Fort Myers has a diverse range of attractions that all types of visitors can connect with. There is an abundance of nature areas well within reach of Fort Myers’s bustling downtown, as well as the beach, the unique Shell Factory, and fun museums such as the Imaginarium and the Edison Ford Complex.
Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium
The Calusa Nature Centre & Planetarium is an ideal Fort Myers attraction for those with kids, as it teaches all about the animals of the region and also has nature trails. It is set on more than 100 acres and tours take in alligators, crocodiles, and snakes, while an aviary, planetarium, museum, and gift shop are also onsite.
Phone: +1 239 275 3435; www.calusanature.com
Downtown Fort Myers
Downtown Fort Myers is well-developed and comes with a variety of shops and outdoor restaurants, as well as quaint courtyards, fountains and a historic quarter. The historic quarter details fine architecture of the 1800s and 1900s and is ideal for strolling.
Edison Ford Complex
Fort Myers’s number one tourist attraction features some of the city’s finest properties which used to be home to famous residents, like Henry Ford and Thomas Edison. You can take a guided tour of Edison’s house, which takes in his curious laboratory, as well as take a look at Mr Ford’s Model T car that was presented to Thomas Edison by Henry Ford himself.
Phone: +1 239 334 7419
Fort Myers Beach
Originally inhabited by the Caloosa Indians for hundreds of years, Fort Myers Beach is a town unto itself, which presides over the coast and is the perfect escape from downtown Fort Myers. As well as the beach, the area is rich in natural history and large swathes remain unspoilt and perfect for exploring. www.fortmyersbeach.org
Imaginarium
Located on the site of the city’s old water treatment plant, the Imaginarium is a hands-on museum with a number of large tanks full of fish and other sea creatures. There are three large aquariums here as well as a smaller living coral reef tank, while an outdoor lagoon has sharks, octopi, alligators, and eels. There is also a movie theatre onsite. Phone: +1 941 337 3332; www.imaginariummuseum.com
Manatee World Boat Cruises
Visitors can see Florida’s famous vegetarian manatees (sea cows) in the wild when they come into Fort Myers to eat and shelter during the winter. Manatee World lets you see these wonderful serene creatures in their natural habitat via boat cruise. Guided commentary teaches visitors all about the manatees, as well as other animals, birds and plants in the area.
Phone: +1 239 694 4042; www.manateeworld.net
Shell Factory
Situated in North Fort Myers on the North Tamiami Trail, the Shell Factory is a popular attraction for tourists. It has the largest collection of shells in the world, including rare examples, as well as corals, sponges and fossils. Shells come from all over the world and there are also aquariums, wildlife exhibits, a video game arcade and miniature golf here to boot.
Phone: +1 941 995 2141; www.shellfactory.com
