Gators, manatees and Thomas Edison: 5 bucket list things to do in Lee County
Friends or relatives are coming to visit you in Lee County. Where do you take them?
Well, there are the beaches, of course – everybody knows that. And you should definitely add those to your agenda.
But besides our soft, white sand and stunning beach sunsets, there are many other cool things to choose from in the Fort Myers/Bonita Springs area. To help you decide, here's a bucket list of must-see spots in Lee County.
The Shell Factory in North Fort Myers
This Old Florida-style attraction packs a lot into its sprawling 18 acres: A zip line, a nature park, a staggeringly huge gift store, bumper and paddle boats, a restaurant, miniature golf, a petting farm, a videogame arcade and a whole lot more.
The Shell Factory Nature Park features about 350 exotic animals, including iguanas, porcupines, peacocks, alligators, lemurs, alpacas and goats.
? The Shell Factory & Nature Park, 16554 N. Cleveland Ave., North Fort Myers. 995-2141 or shellfactory.com
Read more: You're never bored at the Shell Factory in N. Fort Myers
'Ding' Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island
The Sanibel Island refuge is a haven for wildlife photographers and nature lovers. Especially its popular Wildlife Drive.
That four-mile, one-way road takes motorists, cyclists and hikers through parts of the 6,300-acre preserve. "Ding" Darling is home to more than 200 species of birds, alligators and other animals.
? J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, 1 Wildlife Dr, Sanibel Island. 472-1100 or fws.gov/refuge/jn-ding-darling
After Hurricane Ian: Sanibel Island's ‘Ding’ Darling announces reopening of Wildlife Drive
Edison & Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers
Renowned inventor Thomas Edison and car manufacturer Henry Ford used to live right next to each other on Fort Myers' McGregor Boulevard. Now the friends' riverfront, Craftsman-style homes are a popular tourist attraction.
The Edison & Ford Winter Estates property includes a museum and Edison's former laboratory filled with his original test tubes, beakers and machines. That's where he and his workers tested more than 17,000 plant species while searching for a natural source of latex to produce rubber.
? Edison & Ford Winter Estates, 2350 McGregor Blvd., downtown Fort Myers. 334-7419 or edisonfordwinterestates.org
Wonder Gardens in Bonita Springs
Southwest Florida's oldest roadside attraction has gone through many changes since opening in 1936 as the Everglades Reptile Gardens. Now it's a botanical garden that's home to more than 300 rescued, rehabilitated and non-releasable animals.
That menagerie includes alligators, flamingoes, parrots, turtles, tortoises and Chinese golden pheasants. The attraction also features hundreds of native and exotic plants: Fruit and nut trees, palms, orchids, water lilies, ferns and even Ylang-Ylang trees (the scent used for Chanel No. 5 perfume).
CORRECTION: The Wonder Gardens welcome center, gift shop and administrative offices have all reopened since being damaged during Hurricane Ian. A previous version of this story included outdated information.
? The Wonder Gardens, 27180 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs. 992-2591 or wondergardens.org
Read our 2017 story: 20 things that make Everglades Wonder Gardens special
Manatee Park in east Lee County
Why go to this 17-acre park? The answer's right there in the name: You go to see the beloved Florida manatee. When the temperature drops below about 68 degrees, those "sea cows" like to hang out in the warm waters of the Orange River and a Florida Power & Light Plant discharge canal.
The manatees come and go as they please, so call or check the park website to make sure they're present before you go. The best viewing times are November through March, particularly on cool mornings and winter days.
Manatee Park also features a butterfly garden, a playground, a gift shop, picnic shelters and a fishing pier on the Orange River (saltwater license required).
? Manatee Park, 10901 State Road 80 (Palm Beach Boulevard), Fort Myers. 690-5030 or leegov.com/parks/parks/manateepark
Manatee sightings: 6 places to spot sea cows in Southwest Florida
MORE PLACES TO GO
Want more? Lee County's a big place, so here are a few more great places to visit:
Broadway Palm in Fort Myers
One of the few dinner theaters left in Florida. It's home to musicals, comedies and occasional concerts. broadwaypalm.com
Broadway Palm's new season: 'Mary Poppins,' Agatha Christie and more
Gator Mike’s Family Fun Park in Cape Coral
New owner Chris Scuderi has been steadily renovating and upgrading Gator Mike’s since he bought the place in 2019, including zip lines, an aerial park, a rock-climbing wall and the new Dinosaur Falls Mini Golf. The golf course features animatronic dinos and a two-story-tall "volcano" that rumbles, smokes and blasts fireballs into the Cape Coral sky. Plus, coming sometime next year, the city's first Mellow Mushroom pizza restaurant is expected to open in the lot next door.
? Gator Mike’s Family Fun Park, 35 N.E. Pine Island Road/State Road 78, Cape Coral. 574-4386 or gatormikes.com
More about Dinosaur Falls: Dinos roar, volcano erupts at Cape Coral's new mini gold attraction
Koreshan State Park in Estero
A riverside park preserving the former settlement of a late 19th Century religious sect. They believed, among other things, that the Earth and the rest of the universe was contained within a giant, hollow sphere. floridastateparks.org/park/Koreshan
Pillow talk to tragedy: How an Estero messiah filled David Koresh's head with apocalyptic visions
Murder Mystery Dinner Train in Fort Myers
Take a short train trip, enjoy a five-course meal and try to solve a murder. Actors go from dining car to dining car performing scenes. A character dies, and then you get to figure out whodunnit. semgulf.com
Florida Repertory Theater in downtown Fort Myers
Fort Myers' only Actors' Equity theater company performs plays and musicals in the historic Arcade Theatre, a former vaudeville house and movie theater. They also put on more intimate shows in the smaller Artstage Studio Theatre. floridarep.org
Florida Rep's new season: Hank Williams, a Christmas mash-up and more
IMAG History & Science Center in Fort Myers
This popular kids destination combines hands-on science and Fort Myers history in one building. It offers more than 60 interactive attractions and exhibits, including a 3,200-gallon aquarium filled with tropical fish; a Fort Myers history museum; and the Science on a Sphere exhibit ― a giant, globe-shaped movie screen used to show everything from historical hurricanes to the planet Mars. theimag.org
Read more: IMAG's Science on a Sphere exhibit shows hurricanes in real time, Mars, the Moon and more
Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center in downtown Fort Myers
The former Fort Myers courthouse and post office is now a home to art exhibits, concerts, fashion shows, indie movies and more. With its distinctive ionic columns, the neoclassical-style building is a popular stop for selfies and wedding photos. Then there are the twin sculptures out front — tall bronze cylinders that light up at night and project Latin and Creek words onto the sidewalk, street and building. sbdac.com
Davis Art Center: 10 things to know about the Fort Myers landmark
Charles Runnells is an arts and entertainment reporter for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. To reach him, call 239-335-0368 (for tickets to shows, call the venue) or email him at [email protected]. Follow or message him on social media: Facebook (facebook.com/charles.runnells.7), X (formerly Twitter) (@charlesrunnells), Threads (@crunnells1) and Instagram (@crunnells1).
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Edison Estates, Shell Factory: Must-see things to do in Fort Myers area
