Naples has been a vacation destination for decades. It’s known for its beaches and upscale dining and affinity for the arts. Some say it is the gateway to the Everglades, but there are a whole lot of unique experiences to take part in before you get to the wild, rugged world of Everglades ...

Bonita Springs is located between Naples and Fort Myers. It has a vibrant downtown and rich history, making it a must-visit destination on your next trip to Southwest Florida. In the 1870s, the Army Corps of Engineers’ surveyors mapped the then remote area of Southwest Florida and set up ...

The Wonder Gardens in Bonita Springs offers several enhanced guest experiences for up-close and personal encounters with a selection of their 300 rescued, rehabilitated and non-releasable animals at the 86-year-old attraction. “There’s always something interesting at the gardens, with ...

Consistently named one of the fastest-growing cities in America, Cape Coral has something to offer for all walks of life, ages and interests.  A boaters paradise, this “waterfront wonderland” is home to more than 400 miles of canals and countless access points to various bodies of water ...

Cape Coral, a popular community that often tops lists of the fastest-growing cities in the country, has become a destination to live, not just to visit, and also claims the title of the largest municipality between Tampa and Miami. With more than 400 miles of canals, the Cape has been ...

Cape Coral is home to unique species of owl that the city has made its own: the burrowing owl. Burrowing owls are the only species, of 171 owls, that live underground, making them more susceptible to predators and enhancing the risk of having their burrows destroyed.The owls dig these burrows ...

As recovery also continues on Sanibel’s sister island, Captiva remains acclaimed for its white sand beaches, incredible sunrise and sunset views, top-notch shelling and array of water activities that are enjoyed by visitors. It is the perfect spot for family trips, nature adventures and ...

Fort Myers – winter home to Thomas Edison and neighbor Henry Ford – is steeped in history. But it’s also renowned for Spring Training, ecological activities, shopping, world-class dining, fun in the sun and artistic expression. Fort Myers was incorporated in 1885 after originally being ...

Not all places are equally accommodating locales for the golden years following the 9-to-5 grind. In order to assist the approx. 3.6 million boomers who will turn 65 in 2023 and are thinking about where they want to set down stakes in retirement, we’ve put together a list of the top cities ...

The latest episode of Shellcast, the podcast that’s a beach break for your ears, visits Manatee Park in Fort Myers. Episode 9, “When I get older, I want to be a manatee,” includes an interview recorded in February with Laura Carr, Lee County Parks & Recreation specialist. Carr talks ...

The Edison and Ford Winter estates, 2350 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers, contain an historical museum and 17-acre botanical garden on the adjacent sites of the winter homes of Thomas Alva Edison and Henry Ford beside the Caloosahatchee in southwestern Florida. It is located along historic and ...

An ideal beach town includes a wide open publicly accessible beach, enough good food to please everyone and a friendly home for nature. Those ingredients spell Fort Myers Beach with its seven miles of beach sand, more than two dozen public beach accesses and about as many eateries. The beach ...

Despite getting hit with two more hurricanes this year, Fort Myers Beach is making remarkable progress since Hurricane Ian turned the island upside down two years ago. Many of the island’s popular businesses and attractions have rebuilt and returned with a number of new ones springing up as ...

By NATHAN MAYBERG and TIFFANY REPECKI It's summer on Fort Myers Beach and the Pink Shell Beach Resort is bopping - and it's a vacation-where-you-live option that offers both a day-at-the-beach alternative but a little luxury option. General Manager Bill Waichulis said one reason for an ...

Congratulations, you have made it to one of TripAdvisor's top-five trending destinations in the U.S. What is the big deal about Fort Myers Beach? It all starts with the seven miles of shoreline along the Gulf of Mexico and the beach sand that comes with it spanning from the Big Carlos Pass ...

Lehigh Acres, a sprawling community in east Lee County encompassing 96 square miles, is one of largest residential communities in the state of Florida. While the community continues to build and expand with local businesses, it keeps its suburban feel and offers a plethora of outdoor activities ...

North Fort Myers is a community unlike any other in Lee County. It has its urban qualities, but rural ones as well, which makes it unique. It also has its history, with facilities that date back decades and preserves you can walk that go back even further. It’s that feel for nature that ...

Karen Schneider walked into the Shell Factory Nature Park more than a decade ago and never left. Before the economy changed in 2008, the Shell Factory Nature Park director worked for a wholesale tree nursery that, before it closed, sold to new construction projects. "Upon the tree nursery ...

It has survived hurricanes, fires, recessions, two bankruptcies, the construction of I-75 and a pandemic. Yet, for 84 years, the Shell Factory & Nature Park has managed to remain one of the few Old Florida, must-stop tourist attractions. The Shell Factory did this by coming into ownership ...

Whether you are spending a day touring Pine Island and Matlacha or even if you have come for much longer, there are a great deal of interesting things to see, learn and do to keep you engaged. For starters, there is nothing that compares to getting your day off with a great ...

Once you cross the Matlacha Bridge into Pine Island, you will find that these islanders are not in a hurry. You’ve now become part of the largest island on the southwest Florida coastline where a community made of tight-knit neighbors waits to greet you. From the Matlacha (most ...

Punta Gorda comes from the Spanish word “fat point” because it sticks out into Charlotte Harbor, one of the country’s largest natural harbors. Due to its proximity to the water, Hurricane Milton brought in storm surge, which has affected the area, creating some closures while recovery and ...

The brainchild of Syd Kitson, a former professional football player turned real estate developer, Kitson and Partners founded the town of Babcock Ranch after purchasing a 91,000-acre ranch. Committed to preserving 90 percent of it, they sold 73,000 acres to the state and Lee County, leaving ...

Charlotte County, Florida, invites international travelers to experience the unparalleled beauty and captivating landscapes of this hidden gem in the Sunshine State. Offering a diverse array of natural wonders, the county boasts a collection of breathtaking landmarks that will leave visitors ...

The unincorporated community known as El Jobean is located between Englewood and Port Charlotte on the eastern banks of the Myakka River where it empties into Charlotte Harbor. The Myakka River offers incredible fishing and boating opportunities.Boaters who head north on the river will ...

From the seashell-lined, white sandy beaches and warm turquoise waters of the Gulf, to the fun recreational activities and local culinary delights, it is no wonder why so many people have found a love for Sanibel and Captiva. With something to pique every interest, the perfect island day ...

Sanibel visitors are welcomed by stunning sunrises and sunsets, beautiful white beaches perfect for swimming, diving or snorkeling the Gulf’s warm waters, a vast assortment of shells, and endless shared use paths for exploring as recovery pushes forward for the island’s beloved and popular ...

By NATHAN MAYBERG and TIFFANY REPECKI It's summer on Fort Myers Beach and the Pink Shell Beach Resort is bopping - and it's a vacation-where-you-live option that offers both a day-at-the-beach alternative but a little luxury option. General Manager Bill Waichulis said one reason for an ...

Does this road look familiar? Have you ever wondered where “that one road” leads to? Have you always meant to go down “that road’, but the beach allure was too strong to resist? Before you knew it, vacation time was up, and the mystery still remains. “We get people all the time who ...

Visitors driving along the Boca Grande Causeway are welcomed by turquoise-blue waters plied by boats ranging from yachts to kayaks. Completing the Gasparilla picture: Sandy beaches, a historic train trestle, high-end shopping and more fishing holes than anyone without a skilled guide can find. ...

The Port Boca Grande Lighthouse, built in 1890, is a popular site to visit at the south end of the island. The lighthouse is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday from November through June. The months of June through October – except August when it is ...

There are a slew of attractions both near and far that provide a bit of history and fun for the whole family to enjoy. Revs Institute Automobile Museum This Naples museum gives visitors an opportunity to see the shift over the course of the 20th century in automobiles in an 80,000 square ...

The unincorporated community known as El Jobean is located between Englewood and Port Charlotte on the eastern banks of the Myakka River where it empties into Charlotte Harbor. The Myakka River offers incredible fishing and boating opportunities.Boaters who head north on the river will ...

Placida is perhaps the center of the compass for this segment of the Gulf Coast. From the docks of this tiny but colorful fishing village, charter boats and nature cruises head out into Gasparilla Sound and Charlotte Harbor. Visitors can head south over the Boca Grande Causeway to the shops, ...

Since Florida is surrounded by water, kayaking has become an activity that allows many to enjoy the beautiful scenery firsthand.Lucy Crook, a Florida native, began kayaking 39 years ago and soon started competing. She said kayaking added an exciting dimension to her and her husband's camping ...