Things to do & places to visit in Southwest Gulf Coast, Florida, United States

Floridas Southwest Gulf Coast contains a constellation of enticing coastal gems. Stunning beaches, including Ft. Myers Beach, Tigertail Beach and Pensacola Beach, fringe the Gulf, down the I-75 from Tampa to Naples. Sanibel Islands shelling attracts thousands. Cape Corals waters are paradise for flyfishing. Golfers adore spectacular courses in Marco Island and Naples. Glorious sunny days and deliciously warm turquoise waters beckon in this often overlooked corner of the Sunshine State.

Southwest Gulf Coast region in Florida, United States. Timezone: America/New_York, current date and time: Sunday, April 28, 2024, 4:07.

Top things to do (17)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Revs Institute (737 reviews)
- A Great History of Automobile Racing
Sunday: Spent 1-2 hours Speciality Museums

Revs Institute® is open each week on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Tickets must be purchased in advance online for specific dates/times. No telephone orders or walk-up visitors can be accommodated. Revs Institute is dedicated to the study of the automobile past, present and future. Revs Institute offers visitors an exceptional opportunity to view over 100 of the most influential automobiles of our time. Many of the cars are unique or exceptionally rare, and each meets rigid standards of historical, technical, aesthetic or social significance. Revs Institute is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. See more..
4.5 The Ringling (7.317 reviews)
- When you’re sick of the beach…
Sunday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Speciality Museums • Art Museums • History Museums

The Ringling is located in Sarasota, Florida and preserves the legacy of John and Mable Ringling. It is home to the State Art Museum of Florida, the historic Ca' d'Zan Mansion, Bayfront Gardens, the Art Library, two Circus Museums, and the Historic Asolo Theater. The grounds and gardens are free to visit, and the Museum of Art offers free admission on Mondays. See more..
4.5 J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge (6.295 reviews)
- Fun couple hours for kids and adults alike
Spent More than 3 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas

Established in 1945, this wildlife refuge occupies one-third of Sanibel Island and is a prime spot for bird watching. Fees are required for Wildlife Drive, which is open everyday but is closed on Fridays, gate times vary. The best way to plan your visit is to stop in the informative FREE visitor center first which is open daily 9am-4pm. Then begin your adventure with many activities including the wildlife drive, tram tour, kayaking, fishing opportunities, picnic benches, and even a free scavenger hunt style game and wildlife spotting app (Discover Ding) if you prefer a self-guided tour. See more..
4.5 St. Armands Circle (5.777 reviews)
- Great customer service
Sunday: 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Points of Interest & Landmarks • Shopping Malls

This outdoor mall with a coastal view is a high end retail and entertainment district home to over 130 shops, restaurants and galleries. St. Armand's Circle is built on an island in Sarasota Bay adjacent to Lido Key. Its circular shape and layout is inspired by its designer John Ringling, who is famous for shaping the modern day circus—you can learn more about it through day tours around Sarasota. The shops surround a charming green park in the center—a perfect place to relax in between a full day of shopping and dining. – Tripadvisor See more..
4.5 Edison and Ford Winter Estates (5.710 reviews)
- Very Interesting
Sunday: 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM Spent 2-3 hours Historic Sites • Gardens • History Museums

Visitors to the Edison and Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers will enjoy seeing the winter residences of famous inventors Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. There are historical buildings, award-winning gardens, the Edison Botanic Research Lab and the Inventions Museum. The museum has hundreds of inventions, artifacts and special exhibits. Edison Ford offers many tour options, including special "Inside-the-Homes" and "Inside-the-Lab" Tours on select days. The audio tour is available in English, Spanish, German and French. Historian led tours are also offered in German on select days. Group tours can be arranged in advance. See more..
4.5 Fort Myers Beach (5.679 reviews)
- Beautiful Beach
Beaches

Fort Myers Beach in Florida is a long, sandy beach that's popular amongst locals, spring breakers, and families. You can spend your day here beachcombing and swimming in the warm, tranquil waters, or trying out a range of water sports like parasailing; ensure peace of mind and book the experience beforehand with a reliable and trusted operator. If you're feeling hungry, there are plenty of mouth-watering options to choose from along the waterfront. And in the evening, head to the pier for a stunning sunset over the Gulf. Finish the night with a pub crawl while dancing to live music. – Tripadvisor See more..
4.5 Naples Botanical Garden (4.433 reviews)
- Absolutely gorgeous.
Gardens

Naples Botanical Garden is a 170-acre world-class garden paradise that features the plants and cultures of the tropics and subtropics between the latitudes of 26 degrees North and 26 degrees South including Brazil, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and Florida. The Garden also offers 90 acres of beautifully restored natural habitats and walking trails offer educational entertainment and enjoyment for people of all ages. See more..
4.5 Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium (4.370 reviews)
- Lots of interesting things to see
Sunday: 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM Aquariums

Located at the Mote Marine Laboratory, this is home to a 135,000 gallon outdoor shark tank and many other marine species. See more..
4.5 Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens (3.691 reviews)
- A Very Nice Zoo
Sunday: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM Zoos

This historic tropical garden and nationally accredited zoo features wildlife experiences to inspire people of all ages to respect, value and help conserve wildlife and our natural world. Visit today to enjoy your favorite animals like lions, monkeys, and giraffes. Ask those questions you've always wondered about at the Meet the Keeper Series. Be fascinated by rare creatures during premier wildlife shows. Cruise through islands of monkeys, lemurs, and gibbons. Watch our professional staff hand-feed American alligators while dispelling popular myths. The zoo is nationally accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the organization that sets the highest standards for wildlife care, education, and conservation. See more..
4.5 Myakka River State Park (3.399 reviews)
- There is No Other River as Pristine as the Myakka
Sunday: 8:00 AM - 6:30 PM Nature & Wildlife Areas

One of the original Civilian Conservation Corps parks. See more..
4.5 Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary (3.372 reviews)
- Great Day Birdwatching
Sunday: 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM Nature & Wildlife Areas

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is a 13,000 acre Preserve. The Sanctuary is open 7 days a week from 8:00am-3:00pm with last admission at 1:00 pm. Be sure to reserve your ticket online. Visitors will find a gentle, pristine wilderness that dates back more than 500 years. A 2.25 mile boardwalk meanders through pine flatwoods, wet prairie, around a marsh and finally into the largest old growth Bald Cypress forest in North America. These impressive trees, relatives of the redwood, tower 130 feet into the sky and have a girth of 25 feet. Their massive branches are draped with mosses, lichens, bromeliads and ferns. The forest is also home to alligators, otters, white-tailed deer and red-bellied turtles. A wide variety of wading birds, songbirds, raptors and the fabulous Painted Bunting can be seen here. Photo opportunities are available at every turn of the boardwalk trail. See more..
4.5 Marie Selby Botanical Gardens (3.308 reviews)
- Tour with Betsy, Neal and Jane Meadows Feb 2023
Sunday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Historic Walking Areas • Gardens

Bayfront sanctuaries connecting people with air plants of the world, native nature, and our regional history. See more..
4.5 Bowman's Beach (3.103 reviews)
- Always a surprise
Beaches

Bowman’s Beach changes from hour to hour . From strong waves and few beach walkers to suddenly beach umbrellas and families and couples covering the sand. We are always surprised how fast the conditions and beach inhabitants change.We can always count on a beautiful sunset though. See more..
4.5 Lovers Key State Park (3.070 reviews)
- Lovers Key is Beautiful!
State Parks • Nature & Wildlife Areas

Park is not associated with Bonita Springs Dog Beach. Enjoy swimming, sunbathing, shelling, fishing, hiking, bicycling, wildlife watching, canoeing/kayaking, geocaching and more. See more..
4.5 Lowdermilk Beach (2.361 reviews)
- Great Beach!
Beaches

Has public restrooms, showers and cafe. Cafe serves food, beer, wine, etc and will fill your cooler with ice for 50cents per scoop. They also have a rental area with chairs, umbrellas, tables, kayaks. If the main area is too crowded, just walk a little ways down and you are fine. Parking is $2.50/hour See more..
4.5 Fishermen's Village (2.332 reviews)
- It’s always fun
Sunday: 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Marinas • Scenic Walking Areas • Shopping Malls

Fishermen's Village Waterfront Mall, Resort, and Marina offers something for everyone. Shopping, dining, live entertainment, and water adventures await locals and travelers. With over 30 boutique shops and 5 different restaurants, you are sure to find something that pleases you and your family. See more..
4.5 Manatee Park (2.274 reviews)
- Amazing experience and knowledgeable staff
Parks

Look for the West Indian manatee. See more..
4.5 Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve (2.229 reviews)
- Fantastic time with nature!
Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas

This is a beautiful preserve. It gets busy (we had to come back as we couldn’t get a parking space the first time we went). It costs $1.00 per hour to park (credit cards or bills with no change given) and I would recommend at least 2 hours. Three hours of parking time would be better. There is a boardwalk throughout so it is easy walking, and there are benches periodically to either rest, or sit quietly to allow the wildlife adjust to your presence. They provide paper guides that explain quite a bit about the slough. See more..
4.5 Ca d'Zan (2.178 reviews)
- Loved this place.. amazing architecture and time capsule
Sunday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Historic Sites

Ca' d'Zan is a venue of The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. Visit ringling.org to purchase a tour. The home of the circus king and his wife, a couple from humble mid-western origins, Ca’ d’Zan stands as a testament to the American Dream of the Roaring Twenties. Inspired by the Venetian Gothic style of the palazzos that ring the Venice canals, this dazzling palatial mansion perfectly captures the splendor and romance of the Italy the Ringlings so loved. For tour information please visit ringling.org See more..
4.5 Caspersen Beach (1.840 reviews)
- highlight of our holiday!
Beaches

We had a fantastic time looking for shark teeth, it was the highlight of our holiday! I'd definitely recommend heading to Shark Frenzy in town before the beach, we hired tools to help us on the beach. We hired a scoop type thing and a floating sifter. There are two carparks at the beach and it got quite busy but we managed to get a spot - there are toilets and a shower but no cafes or anything so take snacks! The beach is very different to others in Florida, its darker sand and quite stony/shelly so I'd definitely recommend water shoes. The waves are really really strong too so its not the best for small children, our 5 year was knocked off her feet a few times! We really enjoyed looking for the shark teeth and managed to find lots - tip, if you take them to Shark Frenzy they will identify and sort for you. We actually went back to the beach as the sun was setting and it was much quieter, and we actually had more success finding teeth! See more..
4.5 The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum (1.659 reviews)
- More Than I Expected
Sunday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Speciality Museums

The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum is the only museum in the U.S. devoted entirely to shells and mollusks, and one of the best things to do on Sanibel Island. It features more than 30 engaging exhibits of stunning shells, showcasing some of the largest and rarest shell specimens in the world, including the goliath conch, lightning whelk and Atlantic trumpet triton, as well as common Southwest Florida shells, fossil shells and more. New in March 2020, “Beyond Shells: The Mysterious World of Mollusks” adds the live animals that create shells to its must-see experiences. New aquariums include live octopuses, giant clams, nautilus, nudibranchs and gastropods, and two 15-foot-long touch tanks let young visitors get their hands wet. For a perfect Sanibel experience, fun daily beach walks can be reserved, and the nonprofit museum’s scientists also conduct research with local mollusk species. See more..
4.5 Barefoot Beach Preserve (1.584 reviews)
- Great clean beach with amenities
Beaches • Nature & Wildlife Areas

Visited here today for the first time. Was $10 for all day parking, which is cheap for the area. Please note they only allow approx 350 cars into the park and after that they close until at least 50 cars leave (told this by attendant collecting the $10). Beaches were clean and family friendly. Bathrooms close by were clean. Would visit again. See more..
4.5 Lakes Regional Park (1.430 reviews)
- Beautiful park with trails to walk, or ride around in.
Parks

Lakes Park encompasses nearly 300 acres of beautiful nature trails, lakes and gardens. Two playgrounds and water parks, a miniature train ride and railroad museum, bikes and watercraft available for rental, food concession, fitness trail and lots of picnicking areas. Every year over a million people enjoy Lakes Park's natural beauty for exercise and family recreation. See more..
4.5 Venice Beach (1.336 reviews)
- Beautiful beach!
Spent < 1 hour Beaches

The four days we spent in Venice, it was windy and cold so definitely not good beach weather. We did go one day when the sun was out and also a couple nights to see the sunset. We did not get to hunt for sharks teeth due to the weather and the water being so cold, but the beach and sunsets were beautiful. See more..
4.5 Robinson Nature Preserve (1.281 reviews)
- Nature and scenic vistas await.
Nature & Wildlife Areas

With lots of boardwalk, and trails with crushed shell, this preserve is very wheelchair and scooter friendly. It does have observation tower, but it is not accessible. There are several places to sit and look out at Tampa Bay. There are a lot of open spaces, so it would be very hot in the summer, I would recommend going in the fall and winter. But a very nice preserve that should not be missed on your trip to the area. See more..
4.5 Clam Pass Park (1.158 reviews)
- Quiet Beach
Sunday: 8:00 AM - 7:30 PM Beaches • Parks

We visited the Clam Pass Beach on a recent visit to Naples. We had a good time at the beach. It was clean and fairly private with nice facilities. The water was warm in late March, which made for fun swimming. Note that it is actually not very easy to get to the beach. The parking lot is more than half a mile away from the beach area, and you do have to pay for parking. This would be a long walk, especially carrying supplies, but a shuttle was actually provided at no cost by the Naples Grande Beach Resort, which is in the area. Note that the shuttle has limited capacity, and there can be a significant wait to ride during busy times. There is a fee for renting chairs and umbrellas, which are provided by the resort. We locked out because we arrived late enough in the day that attendants didn't care that we used them without paying. Overall, I would recommend Clam Pass Beach for anyone looking for a fairly private beach experience in the Naples area. See more..
4.5 Peace River Wildlife Center (1.046 reviews)
- Small but impressive variety of bird and wildlife.
Spent < 1 hour Nature & Wildlife Areas • Zoos

The Mission of the Peace River Wildlife Center is to contribute to the survival of native Florida wildlife through rescue, rehabilitation and education. The Center and our gift shop is open to the public for tours everyday from 11a – 4p and our hospital accepts wildlife intakes from 8a – 5p everyday, 7 days per week, 365 days per year including all holidays. We do not charge an admission fee but donations are greatly appreciated and needed to support our mission. Your donations and gift store purchases go directly to the care of our wildlife patients and residents. The PRWC does not receive any federal government support. The costs involved in maintaining these educational displays and to feed almost 120 permanent residents and more than 2,500 patient admissions annually is nearly $80,000 per year. All of the Peace River Wildlife Center’s expenses are met through donations, our recycling program, gift shop sales and small grants. PRWC’s mission is carried out primarily by volunteers See more..
4.5 Manasota Key Beach (1.024 reviews)
- Fantastic beach!
Sunday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Beaches

I know there are so many popular beaches in this area, but... this beach is fantastic! I feel as if this beach is busy but not overly crowded. You will have your own space and not feel as if you are sitting on top of one another. This is not a spring break type beach but more families and people enjoying the weather and sand. This is also a great shelling and shark tooth beach. Bring your shell scooper because it definitely helps. If you go, take time to walk down the beach to find shells. Make this a stop on your next trip! See more..
4.5 Wicked Dolphin Distillery (690 reviews)
- AMAZING
Sunday: Spent < 1 hour Distilleries

Wicked Dolphin Distillery is Florida's Famous most awarded craft distillery located in Cape Coral, FL! We offer free tours and tastings every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday. Please check with our website to reserve space. Distillery Tour and Tasting Hours: Tuesday and Saturday tours are at noon, 1, 2, 3 & 4pm, Thursday tours are at noon, 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5pm, Friday tours are at 2, 3, 4, & 5pm Saturday tours are at noon, 1, 2, 3 & 4pm Distillery Gift Shop Hours: Monday-Wednesday: 9am-5pm Thursday & Friday: 9am-7pm Saturdays 11am-5pm See more..
4.0 Tigertail Beach (2.281 reviews)
- Tigertail Beach
Sunday: 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM Beaches

Our first visit to Tigertail Beach. We crossed the lagoon, highly recommend water shoes. Walked down to Sanddollar Spit, found some sand dollars. Saw a couple manatees (mom and baby) being rescued as they got stuck in the mud with the outgoing tide, it was so neat to see. If you are going to cross the lagoon, highly recommend a low tide cross, water was up to my waist at a couple points. Get up early if you want to find sand dollars, sounds like people get up and out early to pick a lot of them up. We saw one lady with a sack full of sand dollars, couldn’t believe it. We found a few, less than a dozen, and we were fine with that. I would like to let people know that when you pay for the all day parking ($8.00 fee), it also includes South Marco Beach and some other beaches in Naples. I wasn’t aware of this, the guy working the gate told us. Please ask Them for clarification. Highly recommend a trip across the lagoon, no gators, lots of jumping fish and birds. See more..