Florida - Southwest around Fort Meyers & Naples Attractions
While this region contains long stretches of beach, fertile land, and the same tropical climate, due to its inaccessibility in the early days, it is still a less developed version of the Atlantic Gold Coast.
Calusa Indians harvested the waters here before Spaniards like Hernando de Soto and Ponce de Leon arrived in the early 1500's. The Indian's resistance and the difficult terrain prevented the explorers from creating a base and they moved on.
Except for the pioneering families and farmers who lived here and the Seminole Wars in the 1800's, things were quiet until industrialist Henry Plant brought the Seaboard Air Line Railway to Naples in the mid 1920's.
The area also owes a debt to circus master John Ringling who helped to establish Sarasota as an important cultural center.
Today, much of the wild space in Southwestern Florida is protected by the state or by the country. One of these, the Everglades National Park, comprises what many refer to as Florida's last frontier.
The growth of Anna Maria Island is displayed through artifacts and photographs tracing life from the early pioneers. Exhibts include rare photographs, maps, newspaper clippings, shells, fossils, tools, fishing items, and aerial photos of the Island.
Hours:
May 1 to October 31: 10am-1pm; Closed: Sun, Mon
November 1 to April 30: 10am-4pm; Closed: Sun, Mon, Sun, Mon
Full-day narrated cruises are available from Pine Island Sound to Cabbage Key. Porpoises and birds can be viewed and islands explored that are only accessible by boat.
Address: Tropic Star Cruise Boat, 16499 Porto Bello Street, Bokeelia, FL 33922-1666, United States
Phone: 1 (239) 283-0015, Fax: 1 (239) 283-7255
Bonita Springs is located at the edge of Cypress Swamp. Fishing is available in the Gulf of Mexico and the Imperial River.
Address: Bonita Springs Area Chamber of Commerce, 25071 Chamber of Commerce Drive, Bonita Springs, FL 34135, United States
Phone: 1 (239) 992-2943, Fax: 1 (239) 992-5011
Everglades Wonder Gardens is a botanical garden with trees from around the world. There is also a natural history museum to explore as visitors exit the park. A large collection of Florida wildlife, over 2,000 exotic birds, panthers, alligators, flamingos and bears, are housed on the grounds of Everglades Wonder Gardens.
Established in 1906 as an Indian trading post, Ted Smallwood's Store is the oldest operating general store in the U.S. Some of the original remaining stock, furs and hides, and examples of items that the Indians would have traded are on display.
Address: Ted Smallwood's Store-Museum, Box 367, Chokoloskee, FL 33925, United States
Phone: 1 (239) 695-2989, Fax: 1 (239) 695-4454
Koreshan State Historic Site is the location of a religious pioneer settlement that was established in 1894. Cyrus Reed Teed was a religious visionary who began Koreshanity and it thrived until his death in 1908. Restored buildings and gardens occupy the site where visitors can fish, picnic, boat, camp and hike.
The Gulfport Historical Museum features the history of early settlers, churches, schools, businesses, organizations, and taped interviews of memories from the Gulfport area.
Marco Island is located at the northern tip of Ten Thousand Islands. This popular resort community was once a fisherman's retreat that now features numerous recreational activities include golf, tennis, swimming and surfing.
The Marco Island Trolley Tours are a 90 minute narration of the island's history. Historic sites, such as the seashell mounds built by Calusa Indians, are part of the tour.
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Sanibel
Sarasota
Fort Myers
Naples
Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens, Naples
Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve, Fort Myers
J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel
