Things to Do in Fort Myers

Top things to do in Fort Myers

  • Edison and Ford Winter Estates. The side-by-side winter retreats of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford span 21 acres along the Caloosahatchee River, featuring the inventors' restored homes, a 15,000-square-foot museum, Edison's working botanical laboratory (a National Historic Chemical Landmark), and lush gardens. One of Southwest Florida's most visited…
  • J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge. A 6,400-acre sanctuary on Sanibel Island protecting the largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystem in the United States, home to more than 270 bird species, 35 mammal species, and 60 reptile and amphibian species. Drive, bike, kayak, or join a guided tram tour through the winding Wildlife Drive at low tide for the best…
  • Sanibel Island Shelling. Sanibel earns its title of "Seashell Capital of the World" thanks to its unique east-west orientation that funnels more than 400 varieties of shells onto its shores. Visitors quickly adopt the "Sanibel Stoop" as they comb Bowman's Beach and Blind Pass for lightning whelks, junonia, and sand dollars.
  • Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum. The only museum in the United States dedicated entirely to shells and the mollusks that make them, featuring interactive galleries, a living touch pool, and daily keeper chats. Located on Sanibel Island, it transforms a beach hobby into a deep lesson in marine biology and natural history.
  • Manatee Park. A 17-acre non-captive natural refuge where Florida manatees congregate in the warm discharge waters of the FPL power plant along the Orange River during cool months. Three covered viewing platforms with telescopes overlook the water, and kayak and canoe rentals let you paddle the river for even closer (and ethical)…
  • Fort Myers River District. Downtown Fort Myers' historic waterfront district has evolved into Southwest Florida's most vibrant urban hub, blending restored Victorian-era buildings with farm-to-table restaurants, craft cocktail bars, rooftop terraces, independent galleries, and the monthly Art Walk (first Fridays) and Music Walk (third Fridays)…
  • Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve. A 3,500-acre wetland just five minutes off I-75 offers a 1.2-mile fully accessible elevated boardwalk winding through an ancient cypress swamp teeming with alligators, river otters, roseate spoonbills, and wood storks. An on-site interpretive center explains the slough's role filtering rainwater toward Estero Bay.
  • Mound House Archaeological Site. Built in 1921 atop a 2,000-year-old Calusa Indian shell mound on Estero Island, the Mound House is Fort Myers Beach's oldest standing structure and the only public archaeological lab in Southwest Florida. Six museum exhibits trace nearly two millennia of Calusa, Seminole, Latino, and Anglo-American life on the…

Top-rated tours & activities in Fort Myers

  • Private Boat Tour up to 12 People Fort Myers Beach and SanibelPrivate Boat Tour up to 12 People Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel — 5.0★ (17 reviews)
  • Dolphin and Manatee Adventure Tour of Fort MyersDolphin and Manatee Adventure Tour of Fort Myers — 4.9★ (2,840 reviews)
  • 2.5-Hour Guided Group Kayak Tour on Big Hickory Pass2.5-Hour Guided Group Kayak Tour on Big Hickory Pass — 4.9★ (585 reviews)
  • 2 hour Tiki Pub Sensational Dolphin Sunset Cruise (Adults only)2 hour Tiki Pub Sensational Dolphin Sunset Cruise (Adults only) — 4.9★ (144 reviews)
  • Fort Myers Beach 90 Minute Round Tiki Boat CruiseFort Myers Beach 90 Minute Round Tiki Boat Cruise — 4.9★ (27 reviews)
  • Everglades Day Safari from Fort Myers/Naples AreaEverglades Day Safari from Fort Myers/Naples Area — 4.8★ (346 reviews)
  • Haunted History of Fort Myers Walking TourHaunted History of Fort Myers Walking Tour — 4.6★ (332 reviews)
  • Southwest Florida Sunset SailSouthwest Florida Sunset Sail — 4.9★ (509 reviews)