Visiting Fort Myers - What to See and Do

(Fort Myers, Florida - FL, USA)

Fort Myers lies next to the Gulf of Mexico in the sunshine state of Florida and is known for its natural wonders as well as its historic appeal.

The one-time home to Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, Fort Myers is only 36 square miles in size and the city offers visitors seemingly endless points of interest ranging from sandy beach strips to parklands, museums and estates as well as easy road access to the nearby islands of Captiva and Sanibel.

Ten things you must do in Fort Myers

• Photograph hundreds of manatees at Manatee World, a section of the Orange River in which hundreds of manatees congregate every winter. Manatee World offers boat cruises with commentary on these and other creatures that inhabit the area.
• Get to know two hugely influential Americans at the Edison Ford Complex, an area with numerous historical artifacts pertaining to the lives and work of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford.
• Gaze at the world's largest collection of rare seashells, coral sponges and fossils from around the world at the incomparable Shell Factory in North Fort Myers.
• Go bird-watching at the Bowditch Point Recreational Park, a sprawling area with a rich array of flora and fauna and a large wildlife population including several bird species.
• Take a kayak trip from the Randell Research Center to Josslyn Island, where you can learn about the life and history of Florida's Callusa Indians.
• Drive on the Thomas Edison Bridge, which was built in 1931 on Edison's 84th birthday and stands today as a stunning structural achievement.
• Tour the illustrious Old Lee County Courthouse, the site of the Sean Connery movie 'Just Cause' and one of the region's oldest and most important historical landmarks.
• Learn about nature at the free and child-friendly Callusa Nature Center and Planetarium, a state-of-the-art center featuring a museum, nature trails, planetarium and an aviary.
• Let your children's imagination run wild at the Imaginarium, a nature-based attraction with dozens of fun hands-on learning exhibits and a 500-gallon living coral reef tank on site.
• Go on a wilderness adventure tour with Babcock Wilderness Adventures, a company which offers safe 90-minute tours that give you a firsthand glimpse at Florida wildlife.