Jan. 6, 2022
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We Have Some Recommendations For You!
Your vacation in Southwest Florida isn't complete without a few activities to check off of your bucket list. If you're looking for something to do in the area, we've got you covered. As a family business local to the area for over twenty years, you can trust us to help you when planning your vacation itinerary or looking for a spontaneous last-minute activity to fill up your day.
Naples
The historic Naples pier was built in 1888 as a dock for freight and passenger trains. It has since been rebuilt and is a popular destination for fishing, sunset watching, dolphin spotting, and enjoying the view of the Gulf of Mexico. In addition, there is a concession stand and seating area if you're hungry during your visit.
This magnificent tropical garden was planted in 1919, many years before the animals came to the establishment. Today, you can stroll along the paved path for almost a mile past 70 species of rare, beautiful animals that live surrounded by exotic plants from their natural habitats.
Visitors can come and see more than one hundred of the most significant cars built between 1896 and 1995. The Revs Institute aims to advance the study of automotive history and, besides cars, contains over one million exhibits such as specialized research books, images, and documents on the history of automobiles. A large team of restoration technicians keeps all cars in the collection in perfect working order, and many of them demonstrate their superior engineering at various car races all over the world.
The Village is a luxurious open-air shopping mall, one of the most popular in Naples with tourists and affluent locals alike. The mall has many upscale shops selling everything from high fashion clothing, jewels, first-rate art, fine wines, and home décor.
This three day festival is popular with well-to-do crowd from all over the world. The tickets for festival events are highly coveted and sell out long before the festival begins. The festival features about 30 world famous wineries and about 18 celebrity chefs, who cook their favorite dishes in private family homes around Naples. The 2022 Naples Winter Wine Festival is pleased to feature more than 20 of the world’s preeminent wineries.
This year, the event will be held January 28th-30th, 2022.
5th Avenue South is an irresistible mix of glamour and laid-back ease. Historic and modern architecture blend together in eclectic sophistication, while tropical blooms and lush greenery grace the pedestrian-friendly promenades, and each storefront is filled with wonderful finds and delights.
Sanibel
Some of the best beaches in Florida can be found at Sanibel. These beaches are quieter than the immensely populated Fort Myers Beach, with plenty of food options a short drive away.
BIG ARTS features unique films, nationally recognized performing artists, rewarding workshops, stimulating lectures and a beautiful series of gallery exhibits. They offer:
- Professionally led arts and enrichment classes and workshops for students of all ages.
- Stimulating and informative lectures and group discussions with renowned national thought leaders and educators.
- Dynamic visual and performing arts presentations of the highest caliber.
The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum connects people to the natural world through their love of shells and the animals that create them.
One of the best things to do on Sanibel, the Museum offers fun and educational activities for the whole family. Kids love touching live mollusks in our touch pools, winning scavenger hunt prizes, and watching our Giant Pacific Octopus. Come visit the only museum in the United States devoted solely to shells and mollusks!
Sanibel Historical Museum and Village was founded in 1984 with a mission to preserve and share Sanibel history. The story of Sanibel is told from the Calusa and Spanish eras to the early pioneer families who settled on the island in the 1800s. It tells of warriors, adventures, fishermen, farmers and proprietors.
This Sanibel Island Lighthouse is one of the best areas to visit on Sanibel. Located on the East end of the island, it encompasses the entire tip of the island. With one of the larger parking lots for beach goers, restroom facilities, great shelling, the fishing pier and more, it is a very popular spot.
Make sure to arrive early as even with so many parking spots, it can fill up. From catching fish, finding some great shells, seeing a dolphin or two, observing ospreys and pelicans feeding or just general sunning on the beach, this is the spot.
Fort Myers
On the First Friday of the month from 6-10 pm, Downtown Fort Myers comes alive. The streets are lined with local and regional artists demonstrating and selling their one-of-a-kind works of art with many different styles being represented.
The Edison and Ford Winter Estates contain a historical museum and 21 acre botanical garden on the adjacent sites of the winter homes of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford beside the Caloosahatchee River in Southwestern Florida. The Edison & Ford Winter Homes, as well as the acres of botanic gardens, the museum, laboratory, Garden Shoppe (Garden Center) and Museum Store are open from 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. daily.
A known tourist destination to many, Fort Myers Beach is a great all-day activity, with dozens of amazing restaurants a simple walk away from the main beach area.
Round-trip transportation from the greater Fort Myers or greater Fort Lauderdale areas A well-educated, highly trained biologist or naturalist guide takes you through the canopy of towering bald cypress, a scenic boat cruise into the Ten Thousand Islands mangrove forest, a delicious lunch in the heart of the Everglades, and a spectacular airboat tour through sawgrass prairies and pond apple forests.
Estero
Coconut Point is a picturesque outdoor mall featuring over 110 stores including Dillard’s, Super Target, an Apple Store, Tommy Bahama and Barnes & Noble – all surrounding several acres of lakes with a boardwalk. From jewelry to apparel and accessories to sporting goods, we offer a variety of choices in every price range. Experience our large selection of outdoor dining options, from Ruth’s Chris Steak House, South Fork Grille, Ted’s Montana Grill, Rodizio Grill, the Peach Pit Bar & Grill and now open Amfora Mediterranean Restaurant, Lehne Burger and Joe's Fresh Catch.
Miromar Outlets is one of Southwest Florida’s best places to shop ever since their first designer and brand name outlet stores opened in 1998. There are plenty of options to shop, dine, and play at their stores, restaurants, and award-winning playground.
Located in Estero Bay, visitors typically launch from Koreshan State Park or Lovers Key State Park to access the park. Framed in forests of mangrove trees, the shell mounds and ridges of Mound Key rise more than 30 feet above the waters of Estero Bay.
Prehistoric Native Americans known as the Calusa were a non-agricultural hunting and gathering chiefdom that dominated the waters of southwest Florida for over 2,000 years. Mound Key is believed to have been the ceremonial center of the Calusa Indians when the Spaniards first attempted to colonize Southwest Florida in the early 1500s.
The park is accessible only by boat and there are no facilities. Interpretive displays along the trail crossing the island help visitors discover the history of the island. Mound Key is managed by Koreshan State Park, in Estero.
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For a full list of recommendations, check out our seasonal rental department's list of Top Things to Do in SWFL.
