Captiva Cruises offers daily cruises around Pine Island Sound, the Captiva Islands as well as Sanibel Island. There are several excursions available, some of which include dolphin tours, sunset cruises and half-day trips to nearby beaches. Captiva also offers private charters for corporate receptions or private parties and each vessel has cash bars. Some of the other highlighted attractions are the Nighttime Astronomy Cruise and the Marine Naturalist Adventure.
One of the most popular tourist attractions in Fort Myers, the Edison & Ford Winter Estates highlight the lives of two American intellectual behemoths that are Thomas Alva Edinson and Henry Ford. Spread across 20 acres (8 hectares) of pristine estates, this site was where legendary inventor Thomas Edison began spending his winters along the Caloosahatchee River from the comforts of his beloved Seminole Lodge in 1886. In 1916, Edison's dear friend Henry Ford built his Craftsman-style holiday home, known as 'The Mangoes' right next door. Edison's house is engulfed in a blanket of spectacular beauty thanks to the botanical garden designed by Ellen Biddle Shipman that houses Florida's largest banyan tree. The Rubber Laboratory is one of the sight's prime exhibits that showcase the facility exactly how it was left by Edison.
The Six Mile Cypress Slough is one of many preserved and pristine swamplands spread throughout southwest Florida. The highlight of the preserve is the 1.2-mile (1.9 kilometer) boardwalk, a wood-planked corridor that runs through the 2,200-acre (890 hectare) wetland, where guests can see alligators, wild boar, otters and much more. During the dry season (October to June), birds like herons and egrets flock to the flag ponds which make it a perfect place for birders. There are guided tours year-round, and self-guided tour brochures in the LEED-certified interpretive center.
The mission of the Ostego Bay Foundation is to promote a better understanding of marine life and the delicate balance of ecosystems through education and community involvement. At the Marine Science Center, exhibits, touch tanks and aquariums allow visitors to see and feel marine life. There are also exhibits on fossils, shells and endangered species that educate and entertain at the same time. Additionally, the center offers a walking tour which includes visits to a Coast Guard station, the waterfront and aboard a shrimp boat.
The Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium aims to promote a better understanding of the natural history below as well as the cosmological one above. The 105-acre (42 hectares) site contains a museum, an aviary, winding nature trails, and a gift shop alongside meeting and picnic areas. The museum has information on the Calusa Indians, a tribe also known as the Shell Indians because of their subsistence on the gulf shores and estuaries. In addition to a glimpse back in time, the museum provides interactive animal exhibits like snake feedings and aviary tours.
Look for the yellow and green dinosaur next to the water tower and you'll know you have found the Imaginarium, a hands-on science museum for kids of all ages. Try your hand at being a weatherman, excavate a T-Rex in the "dig pit" or chart a course on a boat. The simple explanations make learning fun and easy to understand. There is even a living coral reef and alligator lagoon.
Captiva Cruises offers daily cruises around Pine Island Sound, the Captiva Islands as well as Sanibel Island. There are several excursions available, some of which include dolphin tours, sunset cruises and half-day trips to nearby beaches. Captiva also offers private charters for corporate receptions or private parties and each vessel has cash bars. Some of the other highlighted attractions are the Nighttime Astronomy Cruise and the Marine Naturalist Adventure.
Museum of the Islands is a local museum located in the Pine Island Center that showcases a number of exhibits which tell the history of the Island. The exhibit includes articles like shells, maps, dolls and many more valuable objects. Head to the museum with family or friends to learn more about the history of the Island. They also host events where you can shop for holiday gifts and articles during the season.
Get up close and personal with Florida's wildlife on a daylong Everglades Day Safari. Guides lead small groups by airboat, van, riverboat, and on foot. Lunch (with alligators!) is included. Reservations and pre-payment are required. The Safari can be long for younger children, so try the half-day safari. Wear comfortable shoes; the Safari supplies the insect repellant. The Safari leaves from different pick-up locations. Call for directions and information on group rates.
There's something for all nature lovers at Lovers Key State Park. Whether it is hiking, boating, fishing or swimming, Lover's Key has you covered. The park is located south of Fort Myers on Highway 865 near the Estero Bay Aquatic Reserve and is comprised of barrier islands. Wildlife includes exotic birds, dolphins, manatees, raccoons, and sea turtles as well as plenty of insects. There are grills, picnic tables, concession stands, a boat ramp, playgrounds, and a wedding gazebo as well.
One of the most popular tourist attractions in Fort Myers, the Edison & Ford Winter Estates highlight the lives of two American intellectual behemoths that are Thomas Alva Edinson and Henry Ford. Spread across 20 acres (8 hectares) of pristine estates, this site was where legendary inventor Thomas Edison began spending his winters along the Caloosahatchee River from the comforts of his beloved Seminole Lodge in 1886. In 1916, Edison's dear friend Henry Ford built his Craftsman-style holiday home, known as 'The Mangoes' right next door. Edison's house is engulfed in a blanket of spectacular beauty thanks to the botanical garden designed by Ellen Biddle Shipman that houses Florida's largest banyan tree. The Rubber Laboratory is one of the sight's prime exhibits that showcase the facility exactly how it was left by Edison.
The Six Mile Cypress Slough is one of many preserved and pristine swamplands spread throughout southwest Florida. The highlight of the preserve is the 1.2-mile (1.9 kilometer) boardwalk, a wood-planked corridor that runs through the 2,200-acre (890 hectare) wetland, where guests can see alligators, wild boar, otters and much more. During the dry season (October to June), birds like herons and egrets flock to the flag ponds which make it a perfect place for birders. There are guided tours year-round, and self-guided tour brochures in the LEED-certified interpretive center.