Fort Myers is all about the outdoors and there are many fine wilderness areas and beaches to take the kids to, including the gorgeous nearby Captiva Beach and the Lovers Key State Park. Kids will really enjoy the Sun Splash Family Water Park while adults have plenty of golf courses to choose from.

Babcock Wilderness Adventures
Babcock Wilderness Adventures are the best thing you can do for kids while in Fort Myers. They are essentially swamp buggy tours of a large ranch near town, taking in an abundance of wildlife the easy way. You get to see alligators, panthers, many varieties of birds, and sometimes even wild turkeys. Commentary is provided over the 90-minute tours. 
Phone: +1 800 500 5583; www.babcockwilderness.com  

Canoeing and Kayaking
Fort Myers is one of waterways and islands and is perfect for canoeing and kayaking. Pine Island, west of Fort Myers, and Estero River, to the south, have the best kayaking. You get to see manatees and birds and the Estero River route is an official Florida canoe trail running for a few kilometres to Mound Key State Archaeological Park. Tropic Star Cruises at Pineland Marina hire rentals. 
Phone: +1 239 283 0015; www.tropicstarcruises.com  

Captiva Beach
Located on the northern tip of Captiva Island, Captiva Beach is somewhat of a romantic beach area and is surrounded by tropical foliage. There are many nice resorts here, including the comfortable Captiva Beach Resort, while the famed Crescent Beach is also nearby. Captiva Island is a bit of a trek from Fort Myers but is well worth it. www.captivaisland.com  

Golf
There are many golf courses in the region although most are only open to members. One decent municipal course in town is the Fort Myers Country Club on McGregor Boulevard, which has been around since 1917 and features a great restaurant. Another public course is the more challenging Eastwood Golf Club on Ortiz Avenue. Both have reasonable green fees but must be booked in advance. 
Phone: +1 239 275 4848 (Eastwood Golf Club).

Lovers Key State Park
This secluded state park is on Estero Boulevard in Fort Myers Beach and features some quaint beaches and country areas. The beautiful white-sand beaches here are all but empty and make for fine walking and bathing, while an abundance of wildlife includes bottlenose dolphins, West Indian manatees, and marsh rabbits. Searching for shells and picnicking are favoured pastimes in this 700-acre park. 
Phone: +1 239 463 4588

Sun Splash Family Water Park
Located on Santa Barbara Boulevard in Cape Coral, Sun Splash Family Waterpark makes the perfect family day out. Cape Fear, Fun-L-Tunnel, and Zoom Flume water slides are the most fun, although not so good for little ones. Squirt Works play area is ideal for young kids, while a leisurely float on the lazy river is a must for mums and dads. 
Phone: +1 941 574 0557

Options for delving into the cultural side of Fort Myers are good and include fine country and coastal areas, wineries, museums and theatres. The Fort Myers Historical Museum is a must-see to learn about the early peoples of the region, while the Koreshan State Historic Site also teaches about history as well as offering excellent camping.

Bonita Springs & Estero
Bonita Springs & Estero, a popular tourist area south of the city centre, features beaches, parks and entertainment options. Bonita Beach is the highlight, with its lovely white sands and warm waters, while Lover's Key State Park and Koreshan State Historic Site are other big attractions here. A fine selection of shops and eateries can be found along the promenade.

Eden Vineyards and Winery
Located along Little Lane in nearby Alva, just to the east of Fort Myers, is the Eden Vineyards and Winery, the oldest such attraction in the state. Visitors can sample some of the many wines here that are produced and sold throughout Florida and learn about the history of the winery. 
Phone: +1 239 728 9463; www.edenwinery.com  

Fort Myers Historical Museum
The Fort Myers Historical Museum is housed in an old railway depot, the Atlantic Coastline Railroad, and teaches all about the history of the region. Exhibits include a look at the various people’s that have shaped Fort Myers, including the Paleo Indians, Seminoles, Calusa, and Spanish explorers. The museum can be found on Peck Street. 
Phone: +1 941 332 5955; www.cityftmyers.com/museum  

Fort Myers Theatre
The Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall is Fort Myers’s foremost cultured venue and features such renowned productions as Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, and Miss Saigon, as well as a variety of other, more light-hearted events. For theatre with dinner thrown in, check out the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, where you can see Broadway productions while tucking into a buffet. 
Phone: +1 239 481 4849; www.bbmannpah.com (Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall).

Koreshan State Historic Site
Koreshan State Historic Site, just outside of town, features lots of chances to enjoy the outdoors, as well as to learn some history. The historic site showcases Cyrus Reed Teed, who set up a colony here in the 1800s to develop the area. Hiking, fishing, canoeing, and camping are popular pastimes at the site. 
Phone: +1 239 992 0311; www.floridastateparks.org/koreshan  

Old Lee County Courthouse
Main Street’s Old Lee County Courthouse was built in 1915 and is one of the oldest structures in the region. This fine building has been restored to its former glory and still sees courtroom action. It has appeared in a number of TV programmes and movies, including Just Cause starring Sean Connery, and can be toured. 
Phone: +1 941 335 2481; www.leeclerk.org  

Eating options in Fort Myers are one up from your standard US city, with some of the best seafood restaurants in the state and popular all-you-can-eat barbecue buffets. Mexican, Spanish, Italian, French and Japanese cuisines can also be sampled and there is no shortage of fast-food and pizza joints in downtown Fort Myers and at the beach.

Seafood restaurants to look out for in Fort Myers include the Beach Pierside Grill, the Snug Harbour Waterfront Restaurant, and Channel Mark, where fresh shrimp, crabs and lobsters can be expected. Big eaters will love the likes of Smokey Bones Barbeque and Grill, where they can gorge to their heart’s content. The beachfront bars have the best drinking for tourists in Fort Myers.

As with any sizeable American city, Fort Myers excels in its shopping options, with shopping malls galore, designer stores, as well as kitschy souvenir outlets at the beach. Popular malls include the Edison Shopping Mall, southwest Florida’s largest with around 200 shops, including renowned brands. The Miromar Factory Outlet Mall, Coconut Pointe Town Centre, and Bell Tower are other popular shopping malls.

The Shell Factory and Nature Park just outside town is particularly popular with shopping tourists, as is its colossal collections of shells, corals, fossils, and sponges. It can be found on the Caloosahatchee River Bridge on US 41. In addition, the large Levi's store at the Sanibel Tanger Factory Stores, on McGregor Boulevard, is also worth a look.