller Edison, and opened to the public that same year.
After stepping back in time at the Edison Home, visitors can walk next door to the winter
home of automobile industrialist Henry Ford. Ford purchased the 3-1/2-acre estate in 1916 to
spend the winter months visiting his friend Edison. Ford’s home, “Mangoes,” has undergone extensive renovation to bring it back to the period when he and his wife Clara lived there. A
1914 Model T, 1919 Model T, 1917 Ford Truck, and 1929 Model A also are on display.
Hours: Tours daily (except Thanksgiving and Christmas) of the historical site include the homes, museum, laboratory and gardens. The last guided tour departs thru 4 p.m. while self-guided tours run until 5:30 p.m. Botanical tours available on Thursday & Saturday mornings at 9 a.m. Group tours and rental arrangements available daily throughout the year.
Tour costs: Homes and Gardens Tour including lab and museum, $20 for adults and $11 for children 6-12; Botanical Tour, $24 for adults, $10 for children 6-12; laboratory and museum only, $12 for adults, $5 for children 6-12. Group rates are available. Location: 2350 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33901. For group rates or further information call (239) 334-7419 or visit www.efwefla.org.
Fort Myers Skatium
This skate-of-the-art ice facility features a full-service concession area, pro shop, and a video game room. Skate rental is $3. Public skating is $7 for adults, $6 for children 12 and under and $4 for seniors. Open seven days a week. Call for public skating hours. Location: 2250 Broadway, Fort Myers, FL 33901. Call (239) 321-7510 or visit www.fmskatium.com.
Imaginarium Hands-on Museum and Aquarium
Visitors enjoy this fun-filled interactive learning center where all ages explore the principles of science, the mysteries of the humanities and the uniqueness of this geographical region. A giant Pipe-O-Saurus greets visitors at the entrance to the Florida wetlands zone. Once inside, visitors stand in a Florida thunderstorm without getting wet, watch Eelvis, the live eel, slither through the coral in one of three 900-gallon aquariums, get blown away in the Hurricane Experience, tour the Animal Lab and broadcast the weather from a TV weather studio. Outside, visit the lagoon where fish, turtles and swans live beside a reptile retreat with iguanas, tortoises and more. Don’t miss the Imaginarium Museum Store and the Theater in the Tank video presentations and 3-D shows. Hours: Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday noon to 5 p.m. Admission: $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, $5 for children (3-12). Location: 2000 Cranford Ave., Fort Myers, FL 33901, minutes from I-75 at exit 138. Call (239) 321-7420 or visit www.cityftmyers.com/imaginarium.
J.C. Cruises
The Caloosahatchee River, running through downtown Fort Myers, is the starting point for seven scenic luncheon and dinner cruises aboard the 600-passenger “Capt. J.P. Paddlewheeler,” ranging from two hours to full-day excursions. All cruises depart from the downtown Fort Myers Yacht Basin at the corner of Lee Street and Edwards Drive. Prices vary from $27.50 to $99 depending on cruise type and season. Advanced reservations are suggested. Private charters are also available. Location: 2313 Edwards Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33901. Call (239) 334-7474
or visit www.jccruises.com .
Manatee Park
Visitors observe endangered Florida manatees in their non-captive habitat from three observation areas during “Manatee Season,” November through March. In season, the visitor center and gift shop are open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Interpretive naturalists work onsite presenting programs about manatees, butterflies and native plants. Kayak rentals are available daily. Year-round opportunities include picnicking, fishing and kayaking from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Enjoy walking the accessible paths through the restored native plant habitats and beautiful butterfly gardens. Designated as a demonstration site for the Florida Yards and Neighborhoods program, guests can learn about different species of native plants suitable for their own property. Conservative methods of irrigation are also presented. Hours: open daily, year-round 8 a.m. to sunset, ADA accessible. Admission is free. Parking $1/hr per vehicle, maximum $5. Location: 10901 SR 80 in Ft. Myers. Directions from I-75: take exit 141 east 1.3 miles. The park is directly across from the FPL power plant. Pets are not permitted. Call (239) 690-5030 or visit www.leeparks.org .
Manatee and River Tours
Tour boats take visitors on a narrated cruise into a natural manatee and wildlife habitat. Although seen all year in Florida, manatees congregate in the area during the cooler winter months to feed and stay warm. The area is also home to native birds, plants and animals. Tours operate at 11 a.m. daily (except major holidays) Nov. 1 through April 30. Each tour lasts two hours on the Caloosahatchee and Orange rivers. Reservations are required. Admission: Adults $20, Children 12 and under $10, 2 and under free. Location: 16991 State Road 31, Fort Myers 33905. For information call (239) 693-1435 or visit www.manateeandrivertours.com.
Murder Mystery Dinner Train
Mystery dinner train theater on the Seminole Gulf Railway, offers weekly, holiday and special event dinners. The dinner train theater entertains with a live murder mystery show performed while guests enjoy a five-course dinner in vintage dining cars. Fares are $59, plus tax and gratuity, Wednesday through Sunday, and $69, plus tax and gratuity, on Saturday nights. The 3-1/2-hour ride on the dinner train theater departs at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 5:30 p.m. on Sunday.
RiverRail Explorer daytime excursions to the Caloosahatchee River run Jan. 1 through April 30, giving passengers a unique water view and narrations on history of the rails. Costs: $19.95 plus tax for adults, $11.95 for children. The 1-3/4-hour trip departs at 11 a.m. and on Wednesday and Saturday, and 1:30 p.m.on Sunday. Snacks and drinks are available. Holiday Jingle Bells Special runs Nov. 25 – Dec. 27. Reservations required. Location: 2855 Colonial Blvd., three miles west of I-75, exit 136, Fort Myers, FL 33907. Call (239) 275-8487, toll-free (800) SEM-GULF (736-4853) or visit www.semgulf.com .
Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve
Visitors journey through this 2,200-acre wetland ecosystem on a mile-long boardwalk trail, where southwest Florida’s diverse plant and wildlife are found. See subtropical ferns and bromeliads. Watch birds like herons, egrets, ibis and anhingas. Free admission. Parking costs: $1 an hour, $5 daily maximum. Open year round 8 a.m. to sunset.
Guided walks daily, January through March at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., and April, November, and December at 9:30 a.m. Walks at 9:30 a.m. only on Wednesdays during the months of May through October. Handicapped accessible. Location: Six Mile Cypress Parkway, 1-1/2 miles north of Daniels Parkway, (exit 131 off I-75), Fort Myers, FL 33912. Call (239) 533-7550 or visit www.leeparks.org/sixmile .
The Southwest Florida Museum of History
Located in historic downtown Fort Myers, the museum is housed in the former Atlantic Coastline Railroad depot and is home to the history of southwest Florida. Paleo Indians, the
Calusa, the Seminoles, Spanish explorers, and early settlers are just a few of the people visitors meet while viewing the exhibits. An authentic replica of a pioneer "cracker" house, a 1926 La France fire pumper, and a 1929 private Pullman rail car are also part of the tour.
The museum also houses an extensive artifacts collection detailing early civilization, the Fort, the first settlers, the cattlemen, turn of the century, the military and agriculture, boating and fishing industries in Fort Myers. There is also a display of 1,200 pieces of depression and carnival glass.
Walking tours of historic downtown Fort Myers are offered at 10 a.m. on Wednesday during the months of January through April and upon request for groups throughout the year. Annual
traveling exhibits special events, educational programs and escorted bus trips to other cultural and historic sites throughout Florida take place throughout the year.
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Group tours are available. Admission: adults $9.50, children 3-12 $8.50, seniors $8.50, students with ID $5. Location: 2031 Jackson Street, one block south of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, in downtown Ft. Myers, 4 miles west of Interstate 75 at exit 138 (old exit 23). Call (239) 321-7430 or visit www.cityftmyers.com/museum .
Sun Harvest Citrus
Squeeze in a visit to this 27,000-square-foot packinghouse and retail store that offers in-season Indian River citrus fruit, five varieties of freshly squeezed juices year-round, and in-season gift fruit shipping. Enjoy soft-serve ice cream, fruit smoothies, key lime pie, and fresh baked goods. There is also a wide selection of distinctive Florida foods, candy, and unique gifts. Enjoy free samples of juices. Open year-round, Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sundays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Location: Southwest corner of Six Mile Cypress and Metro parkways. 14810
Metro Pkwy., Fort Myers, FL 33912. Handicapped accessible. Call (239) 768-2686 or (800) 743-1480 or visit www.sunharvestcitrus.com .
BONITA SPRINGS & ESTERO
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
This 11,000-acre wilderness sanctuary, owned and operated by the National Audubon Society, offers visitors a 2-1/4-mile boardwalk through pinelands, wet prairies, hammocks and cypress ponds. The sanctuary contains the country’s largest remaining stand of virgin bald cypress with its 500-year-old trees being among the oldest in eastern North America. Large populations of endangered woodstorks, as well as a number of wild orchid species can be found during the winter months. Admission: $10 for adults, $6 for college students, $5 for Audubon members, $4 for children 6 to 18 and free for children under 6. Hours: April 11 through Sept. 30, 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 1 through April 10, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (the entrance to the boardwalk closes
one hour before Sanctuary closing time). Location: 375 Sanctuary Rd., Naples, FL 34120. Take I-75 to exit 111 and drive 15 miles east. Call (239) 348-9151 or visit www.corkscrew.audubon.org
Great Florida Birding Trail
A bird lovers’ paradise, the trail identifies top birding sites in South Florida. With the gateway to the new loop located at Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, the trail includes prime bird watching sites in southwest Florida. Information: www.floridabirdingtrail.com.
Everglades Wonder Gardens
Established in 1936, Everglades Wonder Gardens is one of Florida’s earliest wildlife attractions. Botanists often refer to its lush tropical tree gardens as one of the finest in the world. Giant kapok, delightful akee, mysterious monkey puzzle, fascinating shaving brush and colossal Cuban laurel trees surround visitors as they learn of life in the vast and silent Everglades. Guests are enchanted as they watch guides feed giant gators. Playful otters perform shows on every tour, demonstrating why they are called the clowns of the Everglades. Other residents include Florida panthers, Florida black bear, American crocodiles and alligators, white tail deer, bobcats, hawks, owls, snakes and wild boars.
Visitors exit the park through a unique natural history museum with artifacts and relics ranging from prehistoric through Calusa Indian eras. Adults and children will enjoy the nature shop’s educational toys, lifelike stuffed animals and environmental novelties. Hours: open every day, except Thanksgiving and Christmas, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission: $15 for adults, $8 for
children ages 3 to 10. Group rates are available. Handicapped accessible. Location: 27180 Old 41, Bonita Springs, FL 34135. Call (239) 992-2591.
Koreshan State Historic Site
At Koreshan State Historic Site, the curious find remnants of a religious sect that practiced equal rights for women long before the concept became popular. They lived by the Golden Rule of doing unto others as you would have them do unto you, and created a communal lifestyle that included shared ownership of property. Doctor Cyrus Teed, a Union Army Medical Corps veteran, founded The Koreshan Unity in 1894. He was inspired in 1869 by a vision that instructed him to change his name to Koresh, meaning Cyrus in Hebrew, and moved his followers to southwest Florida. The city they envisioned would cover 34 square miles, with 400-foot wide streets and be home to 10 million people. It never quite materialized, but at its peak the settlement had 250 residents. Of the original 50 buildings, 13 remain, including Teed’s home. Visitors also see a one-of-a-kind globe, illustrating Koreshan belief that man resides on the inside surface of the earth, gazing at the solar system within.
The park opens daily from 8 a.m. to sunset, and the Historic Settlement is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Guided tours are Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m. for $2 per person.
Take advantage of the area’s nature trails, boat ramp, canoeing, fresh and salt water fishing, and camping. An entry fee of $4 per vehicle up to eight people and $1 for each additional person applies. Camping fees are $22 plus tax per night, and reservations can be made at
www.reserveamerica.com or by calling toll free (800) 326-3521. Location: S. U.S. 41, Estero, FL 33928, 2 miles west of I-75, exit 123, on the northwest corner of U.S. 41 and Corkscrew Road. To request a schedule of special events, call (239) 992-0311 or visit www.floridastateparks.org/koreshan .
Naples-Fort Myers Greyhound Track
Offers live greyhound racing, a poker room and simulcast racing from the nation’s leading horse tracks. Live greyhound racing with a large combination of wagering options includes Matinee, twilight and evening programs. The Poker Room is open daily from noon to midnight offering a variety of popular no-limit cash games, including Texas Hold’em. Daily tournaments are offered with a buy in from $45 - $125 and monthly tournaments with $300 - $500 buy-ins. Players can look forward to a payout of $2,500 to $5,000 for a royal flush during various times of the year.
Visitors may wager on the horses from all the leading national tracks. Simulcasting, with individual TV cubicles for the patrons, include racing from Gulfstream, Churchill Downs, Belmont, Aqueduct, Tampa Bay, Santa Anita, Keeneland and Laurel. Racing and poker fans can enjoy lunch and dinner in the Clubhouse dining room while every floor has complete concessions stands and a bar. Group pricing is available for parties of 15 or more and the Clubhouse dining room can accommodate a corporate or private party for up to 200 persons. Admission: is $2 per person, children under 12 free. Location: on Bonita Beach Road, two miles east of U.S. 41. I-75 exit 116, drive two miles west. For schedules, call (239) 992-2411 or visit www.naplesfortmyersdogs.com.
CAPE CORAL
Cape Coral Historical Museum
See exhibits, displays and a visual presentation of the former Rose Garden, once a popular attraction in this community. Attractions include a Native American room with an award-winning shell collection, Calusa/Seminole artifacts and a military exhibit with uniforms and relics from WWII. Look into a replica of a turn-of-the-century Cracker house. Gift shop. Donation is requested upon entrance. Children under 12 are free. Hours: Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday from 1 to 4 p.m. Closed July and August. Location: 544 Cultural Park Blvd. (near city hall), Cape Coral, FL 33990. Call (239) 772-7037 or visit www.capecoralhistoricalmuseum.org .
Mike Greenwell’s Bat-A-Ball and Family Fun Park
This family amusement center features eight batting cages, four go-cart tracks, miniature golf, fish, feeding dock, paintball, an arcade, full-service snack bar and playground. Birthday parties and group rates are available. Open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Handicapped accessible. Location: 35 Pine Island Rd. NE, Cape Coral, FL 33909. Call (239) 574-4386 or visit www.greenwellsfamilyfunpark.com .
Sun Splash Family Waterpark
Slide into fun at Sun Splash Family Waterpark which offers 14 acres of watery adventure for all ages. Enjoy three new speed slides including Thunder Bump, Terror Tube and X-celarator; as well as the popular Main Stream River inner tube ride, Lily Pads and a Tot Spot kiddie area featuring interactive squirt works, sand volleyball and Birthday Splash Zone.
Lounge chairs, life jackets, changing rooms and rental lockers are available. Schedule: mid-March through mid-October. Call or visit online for operating schedule. Admission: $12.95 plus tax for adults 13 and up; $10.95 for children 3 – 12; $8.95 for senior citizens 60 and older; and $3.95 for infants 2 and under. Discounts apply for company outings and groups of 20 or more. Location: 400 Santa Barbara Blvd., Cape Coral, FL 33991. Call (239) 574-0558 or visit www.SunSplashWaterpark.com .
PINE ISLAND, BOCA GRANDE & OUTER ISLANDS
Barbara Sumwalt Museum
Originally built as a cottage, the historical museum features exhibits, in chronological order, that tell the story of man on Useppa Island for 11,000 years. The signature pieces of the museum
include the forensic restoration of “Useppa Man,” unearthed during an archaeological dig by the
University of Florida in 1989, and the forensic restoration of “Useppa Woman,” found during the restoration of the Collier Inn. Visitors are treated to displays on Useppa’s role in the Seminole
War, the Civil War and the Bay of Pigs. The Museum is open daily from 12:15 to 2 p.m.with extended hours in the winter. Suggested donation of $5 includes audio tour. Location: Useppa Island (accessible only by boat). Boat transportation to the island contact: Captiva Cruises at (239) 472-5200 for a lunch and museum visit or Useppa Island Club (239) 283-1061. For museum information, call (239) 283-9600 or visit www.useppa.com .
Boca Grande Lighthouse Museum and Visitors Center
The recently renovated museum contains exhibits of the first Native Americans to arrive at Boca Grande as well as the Calusa Indians who appeared later. Exhibits explore the arrival of the Spanish to the area, the development of commercial fishing and the later appearance of the railroad. Stories of Boca Grande’s two lighthouses top the tale of the development of Port Boca Grande. The evolution of Boca Grande from fishing village to a thriving community is in part due to its status as “Tarpon Fishing Capital of the World.”
The natural history of this barrier island adjoins the important Charlotte Harbor Estuary. Exhibits of shells and bones of native species can be found in the “Nature Room” of the museum. Hours: November through May, Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday noon to 4 p.m. The museum is closed Mondays and Tuesdays in June, July, September and October. Closed for the month of August and all major holidays.
The parks society maintains and operates the museum. The Lighthouse Museum is handicapped accessible. Location: 880 Belcher Rd., Boca Grande, FL 33921. For information, call (941) 964-0060 or visit www.barrierislandparkssociety.org .
Cabbage Key
At Channel Marker 60 on the Intracoastal Waterway, accessible only by boat, lies Cabbage Key, a tiny island alive with charm and history. Built atop an ancient Calusa Indian shell mound, the cozy inn was constructed in 1938 by the son of playwright and novelist Mary Roberts Rinehart. Today, the old house contains six rental rooms, a lounge and a picturesque dining room wallpapered with thousands of autographed $1 bills. The island also features seven rental cottages, a marina with overnight dockage, a nature trail and a wooden water tower to climb for a great view of Pine Island Sound. Visitors will not find cars or paved roads, instead winding nature trails for exploration and lots of relaxation. Accessible only by boat, lunch cruises and scheduled water taxi service is available. Location: Milemarker 60 on the Intracoastal Waterway. Call (239) 283-2278 for information or visit www.cabbagekey.com .
Museum of the Islands
From the ancient Calusa Indians to early fishing pioneers, Pine Island’s rich, unusual history plays out in fascinating, colorful exhibits. This showcase of the past features an authentic palm-thatched kitchen with old-time utensils and household items from the early settlers, remnants from the lives of Calusa Indians, and exhibits on how archaeologists conduct historically significant explorations. The natural history of the region is evidenced in fossils dating back millions of years, primitive artwork and animals native to Pine Island. Gift shop with Pine Island art crafts, books and T-shirts. Hours: May through October, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; November through April, Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m. Admission is $2 for adults, $1 for children. Location: 5728 Sesame Drive, Bokeelia, FL 33922. Call (239) 283-1525 or visit www.museumoftheislands.com .
Randell Research Center
The world of the Calusa is the focus of tours offered at this important archaeological site on Pine Island. For more than 1,500 years, the Calusa Indians occupied the 200-acre site, leaving behind enormous shell mounds. Visitors to the Randell Research Center (RRC) can tour the Calusa Heritage Trail, a 3,700-foot interpretive walkway that leads visitors through the mounds, canals, and other features of the Pineland archaeological site. In addition, volunteers and students are able to participate in the ongoing research programs.
The Calusa Heritage Trail provides interpretive signs that offer detailed information regarding the Calusa, their culture and environment, as well as the history of southwest Florida after the Calusa left. The trail also features observation platforms atop the site's tallest shell mound, in addition to trail-side benches and a boardwalk and bridge over low-lying areas. Parking is available inside the main gate to the Randell Research Center at 13810 Waterfront Drive. Public restrooms and picnic facilities are also provided.
The Calusa Heritage Trail is open to visitors daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Guided tours are offered to the public January through April on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10 a.m. Groups may also schedule guided tours at other times by calling the RRC at (239)283-2157. The bookstore is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Requested donations for visitors to the Calusa Heritage Trail: $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and $4 for children. For information call (239) 288-2082 or visit www.flmnh.ufl.edu/rrc.
Tropic Star of Pine Island
Tropic Star of Pine Island offers a variety of on-the-water adventures from Pineland Marina on Pine Island. The 59-passenger “Tropic Star” offers full-day and half-day narrated nature cruises to Cayo Costa and Cabbage Key. On the way, guests encounter two natural bird rookery islands, along with dolphins, manatees and other wildlife. Learn about the ecosystem, mangrove islands and history of this unique area. Departs daily at 9:30 a.m. Reservations are required. Rates are $30 for adults and $17 for children under 8. Also available for group charters.
The state appointed passenger ferry transports visitors for a day or overnight to Cayo Costa State Park to enjoy magnificent beaches, shelling, nature trails and swimming in the Gulf
of Mexico. Departs daily at 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Rates: same day, $25 for adults and $17 for children (under 8), overnight, $35 for adults and $25 for children (under 8) Reservations are required. Call for information on the more frequent seasonal schedule. Rates include taxes.
The Tropic Star also offers private water taxis for island hopping adventures to Boca Grande, Cabbage Key, Cayo Costa, North Captiva and other coastal islands. For a true eco-experience, explore the pristine waters and aquatic preserves surrounding Pine Island in a rented kayak or canoe. Rentals and tours are available from Bokeelia and Cayo Costa. Parking fee at marina is $10 for the day. Location: Pineland Marina, 13921 Waterfront Drive, Pineland, FL 33945. Call (239) 283-0015 for details and tours or visit www.tropicstarcruises.com .
NORTH FORT MYERS
Babcock Wilderness Adventures
Enjoy a taste of real Florida – the excitement of a true wilderness adventure. Travel 90 minutes in a comfortable swamp buggy with a trained naturalist on a voyage through the beautiful woods and deep, slow-moving waters of the Telegraph Cypress Swamp. See alligators, panthers, cracker calves, native birds, wild turkeys, snakes and other animals in their natural setting. Year-round daily tours are by reservation only. Swamp buggy tours are $19.95 plus tax for adults and $12.95 plus tax for children ages 3 to 12, with group rates available. Location: 8000 S.R. 31, Punta Gorda, FL 33982. For information and reservations, call toll-free (800) 500-5583 and visit www.babcockwilderness.com .
E.C.H.O. (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization)
This unique attraction is a Christian ministry working to fight world hunger. E.C.H.O. invites visitors to tour the working demonstration farm and discover how unique agricultural solutions are being used by those working with the poor in over 180 countries. See and taste a variety of rare and nutritious food from an exotic collection of tropical fruit trees and edible plants, which is the largest in the continental United States. This “living classroom” provides ideas that can be used in your own backyard, with many of the seeds and plants available for purchase in the edible landscape nursery and bookstore.
Tours: $8 for adults, $5 for children ages 6-12. Discounts available for seniors, AAA members, students, military, and groups of 10 or more. Location: 17391 Durrance Road, North Fort Myers, FL 33917, 1 mile east of I-75, at exit 143. Call (239) 543-3246 or visit www.echonet.org .
The Shell Factory
A Lee County institution for 70 years, the Shell Factory is billed as the “world’s largest collection of rare shells, sponges, coral, fossils and sea life specimens” with more than 5,000,000 shells and shell-related gifts. This attraction boasts 60,000-square-feet of retail space with “something for everyone,” each visit is like a treasure hunt. Food services include Capt’n Fishbones Seafood GrillSpecial group rates are available for lunches and dinners. The Christmas House is open all year.
Outside visitors enjoy bumper boats, bumper cars, pitch a few fast balls, check out the speed at the pitching cage and try a round of miniature golf. The Groovy Stop Video Arcade boasts games for everyone. Visitors can also experience the Nature Park, featuring alligators, snakes, swans, turtles, exotic birds, bobcats, raccoons, and more. New attractions: The Money Museum, McShells Company Mining Rig, and Lorikeet Aviary. The museum is free to the public and displays coins and notes from around the world dating back to the Roman Empire. Visitors may pan for gemstones or fossils in the mining rig’s sluice or feed nectar to the colorful lorikeet birds.
“Waltzing Waters” (now known as Liquid Fireworks) offers a spectacular water, music and light presentation each evening after sunset. Admission is $5 per person. Handicapped accessible. Hours: 10:30 a.m. through 7 p.m. daily. Location: 4 miles north of the Caloosahatchee River at 2787 N. Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41), North Fort Myers, FL 33903-2787. Call (239) 995-2141 or (800) 282-5805 or visit www.shellfactory.com.
For more information about all of these attractions and the latest information on packages and special vacation values in Florida’s unspoiled island sanctuary, visit The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel Web site at www.FortMyersSanibel.com. All attractions and tour times and rates are subject to change and it is recommended that visitors call to confirm information and specifics regarding handicapped accessibility.
