Destinations

Best Issues to Do in Fort Myers

The Fort Myers space is bursting with issues to see and do, providing up unmatched pure magnificence, sporting occasions, historic websites and cultural alternatives. No matter what your pursuits, you will see that choices that fulfill your entire trip needs.

Sun and sea lovers get giddy over the attractive shell-filled seashores of Sanibel Island; boating and fishing excursions are additionally plentiful. The Edison & Ford Winter Estates excites historical past buffs and people with inquiring minds. Meanwhile, sports activities followers will discover a number of alternatives to take in the joy of Spring Training with each the Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins gearing up in Fort Myers’ stadiums for the common baseball season.

Almost any customer to Fort Myers will take pleasure in recognizing manatees on the Lee County Manatee Park. Hard to imagine that sailors actually used to confuse these guys for mermaids! There are few locations that provide the chance to canoe or kayak alongside these magical giants. J. N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island is house to greater than 200 species of birds that may be noticed alongside alligators, sea turtles, river otters and extra.

Let 10Best information you to those sights and extra.



This award-winning theater places on world-class productions. Located within the coronary heart of gorgeous downtown Fort Myers, “The Rep” (as locals name it) gives patrons all kinds of productions, from dramatic to comedic. Shows historically happen within the historic Arcade Theatre, inbuilt 1908. It was initially a Vaudeville home, and celebrated figures the likes of Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone watched movies on this very constructing. However, the theater has moved many productions to an out of doors stage following the pandemic. Check the web site for efficiency venue updates. Recognized nationally as “One of America’s Top Repertory Companies,” this group actually units the bar for group theaters.

Recommended for Best Attractions & Activities as a result of: For skilled performances in a lovely, historic venue, theater lovers give a standing ovation to the Florida Repertory Theater!

Gina’s professional tip: The Rep (as locals name it) gives discounted preview reveals for every manufacturing. Check their web site for date and instances.

Read more about Florida Repertory Theatre →


Fort Myers Beach Fishing Pier

Photo courtesy of aka Kath

Whether you favor fishing, people-watching, pictures, strolling, or enjoyable within the solar, the Fort Myers Beach pier is a superb vacation spot day or evening. Extending far into the Gulf of Mexico and adjoining to the bustling Times Square space of Fort Myers Beach, the pier is a central hub of exercise. Gaze down at beachgoers or up at parasailers, watch dolphins play, hearken to stay music, try what the anglers are catching and watch the sundown. There’s a small bait, snack and reward store midway down the pier. On the weekends take pleasure in a sundown celebration on the foot of the pier with bands, artists and different attention-grabbing performers. There is loads of sand across the pier to unfold out your blanket and arrange camp for the day.

Recommended for Best Attractions & Activities as a result of: The fishing pier is enjoyable day and evening, with nice views of the seashore and sundown, lined seating and house for casting a line.

Gina’s professional tip: There’s a parking zone adjoining to the pier, but when it is full, the parking zone behind Winds surf store is a pay per day spot.

Read more about Fort Myers Beach Fishing Pier →


Baseball Spring Training

Photo courtesy of Minnesota Twins

Florida is house to Spring Training for fifteen main league baseball groups and Fort Myers is the one metropolis to host two. Every February the boys of summer season descend on the world to hone their expertise and rosters for the common season. It’s a uncommon alternative to stand up shut and private with the gamers who’re extra relaxed and accessible. The Boston Red Sox prepare at JetBlue Park, also referred to as Fenway South. It holds 11,000 followers, together with seats within the duplicate, Green Monster. The just lately reworked CenturyLink Sports Complex, is the place the Minnesota Twins play. One of the perfect options of this park is the bullpen picnic pavilion, the place followers can get nice pictures and autographs of their favourite sluggers.

Recommended for Best Attractions & Activities as a result of: An exhilarating alternative to see dozens {of professional} baseball gamers up shut and private, as they put together for the common season.

Gina’s professional tip: If you are on the town earlier than the video games start, you possibly can nonetheless catch gamers practising on the sphere and within the batting cages.

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Barbara B Mann Performng Arts Hall

One of the various issues that units Barbara B Mann other than each different leisure venue within the space is it is proscenium stage. The largest of its variety in Southwest Florida, the stage is ready to host epic Broadway excursions that may’t unload their in depth units simply anyplace; suppose Phantom of the Opera and Lion King. The auditorium is snug, seating simply shy of 1900 and has gained a status not solely domestically but in addition within the leisure trade for high quality and professionalism. Besides nationwide Broadway excursions, the performing arts corridor books well-known musicians, bands, comedians and a number of entertainers. Located on the campus of Florida Southwestern University, arrive early for a stroll by the neighboring Bob Rauschenberg Gallery.

Recommended for Best Attractions & Activities as a result of: With its giant stage and seating capability, Barbara B Mann is a frequent tour cease for a number of the largest Broadway reveals and entertainers.

Gina’s professional tip: Ticket lotteries are sometimes accessible on the field workplace, earlier than reveals. It’s a great way to get inexpensive, final minute tickets to offered out occasions.

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Lee County Manatee Park

You need not go to a zoo or an aquarium to get an up-close have a look at manatees. You can see them totally free at Lee County Manatee Park! Especially lively between the months of November and March, manatees swim into the canal of this 17-acre park to flee the cooler Gulf of Mexico temperatures. Over the years, the mammals have been drawn to the warm-water discharge from a former, close by energy plant. The shallow water makes viewing the creatures of their entirety, good. On web site there’s a customer middle and reward store and a playground for teenagers. Rent a kayak or canoe for an inexpensive worth and you’ll discover the waters by yourself.

Recommended for Best Attractions & Activities as a result of: A free park and top-of-the-line methods to see manatees, big sea cows, up shut and of their pure habitat.

Gina’s professional tip: While many space parks permit canines, this isn’t certainly one of them.

Read more about Lee County Manatee Park →


The Shell Factory & Nature Park

The Shell Factory is understood for providing fairly the combo of buying and enjoyable out of doors actions. So one would possibly discover it curious to be talked about in a museum record. We say why not? It definitely has every part else. There are literally 4 small ‘museums’ inside the Shell Factory and they’re all free. In the center of the retailers you will discover the Military Museum, displays right here change usually. There is a Natural History Museum, a Shell Museum and the newest addition is the Fossil Museum. Collectors from throughout the state and nation have their wonderful finds on show right here. It’s schooling in small doses that appears to attraction to many households with younger ones. And after they’ve had sufficient of the historical past, you possibly can take them exterior to the Nature Park to find some fairly wonderful animals!

Recommended for Best Attractions & Activities as a result of: The Shell Factory has every part from a Nature Park and zipping, to buying and eating, outdated Florida fashion.

Gina’s professional tip: Dogs are welcomed.

Read more about The Shell Factory & Nature Park →


Sun Splash Family Waterpark

There is a lot water within the Fort Myers space however there is just one, true water park. Sun Splash Family Water Park has greater than fourteen acres of water slides, swimming pools and actions for all the household. Kids go loopy for the adrenaline pumping velocity slides and the five-and-a-half story free fall drop. If that is an excessive amount of pleasure, seize a float and peacefully bob down the Main Stream River Ride. There’s a Tot Spot for the little ones and loads of chairs for mother and pa to lounge within the solar. Food and concessions can be found together with plenty of particular offers all through the summer season, so remember to test the occasions calendar on-line. The water park usually closes on the finish of October by February, then the location is used for carnivals, live shows and particular occasions.

Recommended for Best Attractions & Activities as a result of: The solely true waterpark in Southwest Florida, Sun Splash gives exhilarating slides as wells as peaceable locations to drift and lounge whereas tanning.

Gina’s professional tip: The park closes late fall, by the winter season.

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J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge

Photo courtesy of Courtesy Ding Darling

This pristine wildlife refuge, named after well-known “Des Moines Register” cartoonist and conservationist J. N. “Ding” Darling, gives greater than 6,000 acres of South Florida’s wildest wetlands, pearly-white seashores and mangrove forests. The refuge has a world status for its large migratory fowl inhabitants, greater than 250 species stay right here. Among the park’s many different everlasting residents are alligators, river otters, manatees, snakes and sea turtles. Many endangered and threaten species discover solace within the refuge as properly. While you will have large entry, it is necessary to keep in mind that that is their turf. Visitors can bike or hike greater than 7 miles of trails inside the park or reap the benefits of the guided canoe journeys and narrated tram excursions.

Recommended for Best Attractions & Activities as a result of: The refuge is a prime birding spot, widespread with wildlife photographers, that includes greater than 6000 acres to discover by boat, bike or foot.

Gina’s professional tip: Bring bug spray, binoculars and a digicam with zoom.

Read more about J. N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge →


Sanibel Island Beaches

Photo courtesy of Rachael Taft

Sanibel Island is crammed with magnificent seashores which might be nice for lots extra than simply enjoyable. The barrier island is famend for its shell-filled shores and is commonly cited as top-of-the-line locations for shelling on the earth. It is illegitimate to take stay shells, so should you see a creature remains to be inhabiting one thing you discover, put it again within the water and let nature take its course. Speaking of the water, it’s clear, refreshing and wonderful. One of the poplar spots to ship the day is Bowman’s Beach the place facilities embody plentiful parking, loos, plenty of shade and extra. Blind Pass Beach, between Sanibel and Captive is the one spot the place you would possibly get some surf. Lighthouse Beach has a picnic space and fishing pier.

Recommended for Best Attractions & Activities as a result of: The form of Sanibel Island and the currents of the Gulf of Mexico make the attractive seashores right here top-notch for locating one-of-a variety shells.

Gina’s professional tip: Be certain to get your “stoop” on (native time period for shell searching) within the early morning to beat the warmth and crowds for the perfect shells.

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Edison & Ford Winter Estates

Photo courtesy of Gina BIrch

The Edison & Ford Winter Estates are a few of Fort Myers’ hottest sights. Covering greater than 20 acres, this historic complicated on the Caloosahatchee River gives an intriguing glimpse into the lives of two of America’s biggest inventors, Thomas A. Edison and Henry Ford. Tour the spectacular botanical gardens and 9 historic buildings, together with Edison’s Botanic Research Laboratory and the Estates Museum, which is crammed with innovations, artifacts and particular exhibit galleries. Catch an up shut have a look at Edison and Ford motoring by the Everglades or study a number of the lesser-known of Edison’s greater than 1,000 patents. Some of his first gentle bulbs nonetheless burn within the lab. It’s a captivating place.

Recommended for Best Attractions & Activities as a result of: The lush estates home the precise lab of America’s biggest inventor, Thomas Edison in addition to authentic Model T’s from his pal Henry Ford.

Gina’s professional tip: The self-guided audio tour is an effective worth, permitting you to discover the estates at your individual tempo.

Read more about Edison & Ford Winter Estates →


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