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With its beautiful beaches, waterways, and nature reserves, Fort Myers is a scenic destination for a family getaway on the Gulf Coast of Florida. There’s no shortage of fun things to do and interesting attractions to enjoy in Fort Myers, such as the Edison and Ford Winter Estates, the IMAG History & Science Center, and the Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve.
Although these are fantastic sights to check out, they can become very busy during the high season. If you prefer to avoid the crowds and venture off the beaten path, consider visiting some of these 22 must-visit hidden gems on your upcoming vacation to the Fort Myers area.
1. Sky Zone North Fort Myers Trampoline Park
- Address: 9370 Dynasty Drive, Fort Myers, FL
- Website: skyzone.com/northfortmyers
- Opening Hours: Monday – Friday & Sunday: 9 am – 9 pm / Friday & Saturday: 9 am – 10 pm
Sky Zone North Fort Myers is a trampoline park with a difference. It boasts a Ninja Course, Battle Beams, and a Stunt Fall platform. Kids also have the opportunity to try the trapeze and practice their aerial skills.
2. Fleamasters Fleamarket
- Address: 4135 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Fort Myers, FL
- Website: fleamastersfleamarket.com
- Opening Hours: Friday, Saturday & Sunday: 9 am – 5 pm
Fleamasters is the biggest fleamarket in Southwest Florida, boasting over 900 stores across 400,000 square feet. You can discover vintage vinyl, handmade jewelry, arts and crafts, vintage clothes, souvenirs, and more. Plus, there are lots of food stands so you can grab a bite to eat after wandering around the stalls.
3. GameTime Arcade
- Address: 10037 Gulf Center Dr, Fort Myers, FL
- Website: gametimeplayers.com/locations/FortMyers/
- Opening Hours: Monday – Wednesday: 11 am – 11 pm / Thursday: 11 am – 12 am / Friday: 11 am – 2 am / Saturday: 10 am – 2 am / Sunday: 10 am – 11 pm
GameTime Arcade is an alternative way to enjoy Fort Myers’ nightlife. There are more than 120 games on offer, including mini bowling, wheel of fortune, and race simulators. There’s also a restaurant and a full liquor sports bar with more than 60 HDTVs for you to catch any game of your choice.
4. Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center
- Address: 2301 First St, Fort Myers, FL
- Website: sbdac.com
- Opening Hours: Monday, Tuesday & Thursday: 10 am – 5 pm / Wednesday: 10 am – 11 pm / Friday: 10 am – 12 pm
The Sidney & Berne David Art Center is dedicated to bringing world-class art events to Southwest Florida. The art galleries and exhibitions here feature both international and local artists, and the center also regularly hosts concerts, lectures, and educational art events for children and adults.
5. Murder Mystery Dinner Train
- Address: 2805 Colonial Blvd, Fort Myers, FL
- Website: semgulf.com
If you’re looking for dinner and a show with a twist, join a Seminole Gulf Railway Murder Mystery Dinner. You’ll enjoy a delicious five-course meal in a vintage dining car while an interactive murder mystery show plays out around you.
6. Burroughs Home and Gardens
- Address: 2505 First St, Fort Myers, FL
- Website: burroughshome.com
- Opening Hours: Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays: 11 am – 1 pm
The Burroughs House is a Georgian Revival-style mansion that dates back to 1901. In its heyday, the house was the venue of many important social events attended by elite members of the Fort Myers community. Take a guided tour to learn about the history of the property and the Burroughs family and to explore the two acres of pretty gardens that sit alongside the Caloosahatchee River.
7. Vino’s Picasso
- Address: 15250 S Tamiami Trail, Fort Myers, FL
- Website: vinospicasso.com
- Opening Hours: 11 am – 9 pm
Vino’s Picasso is a fun alternative to a typical wine bar or cocktail bar. Enjoy a few glasses of delicious wine while an art instructor shows you how to create an original painting. This is a fantastic place for a romantic date night or to have fun with a group of friends.
8. Railroad Museum of South Florida
- Address: 7330 Gladiolus Dr, Fort Myers, FL
- Website: rrmsf.org
- Opening Hours: Monday – Friday 10 am – 2 pm / Saturday & Sunday: 10 am – 4 pm
Explore restored historic trains that date back to the 1900s when you visit the Railroad Museum of South Florida. Little ones love the interactive exhibits here, and visitors of all ages can enjoy the miniature train ride that passes villages, woodlands, and lakes. Look out for the themed train rides that take place during Halloween and Christmas.
9. Sun Harvest Citrus
- Address: 14601 6 Mile Cypress Pkwy, Fort Myers, FL
- Website: sunharvestcitrus.com
- Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday: 8 am – 6 pm
Florida is renowned for producing some of the best oranges in the world, and Sun Harvest Citrus is a family-owned business that has been supplying citrus fruits to customers locally and nationally for more than 30 years. Sample freshly squeezed juices, buy fresh fruit, pastries, and other food products, and learn about the company’s history during your visit.
10. Berne Davis Botanical Garden
- Address: 2166 Virginia Ave, Fort Myers, FL
- Opening Hours: Tuesdays June – September: 9 am – 12 pm / Tuesdays October – May: 10 am – 1 pm
Berne Davis Botanical Garden is home to a huge variety of tropical fruits, herbs, bromeliads, orchids, roses, hibiscus, and more. Enjoy a relaxing hour or two wandering around these beautiful grounds.
11. Mound House
- Address: 451 Connecticut St, Fort Myers Beach, FL
- Website: moundhouse.org
- Opening Hours: Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday: 9 am – 4 pm
Mound House is a museum dedicated to the history of the Calusa people who settled on Estero Island thousands of years ago. They used shells to craft weapons and tools and tossed discarded shells and other items into what is now known as the Calusa Indian Shell Mound. A visit to Mound House is a great way to learn about the history of the land surrounding Fort Myers.
12. Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge
- Address: 12085 SR 29 South, Immokalee, FL
- Website: fws.gov/refuge/florida_panther/
- Opening Hours: Monday – Friday: 8 am – pm
The Florida panther is under threat due to a rapidly vanishing ecosystem, but this refuge is committed to conserving the species. Most of the park is closed to the public, but some daytime hiking is permitted. For both your safety and the safety of the panthers, you’re highly unlikely to catch sight of these elusive big cats during your hike, but you can experience their undisturbed, natural habitat.
13. McGregor Boulevard
McGregor Boulevard is a historic roadway that runs from the Fort Myers River District to Punta Rassa. Wander along it to take in beautiful historic homes, towering palm trees, and charming boutiques and gift shops. This is where some of America’s high society would escape during the winter months of the early 1900s, and it’s where the renowned Edison and Ford Winter Estates are situated.
14. John Yarbrough Linear Park Trail
There are many fantastic parks in Fort Myers, but John Yarborough Linear Park is a hidden gem. It’s a six-mile stretch of nature trail that’s suitable for hiking, biking, jogging, rollerblading, and bird-watching. You might even catch sight of alligators, eagles, and herons.
15. Fort Myers Brewing Company
- Address: 12811 Commerce Lakes Dr #28, Fort Myers, FL
- Website: fmbrew.com
- Opening Hours: Monday: 2 pm – 8 pm / Tuesday & Wednesday: 2 pm – 10 pm / Thursday & Friday: 2 pm – 11 pm / Saturday: 12 pm – 11 pm / Sunday: 12 pm – 8 pm
Fort Myers Brewing Company has become one of the largest breweries in Florida since its opening in the 1990s. Visit to sample its award-winning craft beers and enjoy live music, game and trivia nights, and delicious dishes from visiting food trucks.
16. Port Sanibel Marina
- Address: 14341 Port Comfort Rd, Fort Myers, FL
- Website: portsanibelmarina.com
Port Sanibel Marina is a quiet alternative to many of the crowded beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel Island. It’s dotted with mangrove trees and has a charming lighthouse. Walk along the boardwalk, try your hand at fishing, or simply sit and watch the sunset.
17. Koreshan State Historic Park
- Address: 3800 Corkscrew Rd, Estero, FL
- Website: floridastateparks.org/park/koreshan
- Opening Hours: 8 am – sunset daily
The Koreshans were an eccentric religious sect that settled in Fort Myers in 1893. They established a beautiful community on the banks of the Estero River, and visiting the restored buildings today is a fascinating way to learn about what life was like for the Koreshans more than a century ago. If you’re planning a day trip to Naple, you can easily drop into Koreshan State Historic Park along the way.
18. Bowman’s Beach
- Address: 1700 Bowmans Beach Rd, Sanibel, FL
- Website: leegov.com/parks/beaches/bowmansbeach
- Opening Hours: 24/7
Sanibel and Captiva Islands have some of the most beautiful beaches in Florida, but they can get very busy. Bowman’s Beach, on the west end of Sanibel Island, is a dog beach, which means it doesn’t get as crowded. If you don’t mind making friends with the local pups, head to Bowman’s Beach for a stroll, swim, or hunt for seashells. There are bathrooms, picnic tables, grills, and playgrounds on-site.
19. Sirenia Vista Park
- Address: 3916 Ceitus Pkwy, Cape Coral, FL
- Website: capecoral.gov/sirenia_vista
- Opening Hours: 7 am – 7 pm daily
Manatee Park is one of the best places in Fort Myers to spot endangered Florida manatees, but you also have a good shot at Sirenia Vista Park in Cape Coral. Kayaking and canoeing are popular activities here, so look out for rental stores and head out onto the water in search of the majestic sea cows.
20. Paddleboarding at Lovers Key State Park
- Address: 8700 Estero Blvd, Fort Myers Beach, FL
- Website: floridastateparks.org/park/Lovers-Key
- Opening Hours: 8 am – 6 pm daily
Stand-up paddleboarding (SUPing) is an incredibly popular water sport in Fort Myers, and one of the best places to try it is at Lovers Key State Park in Fort Myers Beach. You’re sure to see plenty of wildlife in these peaceful waterways.
21. Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve
- Address: 2500 SE 24th St, Cape Coral, FL
- Website: capecoral.net/four_mile_cove_eco_preserve
- Opening Hours: 7 am – 8 pm daily
Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve is a nature center that protects the natural wetlands, mangrove forests, and coastal prairies of Cape Coral. Hire kayaks or explore on foot via the boardwalks for a chance to see ibis, herons, eagles, raccoons, snakes, alligators, otters, and more.
22. Hertz Arena
- Address: 11000 Everblades Parkway, Estero, FL
- Website: hertzarena.com
Fort Myers is renowned in the world of Major League Baseball, given that it’s home to two beloved American teams during the Spring Training season. The Boston Red Sox are based at the JetBlue Park, while the Minnesota Twins call the CenturyLink Sports Complex home.
If you’d rather avoid the busy baseball crowds, look out for ice hockey games instead. Ice hockey has become surprisingly popular in Florida since the late 90s. Watch the Florida Everblades play at the Hertz Arena to appreciate the region’s love of professional hockey.
Which Ft. Myers Hidden Gems Will You Discover?
Venturing off the beaten path is sure to lead to lots of fun when you visit Fort Myers. Which of these hidden gems will you check out on your next visit to this sunny region of Southwest Florida?
