I have been travelling to Fort Myers, Florida for many years now. My grandparents moved to a retirement community there when I was young. We spent time listening to my grandma sing at the clubhouse, riding around in a golf cart, and generally being way louder than the neighbors were used to.
Today, my parents own a home in that same neighborhood (and yes, we’re still way louder than the neighbors are used to). So I’ve become quite familiar with the Fort Myers area. And, honestly, while it’s not the first place in Florida I’d go (most likely simply because it’s not the most convenient to get to), I’ve grown to appreciate what it has to offer.
We’ve found that there is a lot to do in the area, if you are willing to explore! Outside the gates of the big retirement community, there are nature and culture waiting to be enjoyed.
So while we’re all thinking beaches and summer, I thought I’d pop in and share some of my favorite activities we’ve done in Fort Myers and Southwest Florida.
Things to do in Southwest Florida and Fort Myers:
Visit the Everglades National Park and Big Cypress Natural Preserve.
Everglades City, the launching point for exploring this particular side of Everglades National Park, is only about a 90 minute drive from Fort Myers. And it is worth it! For more details, including how to plan for this and what to do, visit our post on a Family Visit to Everglades National Park.
(By the way, for even more fun, check out the way we got to Florida during that particular visit!)
Kayak Matlacha.
Matlacha is such a cool, artsy fishing town about a 30 minute drive from Fort Myers. The kayaking was easy and took us by some really cool homes. Located on an island, surrounded by nature preserves, it is just a really fun, quirky spot that makes it fun to get on the water, too. We rented kayaks from Carmen, and after our paddle ate seafood and drank cocktails at Hooked Island Grill. From that spot we saw some manatees in the waters below and took in a beautiful sunset.
Visit downtown Fort Myers.
Downtown Fort Myers, Florida has a great nightlife as well as a really awesome art deco vibe (and yes, large banyan trees such as this one). We’ve eaten at some good restaurants, enjoyed outdoor theater, and generally walked around the area. It’s a fun spot to enjoy, and it is always a bit of a surprise as to how much it has to offer.
Go to Sanibel, paddle Ding Darling, and eat.
Sanibel Island is only 25 miles from Fort Myers, but plan for the drive to take an hour. Traffic getting over the bridge is horrendous. People flock here. And for good reason, too: Sanibel has gorgeous beaches and is a beautiful, little coastal town. I wish we could have stayed on Sanibel longer.
We paddled Ding Darling, a national wildlife refuge. The kayak trail took us through some mangroves but was so easy and short that we actually did it twice! You can see the canoe/kayak trail (and how short it is) on this map here. Paddleboarding is also allowed.
Tarpon Bay Explorers is the official outfitter (and who we rented from). But do make sure you make your reservation early as they sell out!
We grabbed Key Lime Pie after our paddle at Gramma Dot’s.
See the bald eagle nests.
Check out the bald eagle online cam before you go to see if there is activity (or if you just want to stay in touch with the eagles). They are physically located at 6601 Bayshore Road, but be careful not to park at the church lot! There are clearly marked private lots around, and it is best to be respectful.
Bike around Boca Grande and Gasparilla Island.
Boca Grande is a gorgeous island/key that has hosted the rich and famous for years (this is where the Bushs vacation). It is tucked away and makes for a safe and fun area to frolic. Boca Grande has a huge beach, old gnarled banyan trees, and a cute village.Â
While about a 90 minute drive from Fort Myers proper, we found it worth the drive. We spent all day exploring this Florida Key. We rented bikes in downtown Boca Grande and followed the bike path that wove all over the island. We picnicked underneath the Gasparilla Lighthouse, took photos of mansions, and had a cocktail at South Beach Grill, watching the sunset and our toes in the sand.
When we couldn’t bike any more, we ate dinner at the famous Pink Elephant restaurant before making our way back to Fort Myers.
Go shelling at Boca Grande.
Yes, I know I just mentioned Boca Grande above, but this deserves it’s own bullet point because it is absolutely amazing. At one end of Boca Grande, under the Boca Grande Lighthouse, are hills of shells. It is the most extravagant collection of (natural) seashells I have ever seen. Either take your bike there or, do like we did, bring beach chairs in the car to really spend some time at this remarkable spot.
Try conch fritters, stone crab , and alligator tails.
We tried our rarities while in Everglades City (at Triad Seafood), but Gator Bites in Fort Myers has you covered. Stone crab claws are actually sustainable, and gator bites actually aren’t bad. I don’t think they are going to catch on globally, but it was fun to try them.
Go on an airboat ride.Â
To do this, you’re probably going to have to be back up near Everglades City. See our experience during our Everglades National Park visit. We really enjoyed our tour with this company, and the kids still talk about it! It was loud and certainly not the way to enjoy the quiet and calm soothing effect of nature, but super fun.
Hold an alligator.
We did this at the place that also ran our airboat tour (but it looks like Gatorama would also have you covered here). As I mentioned in the full article on that experience, the man who ran this place LOVED, like really LOVED, alligators. It was a very bizarre experience to hold one. These animals are absolutely intimidating and not to be trifled with. They can be dangerous. Yet, by holding one and being around them while the Captain whispered sweet-nothing’s in their ears (sorta), it was also easy to see them as beautiful creatures. And yes, our kids held this little guy, too.
Go to Captiva and kayak Buck Key.
To get to Captiva island, you have to pass the madness that is Sanibel and continue up the island further. The crowds start to thin out (although parking isn’t necessarily easier if you are looking just for beach access). But I really loved this area.
Within Buck Key Preserve is a 4 mile paddle trail – marked and easy to follow. This trail wove us through mangroves and across lagoons. It was so peaceful and quiet and as the osprey wound overhead we took our time on this special paddle. Afterwards, we grabbed a beer sitting outside at The Green Flash.
Visit Manatee Park.
Manatee Park is buried in Fort Myers proper, and very easy to swing by. This is a strange situation where man’s industrialization has actually created habitat for nature. A large plant spits out warm water at this park, which has been luring manatees to its friendlier winter temperatures for years. Now, there is actually a battle because removing the plant would harm the manatee habitat.
While you can’t get up close to manatees here, we’ve enjoyed park events and education as well as seeing the manatees in the water.
Interestingly, despite all the time I’ve spent now near Fort Myers, I’ve never explored Edison’s home. I’ll have to get to that next time I’m there. It’s just been so hard to get away from the sun and the water when we’ve been…
Hopefully you and yours will have a chance to enjoy the sun, sand and water that is Southwest Florida.