Downtown
Of Historic or Cultural Interest
Fort Myers' premier attraction remembers its most illustrious citizens. The Edison & Ford Winter Estates at 2350-2400 McGregor Blvd., tel. 239-334-7419, www.efwefla.org, conducts tours of the famous neighbors' river homes, which recently underwent a $9 million restoration.
Walk through Edison's botanical gardens whose rare plants he imported to use in experiments. The 90-minute guided or audio tour includes Edison's winter lab and a visit to Ford's home. You may even run into Edison, Ford, or one of their contemporaries – portrayed by actors, of course. Afterwards, you are free to browse the museum, which displays many of Edison's 1,093 patented inventions. Admission to all attractions is $20 for adults and 11 for children aged six-12; laboratory and museum only tours are $11 and $4.50. Special botanical tours are available and the estates host special monthly events for kids and adults.
Nearby in a historic train depot, the Southwest Florida Museum of History, at 2300 Peck St. (at Jackson St.), tel. 239-332-5955, www.cityftmyers.com/museum, displays prehistoric Calusa Amerindian models, graphic depictions, historical IQ games, rare glass and art collections, a circa-1930 private rail car, a stuffed scrub cow, and changing exhibits. It's open Tuesday-Saturday,10-5. Admission is $9.50 for adults; $8.50 for seniors; $5 for students, free for children under age three.
Performing Arts
Downtown's most aggressive and highbrow attempt at reestablishing itself comes in the guise of Florida Repertory Theatre, tel. 877-787-8053 or 239-332-4488. October through May, the professional company performs comedies, classics, and musicals in the setting of the historic Arcade Theatre at 2267 First St. Tickets cost $215-$34.
Family Fun
The Imaginarium: Hands-On Museum and Aquarium, at 2000 Cran-ford Ave., tel. 239-337-3332, www.cityftmyers.com/imaginarium, transformed the city's old waterworks into an interactive facility where you can feel a cloud, learn about the world of finance, touch a horseshoe crab, and get blown away by a hurricane. Be sure to check out the gift shop; it has a great collection of nature-oriented toys and books. Museum hours are 10-5, Monday-Saturday, noon-5 Sunday. Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, and $5 for children aged three to 12.
If you're looking for cool action, head to Fort Myers Skatium at 2250 Broadway, next to the City of Palms Park stadium, tel. 239-461-3145, www.f-mskatium.com. The Skatium is open for public inline and ice skating Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday-Sunday. Call for hours. Regular admission is $5 for adults and $4 for children under age 12, plus $2 for skate rental.
Spectator Sports
The Boston Red Sox play their spring exhibition game season (March) at City of Palms Park on Edison Ave. at Jackson St., tel. 877-REDSOX-9 or 239-334-4700, www.redsox.com. Tickets, $10-$44.
Outlying Areas
Beaches, Parks & Natural Areas
Lakes Regional Park at 7330 Gladiolus Drive in south Fort Myers, tel. 239-432-2000, a 277-acre complex, has been reinvented with native vegetation and a birding focus since recent hurricanes. It offers trails, playgrounds, an interactive fountain play area, a climbing wall, picnic areas, paddleboats, kayaks, and a model train you can ride. You can rent bikes and boats. The train runs 10-1:45, Monday-Friday; 10-3:45, Saturday; noon-3:45, Sunday. Parking costs $1 an hour or $5 a day. Train rides, tel. 239-267-1905, cost $3 for persons over five years old, $1 for children aged one to five. The park is open sunrise-sunset daily.
Manatee Park rents kayaks for $10 an hour, $30 a day November through March at 10901 Rte. 80, tel. 239-432-2038, www.leeparks.org. Rentals are available daily 9-3.
Performing Arts
Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, at 1380 Colonial Blvd., tel. 239-278-4422, www.broadwaypalm.com, serves a lavish buffet with professionally performed comedies and musicals. In the main theater, matinees are presented twice weekly, Wednesday or Thursday and Saturday or Sunday, for $43. Evening show prices are $47, Tuesday-Friday (no Tuesday shows May-October); $50 on Saturday. Gratuities are extra. Children aged 12 and under pay $21 for any show. Show-only tickets cost $25. In the 90-seat off-Broadway theater, tickets are $22-$39.
Local Color
Ride the Seminole Gulf Railway from the corner of Colonial Blvd. and Metro Pkwy., (tel. 239-275-8487 or 800-SEM-GULF, www.semgulf.com) into the past and nature's hidden spots. Round-trip excursions on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday (except Labor Day through Thanksgiving) last 105 minutes and cost $20 for adults, $12 for children aged three-12. Family discounts are available. Special dinner, theater, holiday, and murder-mystery excursions are scheduled throughout the year.
Spectator Sports
South of town, the Lee County Sports Complex, 14100 Six Mile Cypress Rd., hosts Minnesota Twins spring league action. From April through August, the Miracle Professional Baseball team, member of the Florida State League, competes. For information on Miracles' games, tel. 239-768-4210, www.miraclebaseball.com. For Twins tickets, tel. 800-33TWINS or 239-768-4270, www.twinsbaseball.com. Twins tickets start at $10 for standing room only and go up to $35; Miracles tickets run $5 to $8.
