North America Travel Guide

Boca Grande

Boca Grande Attractions
Boca Grande Lighthouse Museum
Johann Fust Community Library

Bonita Springs

Bonita Springs is located in Lee County between Fort Myers and Naples along Interstate 75 near the Gulf of Mexico. Bonita Springs is part of the Fort Myers-Cape Coral, Florida metro area. Bonita Springs is an attractive area with beautiful beaches, fine restaurants, and excellent recreational facilities and has become another flourishing Southwest Florida township. Of course, one of the main attractions in the Bonita area is the beach. Lots of beachgoers on weekend’s head to the public areas at Bonita and Barefoot beaches to stroll the clean, wide shore, play in the clear Gulf waters, and exclaim over dolphins curling through the waves jus off shore. Farther north is Lovers Key State Recreation Area. There’s plenty of room to stake our own spot on the sand, fish, or kayak through the interior waterways where you’re likely to encounter a manatee-or several. Swimming, fishing band fishing are all popular activities on this stretch of the Gulf of Mexico. There is also the Imperial River to explore, the starting point of the Great Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail. And if you prefer your fun on foot, there are trails through the pristine Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, or a challenging round of golf at any one of many golf courses in the area. For a little taste of everything, head for Lovers Key State Park in Fort Myers Beach.

Bonita Spring Attractions
Stillwater Spa
Bonita Springs Public Beach
Barefoot Beach Preserve
Everglades Wonder Gardens

Cape Coral

Located just thirty minutes from downtown Fort Myers and fifteen minutes from Cape Coral, be sure to allow time to visit these lovely Islands, or better yet, plan an extended stay! The Islands’ offer an array of outdoor activities that include golf, hiking, bicycling, canoeing, kayaking, and beachcombing. Visitors will find the weather on the Islands favorable year-round, warm in the winter and because of the constant ocean breeze, pleasantly cool in the summer. Over 400 miles of canals make this city a boater’s and fisherman’s paradise. Many canals lead to the Gulf of Mexico, others to lakes and favorite fishing spots. The city lies between the Caloosahatchee River, part of the Intracoastal Waterway, and the Gulf of Mexico.

Cape Coral Attractions
Jaycee Park
Riverfront Park.
Edison Ford Winter Estates
Discover Local Beaches
Boston Red Sox
Red Sox & Twins Workouts Begin Mid February
Four Mile Ecological Park
Imaginarium Museum & Aquarium
Banyan Trace
Bluewater Vacations
Casa Loma Motel on the Waterfront
Century 21- Sunbelt Realty, Inc
Chiquita Bonita Rentals
Coldwell Banker Residental Real Estate,Inc
Colonial Resort Motel & Apartments
Del Prado Inn
Florida Houseboat Rentals
IslandRentalFLA.com
Malaga Motel
Osprey Villas
Quality Hotel
Rainbow Motel Resort

Captiva Island

Captiva Islands Florida is the perfect choice for your vacation whether you are looking for a romantic get away, a family trip or a nature vacation. Captiva is in the heart of Southwest Florida with over 15 miles of beautiful Florida shelling beaches. Rain is what keeps Captiva Island so lush and green. But unlike Hawaii (where it may rain several times every day), Captiva’s rain tends to finish and then go away. In the summer, there may be a strong thunderstorm in the late afternoon. These are fascinating to watch, but then they pass and the sun comes back out. The average rainfall ranges from a low of 1.8 inches in February to 5.8 inches in September. This would seem to indicate that September is the rainy season, but actually it is one of the most beautiful months on Captiva.

Captica Island Attractions
Adventures in Paradise/ Port Sanibel Marina
Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum
BIG Arts - Barrier Island Group for the Arts (BIG Arts
Captiva Cruises
Clinic for Rehabilitation of Wildlife (C.R.O.W.)
Everglades Day Safari
J. N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge
Lee Island Coast
Old Town Sanibel
Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Center
Sanibel Lighthouse
Sanibel Historic Village & Museum

Everglades

Spanning the southern tip of the Florida peninsula and most of Florida Bay, Everglades National Park is the only subtropical preserve in North America. At first glance, much of the Everglades looks like inviting prairie that visitors could easily hike through on a nice day. But looks are deceiving. Most of this plain is actually a shallow, gently flowing river, hidden beneath the tall sawgrass and reeds. Many who appreciate the unique qualities of this wilderness will argue that it is a place better kept secret. There are a variety of activities for visitors to enjoy such as hiking, bird watching, canoe trips, fishing , boating, nature talks, tram tours, demonstrations and campfire programs. All the information you need is available at the Main Visitors Center located at the entrance to the park.

Everglades Attractions
Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum
Billie Swamp Safari
Captain Doug’s Small Airboat Tours
Edens of the Everglades (Airboats)
Everglades Island Airboat Tours & Totch’s Island Tours
Everglades Private Airboats Tours
Everglades Wildlife Safari Airboats
Florida Boat Tours (Airboats)
Jungle Erv’s Airboat World (Airboats)
Speedy Johnson’s Fun Cruise (Airboats)
Wooten’s Airboats Tours

Fort Myers

Fort Myers is a gateway to a number of white sand beach islands and a thriving city with historical and natural attractions. The city is located directly on the wide Caloosahatchee River and offers numerous parks that preserve the fragile habitat while providing access to river boating and trails for biking and hiking. Fort Myers is the seat of Lee County and home of much of the area’s history. It’s apparent in the architecture downtown and in nearby neighborhoods-most notably just south of the downtown area, where Fort Myers most celebrated residents lived. Southwest Florida’s natural places make the region different from any other on earth, and visitors can explore mangrove forest, swamps, and other unique habitats in several areas. Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium provides an informative look and special programs about the region’s natural systems and animals. Special presentations also are staged periodically in the planetarium. Manatee Park allows winter visitors to get a close-up look at these gentle water giants in their natural habitat, and Six Mile Cypress Slough gives visitors a feeling for the region’s wetlands and the creatures that inhabit them. Lakes Park is a good spot for those who prefer to walk or bicycle along nature trails-simply to relax after a busy day sightseeing around Fort Myers.

Fort Myers Attractions
Ace Preformer
Alico Arena
Alliance For the Arts
Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall
Beef Jerky Outlets
Boston Red Sox
Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre
Burroughs Home
Busch Gardens
Caloosa Managment
Caloosahatchee Regional Park
Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium
Cape Air
Capt Zee Sailing
Captain Bob’s Excellent Adventure
Castle Golf
City of Fort Myers Yacht Basin
Classic Air Ventures
Compass Rose Marina
Downtown Redevelopment Agency
ECHO
Eden Vineyards
Edison-Ford Estates
Essex Marine, Inc
Estero River Outfitters
Everglades Day Safari
Fleamasters Fleamarket
Florida Everblades Ice Hockey
Florida Firecats Arena Football
Florida Flame
Florida Repertory Theatre At The Arcade Theatre
Fort Myers Miracle Baseball
Fort Myers Skatium
GAEA Guides
Gatorama
Germain Arena
Harborside Event Center
Harley Davidson of Ft Myers
Imaginarium
J.C. Cruises
Jack’s Marine South, Inc
Kennedy Space Center
Key West’s Finest
Lee Civic Center
Lee Co. Alliance of the Arts
Lee County Consignment
Manatee Park
Manatee World
Minnesota Twins Spring Training
Mullock Creek Marina
Murder Mystery Dinner Train
Myakka Wildlife Tours
Offshore Sailing School
Old Florida River Tours
Ortiz Fleamarket
Royal Palm Tours, Inc
Salvador Dali Museum
Sanibel Harbour Resort Marina
Scuba Quest
Sea World
Seahorse Scuba
Seminole Gulf Railway
Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve
Southwest Florida International Airport
Southwest Florida Museum of History
Southwest Florida Symphony
Stuff It & Love It
Sun Harvest Citrus
Sun Sports/Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa
Sun Sports/Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa
SW Florida Museum of History
Water Ski Adventure
Williams Academy Black History Museum

Fort Myers Beach Attractions
Big M Casino
Bowditch Point Regional Park
Bunche Beach
Capt. Tony’s Fishing Adventures
Captain Bob’s Excellent Adventure
Everglades Adventure Tours
Everglades Day Safari
Farmer’s Market
Fort Myers Beach Marina
Fort Myers Beach Pool
Fun Rentals
Getaway Marina
Ghost Tours of Ft Myers
Gulf Star Marina
Jungle Golf
Leisure Lady Casino
Matlacha Sailing
Mid-Island Beach Marina
Moss Marine
Mound House
Ostega Bay Foundation Marine Science Center
Paradise Parasail
Planet Ocean
Ranalli Parasail
Rebel Watersports, Inc
Salty Sam’s Marina
Sea Key West Express
Sea Trek
Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf
South Florida Sailing
Sundance Sailing
Tours Information Center
Xpress to Key West

North Fort Myers Attractions
Bowland All Star
Fish Tale Marina at Caloosa Isle
Florida Sailing and Cruising School
Marinatown Marina
Paradise Yacht Club
Prosperity Pointe Marina
Rialto Harbor Garden Guest Cottage
Shell Factory,The
Sweetwater Landing

Naples

Nestled on the sun drenched beaches of the Gulf of Mexico. Naples is known for world class shopping, dining and abundant, challenging golf courses.The city is noted for its colorful street life, its food like spaghetti and pizza and its songs especially in the bel conto style. Teddy Bear Museum of Naples is a unique museum to variety of teddies collections and more popular attractions are in Naples. A trip to the splendid Caribbean Gardens is a must-see experience. For lovers of nature, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida focuses on the local wildlife and has a wildlife rehabilitation center. Above all, however, Naples is a wonderful place to relax, swim and enjoy magnificent sunsets.

Inland, you can take a Naples Trolley to get a look at the city. Then, it’s time for shopping – a major activity in the city. The Avenues is a large retail area in town, and Third Street and Fifth Avenue, in particular, have a selection that rivals Palm Beach’s Worth Avenue. The Mediterranean-styled Village at Venetian Bay overlooks the water and offers 50 boutiques to shop in. Tin City is a renovated section of Old Naples with a collection of 40 stores selling everything from anklets to toy zebras. A variety of merchandise can also be found at the Coastland Center on the Tamiami Trail and the Waterside Shops at Pelican Bay.

Beaches in Naples
Lowdermilk park/beach
Naples beaches
Vanderbilt beach
Delnor-wiggins pass state recreation area/beach
Clam pass park/beach
Lely barefoot beach

Naples Attractions
10,000 Island Tour Co Inc
Bayfront Condos of Naples
Bowland Beacon
Bowland Woodside
Brookside Marina
Cape Air
Capital Pawn
Captain Bob’s Excellent Adventure
Carribean Gardens
Cocohatchee Nature Center
Collier Seminole State Park
Conservancy of SWFL, The
Coral Cay Adventure Golf
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
Dockside Boardwalk Merchants
Everglades Day Safari
Everglades Excursions
Extreme Rentals
Get Wet Sports
King Richards Family Fun Park
Lady Brett/Double Sunshine
Lely Flamingo Golf
Manatee Gaurantee
Naples Botanical Garden
Naples Dinner Theatre
Naples Nature Center
Naples Princess
Naples Trolley Tours
Naples Water Tours
Old Barn Farms
Reel Action Charters
South Bay Marina
Sweet Liberty
Teddy Bear Museum
Temple Citrus Grove
The Naples Depot
The Naples Winery
The Promenade
Tin City
Tropic Moon Trading Co
Village on Venetian Bay

Punta Gorda

Situated approximately 100 miles south of Tampa on the Gulf Coast with easy access from I-75, this community continues to offer leisurely, uncongested and unhurried living. Charlotte Harbor flanks the northwest side of the city offering 129 square miles of sparkling water, clear sunshine, fishing at its greatest, wildlife in abundance and a casual, friendly atmosphere that appeals to those who are seeking the natural pleasures of life. The recently revitalized downtown has cobblestone streets and gas lamp streetlights. The residential area features many brick streets lined with huge old royal palms and many old Florida-era tin-roofed homes with wide verandas. Fishing is a major attraction. For the novice and/or the master angler, area waters are a treat. Charter Boats or head boats will take the fisherman or woman out into the Gulf of Mexico where grouper, mackerel, snapper or tarpon will just about jump onto the hook. In the passes, off bridges, in coves or in Lemon Bay, one can catch trout, sheepshead or snook.

Punta Gorda Attractions
A.C. Freeman House
Art Around Town
Babcock Wilderness Adventures
Bissett Park
Boca Grande Lighthouse Park
Bowman’s Beach
Burnt Store Marina
Cambridge Lady Cruises
Carmalita Athletic Park
Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center
Fisherman’s Village - Punta Gorda
Florida Adventure Museum
Florida Military Heritage Museum
Historic Railroad Depot
King Fisher Cruise Lines
Peace River Wildlife Center
The Castaways Marina
VF Factory Outlet
Visual Arts Center

Sanibel Island

While the small island of Sanibel is simply bursting with hotels and other accommodations, the glitziness that generally accompanies these sorts of places is not evident here. More than 200 varieties of shells litter the beaches, particularly after an especially high or low tide. The annual Shell Fair is attended by thousands of visitors from throughout the world. For most visitors, however, shelling is a delightful excuse to enjoy hours of sun-worshipping along some of the most beautiful shoreline in North America and to absorb the unspoiled island atmosphere the natives work so earnestly to maintain. Sanibel Island is about 12 miles long and 3 miles wide. Sanibel is known around the world for it’s fabulous shelling beaches. Due to Sanibel Island’s unique geographical orientation, lying East to West instead of North to South, it acts as a scoop and gathers seashells along it’s beaches. Throughout the year, thousands of visitors come to enjoy Sanibel’s beaches and hunt for that special seashell.

The centerpiece of the museum is a large revolving globe in the Great Hall of Shells which exhibits exotic shells washed up on far-flung beaches around the world. Included are those monstrous clamp-jawed shells that threatened to swallow Tarzan and Jungle Jim in Hollywood’s fantasy seas but in reality are less menacing than an untrussed lobster claw.

Another major attraction on Sanibel is the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. These 6,000 acres of unspoiled wetlands, mangrove jungles and island uplands are named for a two-time Pulitzer Prize winning editorial cartoonist feared for his knifing wit that could skin the hide off the thickest-skinned politicians and make chitlins of their pork barrel projects.

Sanibel Island Attractions
Adventures in Paradise
Bailey Matthews Shell Museum
Big Arts
Canoe Adventures
Captain Bob’s Excellent Adventure
Captiva Cruises
Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (C.R.O.W.)
Ding Darling
Everglades Day Safari
Everglades Explorers
Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce
Sanibel Historical Village and Museum
Sanibel Lighthouse
Sanibel Marina
Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF)
Schoolhouse Theater
Tarpon Bay Explorers