Southwest Florida Attractions

Family Fun

Captiva Cruises
Captiva Island, FL 33924
239-472-5300, captivacruises.com
A family favorite for more than 20 years, Captiva Cruises operates a fleet of vessels and offers a unique way to explore our beautiful outer islands. Tours and cruises depart daily from South Seas Island Resort and McCarthy’s Marina on beautiful Captiva Island. Tours include The Dolphin Watch & Wildlife Adventure Cruise, a 90-minute wildlife cruise on Pine Island Sound; The Sunset Serenade Cruise, a one-hour cruise featuring live entertainment and Gulf of Mexico sunsets; a Beach and Shelling Cruise, a three-hour cruise to the secluded Cayo Costa State Park Islands; an Out-Island Cruise, a half-day cruise to one of four exciting destinations – Cabbage Key, Useppa Island, Boca Grande, or Cayo Costa; and private Sailing Charter Cruises.

Caribbean Gardens, The Zoo in Naples
1590 Goodlette Road North, Naples, FL 34102
239-262-5409, caribbeangardens.com
Founded in 1919, Caribbean Gardens offers 52 acres of mature, tropical foliage and manicured walking trails, and is home to hundreds of animals ranging from tigers to impala antelope. At the Safari Canyon Show, where multimedia encounters nature, visitors observe the natural abilities of animals while range maps, wildlife footage and computer graphics are displayed on video screens. Guests love the Primate Expedition Boat Tours and the variety of other fun shows and activities.

Edison & Ford Winter Estates
2350 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33901
239-334-3614, efwefla.org
Step back in time and visit the homes of good friends Thomas Edison, famous scientist and inventor, and Henry Ford, American auto pioneer. Nestled along the Caloosahatchee River on Fort Myers’ scenic McGregor Boulevard, these gracious Estates sit right beside each other among a lushly landscaped 14 acres that include a historical botanical gardens, Edison’s laboratory, museum and electronic launch. The Edisons used their home, called Siminole Lodge, as a winter retreat for nearly 50 years, and it stands as a grand masterpiece of Southwest Florida Victorian architecture. Mangoes, the Ford’s winter estate, dates from 1916 and still contains much of its original furniture. The gate that separates the two estates is called the “Friendship Gate” in recognition of the neighbors’ closeness.

Fort Myers Miracle Baseball
14400 Six Mile Cypress Parkway, Fort Myers, FL 33912
miraclebaseball.com
When it’s time to sing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” it’s time to head to a Miracle game! The Miracle professional baseball team, the Class A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, has delighted fans since 1992, and their signature “off the wall” promotions and special events made the games even more fun. From the no-holds-barred pillow fight nights to bringing Rover along on “Dog Daze,” the only thing more enjoyable than watching the side shows at a Miracle game is the baseball itself.

Day at the Beach

Bowditch Point Regional Preserve
50 Estero Blvd, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
239-765-6794, leeparks.org
Bowditch Point Regional Park is located at the northern tip of Estero Island. This serene location, which encompasses the entire end of the island, offers quiet waters, peaceful surroundings and a close-up look at vessels entering and exiting the bay. It is perfect for walkers, swimmers and sunbathers. The park area features tables and grills in a shaded tropical setting and a concession area offers visitors a place to rest, a variety of food items, gifts and souvenirs. Restroom and changing facilities are available as well.

Holiday Water Sports
Located on the beach in front of DiamondHead Beach Resort
239.765.2252

Waverunner Rentals: Single, double, and triple waverunners. Instructions and life vests included. All drivers must be 16 years of age with a driver’s license. Some restrictions apply. Any age can ride as a passenger.

Parasailing: Your entire family can enjoy this super-high flight. Fly solo, or go with a friend (side-by-side tandem and triple flights available). You will take off and land directly on our six-passenger winch boat. Enjoy the opportunity of a lifetime. Reservations required.

Dolphin Adventure Tours: See dolphins and other wildlife in their natural environment on this 90-minute guided excursion. Learn how to ride a waverunner and experience the thrill of racing through the Gulf of Mexico. Enter the back bay and watch gentle dolphins at play. A “must” during your family’s vacation! No experience required. Advance reservations recommended. Don’t miss out!

Rentals: Ocean Kayaks for one, two or three people. Aqua cycle paddle bike.

Lovers Key State Park
8700 Estero Blvd, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
239-463-4588, floridastateparks.org/LoversKey
Rated one of the “Top Five” beaches in Florida by The Travel Channel! Lovers Key is one of four barrier islands that make up this state park. A haven for wildlife, the islands and their waters are home to West Indian manatees, bottlenose dolphins, roseate spoonbills, marsh rabbits, and bald eagles. The two-mile-long beach is accessible by boardwalk or tram and is popular for shelling, swimming, picnicking, and sunbathing. Black Island has over five miles of multi-use trails for hiking and bicycling. Anglers and boaters can launch their vessels from the park’s boat ramp. The park’s concession offers boat and fishing tours, as well as bicycle, canoe, and kayak rentals.

Ranalli Parasail
Located on the beach in front of DiamondHead Beach Resort
239-542-5511, ranalliparasail.com
Take a flight with Ranalli Parasail and you will have a bird’s eye view of the Gulf of Mexico and Fort Myers Beach. You may see dolphins or even sea turtles surface as you glide over the gulf waters. Your friendly crew will have information about the surrounding areas and will be glad to answer any questions that you might have.

Arts & Culture

Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre
1380 Colonial Blvd, Fort Myers, FL
239-278-4422, broadwaypalm.com
Enjoy a great night out at one of Southwest Florida’s most enjoyable destinations! The Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre entertains over 150,000 guests annually, seats 448 guests and includes an additional 90-seat “black box” theatre called The Off Broadway Palm Theatre. Check out the Children’s Theatre, too, that includes a chef’s buffet with all of the kids’ favorites!

Collier County Museum
3301 Tamiami Trail East, Naples, FL 34112
colliermuseum.com
Journey back over 10,000 years of Southwest Florida’s unique past at the Collier County Museum. Learn about mastodons and fierce saber cats, Calusa and Seminole Indians, and the rugged pioneers who settled one of America’s last frontiers. Visitors can enjoy five acres of native gardens, two early Naples cottages, swamp buggies and a logging locomotive. Special programs and exhibitions are presented throughout the year.

Conservancy of Southwest Florida
1450 Merrihue Drive, Naples, FL 34102
239-262-0304, conservancy.org
Located in the heart of Naples, it features an exhibit on natural history where visitors can touch a snake, count an alligator’s teeth and explore Southwest Florida’s underwater world. Visitors can watch recuperating patients through the O.W.L.S. online video monitoring system and see several of the Center’s permanent residents including a bald eagle, hawks and owls. Naturalist-guided trail walks and boat tours through a mangrove forest are offered daily. The Nature Store carries hard-to-find guide books and unusual, nature-related items.

Philharmonic Center for the Arts
5833 Pelican Bay Blvd, Naples, FL 34108
239-597-1900, thephil.org
Broadway shows, internationally-renowned musicians and performers are all offered at this world-class venue. The newly opened Naples Museum of Art showcases a permanent collection of American art as well as visiting artists.

The Naples Players
Sugden Community Theatre, 701 5th Avenue South, Naples, FL 34102
239-263-7990,
naplesplayers.com
Founded in 1953, this top-rated community theatre draws the talents of volunteer actors, directors and designers and plays to an annual audience of over 65,000. It has been named the “Best Live Theatre” in Southwest Florida (including professional theaters) five times by the readers poll of The Naples Daily News and is ranked as one of the “Top Ten Community Theatres” in the United States. With year-round productions at the beautiful Sugden Theatre, this is a must see!

Outdoor Adventures

Babcock Wilderness Adventures
8000 State Road 31, Punta Gorda, FL 33982
Reservations: 1-800-500-5583, babcockwilderness.com
Tour through unspoiled pinewoods, fresh water marsh, and sections of the Telegraph Cypress Swamp on a specially built swamp buggy and see panthers, Florida cracker cattle, birds, and dozens of wild alligators!

Everglades National Park
305-242-7700
Vast, federally protected wilderness spreads from Naples’ and Golden Gate’s back door. The park is home to alligators, herons, bald eagles, white-tailed deer, bobcats and the endangered Florida panther.

Everglades Excursions
239-262-1914, 800-592-0848
everglades-excursions.com
Board a comfortable Safari Wagon and learn about this national sanctuary while viewing some of the most amazing wildlife in the Southeastern United States.

Everglades Day Safari
The Everglades, 239-472-1559 or 800-472-3069, ecosafari.com
Discover a tour designed to explore all four ecosystems that make up the Everglades, including the sawgrass prairie, mangrove estuary, cypress swamps and pine savannah. Enjoy a spectacular airboat ride where alligators are plentiful and the birding is excellent…a relaxing boat cruise through the Everglades National Park where on any given day you may see manatee, dolphin and sea turtles…a great sit-down southern lunch with alligator appetizers…a wildlife drive within the Big Cypress Preserve…and a nature walk full of gators, birds and much more! Convenient pick-up from Fort Myers Beach (Winn Dixie Plaza – Summerlin Square; 17105 San Carlos Blvd.)

J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge
1 Wildlife Drive, Sanibel, FL 33957
239-472-1100, fws.gov/dingdarling
The J. N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge is located on the subtropical barrier island of Sanibel in the Gulf of Mexico. The refuge is part of the largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystem in the United States. It is world famous for its spectacular migratory bird populations.

The Great Calusa Blueway Trail
greatcalusablueway.com
The Great Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail is a 190-mile marked canoe and kayak trail that meanders through Lee County coastal waters and inland tributaries. The trail’s trek in shallow water takes paddlers through a maze of mysterious mangroves – leggy, saltwater tolerant trees – and past wildlife that rivals destinations North Americans need passports to visit. The trail provides recreational opportunities, cultural and environmental awareness, and boosted safety with a low environmental impact for Lee County.

For the Kids

Bailey – Matthews Shell Museum
3075 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel, FL 33957
239-395-2233, shellmuseum.org
This museum displays shells collected from beaches on Sanibel and Captiva Islands and from around the world; the most interesting display is a large globe displaying shells gathered from beaches on nearly every continent.

Imaginarium Museum
2000 Cranford Avenue, Fort Myers, FL 33916
239-337-3332, cityftmyers.com/imaginarium
Learning can be fun for the whole family at the Imaginarium Hands-On Museum. Experience your world. Touch a cloud, feel the force of a hurricane, or run through a thunderstorm! The Imaginarium provides hours of fun for the entire family, with over 60 interactive exhibits plus live fish, sharks, turtles, swans, iguanas and live animal programs!

Lakes Park
7330 Gladiolus Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33908, 239-432-2034
This 279-acre park features 158 acres of freshwater quarry lake with canoeing and fishing for bass, bream and other fresh and saltwater species. The park contains approximately 2.5 miles of paved or natural paths for walking, jogging and biking. There are also picnic areas, concession stands, a miniature train ride, boat rentals, play equipment, a rock climbing wall and water feature playground!

Mike Greenwell’s Bat-a-Ball Family Fun Park
35 Pine Island Road, Cape Coral, FL 33909
239-574-4386, greenwellsfamilyfunpark.com
Miniature golf, four go-cart tracks, eight batting cages, paintball, arcade and much more!

Sun Splash Family Waterpark
400 Santa Barbara Blvd, Cape Coral, FL 33991
239-574-0557, sunsplashwaterpark.com
Your entire family will enjoy the 12 acres of water slides, pools, food and fun found only at Southwest Florida’s largest waterpark. Relax on our gently drifting Main Stream River Ride or thrill at the high-speed excitement of such scream-worthy slides as the Cape Fear, Fun-L-Tunnel, Zoom Flume and the 457-foot Electric Slide. Let the little ones frolic at our Tot Spot, grab a summertime snack at our Calypso Café or simply soak up the sun in a lounge chair poolside–the choice is up to you!

Gulf Coast Adventures

Florida Everblades Ice Hockey/ Florida Firecats Arena Football
11000 Everblades Pkwy, Estero, FL 33928
239-948-7825, floridaeverblades.com, floridafirecats.com
Catch the excitement that you can really sink your teeth into! Whether it’s the thrill of an Everblades hockey game or Firecats arena football game at Germain Arena, you’ll be guaranteed plenty of action! Germain Arena, home of the Everblades and the Firecats, has been named as a “Top Ten Minor League Venue” in an on-line poll conducted by MLN Sports. Get in the game and don’t miss a minute!

Naples Fort Myers Greyhound Track
10601 Bonita Beach Road, Bonita Springs, FL 34133
239-992-2411, naplesfortmyersdogs.com
A longtime landmark and popular recreational facility on Florida’s Southwest Coast, the racetrack operates year round with live greyhound racing, simulcast thoroughbred racing and a casino-style poker room open daily.

Key West Express
Salty Sam’s Marina, 2200 Main Street, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
239-463-5733, seakeywestexpress.com
Get away to America’s Caribbean Paradise aboard the fun vessels of the Key West Express. Sailing daily from Fort Myers Beach, Key West Express is the fastest and most fun way to visit Paradise!

Getaway Marina Fishing Charters
Getaway Marina, 18400 San Carlos Boulevard
Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
getawaymarina.com
Reservations: 1-800-641-3088 or 239-466-3600
Getaway Marina is a deep water marina located near the north end of Fort Myers Beach. While fishing is our specialty – half day, full day, private charters, 12-hour fishing extravaganza and our famous Snapper Trip – we also offer boat rentals and transient and permanent boat docking.

Big “M” Casino Boat
450 Harbor Court, Fort Myers, FL 33931
239-765-7529, bigmcasino.com
Las Vegas Style Casino Gambling aboard a luxurious gaming yacht! Enjoy Blackjack, Roulette, Let-It-Ride, 3 Card Poker and lots of slots! Buffet and a la carte dining, live entertainment, BINGO and more! Cruises depart year round from Moss Marine on Fort Myers Beach.

Coconut Point Mall
23106 Fashion Drive, Estero, FL 33928, 239-992-9966
Coconut Point Regional Mall & Lifestyle Center is a masterfully-designed Main Street-style shopping environment on 500 acres in Estero. This unique concept combines a village-like atmosphere with Mediterranean flair that contributes to the ambiance. Coconut Point features uptown urban living, a delightful collection of the finest shops, a vast array of some of the most delectable restaurants in the area and a Muvico 16-screen movie theater.

Eden Winery
19709 Little Lane, Alva, FL 33920
239-728-9463, edenwinery.com
Eden Vineyards and Winery is tucked away in a beautiful, Old Florida setting on 20 acres in the small rural community of Alva just east of Fort Myers. For wine lovers, it is a surprise and a delight to drive through the unique 20-year-old vineyards, taste the wonderful wines, and experience the hospitality of three generations of the Kiser family.

Fifth Avenue South
Fifth Avenue South, Naples, FL 34102
fifthavenuesouth.com
Visit the many fine shops, galleries, restaurants, and sidewalk cafes along the beautifully landscaped promenades in this historic setting near the beach and in the heart of Naples. A unique place where families and friends can meet surrounded by the aura of small-town friendliness and historical landmarks, but also with a flavor and sophistication that is Naples’ Main Street.

The Village on Venetian Bay
4200 Gulf Shore Blvd North, Naples, FL 34103
239-261-6100, naples.com/village
Some of the best shopping in Naples! Instead of finding the same stores that are so often duplicated, The Village on Venetian Bay has assembled a collection of nearly 60 shops, galleries, and restaurants that are truly unique and special…all beautifully set right on the waterfront…and decidedly fashionable!