Five Reasons to Visit Ft. Myers
Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium
The Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium is located on more than 105 acres and features a museum, three nature trails, a planetarium, butterfly and bird aviaries, and picnic areas. Daily educational programs provide an up-close look at residents of the center including a skunk and raccoon.
A variety of shows are offered each day including a live reptile show and planetarium shows about stars and the skies over SW Florida.
The museum, aviaries and trails are open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday from 11a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission to the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium is $10 for adults and $5 for children (ages 3-12). This one-price admission includes the museum, butterfly aviary, trails, and all planetarium shows scheduled that day. A family membership is $75 for the year.
- 3450 Ortiz Avenue
- Fort Myers FL
- (239) 275-3435
- http://calusanature.org
Imaginarium Hands-On Museum & Aquarium
The Imaginarium is a fun destination for children from toddler to about the age of 10. The museum features a “Theatre-in-the-Tank with 3-D movies and an animal lab exhibiting a variety of native and non-native critters including alligators, iguanas, ball pythons, and a red rat snake. The Dino Dig features a fossil dig with real fossils and fossil identification station. The Fisheye Lagoon houses swans, geese, ducks and more and children can feed the fish and turtles. The Hurricane Experience allows kids to play with a beach ball while trying to weather a 45mph storm. Touch tanks, a tiny town and several other exhibits offer something fun for all children.
Daily live animal encounter programs are held at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily. Preschool and homeschool programs are offered as well as a summer camp and a birthday party package.
Family memberships are $80 for the year for up to two adults and four children. Single visits are $12 for adults, $8 for students and free for children under 2.
Open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Admission includes all exhibits, the animal encounter shows and touch tank experience.
- 2000 Cranford Avenue
- Fort Myers FL 33916
- (239) 321-7420
- www.imaginariumfortmyers.com
Lakes Regional Park
Lakes Regional Park is a 279-acre park owned and managed by Lee County with 158 acres of fresh water lakes for swimming, fishing and boating. A 2.5 mile path winds its way around the park and is perfect for roller blading, biking and walking. The path features a scenic boardwalk over parts of the lake. The “Fragrance Garden” offers visitors a variety of fragrant herbs, flowers and plants to stroll among.
The park is a special treat for bird lovers and nature photographers. The islands of Lake Park are home to a large number of birds including White and Glossy Ibis, Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, Anhinga and more. During nesting season, more than 1,000 nests can be seen throughout the park.
The Railroad Museum of South Florida is located in the park and features a 3,200 square foot museum of artifacts including pictures, model railroads, books and other items. Across from the museum is the Lakes Park & Gulf Railroad. The 1/8 scale railroad travels through the north end of the park passing villages, scenes, lakes, woods and going over bridges and through tunnels. Tickets are $5 for adults, $1 for children under 6. Children under the age of 1 cannot ride.
Lakes Regional Park hosts a variety of special events throughout the year. The calendar, as well as admission prices and hours, can be accessed on the website.
- 7330 Gladiolus Drive
- Fort Myers FL
- (239) 533-7575
- www.leeparks.org
Ostego Bay Marine Science Center
The Ostego Bay Marine Science Center is located at Fisherman’s Wharf on San Carlos Island and has been offering visitors a variety of marine experiences for more than 23 years. Visitors will enjoy interactive exhibits, aquariums, a touch tank and a variety of one-of-a-kind collections and unique displays.
The Center is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and offers both guided and self-guided tours. Recently a “Working Waterfront Tour” took attendees on an up close and personal tour of the Fort Myers fishing industry, including a visit to a loading dock where the participants saw how shrimp boats are unloaded, trawl doors are built and shrimp nets are hand sewn.
- 718 Fisherman’s Wharf
- Fort Myers Beach FL
- (239) 765-8101
Southwest Florida Museum of History
The Southwest Florida Museum of History is home to the history of SW Florida. Inside the museum you’ll find a replica of an authentic “cracker” house, a fire pumper and a private Pullman rail car. The museum also houses an extensive collection of artifacts that illustrate history from the first settlers to the area through a description of the military, agriculture, boating and fishing industries of SW Florida.
The self-guided tours make it easy to go at your own pace and visit just the exhibits your family is interested in seeing. Children in a “dinosaur” phase, for instance, will love wandering through the Paleo Florida exhibit which depicts animals such as mammoths, mastodons, and giant ground sloths and features a complete saber-toothed tiger skeleton.
The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $9.50 for adults and $5 for students. A family membership is just $45 and admits 2 adults and up to 4 children for the entire year.
- 2031 Jackson Street
- Fort Myers FL
- www.swflmuseumofhistory.com