Welcome

Photo by Edison and Ford Winter Estates

The perfect day in Fort Myers starts early with a cup of coffee and breakfast at bennett’s fresh roast. Each month, Bennett’s roasts nearly 800 pounds of coffee and fries 15,000 fresh donuts, with popular flavors including Maple Bacon and Orange Crunch.

From there, head to Manatee park, right off the highway on State Road 80. Manatee Park is a 17-acre warm water refuge for the Florida Manatee, which are drawn to its warm waters when the temperature in the Gulf gets below 68 degrees. For that reason, it’s best to visit the park in late December, January and February. You can learn all about the Florida Manatee with educational materials throughout the park, view them from the overlooks, and even rent a kayak to get nose-to-nose.

Edison and ford Winter Estates is another must-visit spot in Fort Myers, and the drive there alone is gorgeous. You will see palm tree lined streets as you pull up to the Estates, which feature twenty acres of gardens, the Edison Botanic

Photo by Downtown House of Pizza

Photo by Marin Asher

Research Laboratory, a museum full of artifacts from the work of Edison and Ford, and their historic homes. Take a docent-led tour or stroll the grounds on your own for a wonderful historic trip.

Fort Myers is, of course, also home to Spring Training for the boston red sox —see them at Jetblue park — and the Minnesota Twins — at CenturyLink sports Complex. Add those spots to your itinerary for any baseball fans in your group.

After all of that walking, you’ll be ready for a late lunch or dinner in Downtown Fort Myers! Check out the beloved Downtown House of pizza, enjoy drinks and great food at 10 Twenty five, or sit down for a more elegant setting at the Veranda or The firestone. Downtown Fort Myers is very walkable — you can even stroll along the Caloosahatchee for a memorable waterfront view.

If you have another day to spend in Fort Myers and want a classic Florida experience, sign up for the Everglades Day safari! You’ll have a full day of activity including an airboat ride into the swamps of the Everglades, a drive through Big Cypress National Preserve, a nature walk through a cypress forest, a boat cruise through Everglades National Park, and a lunch that includes — right on theme for the Everglades — alligator appetizers! Every tour is private and will give you an up-close look at the ecosystems, flora and fauna that make up the Everglades, with a biologist leading your tour to answer any questions you may have.