The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel feature art, history, wildlife adventures

CONTACTS:
Jackie MacKay, (407) 814-0014 or (407) 496-1770
Lee Rose, (239) 338-3500

LEE COUNTY, FL - - Travel agents have an exciting, and unique array of excursions to offer clients who are planning a visit to The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel. While some clients don't want anything more than to lounge on the area's famous sun-kissed shores or play golf on its legendary courses, there are plenty of attractions and activities for agents to suggest.

SANIBEL, CAPTIVA & OUTER ISLANDS

J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge: This 6,000-acre wildlife refuge, named for Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist and pioneer environmentalist Jay Norwood Darling, is home to native bird, raccoon, otter, alligator and other wildlife. The refuge features wonderful bird watching spots, delightful footpaths, winding canoe trails and a 4-mile scenic drive, all of which are lush with native plants. Low tide, when birds feed, is the ideal time to visit.

Open:	Saturday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to a half-hour tour before sunset. Closed Friday. The visitor center is open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., November through April; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., May through October.
Cost:	$5 to drive, $1 to bicycle or walk.
Location:	1 Wildlife Drive, Sanibel Island, FL 33957, off Sanibel-Captiva Road. Call (239) 472-1100 or visit http://dingdarling.fws.gov.

Tarpon Bay Explorers: Clients will love 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. Kayak and canoe naturalist-guided tours through the mangroves is another one of the excursions available. For the more experienced paddler, there are guided sunset tours to rookery islands. Guided fishing charters also are available, as well as an Everglades Explorer tour. There is a 90-minute Nature and SeaLife Cruise aboard a pontoon boat, which includes the Touch Tank Exploration and special breakfast or evening cruises. Canoe, canoe with motor, kayak, pontoon, fishing equipment, and bicycle rentals are available. All guided tours are by reservation. Group rates are available. Call for times and availability.

Open:	Daily, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. in summer.
Cost:	Prices range from $10 to $40 for adults, $7 to $15 for children, depending on excursion. Children under three are free on both the tram and boat tours.
Location:	North end of Tarpon Bay Road inside J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge (where Tarpon Bay Road intersects Sanibel-Captiva Road) at 900 Tarpon Bay Rd., Sanibel, FL 33957. For details, call (239) 472-8900 and visit www.tarponbayexplorers.com or www.evergladesexplorers.com.

Canoe Adventures: Naturalist Mark "Bird" Westall leads guided journeys through the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge and other destinations. Regular trip lasts 2 to 3 hours; shorter trips for young children are available.

Open:	Daily.
Cost:	Prices start at $45 for adults, $25 for young people age 17 and under. Call (239) 472-5218.
Location:	P.O. Box 662, Sanibel, FL 33957. Call (239) 472-5218 for details.

Captiva Kayak Company & Wildside Adventures: Agents' clients may explore bays, beaches, and bayous on Back Bay ecological tours to Buck Key. They also can arrange kayak, canoe, and sailboat rentals.

Open:	Daily.
Cost:	$35 for adults, $25 for teens, $20 for children. Seasonal sunset tours are $45 for adults, $35 for teens and children.
Location:	11401 Andy Rosse Lane at McCarthy's Marina, Captiva Island, FL 33924. Call ahead for tour reservations at (239) 395-2925 or toll free 877- EZ-Kayak (395-2925). For more information, visit www.captivakayaks.com.

Captiva Cruises: Out-island cruises are the essential experience for the perfect appreciation of The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel. Visitors can choose from four spectacular island destinations:

Cabbage Key - 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 - Operating as a private club, here guests relive 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 run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and cost $30 for adult and $15 for children. Meals on Cabbage Key and Useppa Island are not included.

Cayo Costa - Two daily half-day shelling cruises aboard the 45-foot catamaran "Playtime." The morning cruise is from 9 a.m. to noon; the afternoon cruise is from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The half-day cruise typically travels to the center of North Captiva Island sections of the Cayo Costa Park. Full-day Beach and Shelling Cruises to the State Park ranger station on Cayo Costa depart at 10 a.m. and return at 4 p.m. Half-day cruises are $35 for adult and $20 for children. Full-day cruises are $45 for adult and $25 for children.

Boca Grande - 90-minute dolphin and wildlife adventure cruise, sunset cruise and private charters. 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.

Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum: More than 30 exhibits display shells from around the world, with special focus on shells of Sanibel & Captiva islands and southwest Florida. Mollusks in Action, a video showing live mollusks, is shown five times daily. The museum store offers an extensive selection of books and unusual shell-motif gift items. Handicapped accessible.

Open:	Daily, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. year-round.
Cost:	$6 for adult, $3 for youth ages 5 to 16. Children age 4 and under are free. Discounts and special programs for group tours with advance reservations.
Location:	3075 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel Island, FL 33957. Call (239) 395-2233 or (888) 679-6450 and visit www.shellmuseum.org.

C.R.O.W.:: Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (C.R.O.W.), a hospital for sick, injured and orphaned native and migratory wildlife, offers a year-round educational program.

Open:	Monday through Friday 11 a.m., Sunday 1 p.m. during season (Thanksgiving through Easter).
Cost:	$5 for adults, free for children under age 12.
Location:	3883 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel, FL 33957, just west of Rabbit Road. Call (239) 472-3644 or visit www.crowclinic.org.

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 & Captiva islands. The Foundation also operates a nature shop, bookstore, native plant nursery and conducts estuarine research. Visitors can walk 4½ 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.

Open:	Varies with 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.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., December through April.
Cost:	$3 adult; free for members and age 17 and under. Additional charges may apply to other programs.
Location:	3333 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel Island, FL 33957. Call (239) 472-2329 or visit www.sccf.org.

Shelling Charters: One of the most popular junkets throughout the area, charter boat operations offer shelling tours to offshore barrier islands, particularly Cayo Costa State Island Preserve and North Captiva.

Open:	Call for current schedule.
Cost:	$230 includes four people for three hours of shelling and $215 for two passengers.
Location:	'Tween Waters Inn Marina, Captiva Road, Captiva Island, FL 33924. Reserve a charter at (239) 466-3649. More charters are available at other locations throughout the islands.

Sanibel Historical Village and Museum: Dedicated to the pioneer families of Sanibel and Captiva, the village includes "Uncle" Clarence Rutland's home, Bailey's General Store, "Morning Glories" (a Sears/Roebuck catalog home), Miss Charlotta's Tea Room, the 1926 Post Office, and the Burnap Cottage. Recently restored is the 1895 one-room schoolhouse, Sanibel School. 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, surrey (fringe included), and a replica of a packinghouse with farm equipment. The Village relates the history of the islands beginning with the days of the Calusa Indians up to the mid-1900s.

Open:	November through mid-August, Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; summer hours may vary.
Cost:	Donations of $5 per adult are welcomed. School children and younger are free.
Location:	950 Dunlop, Sanibel, FL 33957. For information, call (239) 472-4648.

Adventures in Paradise, Inc.:: Trolley and boating excursions teach the eco-heritage of the Fort Myers/Sanibel area. Trips include backwater fishing, Sealife Encounter Excursions, Tropical Sunset cruises, lunch and art cruises, afternoon dolphin watching, power boat rentals, private fishing guides, shelling and snorkeling the outer islands, historical trolley tours, and canoeing and kayaking in "Larry's Lagoon." Times of departure and trip length vary. Adventures in Paradise also offers private charter cruises. Landlubbers like Sanibel's history and nature trolley tour.

Open:	Daily 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Cost:	$35 to $55 adult and $12 to $35 youth. Children age 3 and under are free. Rentals By the hour, half-day and full-day.
Location:	14341 Port Comfort Road, Fort Myers, FL 33908. Call (239) 472-8443 or visit www.portsanibelmarina.com and www.adventureinparadiseinc.com.

Colgate Offshore Sailing 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 among the most 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 throughout the world. Programs offered include a full range of three- to seven-day courses for all levels, daily resort clinics and corporate team-building programs.

Open:	Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Cost:	Call for cost information.
Location:	16731 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33908. Call (239) 454-1700, toll free (800) 221-4326 or visit www.offshore-sailing.com.

FORT MYERS BEACH

Matanzas Pass Preserve: A peaceful retreat on Estero Bay where visitors explore a live oak hammock and mangrove forest via a wandering boardwalk and foot trails. An historic cottage complements the Nature Center, which chronicles the history of Fort Myers Beach.

Open:	Open daily, sunrise to sunset. Cottage hours vary, so call in advance.
Cost:	Call for rates.
Location:	End of Bay Road, just off Estero Boulevard, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931. Limited parking. Call (239) 765-6794.

The Big "M" Casino: Agents' clients will get a kick out of The Big "M" Casino, the most luxurious gaming vessel in southwest Florida. Offers bingo on afternoon cruises, live entertainment on evening cruises, and an optional buffet meal on every cruise.

Open:	Year-round from Moss Marina on Fort Myers Beach. Passengers must be at least 21 years of age to board. Photo identification is required for all passengers.
Cost:	$10 for day cruise, $20 for evenings sails.
Location:	450 Harbor Ct., Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931. Call (239) 765-PLAY (7529) for prices, times and reservations or visit www.bigMcasino.com.

FORT MYERS

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, rare antique automobiles, phonographs and experimental gardens have been authentically maintained as a tribute to the genius of one of the world's most remarkable men. After stepping back in time at the Edison Home, visitors can step next door to the winter home of automobile industrialist Henry Ford. The 3½-acre estate was purchased in 1916 to spend the winter months visiting his friend Edison. Named "Mangoes," it has undergone extensive renovation to bring it back to the period when he and his wife Clara lived there.

"Arts at the Estates" is held several times a year. Artists can set up on the estates to paint the scene that inspired them for just $5. The Garden Shoppe at the Estates offers presentations of the care and feeding of plants, followed by a question and answer session with a master gardener. The presentations are held the third Saturday of every month at 11 a.m. It is free and open to the public.

Open:	Daily, except Thanksgiving and Christmas, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Botanical tours are available on Thursday and Saturday at 9 a.m.
Cost:	A combined ticket for both the Edison and Ford homes is $14 for Florida residents and $16 for non-Florida residents year-round. Children ages 6 to 12 are $7.50 for Florida residents and $8.50 for non-Florida residents. Youngsters under age 6 are free. Group rates are available. Botanical tours are $19 adult and $8.50 children.
Location:	2350 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33901. For group rates and further information, call (239) 334-7419 or visit www.edison-ford-estate.com.

Imaginarium Hands-on Museum: A fun-filled interactive learning center where people of all ages can 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, one can 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, and broadcast the weather from a TV weather studio. Outside, guests visit the lagoon where fish, turtles, swans and alligators 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.

Open:	Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.
Cost:	Adults start at $7.
Location:	2000 Cranford Ave. in historic downtown Fort Myers, minutes from I-75 at exit 138. Call (239) 337-3332 or visit www.cityftmyers.com/attractions/imaginarium.htm.

The Southwest Florida Museum of History: Housed in the former Atlantic Coastline Railroad depot, the museum 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 you meet as you view the exhibits. An authentic replica of a pioneer "cracker" house, a 1926 La France fire pumper, and a 1929 private Pullman rail car also are part of the tour. There is an extensive artifacts collection as well as a display of 1,200 pieces of depression and carnival glass. The museum offers walking tours of historic downtown Fort Myers, an annual traveling exhibit, special events and educational programs and escorted bus trips to other cultural and historic sites around the state.

Open:	Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. Also open for group tours.
Cost:	$9.50 adult, $8.50 children, $4 age 12 and under, $8.50 seniors, group rates $7.50 per person.
Location:	2300 Peck St. just one block north of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in historic downtown Fort Myers. Call 239-332-5955 or visit www.cityftmyers.com/museum.

Manatee Park: Here guests observe endangered Florida Manatees in their non-captive habitat from three observation areas during "Manatee Season" November through March. Interpretive naturalists work onsite presenting programs about manatees, butterflies and native plants. Visitors enjoy walking the accessible paths through the restored native plant habitats and beautiful butterfly gardens. Kayak rentals are available daily. Year-round opportunities include picnicking, fishing and kayaking. Designated as a demonstration site for the Florida Yards and Neighborhoods program, the park includes different species of native plants suitable for residential yards. Conservative methods of irrigation also are presented.

Open:	November through March, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; April through October, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ADA accessible. The visitor center and gift shop are open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost:	Admission is free. Parking $1 per hour per vehicle, maximum of $3.
Location:	10901 SR 80 in Ft. Myers directly across from the Florida Power power plant. Pets are not permitted. Manatee Hotline (239)-694-3537 or (239)-461-7477, or visit www.leeparks.org and click on "regional parks."

Manatee World: Visitors take an educational and entertaining ecological boat safari into the natural habitat of the endangered West Indian manatee. They'll observe manatees, along with alligators and a wide variety of bird life, during this narrated tour on calm, protected waters. The Manatee Magic gift shop offers a selection of manatee items. Boats, canoes and kayaks are available for rent. Reservations suggested.

Open:	Daily, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Cost:	$18 adults, $9 children age 3 to 12. Children under age 3 are free.
Location:	Coastal Marine Mart (orange and white striped building), S.R. 80, ¼-mile east of I-75 (exit 141), Fort Myers, FL 33905. For information, call (239) 693-1434 or visit www.manateeworld.com.

J.C. Cruises: The wide Caloosahatchee River, running through downtown Fort Myers, is the starting point for eight different scenic cruises. Luncheon and dinner cruises aboard the 600-passenger "Capt. J.P. Paddlewheeler" range from two hours to full-day excursions. Inquire about the 80-passenger Jungle Cruise, which travels up the picturesque Caloosahatchee and Orange rivers into the manatee sanctuary. Also available are cruises aboard the 49-passenger Catamaran "Island Adventure," featuring sunset, shelling, Cabbage Key, Cayo Costa, outer islands, dolphin watching cruises and more.

Open:	Call for scheduled departure times.
Cost:	Varies from $14 to $78 depending on cruise type and season. Advanced reservations are suggested. Private charters also are available for Christmas parties, weddings, fundraisers, school dances, etc.
Location:	All cruises depart from the downtown Fort Myers Yacht Basin at the corner of Lee Street and Edwards Drive. 2313 Edwards Dr., Fort Myers, FL 33901 (P.O. Box 1688, Fort Myers, FL 33902). Call (239) 334-7474 or (239) 334-2743 or visit www.jccruises.com.

Eden Vineyards Winery: Wine connoisseurs can sample award-winning vintages from the southernmost vineyard and winery in the continental United States. Wines can be purchased.. Enthusiasts can join conducted tastings, which include discussions of the grapes, Eden's viticultural and vinification practices, and evaluation of each of the wines.

Open:	Daily, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., except major holidays.
Cost:	$2.50 is charged for the 30- to 40-minute sessions, which continue throughout the day until 3:30 p.m.
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.

Alliance for the Arts: Housed in the 12,000-square-foot William R. Frizzell Cultural Center on its 10-acre campus, the Alliance for the Arts includes: public galleries hosting new exhibitions each month; the 200-seat Claiborne and Ned Foulds Theatre presenting theatrical productions such as dramas and comedies, recitals, concerts and other cultural events, and the Gladys G. Land School of Arts offering year-round classes and workshops in all art forms for both adults and children.

Open:	Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed Sunday.
Cost:	Gallery admission is free; costs for other programs vary.
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) 939-2787 or visit www.artinlee.org.

Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre: Southwest Florida's most entertaining destination, it features year-round professional musicals and comedies for adults and children and a lavish award-winning buffet. Broadway Palm offers catering services and meeting spaces for parties and special events of 20 to 450 people. Handicapped accessible.

Open:	Evening performances take the stage Tuesday through Sunday, and matinee days vary. Reservations are recommended.
Cost:	Range from $25 to $48. Group rates are available for parties of 20 or more.
Location:	1380 Colonial Blvd. in Royal Palm Square, Fort Myers, FL 33907. Call (239) 278-4422, e-mail tickets@broadwaypalm.com, or visit www.broadwaypalm.com to reserve your seats.

Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium: Outside, rustic boardwalks 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. More than 100 Florida native animals to see. Butterfly, alligator and other animal presentations hold visitors' interest daily. Naturalists guide walks and aviary tours several times a week. Planetarium fans return to take in the changing starlit astronomy shows in the relaxing 90-seat theater. Handicapped accessible.

Open:	Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost:	Nature center, trails and all planetarium shows are $8 adult/teen and $5 children age 3 to 12. Advance notice is required for groups; special rates apply to groups of 15 or more.
Location:	3450 Ortiz Ave., Fort Myers, FL 33905. For more information, call (239) 275-3435 or visit ww.calusanature.com.

Classic Air Ventures: Relive a golden era in aviation. Don a leather jacket, helmet and goggles to enjoy airborne sightseeing in a 1940 WACO UPF-7. Two passengers share the adventure of an authentic bi-plane ride, leaving Page Field in Fort Myers.

Open:	Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., November through April.
Cost:	Call for rates.
Location:	Call toll-free (888) 852-9226.

Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall: National Broadway productions, prominent entertainers, dance performances, popular ensembles and classical music concerts fill the calendar year-round. The hall also is used for business conferences, seminars, meetings and wedding receptions, with dining available. Large groups are welcome. Handicapped accessible.

Open:	Box office open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Cost:	Ticket cost based upon performance.
Location:	Centrally located in Fort Myers on Summerlin Road between College Parkway and Cypress Lake Drive, 13350 Edison Pkwy., S.W., Fort Myers, FL 33919. Call the box office at (239) 481-4849, the offices at (239) 489-3033 or visit www.bbmannpah.com.

Bob Rauschenberg Gallery: Named after world-acclaimed artist and local resident, Robert Rauschenberg, the gallery at Edison College displays his works as well as exhibits from other nationally and internationally renowned artists.

Open:	Monday through Friday,10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Reservations are recommended for groups of 20 or more.
Cost:	No charge.
Location:	In the Humanities Building near the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 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.edison.edu and click on "Resources" and "Bob Rauschenberg Gallery."

Murder Mystery Dinner Train: On the Seminole Gulf Railway, the dinner train theater entertains with a murder mystery show performed while guests enjoy a five-course meal in a vintage dining car. Snacks and drinks are available. Reservations required for dinner train only.

Open:	Wednesday through Sunday. The 3½-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 excursions to the Caloosahatchee River run January through Labor Day and mid-December through March, giving passengers narrations on history of the rails. The 1¾-hour trip departs at 10 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. on Wednesday and Saturday, and 12:15 p.m. on Sunday.
Cost:	Dinner theater cost is $64.98, plus tax and gratuity, on Saturday nights, and $54.98, plus tax and gratuity, on weekdays. The train excursions are $13.95 plus tax adult, $8.95 children. A Family Special excursion rate is available for two adults with two children (ages 3 to 12) for $29.95 plus tax.
Location:	Colonial Station, at the intersection of Metro Parkway and Colonial Boulevard, 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. Daytime excursions, or holiday and special event dinners.

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. Visitors enjoy seeing native birds such as herons, egrets, ibis and anhingas. Handicapped accessible.

Open:	April through September, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; October through March, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 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 only on Wednesday during the months of May through October.
Cost:	Free admission. Parking costs 75 cents an hour, $3 daily maximum.
Location:	Six Mile Cypress Parkway, 1½ miles north of Daniels Parkway, (exit 131 off I-75), Fort Myers, FL 33912. Call (239) 432-2004 or visit www.leeparks.org/sixmile.

Sun Harvest Citrus: Squeeze in a stop at 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, gourmet foods, candies, fresh baked goods, Florida souvenirs and a well-stocked gift shop. Watch as fresh juice is made while enjoying free samples of juices and fruit. Learn about Florida's citrus industry and how the fruit is picked, cleaned, sorted and packaged during a free tour. Let the kids enjoy a unique orange and vanilla swirl ice cream cone while having fun on the playground. Handicapped accessible.

Open:	Year-round, Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free tours available November through April.
Cost:	Free.
Location:	Southwest corner of Six Mile Cypress and Metro parkways, 14810 Metro Pkwy., Fort Myers, FL 33912. Call (800) 743-1480 or (239) 768-2686 or visit www.leeparks.org/sixmile.

Fort Myers Skatium: This skate-of-the-art ice facility also features Lazer Runner laser tag, bumper cars, a full-service concession area, pro shop, and a video game room.

Open:	Daily. Public skating hours are Saturday, 1 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. and Sunday, 1:45 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Lazer tag and bumper car hours are Saturday, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Cost:	Skate rental is $2. Public skating is $5 for adults, $4 for children age 12 and under, and $4 for seniors.
Location:	2250 Broadway, Fort Myers, FL 33901. Call (239) 461-3145 or visit www.fmskatium.com.

BONITA SPRINGS & ESTERO

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary: This 11,000-acre wilderness sanctuary, operated by the National Audubon Society, offers visitors a 2¼-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 rare woodstorks, as well as a number of wild orchid species can be found during the winter months.

Open:	Daily, October through March, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; April through September, 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Cost:	$10 for adults, $6 for college students, $5 for Audubon members, $4 for children age 6 to 18, and free for children under age 6.
Location:	375 Sanctuary Rd., Naples, FL 34120. Call (239) 348-9151 or visit www.audubon.org/local/sanctuary/corkscrew.

Everglades Wonder Gardens: Established in 1936, this is one of Florida's earliest wildlife attractions and museum. 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. Handicapped accessible.

Open:	Daily, except Christmas, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with guided tours operating continuously until 4:15 p.m.
Cost:	$12 for adults, $6 for children ages 3 to 10, toddlers age 2 and under are free. Group rates are available.
Location:	Old 41, 1 mile north of the Greyhound Track, Bonita Springs, FL 34135. Call (239) 992-2591.

Estero River Outfitters: A variety of excursions via canoe or kayak down the Estero River, a Florida-designated trail that runs to the Gulf of Mexico. Visitors enjoy the otters, birds and alligators that typically show up on this "old Florida" river. Nearby Koreshan State Historic Site has wooded campsites and picnic tables. Canoe and kayak rentals, fishing gear, and bait are available.

Open:	Year-round, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Cost:	$22.50 for four-hour period or add $5 for all-day trip, part or full day of canoeing for two on the Estero River. Additional persons are $5 each. Children under age 9 are free. Single and double kayak rentals start at $17.50 per person, all day. A 3½-hour guided canoe eco-tour of the Estero Bay State Buffer Preserve or Koreshan State Historic Settlement tour is $35. Trips to Mound Kay cost $65 a person. Reservations and payments must be made in advance for guided trips.
Location:	20991 South Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41 S.), Estero, FL 33928. For information, call (239) 992-4050 or visit www.esteroriveroutfitters.com.

Naples/Fort Myers Greyhound Track: All the excitement of live greyhound racing and simulcasting of horse racing from the country's leading thoroughbred tracks is in southwest Florida nearly every day of the year. Patrons can wager to win, show or place, and play quiniellas and trifectas on the dogs and horses.

Open:	Doors open at 11:30 a.m. daily for simulcasting. The live racing schedule changes according to season, with live racing during winter months and curtailing Wednesday through Saturday from June through September. Matinee greyhound racing starts at 12:15 p.m., evening performances at 7:15 p.m. Simulcast racing is held seven days a week. Featured horse tracks include Gulfstream, Churchill, Belmont, Aqueduct, Keeneland, Saratoga, Hollywood and Santa Anita. The track is closed just three days a year for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Easter. Dates and times are subject to change due to special races. Handicapped accessible.
Cost:	Varies.
Location:	Bonita Beach Road, two miles east of U.S. 41. Call (239) 992-2411 or visit www.naplesfortmyersdogs.com.

Koreshan State Historic Site: 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, or "Divine Illumination," which 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 300 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 60 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. Take advantage of the area's nature trails, boat ramp, canoeing, fresh and salt water fishing, and camping. The College of Life Foundation world headquarters is located on the northeast corner of U.S. 41 and Corkscrew Road. The building is open for lectures and tours on the Koreshans and the environment by appointment; across from the state park. Call (239) 992-2184.

Open:	The park opens daily from 8 a.m. to sunset, the site from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and reservations can be made at www.reserveamerica.com or by calling toll free at (800) 326-3521.
Cost:	Guided tours are $2 per person. 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.
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. Call to request a schedule of special events, (239) 992-0311.

CAPE CORAL

Sun Splash Family Waterpark: Slide into a million gallons of fun at a waterpark that offers 12-acres of watery adventure for all ages. Enjoy giant waterslides, the popular Main Stream River inner tube ride, Lily Pads and a Tot Spot kiddie area featuring interactive squirt works, sand volleyball, a game arcade, and more. Lounge chairs, life jackets, changing rooms and rental lockers are available.

Open:	Mid-March through September, Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; mid-May through mid-August, Sunday through Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; mid-August through September, Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call for Spring Break and Easter Break schedules and hours.
Cost:	$12.95 for guests 48 inches and taller, $10.95 for guests less than 48 inches tall, $6.95 for senior citizens 55 and older, $2.95 for children age 2 and under. Discounts apply for company outings and groups of 20 or more. Proof of residency required for Cape Coral resident discount.
Location:	400 Santa Barbara Blvd., Cape Coral, FL 33991. Call (239) 574-0557 and check the Web site for current prices, www.sunsplashwaterpark.com.

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. Handicapped accessible.

Open:	Sunday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 p.m.
Cost:	No admission fee. Costs for assorted activities varies.
Location:	35 Pine Island Rd. NE, Cape Coral, FL 33909. Call (239) 574-4386.

Cape Coral Historical Museum: 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 and Calusa/Seminole artifacts. Guests get to look into a replica of a turn-of-the-century Cracker house. Gift shop on premises.

Open:	Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Closed July and August.
Cost:	A $2 donation is requested upon entrance; children under age 12 are free.
Location:	544 Cultural Park Blvd. (near city hall), Cape Coral, FL 33990. Call (239) 772-7037 or visit www.capecoralhistoricalmuseum.org.

Cookie Cutter Cruises: Agents' clients will enjoy taking a beautiful trip among the barrier islands aboard the 51-foot "Cookie Cutter" yacht to see dolphins, wildlife and lush tropical islands. Sunset cruises and theme cruises available. Soft drinks and snacks are included on all cruises. Theme cruises vary according to holidays, such as the Father's Day Cruise, 4th of July Cruise, and Holiday Lights Cruise. The "Cookie Cutter" yacht holds a maximum of 35 passengers and welcomes group functions. Reservations are required.

Open:	Year-round, times vary.
Cost:	2½-hour sunset cruise is $25 for adults, $15 for children ages 2 to 9.
Location:	Cape Coral Yacht Club, 5819 Driftwood Pkwy, Cape Coral, FL 33904. Call for a schedule at (239) 574-0806.

PINE ISLAND, BOCA GRANDE & OUTER ISLANDS

The Barbara Sumwalt Museum: This 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. Audio tours are available.

Open:	Daily, 12:15 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Cost:	Suggested donation of $3.
Location:	Useppa Island (accessible only by boat). Call (239) 283-9600 for Museum information. Call the Useppa Island Club for boat transportation or to reserve dock space at (239) 283-1061. Visit www.useppa.com.

Tropic Star of Pine Island: Tropic Star of Pine Island offers your customers 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 $29 for a full day, $25 for half a day for adults and $17 for children under age 8. Also available for group charters.

"Cayo Costa Star," 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 are $23 for adults same day, $29 for adults overnight and $17 for children under age 8. Reservations are required. Call for information on the more frequent seasonal schedule. Rates include taxes.

"The Calusa Star," a 32-passenger pontoon boat, features two-hour cruises to Calusa Mound Island viewing on Pine Island Sound. Call for schedules and rates.

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. A parking fee is in effect at the marina: $8 for the day, $5 for a half-day, and $8 overnight.

Location:

Pineland Marina, 13921 Waterfront Dr., Pineland, FL 33945. Call (239) 283-0015 or visit www.tropicstarcruises.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 animal's native to Pine Island. Gift shop with Pine Island art crafts, books and t-shirts.

Open:	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 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Cost:	$2 for adults, $1 for children ages 6 to 16 and free for youngsters under age 6.
Location:	5728 Sesame Dr., Bokeelia, FL 33922. For more information, call (239) 283-1525 or visit www.museumoftheislands.com.

Randell Research Center: The world of the Calusas is the focus of tours offered at the archeological site on Pine Island. For more than 1,500 years, the Calusa Indian tribe occupied this 200-acre site, leaving behind enormous shell mounds, remnants of an ancient canal and artifacts of daily life. The center offers both a walking tour of the Pineland site and a kayak trip to Josslyn Island, offering informed insight to the archaeology, history and culture of the Calusas. The Calusa Heritage Trail at Randell is a 3,700-foot interpretive walkway that leads visitors through the site.

Open:	Guided tours are offered to the public during peak season (January through April) on Wednesday at 10 a.m. The site is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Kayak tours are by reservation.
Cost:	Kayak tours $30 per person.
Location:	7450 Pine Island Rd., Pineland, FL 33945. For more information or to make a reservation, call (239) 283-2062 or visit www.flmnh.ufl.edu/sflarch/pineland.htm.

Boca Grande Lighthouse Museum and Visitors Center: Opened in 1999, the museum includes 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. Known as the "Tarpon Fishing Capital of the World," the natural history of this barrier island adjoins that of the important Charlotte Harbor Estuary. Lighthouse museum is handicapped accessible.

Open:	Daily from November through May; Wednesday through Sunday, June through October, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed major holidays.
Cost:	Gasparilla Island State Park, home of the Lighthouse museum, charges $2 per vehicle to enter. A $2 per adult admission to the Museum is suggested to help the Barrier Island Park Society maintain and operate it. Tours are free to the public.
Location:	880 Belcher Rd., Boca Grande, FL 33921. For information, call (941) 964-0060 or visit www.barrierislandparkssociety.org.

NORTH FORT MYERS

The Shell Factory: A Lee County institution for 60 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 million shells and shell-related gifts. The world-renowned glass blowing artisans of "Victor Alexander" call the Shell Factory home, along with thousands of beautiful furnace blown pieces of art. There are games and rides available for children of all ages, including a fire engine ride designed for the wheelchair bound. Handicapped accessible.

Open:	Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Cost:	Fun Park includes bumper cars, bumper boats and miniature golf, $4 each. "Waltzing Waters" (now known as LIQUID FIREWORKS) features a spectacular water, music and light presentation. Shows are each evening after sunset. Admission is $6 for adults and $4 for children.
Location:	4 miles north of the Caloosahatchee River on N. Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41), North Fort Myers, FL 33903-2787. Call toll-free (888) 4-SHELLS (743-5571) or 1-800-282-5805 or visit www.shellfactory.com.

ECHO: (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) A Christian ministry working to fight world hunger, ECHO invites visitors for a free tour of its working demonstration farm. ECHO's farm shows practical ideas for growing food under difficult conditions and contains one of the largest collections of tropical food plants in Florida, as well as herb gardens, animals, appropriate technologies and the Global Village. The Global Village Research and Learning Center, a "living classroom" to train interns, students and overseas workers, is the farm's latest addition. Visitors see the useful plants and farming systems that interns are cultivating in urban rooftop plantings, hillside farming systems, rain forest clearings, semi-arid tropics, hot humid lowlands and monsoon tropics.

Open:	The Edible Landscape Nursery is open Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon; and the Global Bookstore and Gift Shop is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon.
Cost:	No admission fee.
Location:	17391 Durrance Rd., North Fort Myers, FL 33917, off of S.R. 78, 1 mile east of I-75, exit 143. Call (239) 543-3246 or visit www.echonet.org.

Babcock Wilderness Adventures: Visitors get a taste of the real Florida and the excitement of a true wilderness adventure. They'll 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. They'll see alligators, panthers, cracker calves, native birds, wild turkeys, snakes and other animals in their natural setting.

Open:	Year-round daily tours are by reservation only.
Cost:	Swamp buggy tours are $17.95 for adults and $10.95 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 or visit www.babcockwilderness.com.

Travel agents who need more information about all of these attractions and more can visit www.FortMyersSanibel.com, where they'll also find customized assistance at the Travel Agent Help Desk in the "Tour and Travel" section of the site.

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EDITOR'S NOTES: Travel agents are advised to call for specifics regarding handicapped accessibility. All times and rates are subject to change. Call attractions to confirm information. Sales tax is not included in most admission/ticket costs. Prices in some locations are commissionable; call venues to confirm.

The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel include: Sanibel & Captiva islands, Fort Myers Beach, Fort Myers, Bonita Springs & Estero, Cape Coral, Pine Island, Boca Grande & Outer islands, North Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres. Images are available upon request.