City Guides: Things to do While Boating in Fort Myers and Cape Coral
The Caloosahatchee River winds lazily between Fort Myers and Cape Coral before flowing into the Gulf of Mexico. Along with being a boater’s paradise, this stunning southwest Florida destination offers natural attractions, waterparks and historic sites.
If your Fort Myers private dock slip rental is along the Caloosahatchee or near Fort Myers Beach, the Gulf ICW and Cape Coral’s inland canals, you’re in the right spot to visit some of our favorite places.
Edison and Ford Winter Estates
Photo: Wikimedia
2350 McGregor Blvd. / Fort Myers, Florida 33901
Located along the Caloosahatchee, the Edison and Ford Winter Estates showcase the life and works of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. Edison first visited Fort Myers in 1885 and bought the property to build a vacation home. Ford then followed in 1916 and purchased property right next door. Private boat slip rentals in Fort Myers are convenient anchorages to visit this National Register Historic Site.
Along with the homes of the two innovators, there’s a 21-acre botanical garden, a 15,000-square foot museum and the 1928 Edison Botanical Research Laboratory, which has original equipment from research done while trying to develop a U.S.-grown source of rubber. The museum features early inventions such as phonographs, electric lighting, movie projectors, Ford’s first V-8 motor and Edison’s original 1916 Model T as well as traveling exhibits on loan from the Smithsonian.
Manatee Park
Photo: Manatee Park (Facebook)
10901 Palm Beach Blvd. / Fort Myers, Florida 33905
Part of Lee County Parks & Recreation, Manatee Park is a great spot for fishing or launching a canoe or kayak. The park has an amphitheater, a playground, picnic areas and a butterfly garden. The best part, of course, are the adorable manatees that seek out the warm waters of the
Orange River that flows through the park. Manatees are most often seen late December through February when the Gulf water temps are below 68 degrees.
Fleamasters Flea Market
4135 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. / Fort Myers, Florida 33916
Is there anything more Floridian than the flea market? Fleamasters Flea Market is your answer to anything you ever needed or didn’t know you needed. At 400,000 square feet, it’s southwest Florida’s biggest flea market. It has about 900 vendors and stores on 52 acres, all under one roof. You can pick up fruit and vegetables, art, jewelry, apparel, shoes, fishing tackle, golf gear and much more. There’s a Music Hall with seating for 300 for concerts and other events.
Sun Splash Family Waterpark
Photo: Sun Splash Family Waterpark (Facebook)
400 Santa Barbara Blvd. / Cape Coral, Florida 33991
Sun Splash Family Waterpark features 14 acres of splashing fun within easy access to a Cape Coral boat slip for rent. Thrilling and family-friendly slides include tubes, racing and free-falling drop slides. The 200- foot long Zoom Flume sends sliders zipping and zooming down a 30-foot high tower. For a more relaxing vibe, the Main Stream River Tube lazy river takes riders on a winding quarter-mile float around the park. There’s a large pool with a sand beach, an interactive kids’ water play area and a sand volleyball court.
Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve
Photo: Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve (Facebook)
2500 SE 24th Street / Cape Coral, Florida 33990
The 365-acre Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve offers easy access from Cape Coral boat docks for rent. Walk along the wetlands nature trails or go kayaking. You can rent kayaks at the Kayak Shack Outpost. There are picnic areas, observation piers and a visitor center. Eagles, ibis, heron, racoons and snakes are just a few of the creatures you might catch of glimpse of. There’s also the Veteran’s Memorial Area, which has memorials dedicated to the U.S. Armed Forces.
Have you been to any of these attractions from your Fort Myers or Cape Coral dock rental? If not, it’s time to check them out.
