Fort Myers has plenty to offer both visitors and locals in the way of tourist attractions. It has an edge over other Florida destinations partly because it contains such a wide variety of things to offer.Nature attractions are common, with Manatee World being one of Fort Myers' biggest crowd pleasers and most popular tourist attractions, while the Edison Fort Complex provides an essential slice of Florida history. Whatever your interests are, you are sure to find something to satisfy them in Fort Myers.
Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium
Address: 3450 Ortiz Avenue, Fort Myers, Florida (FL), 33905, USA
Tel: +1 239 275 3435
This privately owned attraction operates on a non-profit basis and aims to promote knowledge about local animal species and their habitat. The center features a museum, nature trails, planetarium, aviary, gift shop and meeting and picnic areas. Daily tours with an educational slant introduce visitors to the likes of snakes, alligators and crocodiles, in a safe and controlled environment.
Open: Monday to Saturday - 09:00 to 17:00, Sunday 11:00 to 17:00
Admission: free
Edison Ford ComplexAddress: 2325 McGregor Boulevard, Fort Myers, Florida (FL), USA
Tel: +1 941 334 3614
One of Fort Myers' most popular tourist attractions, the Edison Ford Complex, offers guided tours through the land and properties that once belonged to Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. In Edison's house, his laboratory, which was the setting for many of his major experiments, stands almost as he left it when he died in 1931. The on-site museum contains the original Model T Ford that Ford gave Edison, and also more than 200 Edison phonographs. The Edison Ford Complex is an essential attraction for anyone with an interest in American history.
Open: Monday to Saturday - 09:00 to 17:00, Sunday - 12:00 to 17:30
Admission: charge, discounts for Florida residents and children
Imaginarium
Address: 2000 Cranford Avenue, Fort Myers, Florida (FL) 33916, USA
Tel: +1 941 337 3332
The Imaginarium is a nature based attraction located at the site of the 1938 city water treatment plant. The center features over 60 fun filled, hands-on exhibits that explore ecology, zoology, paleontology, meteorology, physics, mathematics and more. There are three 900-gallon aquariums, a 500-gallon living coral reef tank, a touch tank and an outdoor lagoon containing attractions such as alligators, octopus, eels, sharks and a variety of other sea species. Educational film presentations can be viewed throughout the day at Fort Myers' Imaginarium, in a converted water tank that has the capacity for 100 spectators.
Open: Monday to Saturday - 10:00 to 17:00, Sunday -12:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge
Manatee WorldAddress: 5605 Palm Beach Boulevard, Fort Myers, Florida (FL), USA
Tel: +1 239 694 4042
In the winter months, the Fort Myers area attracts hundreds of manatees, who congregate in the Orange River currents to feed and keep warm. Manatee World provides visitors with the opportunity to view these wonderful creatures in their natural state and environment. Boat cruises with guided commentaries tour the scenic Florida wilderness taking in not only the manatees, but a variety of other native birds, plants and animals in their natural surroundings.
Open: winter months - daily
Admission: charge
Shell Factory
Address: 2787 North Tamiami Trail, North Fort Myers, Florida (FL), USA
Tel: +1 941 995 2141, +1 800 282 5805
The Shell Factory is home to the world's largest collection of rare shells, coral sponges and fossils. With more than five million shells collected from all seven seas as well as wildlife exhibits, aquariums and alligators, there's plenty to keep nature lovers occupied. Take time out to enjoy the arcade games, miniature golf and Bumper Boat lagoon attractions.
Open: Monday to Saturday - 10:00 to 21:00, Sunday - 10:00 to 20:00
Admission: charge
