Lovers Key Family Focus

De-stress and reconnect this summer with a family vacation on the beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel

LEE COUNTY, FL - Discover The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel this summer with 50 not-to-be-missed tips for planning a memorable family vacation getaway in southwest Florida.  Learn to disconnect from day-to-day stress and reconnect with family and friends!  Award-winning beaches, nature, history, wildlife adventures, art, shopping . . . make this easy.

Unwind. Get close to nature. Hit the beach. Explore pirate legends. Paddle through ïold FloridaÍ waterways. Browse unique boutiques and galleries. Pick up great shells.

CONNECT WITH NATURE

Explore unspoiled treasures and natural attractions. Bird watching. Hiking. Kayaking. Biking. More than a million acres of wilderness sanctuaries. Adventure into natural Florida.

Go natural!

At Sanibel Islands J.N. ïDingÍ Darling National Wildlife Refuge footpaths, winding canoe/kayak trails, and a four-mile scenic drive are lush with seagrape, wax and salt myrtles, red mangrove, cabbage and sable palms. Nearby Tarpon Bay Explorers conducts narrated tram and kayak for exploring the refuge. The refuge is highly-rated for birding and paddling.

Something to C.R.O.W. about!

Take a tour of the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (C.R.O.W.) on Sanibel and learn how injured and orphaned wildlife are cared for.

Canoe on the wild side

Meander through a lush mangrove forest at the Commodore Creek Canoe Trail. Take a stimulating walk with a naturalist. Canoe or drive. See white pelicans, roseate spoonbills, manatees, wood storks, bald eagles, ospreys, herons. Maybe even a loggerhead turtle or American alligator. Many endangered species reside here!

Lights out!

Each May through October, female loggerhead sea turtles weighing up to 300 pounds come ashore at night to dig nests above the high tide line along some of the local beaches. Sixty days later a miracle occurs: hatchlings break out of their eggs and make their journey in the dark to the sea. Because both mother and babies navigate by the glow reflected off the horizon of the Gulf waters, there is a lights out policy during this period. The Lee Island Coast is home to one of the worlds largest populations of these amazing creatures, and visitors can participate in turtle monitoring activities.

Check out some Florida natives

At the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium , visitors see more than 100 Florida animals, as well as touring (via rustic boardwalks) 105 acres of subtropical environment that includes an Audubon aviary and Indian village.

Go wild . . . have a wilderness adventure

See how man and nature live in harmony while experiencing the ïreal FloridaÍ with Babcock Wilderness Adventures.   A swamp buggy ride on a 90,000-acre ranch with a naturalist on a voyage through beautiful woods and slow-moving waters of the Telegraph Swamp reveals alligators, panthers, American bison, native birds, wild turkeys, snakes and other animals in their natural settings. Or take a nine-mile, off-road Eco-Bike tour. Both are best early morning adventures!

Walk the trails. Learn about conservation. Touch nature . . .

During a visit to the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF Nature Center).   Located on 260 acres of the 1,800 acres owned and managed by the foundation as a wildlife preserve, the center encourages visitors to walk four and a half miles of trails, climb an observation tower, experience a butterfly exhibit and a live marine touch tank. Trail tours and shoreline discovery walks are available.

Get to know the locals

The Lee Island Coast and its warm Gulf waters are home to one of the worlds largest populations of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. Visitors experience these playful creatures in their natural environment as they kayak or canoe. Rentals are easily available from Lovers Key State Park south of Fort Myers Beach. Also plan to meet at a distance:   alligators, armadillos, bald eagles, burrowing owls, crocodiles, West Indian Manatees, Florida wild cats, gopher tortoises, grouper, deer, lizards, sea turtles, sea bass, swordfish, tarpon, and more than 300 species of birds.

Follow in the wake of early explorers . . .

Take a sunrise excursion with Captiva Kayaking. Tunnel through mangroves. Travel through the heart of Buck Island , site of an early Calusa Indian fishing village. Watch dolphins play. Experience the beauty of natural Florida.

ESCAPE TO A TROPICAL ISLAND(s) GETAWAY

Leave all your cares behind. Start a shell collection. Relax away the hours. Watch exotic wildlife. Learn why Anne Morrow Lindbergh was inspired to write her best-selling book, A Gift from the Sea , while visiting Captiva Island .

Leave your cares on the mainland!

Once you cross the magical Sanibel Causeway to Sanibel and Captiva islands , worries vanish! The view from the three-mile structure offers a sneak preview of why the beaches of Lee Island Coast receive accolades.

For the best in family beaches

Families give high marks to Lee Island Coast beaches because of the calm waters, gentle slope of the Gulf bottom and the easy beach access. FamilyFun magazine recently named the areas beaches number one in the southeastern U.S. The Travel Channel recently named Sanibel Island and Lovers Key to its list of ïFloridas Top 10 Beaches.Í

Perfect the ïSanibel StoopÍ

Its a fact: More than 50 miles of sandy, sparkling beaches provide world class shelling with more than 400 species of seashells!   Visitors pick up one shell and soon are hooked. It is fun to watch shellers doing the famous ïSanibel Stoop.Í You will soon be one of them!

Connect with your inner pirate: Hunt for treasure

A lot of ïsea treasureÍ washes up on the white sand beaches as visitors from all over the world search for beautiful, rare shells. There is no better way to disconnect than on a shelling cruise to Cayo Costa , known for its award-winning shelling. Captiva Cruises takes visitors on a short ride to the island with shelling, swimming and sunbathing on a secluded tropical beach.

Rare finds

Shellers learn about their finds with a visit to the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum by exploring a collection of shells from local beaches (and from around the world). There is also a Childrens Learning Lab and a gift shop that should not be missed.

Rent a boat!   Make some memories!

Rent a powerboat from Pine Islands Four Winds Marina.    Take a half-day family excursion to Boca Grande on Gasparilla Island.   Stop for fishing. Dock at Uncle

Henrys Marina and explore the islands restaurants, shops, lighthouse and beaches by bike or golf cart. Stop for homemade ice cream at the Loose Caboose.


Dive right in!

Join a dive charter that takes visitors to some of the best artificial reef and wreck diving on the Lee Island Coast. (Equipment rental is available). Check out a 400-foot British steamer and its current crew of tarpon, barracuda, reef fish and soft corals; a Honduran freighter and other locations. Captain Eric Osking with Essex Marine heads the offshore expedition. Not a diver? No problem. Enjoy exploring with a mask and snorkel off the beaches at Lovers Key State Park, Bowmans Beach on Sanibel and around Cayo Costa and Boca Grande.

Life is a day at the beach!

The only problem for visitors is the many choices! One guarantee: the Lee Island Coast faces west and enjoys a beautiful sunset each evening. Be sure to check out some of the highest rated family beaches. On Sanibel Island:   Gulfside Park with great shelling and a short hike from the historic pioneer cemetery, mid-island Tarpon Bay Beach has parking for recreational vehicles, Lighthouse Beach goes from Gulf to bayside offering spectacular views and a historic lighthouse (be sure to stop for ice cream or a snack in one of the local establishments). On Estero Island: South Fort Myers Beach is one of the most beautiful in the area with a range of recreational activities, Lynn Hall Memorial Park has a fishing pier centered around an active hub of shopping, dining, and entertainment known as Times Square.

Bring beach toys and a picnic

The beautiful strip of beach along the Sanibel Causeway is perfect for a family picnic, fishing, water sports and more. It is a great place to spend the day with space for parking and boat ramps for launching small boats and personal watercraft.


Unwind. Have a cheeseburger in paradise!

And leave a dollar at Cabbage Keys historic inn where the walls are covered with thousands of signed dollar bills (a tradition that began when a thirsty fisherman left a bill taped to the wall to make sure he would have a cold drink during his next visit). Built atop a Calusa Indian shell mound, the island has cottages for rent but dont look for telephones or TVs!

Gotta love this beach!

Grab the family and a picnic lunch and head for Lovers Key for a visit to Floridas newest state park. A tram takes visitors across estuaries of ospreys and spoonbills. It is as far from the crowds as visitors can get and for an added treat, rent a kayak and paddle into Estero Bays dolphin territory.

Fishing, snorkeling, camping

Cayo Costa is one of the worst kept shelling secrets in the area! But the state park is also popular with day visitors for its snorkeling and fishing opportunities. Heartier souls enjoy the primitive overnight camping in small cabins. No electricity. Close to nature.

Cant get enough of shells?

The world famous Shell Factory and Nature Park in North Fort Myers is a ïmustÍ stop, with its more than five million shells. Visitors tour the aquariums and other displays for free. For a small admission fee there are bumper boats, miniature golf, glass factory and wildlife zoo. Plus inexpensive dining!

THIS SUMMER ITS ALL ABOUT FAMILY FUN!

The Lee Island Coast offers many ways for families to take a vacation and have quality time that is just plain fun!

Summer means affordable activities on the Lee Island Coast!

Who needs crowded theme parks? Recharge physically and spiritually on the beach and away from the beach. There are lots of activities that appeal to families and make a vacation here easy on the pocketbook.

Keep your cool!

At Sun Splash Family Waterpark in Cape Coral.   Waterslides of all sizes and a kiddy water playground.

Cross the bridge to Cape Corals family attractions!

In addition to Sun Splash , check out great neighborhood attractions: BMX Park, Childrens Science Center, Cape Coral Historical Museum and Four Mile Cove Ecological Park.

Push some pedals!

Rent bikes and explore 23 miles of paved bike paths on Sanibel Island . Meander through shopping areas, past beautiful gulf homes, tour through diverse parts of the island. Quaint shops and restaurants provide ïrest stops.Í

Chill out!

Take a break from the sun and try ice skating at TECO Area in Estero or Fort Myers Skatium downtown.

In the extreme!

Two skate parks with ramps and half-pipes for roller bladers and skateboarders .

Where science and fun come together . . .

At the Imaginarium Hands-on Museum in Fort Myers.   Touch a baby alligator. Get really close to a Pacific octopus.

Reach out and touch for free

The Ostego Bay Marine Science Center on Fort Myers Beach educates the public about the importance of protecting marine ecosystems with its touch tanks and aquariums. Charge: None.

TAKE A TRIP TO THE PAST

Explore living history at the homes of American icons, burial mounds of native Indians, and museums that tell the story of developing the southern frontier of Florida.

Explore our most popular attraction!

Visit the beautiful homes (Edison & Ford Winter Estates) of famous next-door neighbors, Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. Located on the banks of the Caloosahatchee River in Fort Myers. Tour botanical gardens, Edisons laboratory and a museum with the worlds largest collection of his inventions and memorabilia.

The restored Atlantic Coastline Railroad Depot

Houses the Southwest Florida Museum of History in Fort Myers . See how the area developed from an 1850 army outpost to an elegant resort area. See artifacts from the Calusa Indians and early Spanish settlers.

Go back 1,500 years in time

At the Randall Research Center in Pineland , as scientists from all over the world study the huge shell mounds that overlook the waters of Pine Island Sound and the many centuries of Calusa Indian village life that existed before the arrival of the Europeans. Remnants of an ancient canal that reached across Pine Island are found in the complex and sand burial mounds stand secluded in the woods. Walking and kayaking tours are available.

When claw foot tubs were modern

Stroll through Centennial Park along a promenade by the Caloosahatchee River in Fort Myers and take in the historic turn-of-the-century Burroughs Home . Enjoy a ïLiving HistoryÍ tour of the Georgian Revival mansion and oak-shaded grounds.

A utopian community

Was located at the Koreshan State Historic Site in Estero at the turn of the century until it became extinct in the 1960s. Today visitors tour a unique aspect of the areas history. Take a stroll along the Estero River and view the old bakery, cottages, planetary court and art hall. Self sufficient and devoted to the arts, the Koreshans believed that the earth is concave and everything including the sun and stars exists inside. Fishing, camping, nature study, boat launch and canoe rentals are available.

Explore the Great Calusa Blueway

The Lee Island Coast offers hundreds of paddling opportunities for beginners and experts alike. Open in time for summer: The Great Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail is comprised of 40 miles of marked paddling trails between Bonita Springs at the southern end of Lee Island Coast north to Punta Rassa in Fort Myers. Explore calm waters. See spectacular birding. Experience dolphin in the Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve. Take in Mound Key State Archaeological Site, believed to have been the capital of the Calusa Indian nation.

Article provided by the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau Communications Department.