Ready for a getaway to Southwest Florida? I loved how many beautiful nature spots that Fort Myers and Sanibel had to offer, as well as fun restaurants, wildlife spotting, outdoorsy activities, and so much more. Check out below to see what some of my favorite things to do in Fort Myers and Sanibel, Florida are!
Disclaimer: This post is in partnership with The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel and may include affiliate links. Thanks for supporting Ready Set Jet Set!
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Sanibel Lighthouse Beach
Did you know Sanibel is one of the top-ranked shelling destinations? People come from all over to hunt for seashells on the beaches of Sanibel and Captiva! One easily accessible beach that’s great for shelling is Sanibel Lighthouse Beach Park. This beach is located on the southern tip of Sanibel Island and is home to the beautiful lighthouse built in 1884. The lighthouse is the most photographed thing on Sanibel! Come enjoy the beach, visit the lighthouse, snap some pics, and search for seashells.
And if you’re really wanting to go shelling more while here, you can check out other spots such as Bowman’s Beach, Blind Pass Beach, or take a boat over to Cayo Costa State Park.
J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge
My favorite activity I did during my time in Fort Myers and Sanibel was an early morning kayak tour through the wildlife refuge with Tarpon Bay Explorers. It was a leisurely guided 2-hour kayak journey through the mangroves. We were even lucky enough to see manatees in the bay! I highly recommend this tour, especially if you’re into scenery and wildlife spotting.
Otherwise, there are other great ways to visit the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. You can take the 90-minute refuge tram tour for example, or explore the Wildlife Drive for $10 per car or $1 per bike or pedestrian. Just note that the refuge is closed on Fridays!
Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve
If you’re looking for a peaceful nature walk, check out the Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve in Fort Myers. The slough is 3,400 acres of wetland that you can explore via a 1.2-mile boardwalk trail. This is a great place to spot wildlife such as gators, birds, otters, and more. The boardwalks also make for a beautiful nature photo spot.
The Bubble Room
Is this the wackiest restaurant in Florida? It’s Christmas all the time at The Bubble Room! There’s so much weird decor here, from Santas and Christmas Trees to vintage Disney items to old movie memorabilia. You have to try their desserts while you’re here as well, such as their award-winning Orange Crunch Cake. The Bubble Room is a must while visiting Captiva!
Koreshan State Park
Koreshan State Park is where the Koreshan Unity commune lived in the late 1800s through to the mid 1900s. Not only is it interesting to read about the history of this religious community and tour their old houses, but the grounds itself are beautiful and worth the visit on their own. You can spot wildlife like gopher tortoises there, kayak down the river, and more. My favorite part was the old ornamental bridges that made for great photo spots, especially with the Spanish moss on the trees to add to the atmosphere.
Cabbage Key
This is a fun day trip to take from Captiva! We scheduled our cruise with Captiva Cruises to take us to Cabbage Key. We departed at 10am, and during the cruise up spotted loads of dolphins. That’s one of the big bonuses of this day trip – I can pretty much guarantee you’ll see dolphins! They loved to ride the surf at the back of the ship, so I captured lots of great photos and videos of them on the cruise there and back.
Once on Cabbage Key, you have enough time to grab a quick lunch at the restaurant (lunch is not included with your cruise, fyi). It’s believed to be the inspiration behind Jimmy Buffet’s song, “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” so pretty much everyone gets a cheeseburger there! Per an old fishermen tradition, the walls inside are covered in dollar bills. You can add your own to the wall too (don’t worry, it’s all given to charities). If you have enough time, there are some short nature trails to explore as well as a water tower you can climb for a view of the island.
Matlacha
Matlacha is a fun little island you can visit. I recommend it for a lunch and shopping stop! You can explore a few art galleries, like Leoma Lovegrove Art Gallery. She also has a backyard garden area that’s fun for photos and to look at the art. What makes it so great is how colorful it is! The art gallery, as well as a lot of Matlacha, is painted in bright tropical colors. You can eat at spots like Blue Dog Bar & Grill and Yucatan Waterfront Bar and Grill, grab an ice cream at Great Licks Ice Cream, and even stay the night at the uber-cute Matlacha Tiny Village.
Lovers Key State Park
If you’re looking for some untouched beaches, check out Lovers Key State Park! Here, you’ll find 2 miles of undeveloped shoreline to relax on. This is a great spot to picnic, swim, kayak, nature spot… you name it!
Edison and Ford Winter Estates
Back in 1885, Thomas Edison first visited Southwest Florida and purchased the estates to build his vacation home. Later on, Henry Ford purchased the adjoining property and built his own bungalow vacation home. Eventually, both properties were brought together to become the Edison and Ford Winter Estates to preserve the site and allow the public in for tours.
You can tour their historic homes (they have a special inside the homes tour on Tuesdays and Thursdays if you want a more in-depth look), explore Edison’s botanical gardens of more than 1,700 plants, check out the Edison Botanic Research Laboratory, and learn more at the Edison Ford Museum.
Watch the Sunset at Captiva Beach
This is one of the best places to watch the sunset in Sanibel and Captiva! Enjoy the sunset from the beach and then head over to one of the nearby restaurants like The Green Flash Waterfront Restaurant,
Keylime Bistro, or the aforementioned Bubble Room.
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