SWFLA is an idyllic place to live. It has everything Florida has to offer with the charm and quaintness of small town America. The climate is enviable, it’s within reach of the entire state and it has a lot to offer residents and visitors alike. Here is just a brief overview of what’s on offer here.
Lakes Regional Park is where you go if you can’t get to, or don’t like the beach. It’s a large park for sitting, picnicking, cycling, rollerblading or strolling. There are restrooms and fresh water and you’re actively encouraged to stay a while. It’s a great place to while away an afternoon or escape from life for a while.
J.N. “DING” DARLING NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
The catchily-named J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge is 6,300 acres of wildlife sanctuary on Sanibel Island west of the city center. Here you can see our iconic mangrove forests as well as crocodiles, alligators and hundreds upon hundreds of birds. It’s a great place to explore.
EDISON AND FORD WINTER ESTATES
The Edison and Ford Winter Estates are the holiday homes of Thomas Edison, the inventor of the modern light bulb and the phonograph. The other, Henry Ford should need no introduction. Both used to vacation here during the winter and these two homes have been preserved. The tours are well worth taking as they offer a lot of information.
CALUSA NATURE CENTER AND PLANETARIUM
The Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium preserves a lot of native animals and birds and provide shows and exhibitions of local wildlife and culture. There are also tanks where you can touch the inhabitants and a decent display of fossils found locally too. The planetarium is also very interesting indeed.
Like many interactive museums, the Imaginarium Hands-On Museum allows children to get up close and personal with the exhibits and learn at the same time. There is a dinosaur dig, weather section and an anatomy section that teaches children a lot about how the body works. All in all, it’s a great place to keep children entertained while teaching them something at the same time.
McGregor Boulevard is a tree-lined street that leads through Fort Myers, from Downtown all the way to Sanibel Island. It is also lined with the estates of the rich and famous as well as the Caloosahatchee River. This is where you find the Edison and Ford Winter Estates.
The Florida Repertory Theatre performs at the colorful, historic Arcade Theatre in the city and is well worth a visit. Regular performances of local and international productions are featured here and it makes for a great evening’s entertainment.
BARBARA B MANN PERFORMING ARTS HALL
The Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall is another arts venue that puts Fort Myers firmly on the creative map. This is the place to see Broadway show reproductions as well as local talent and screenplays.