Ft. Myers FL is a popular destination for tourists from all over the world. With so many amazing places to choose from, it can be hard to know where to go. To help make your decision easier, we’ve compiled a list of the best places to visit in Ft. Myers FL based on traveler ratings and reviews. So whether you’re looking for a romantic getaway spot or an adventure playground, there’s something for everyone in this metropolis area!
The Best Place to Visit in Ft. Myers FL
The Shell Factory and Nature Park
- Address: 16554 North Cleveland Avenue US 41, N Tamiami Trail, North Fort Myers, FL 33903, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.2 (6211)
- Phone: +1 239-995-2141
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PMTuesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PMWednesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PMThursday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PMFriday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PMSaturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PMSunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
5 Replies to The 15 Best Places To Visit in Ft. Myers FL (Rating and Reviews)
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Top 15 Tourist Attractions in Ft. Myers FL
Lakes Park
- Address: 7330 Gladiolus Dr, Fort Myers, FL 33908, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (5307)
- Phone: +1 239-533-7575
- Website: Link
- Reviews:
I love the variety of things this park offers. It has a small train museum with gift shop, a mile long mini train ride, walking with mother nature (and a bike trail I still have yet to walk), 2 small water parks/play area (1 currently under construction), 2 playgrounds (1 under construction), wide open spaces (for sports, parties, or whatever you can imagine), small lake for fishing or paddle board or those boats you pedal (self propelled), AND a Children’s Garden with a Community Growing Garden. It’s a $5 parking fee for all day, which helps develop and maintain the park but it is worth it. Train rides are $5/person, children under 3 are free, or buy a pass like me for $45 for 13 rides. It’s a beautiful place for kids and adults. You can rent the boats and family bikes. I believe prices are reasonable starting at single riders (2 people) for $20, I saw the sign didn’t really rent one yet. And during the holidays there’s events with multitudes of other things to do. We can definitely spend all day there and never be bored.By Maria Benavides (5 months ago)This park is AMAZING! It literally has everything for everyone and is HUGE! Great for nature walks on the trails around the entire park. Playgrounds are super nice and don’t forget to take your little one for a ride on the small train. We had a great time and couldn’t possibly get to it all so we’re planning on going back soon!By Elizabeth Claunch (9 months ago)This park has something for everyone! I took my toddler grandson and we rode the little train which takes you through the park passing by miniature towns, over little bridges and water. The whistle blows and conductor was great and enthusiastic. Then to the snack bar for a treat and drink. There’s a real train on display, the engine. Lots of great playgrounds, one train themed, splash pads, walking/running paved paths, swings, restrooms and more. Also a great kids area and garden to explore. A perfect morning of fun and exercise in the great SWFL area! We’ll be back!By Dee Keywood (2 months ago)We Love this park!!!!! They have everything from boat and bike rentals, to splash pads, multiple playgrounds and walking paths. And don’t forget the train ride and butterfly garden! This place has is all! You can spend all day here with some sun screen and a picnic tote. Photos can’t even begin to show how big this place is. Highly recommend!!!By righter fam (6 months ago)Large family park in the Ft Myers area which has a walking area so that you can exercise they also have bicycling, kayaking, and a play areas for children. You can fish, cookout reserve a pavilion area for family gatherings. They also have smaller areas for picnicking. Plenty of parking which you have to pay for the kayaking and bicycle can be rented. Plenty of wildlife to see alsoBy F T (4 months ago)
Edison & Ford Winter Estates
- Address: 2350 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33901, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (5119)
- Phone: +1 239-334-7419
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PMTuesday: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PMWednesday: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PMThursday: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PMFriday: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PMSaturday: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PMSunday: 9:00 AM – 5:30 PM
- Reviews:
We were trying to find something to do before we headed to the FT Myers airport for a late flight today and I found this historic site on Google Maps. The Thomas Edison and Henry Ford winter home museum was the PERFECT last day for our trip to Florida! CHET WAS OUR GUIDE, he was super knowledgeable and very informative. The total tour took about 75 minutes but it was a beautiful day and we moved from place to place so he kept our attention! For a moment we dreamt away and realized we were standing in the same spots as some of the all time greatest inventors in the world and that was fantastic!! The fact that Thomas Edison and Henry Ford were best friends was the best of all the fun facts! As a BIG bonus the trees are absolutely breathtaking! Pack a lunch and just sit in the gardens and take it all in! Completely unforgettable and highly recommendable!!By Lisa Devenport (8 months ago)Came here on the first day that they celebrated their holiday nights special event. Booked the guided tour and our tour guide did a fantastic job explaining all the information. It’s a very expansive estate at the same time the guide didn’t waste any time and we were able to finish the tour after an hour without issues.
It is absolutely beautifully decorated and they aren’t normally open this late but it’s beautiful to see all the holiday lights being set up. It’s quite a unique experience.
They also had some food vendors which we partook in a few treats since it was getting late and it was a replacement for dinner. Recommend buying guided tour tickets early as they do sell out pretty quickly.
By Victor Wang (11 months ago)Well maintained residency, location is near the water with great view. The parking is free. If you buy tickets online, you need to exchange them to waist bands at ticket office first. It is better to visit the museum first because it has so many first hand real things to see and read. Also the garden and the park adjacent to the ticket office are great, many nursery items for sale. Spent about 2.5 hrs today but could do more especially at the museum.By Keqi Gan (11 months ago)Fun experience with the family! Please note that if you are going on a reciprocal membership please be sure all reciprocal members names are on cards or you need to pay for those not named.Gardens were well maintained with really interesting specimens. I had no idea the extent that Edison and his assistants experimented with plants.
Plan for the weather as most of the exhibits are outside. Gardens close in thunder alerts. You cannot walk through houses, but they have opened all the doorways to see in many of the rooms. Highlight of the gardens is the self guided audio tour. Short, entertaining, informational and well done!
Museum is quite interesting and air conditioned 🙂
By Shannon Pierce (4 months ago)Marvelous museum. The grounds are a sight to behold, with many mature exotics. There is something flowering year round
There is a large area where they can setup tents for events, as was happening while we were there.
The museum is fabulous and alone worth the price Of admission. It leads to the rubber laboratory which is also interesting, but needs someone there to explain what you are looking at.
The only disappointment was not being able to go IN the homes. You can stand outside and look in, but that is not the same. There were plenty of areas that could have had a path through the various rooms.
If it wasn’t for this, I would have given it a five.
Kids, 6-12 will especially like the museumBy Stephen G (8 months ago)
Manatee Park
- Address: 10901 Palm Beach Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33905, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.5 (4101)
- Phone: +1 239-690-5030
- Website: Link
- Reviews:
first we walked around the property saw a couple manatees but the watercolor is very dark so you only saw like a little nose about coming out of the water. Then we rented kayaks for the 2 hour kayaking trip on our own They give you a map and it’s pretty simple to find the manatees they tell you where they’re hanging out that day. Well worth the trip we had a great time 15 to 20 manatees They came right up to our kayaks You just float around in the bay area about a mile down river. It was a little windy so the paddle back took a good hour of paddling non-stop.By Kimberly Hartman (10 months ago)It is a beautiful area to paddle around. They have kayaks for rent, and you can bring your own and launch there. The parking was $5. We saw 3 manatees while we were paddling around in the early afternoon.By T R (10 months ago)We first went late in the day. We walked along the boardwalk & saw two manatees surface!! We went back the next day to rent kayaks. We rented for 2 hours & saw a ton of manatees! We saw several pods hanging out near the banks while we were out. Highly recommend going out in the kayaks (the tour sounds cool if you’ve got time!). The water there was very dark & murky, but we had no problems finding manatees. There were tons of them!!By Katie Franke (9 months ago)Lots of Manatees but the water clarity isn’t the best. Definitely check it out if you’re in the area. You can view them from land or rent a Kayak. Nov thru March are the best times. Definitely would recommend going north 3 hrs to the springs for the ultimate manatee experience. Last two pics are the difference between a spring fed area and manatee park.By Jammie Hurst (9 months ago)We had a great experience at the Manatee park, unfortunately we didn’t get to see any adorable manatees but we are planning to return when the weather isn’t as hot. They have 2 playgrounds for children and bathrooms. It’s $1 for parking per hour.By Belladventures (4 weeks ago)
Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve
- Address: 7751 Penzance Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33966, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (2877)
- Phone: +1 239-533-7550
- Website: Link
- Opening hours:
Monday: ClosedTuesday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PMWednesday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PMThursday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PMFriday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PMSaturday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PMSunday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Reviews:
Beautiful piece of heaven on earth. If you need a place to unwind from all the busyness of life this is the place to be. Enjoy a walk through this natural habitat with a perfect boardwalk hike. Definitely for all ages from the youngest learning about plants/animals to seniors appreciating the peacefulness of the area. Go, spend some time and relax before returning to life outside the gates. You need it…believe me.By Beth Culkeen (9 months ago)This is an AMAZING place to visit. While surrounded by city life, it is hidden away enough to where you really feel detached from society. When you enter, it feels like you’re walking through a different world entirely. If you go late afternoon or early morning, you will see an abundance of wildlife. Herons, alligators, owls, and so much more have been seen here. I hope you visit and get the chance to see the life that existed before humans settled the area!By Austin (3 months ago)A scenic hike for all ages! The elevated walkway makes this hiking trail available for everyone. Strollers wheelchairs and fast walkers alike. Six Mike Cypress Slough offers many shaded viewing areas with benches for wildlife viewing as well as resting. Keep your binoculars handy for seeking out the hidden wildlife. Gators, birds, turtles and a few quick glimpses of otters were the attractions on this visit. The peaceful quiet of the area aids in the comfort of the wildlife that almost pose for their pictures. Bring water and wear comfortable shoes for a hike the entire family can enjoy.By Dottie Guerrasio (10 months ago)Such a beautiful park that is well maintained and has such diverse wildlife. The boardwalk is exquisite.
NO DOGS!
Parking is $1/hour or $5/day, but I don’t know if it’s monitored.
Lots of tables and benches. Lots of available parking when I went (mid day on a Wednesday), but could see how parking may be limited during peak times.
They do have restroom facilities, but they appeared to be under construction when I was there (April 2022). They did have porta-potties that seemed to be well maintained.
There are also guided tours, which we didn’t attend, and an interpreter center, which we didn’t check out.
Highly recommend checking this place out!
By Catelin Robinson (7 months ago)This is a delightful place that far exceeded our expectations. There is no admission fee, and we only paid $3 for parking, but the boardwalk is very well designed and maintained, with numerous viewing docks and many benches. The wildlife was abundant, and we didn’t notice any traffic noise that can ruin the wilderness feeling. It is close to our winter lodging spot, so we will be back many times!By Darrin Bergman (9 months ago)
Centennial Park
- Address: 2000 W First St, Fort Myers, FL 33901, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.5 (2200)
JetBlue Park
- Address: 11500 Fenway South Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33913, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.6 (2098)
IMAG History & Science Center
- Address: 2000 Cranford Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33916, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.2 (1362)
Murder Mystery Dinner Train
- Address: 2805 Colonial Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33966, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.5 (1147)
North Shore Park
- Address: 13001 N Cleveland Ave, North Fort Myers, FL 33903, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.5 (902)
Railroad Museum of South Florida
- Address: 7330 Gladiolus Dr, Fort Myers, FL 33907, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (508)
Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center
- Address: 2301 First St, Fort Myers, FL 33901, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.6 (497)
The Shops at The Butterfly Estates and Florida Native Butterfly Society Conservatory (501c3)
- Address: 1815 Fowler St, Fort Myers, FL 33901, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.5 (364)
Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium
- Address: 3450 Ortiz Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33905, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.3 (339)
Mound House
- Address: 451 Connecticut St, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (297)
Burroughs Home and Gardens
- Address: 2505 First St, Fort Myers, FL 33901, United States
- Map: Click here
- Rating: 4.7 (241)
Although Ft. Myers FL is a large state with many amazing places to visit, these 15 locations stand out as the best according to traveler ratings and reviews. Did your favorite spot make the cut? Let us know in the comments above!
Beautiful variety and so much to see and do here. This is my first time back in years. I used to come all the time as a kid. The reason for 3 stars instead of 5 is because the old woman who runs the register is extremely slow and overcharged multiple customers in front of me and then overcharged me… and it wasn’t small over charges… the woman in front of me was over charged over $25 and I was over charged $18. I didn’t have time to wait on the reversal, so I’m just out the money for 3 shells that were supposed to be less than $1 and a 5.99 magnet.
I’m my gosh, what a super fun store to shop for shells ? in Florida. It’s located in North Fort Myers’s. We shopping for a sharks ? tooth for my grand daughter. Ended up buying a ton of fun souvenirs for the family. Huge selection of shells, shirts and everything. Prices were fair and the staff was super friendly and helpful. Stop in, you’ll enjoy it.
We quickly stopped on our way to the airport, so we only had about an hour. We spent our time in the Animal Adventure area. We traveled with teenage and young adult children and they all enjoyed it. The place is a bit outdated and could use an upgrade, but what they offer is worth the money. Lots of shells and souvenirs available.
Fun time. Old and eccentric. Lots to do and see for little ones. 5 and 3 year old had a blast! It’s eclectic and has unique charm. We saw all features. Christmas store was hot though. Beer was expensive (had two lol)…. But I would recommend and go again! Confusing how it works as a first timer because some things are separate pay but they’ll explain and they couldn’t be nicer!
Hi, I visited the Shell Factory and Nature Park in Fort Myers Florida on Saturday, 09/03/2022. The admission fee is $14 for two days to the Nature Park. The entire facility is run down, the wood is rotting, and the water is dirty, looks black, and attracts bugs. The animals are suffering under the sun and heat; some have fans which they lay in front of while others do not have them. Some seemed dehydrated or just dead. In particular, reptiles are being neglected more than Petting zoo animals. It is clear that the water isn’t being treated. The animals are counting on tourists to feed them and are dying slowly in their cages, as they have nowhere to go. I hope this brings attention to this matter. There are several reviews on Google with the tag “tourist trap” which supports various opinions of the deterioration and lack of cleanliness needed to protect and keep the animals safe. Please, make changes to improve the situation. The staff members are friendly and hardworking. I think the situation is simply revenue issue due to low traffic of customers. Thank you