Outdoor Adventures
The Ft. Myers area offers many parks, beaches, and other outdoor recreation areas. You can choose to stay downtown or take a short drive in your rental car to Sanibel Island to explore all of the great outdoor adventures throughout the area.
Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium
Spend an hour or two exploring the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium. The nature center offers both an educational and entertaining experience for its visitors with well-kept nature trails, a butterfly house, a planetarium, and an aviary featuring rehabilitated birds of prey. During your visit you’ll likely encounter exciting animals such as alligators, eagles, owls, hawks, and more.
Lakes Regional Park
Enjoy a leisurely morning or afternoon at Lakes Regional Park. It is truly a park the whole family can enjoy. There are around 2.5 miles of paved and unpaved paths you can walk, bike and boat rentals, a splash pad, fragrance garden, mini train, and more. Trying to keep up with your workout routine while you’re on vacation? The park features workout stations, which allow you to work up a sweat while taking in beautiful, waterfront views.
The park is full of local wildlife such as herons, ibis, and more. You might even catch a glimpse of an alligator.
Check the website for seasonal events that may be going on while you’re in the area along with regularly occurring tours and events.
Sanibel and Captiva Islands
Sanibel Island is often recognized as one of the best shelling beaches in the United States. People come from around the globe to take advantage of the vast amount of beautiful shells that cover its beaches. Even inexperienced shellers will find a beautiful mix of shells to bring home as a souvenir since the beaches are constantly being restocked by currents from the Gulf and the Caribbean. Excellent shelling is to be found on the gulf-side beaches of Sanibel, Captiva and North Captiva islands. Generally, you’ll find smaller shells in the area around the Sanibel Island Lighthouse, and larger shells on Captiva and North Captiva.
While you’re in the area, drop by the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum. The museum features some of the largest shells in the world and teaches visitors all about the shells of the area, the animals who live in the shells, and how to identify shells found in the area on your own.
Ft. Myers offers all of this and more to the tourists who visit the area. Start planning your trip today! Rent a car in Ft. Myers, at one of our convenient location like Fowler Street or RSW Airport and enjoy your vacation in the Sunshine State.