There is more than meets the eye in Southwest Florida - with a vibrant art scene, local breweries, historical museums and let's not forget, some of the best beaches in the world. Here is our favorite list of Things To Do in SWFL. 

BEACHES

Lover's Key State Park is a popular romantic beach wedding hot spot for locals and tourists alike. There is a small cafe, rentable kayaks and canoes, lush mangrove forests, 5 miles of biking trails, a boat ramp & bait shop, geo-seeking, 3.6 miles of hiking trails,  one of SWFL's only dog beaches, picnicking, shelling and of course, swimming. Take the tram to the beach - it's a long walk!

Bonita Beach Park is a park-and-play beach making it easy to take the little ones along. This beach offers kayaking rentals, a restroom and showers, tables, grills, and a sand volleyball court. *Grab a drink at Doc's Beach House 

Barefoot Beach Preserve is 342 acres of natural land and one of the last undeveloped barrier islands of SWFL coastline. This beach is well-known for it's butterfly & cactus gardens, Galapagos turtles, and natural history exhibits.  There is a mobile food cart and restrooms. 

Wiggins Pass State Park Visitors can sunbathe, paddleboard, kayak, hike, bird-watch, fish, picnic and search for seashells. Make sure you watch the signs for specific areas in which you can fish. 

Loudermilk Beach is Naples' premier beachfront park. It offers ample parking, a concession stand (with alcohol!), sand volleyball courts, 2 childrens' play areas, picnic areas, rentable kayaks & canoes, tiki huts (first come, first serve) and restrooms/shower facilities. 

Naples Pier is a historic landmark in Naples. Grab your fishing pole and hang out with the locals, watch for dolphins, hit the sand volleyball court or just relax on the beach. 

Tigertail Beach Park This white sand beach (and barrier island in the making) is great for bird-watching, shelling, tidal pool exploration and offers a playground for the little ones. It also has a concession stand, restroom/shower facilities, jet ski & paddle board rentals, and a picnic area. 


MUSEUMS

Edison & Ford Winter Estates The historic winter homes, acres of botanic gardens, museum, laboratory, Garden Shoppe (Garden Center) and Museum Store are open from 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. daily. The last ticket is sold at 4:30p.m. There is no charge for parking and we do have accommodations for buses and recreational vehicles.

IMAG History & Science Center is a great rainy day activity with a hands-on science and aquarium museum in Fort Myers, Florida. Exhibit include dinosaurs and fossils, Calusa culture, live native and non-native small animals, aquariums and touch tanks, and interactive displays about science and scientific topics including weather and nanotechnology.

Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center teaches the lessons of the Holocaust to inspire action against bigotry, hatred, and violence. 

Naples Depot Set in Naples’ restored Seaboard Air Line Railway passenger station, the Naples Depot Museum welcomes visitors back to the railroading boom days of the Roaring Twenties and explains how generations of Southwest Floridians used technology and transportation to conquer a vast and seemingly impenetrable frontier.

Naples Art Their mission is to enlighten, engage, educate, and enrich the community, building on Naples Art’s history and position of leadership as a hub of visual contemporary art with a local and global footprint.

Koreshan State Park offers a window into the lives of a unique and eccentric pioneer group that made its home under towering oaks on the banks of the Estero River.



FOR THE KIDS

Sun Splash Family Waterpark is SWFL's largest water park located in Cape Coral.

Golisano Children's Museum of Naples is a great rainy day activity! With daily classes & events, rotating exhibits, and more - you will have the little ones learning and playing all day. 

Naples Botanical Gardens mission is to develop and conserve collections and habitats representative of the flora and cultures between the 26th latitudes. To discover, research and share knowledge about these plants and their gifts to us of beauty, tranquility, sustenance, and well-being. And to engage and inspire everyone to care for the plants around them and become stewards of the environment.

Sun N Fun Lagoon is centrally located in Naples and offers a splash pad for the smallest ones, large slides for the biggest ones, a high dive, lazy river and so much more. 



OUTDOORS

Sinking Dome Houses of Cape Romano About 300’ off the southern shore of Marco Island are 6 modular domes that were originally built on dry land. Now abandoned and surrounded by rising water, the domes make a cool photo op totally unique to SWFL.

Gordon Drive in Naples has a reputation as being home to many well-to-do, and Naples certainly has its share. You’ll find many of their beautiful multi-million dollar homes along a well-manicured stretch of Gordon Drive in Port Royal. Head south on Gulf Shore Blvd which will take you to Gordon Drive for a sneak peek at the lifestyle of the rich and famous. Bike shops around town can set you up with rentals and a biking map showing the miles of designated bike lanes through Olde Naples.

Take A Day Trip to Key West on the Key West Express! 

Matlacha Florida Artsy, funky, quirky — all of these describe Matlacha, the most unique and colorful small town in southwest Florida. Browse artisan galleries like Leoma Lovegrove’s gallery, Wild Child Art Gallery, and more. With a day’s worth of shops and salty places to dine on fresh seafood, get your art on in Matlacha.







Looking for more? Here is 50 Things to Do in Southwest Florida: The Ultimate Bucket List

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