Beaches

The Cape Coral Yacht Club Community Beach is located directly on the Caloosahatchee River in a beautifully landscaped setting. The public beach offers visitors 634 feet of pristine beach with picnic shelters, BBQ grills, restrooms, fishing pier, playground area and restaurant. The community pool is a heated outdoor facility open to the public 7 days a week. Swim classes are offered for ages 6 months through adult, along with deep water aerobics and arthritis exercise.

Sanibel Island "The Shelling Capital of the Western World," with more shell variety than any other single beach in Florida. With miles of bicycle paths, abundant nature, watersports, sandy beaches and breathtaking sunsets, Sanibel Islands is an endless tropical playground.

Captiva Island: You will be captivated by beautiful, alluring Captiva Island, where once, it is said, pirates roamed, conquistadors explored and Calusa indians called home. The mystery and adventure is still here. Treasures to be found in the way of a good life, spectacular white sand beaches scattered with "treasures from the sea", pastel colored seashells and breathtaking sunrises and sunsets.

Barefoot Beach: 356 acre of beach, parking available for a fee, restaurant/bar, bathrooms. This beach park is an excellent example of the shifts in habitat that occur within a very narrow strip of land with only slight changes in elevation and moisture. 8,200 feet of beach and sand dunes support the growth of seat oats, providing nesting sites for seat turtles during the summer months. The park also maintains a tropical coastal hammock of sable palm, gumbo-limbo and sea grape trees among many others. The site is also home to the protected gopher tortoise.

Bonita Beach Park offers Picnic areas, volleyball, bathhouses, and fishing.

Little Hickory Beach Park: Just south of Fort Myers Beach, the northernmost beach accessible by the public is Little Hickory Beach Park. It is a quiet beach, with beach homes immediately to the south of the access, and condominiums to the north. Little Hickory Island, a barrier island, is an island in motion, made of sand and shaped by the wind, tides, waves, and currents. This narrow strip of land acts as a barrier, protecting the mainland from coastal storm wind and water.

Lovers Key State Park: Beautiful beach especially appealing for nature lovers. Nature trails, canoeing or kayaking along mangrove estuaries, manatees and fishing. Leashed dogs allowed. Lovers Key State Park is listed as one of the top 10 beaches in the United States. Lovers Key is one of four barrier islands. Seasonally caught fish are trout, redfish, snook, and tarpon. Lovers Key State Park has parking on the bay side and ocean side. It is home to West Indian manatees, bottlenose dolphins, roseate spoonbills, marsh rabbits, and bald eagles. The beach is two miles long and is accessible by boardwalk or tram. It is popular for shelling, swimming, picnicking, and sunbathing.

BOATING, WATERSPORTS & Fishing

Paradise Boat/Pontoon Rental: No matter whether you want to go fishing or snorkeling – go to one of the nice and sandy beaches or to a nice waterfront restaurant, reaching these destinations by boat will upgrade your vacation. Treat yourself with a vacation boat – you and your family have earned it. We deliver directly to your vacation home in SW Florida (additional fees apply). All boats are fully insured (competitor boats are often not!) Our boats are in mint condition and come with Bi mini Top, telescoping boarding ladder, Stereo w/ CD and connection of your i-Pod as well as all necessary coastguard approved equipment and depth finder. We also provide infant and children life vests.

Gulf Coast Kayak Rental: Discover the beautiful and peaceful waters of The Matlacha Pass Aquatic Preserve. Explore the mangrove tunnels, back bays and estuaries on a stable, easy to paddle sea kayak. We have a wide variety of kayaks, from great-grandma to professional models. Enjoy close viewing of birds and marine life in a unique aquatic environment. Seniors and families are welcome. No experience is required. We offer guided tours and rentals. Join us as we explore Florida's mangroves and the back bays of Matlacha, and Pine Island on the Great Calusa Blueway.

Kayak and Paddleboard Rentals:

We have every style of kayak made; from basic recreational kayaks to very expensive composite touring boats, and “Pedal” Kayaks. We will help you find the right boat while also teaching you the differences between each style of kayak. Stand Up Paddleboarding is much easier than it looks! We have boards of all different sizes and stability.

Parasailing:

Enjoy a birds eye view of the Gulf of Mexico, Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel! See dolphins, turtles and manatees! Highest and longest flight on Fort Myers Beach, up to 1200'! No experience necessary, any age can fly!

Key West Express: Get away to Key West, America's Caribbean Paradise, aboard Key West Express, where getting there is half the fun! What are you waiting for? Climb aboard our sleek, clean, modern, air-conditioned high-speed ferries - Features sundecks, snack bar, cocktails, and big-screen TVs - and we'll have you there in just a few hours!

The Capt. J.P. is J.C. Cruises' 600 passenger paddlewheeler, departing from the historic Downtown Fort Myers yacht basin. Our friendly and courteous service, combined with the best of food, makes cruising with the Capt. J.P. a unique experience. Enjoy yourself on one of our 7 different cruises on the Caloosahatchee River and Intracoastal Waterway. Cruise to the Gulf of Mexico, the Franklin Locks, our Harbor Cruise past the Edison and Ford Estates, and our evening Dinner Dance Cruises.

Captiva Cruises:

The Dolphin Watch & Wildlife Adventure Cruise - A 90 minute wildlife cruise on Pine Island Sound

The Sunset Serenade Cruise - A 1 hour cruise featuring live entertainment and Gulf of Mexico sunsets.

Beach and Shelling Cruise - A 3 hour cruise to the secluded Cayo Costa State Park Islands.

Out-Island Cruises - Half day cruise to 1 of 4 exciting destinations, Cabbage Key, Useppa Island, Boca Grande, or Cayo Costa.

Sailing Cruises - Private sailing charters aboard the Adventure.

Tarpon Bay Explorers: See wildlife up-close and discover the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge with an experienced naturalist by your side.  Tarpon Bay Explorers offers many guided tours designed to be both educational and fun! Birds, dolphins, manatees, and alligators are just some of the amazing wildlife found in the pristine native tropical and subtropical vegetation of Sanibel Island. Whether you choose to tour the Wildlife Refuge by kayak, canoe, bike, or pontoon boat, Tarpon Bay Explorers has everything you need for nature recreation on Sanibel. Got fish?  We do—snook, redfish, seatrout, and more, plus all the supplies you’ll need to catch ‘em…licenses, live bait, tackle, and free advice.  Experience some of the best fishing in southwest Florida.  Sign up for a private fishing charter and let the Tarpon Bay Fish Finders take you “catching” in the back-bay or rent equipment and go it on your own.

DINING OUT

Rumrunners: Romance is all about ambiance. A view of the water is arguably the perfect accoutrement to the romantic dining experience. Cape Coral offers award winning Chefs Todd Johnson and Ralph Centalonza at the beautiful Rumrunners Restaurant, featuring fresh seafood and sumptuous steaks to tempt even the most discerning palate. The best way to get to Rumrunners is by boat. Only minutes away from the Caloosahatchee River, you will find ample docking available.

Sandy Hook Fish and Rib House:  This artsy little fishing village of Matlacha (pronounced Mat-La-Shay) is packed with fishing shack art galleries with an "Old Keys" style authenticity. Matlacha adjoins Cape Coral by a small bridge that attracts thousands of fishermen. A romantic stroll along Gallery Way is a wonderful prelude to a romantic waterfront dining experience at Sandy Hook Fish and Rib House. Watch dolphins play while you enjoy a succulent prime rib or Florida lobster dinner. Plan your dinner around sunset for a sight to remember.

Nothin' fancy about this waterfront dive where a mellow Old Florida mood prevails, and the best seat in the house includes a show of ospreys, pelicans, dolphins and a fisherman or two. Boaters anchor in the Matlacha Sound off the Gulf of Mexico and arrive by dinghy; bikers park out front; and locals come on foot for juicy bargain burgers ($5.50) and piles of crisp curly homemade potato chips, Pine Island clams, grouper fingers, fried oysters and peel-and-eat shrimp all pair well with Shock Top, a Belgian-style wheat ale — and a delicious summer breeze.

FAMILY FUN

Sunplash Water Park: This 12 acre park features attractions for everyone. The daredevils will want to try the slides and tunnels that begin from a 30-foot platform or the Electric Slide, which drops 5 stories. Those looking for refreshing relaxation will enjoy the river tubing. The little ones will have a great time at the Rain Tree and the Tot Spot. This water park also features a family pool, sand volleyball, arcade games, a gift shop, changing rooms, and snack shops featuring sandwiches, beverages and ice cream.

Four Freedoms Park:

Four Freedoms Park is home to one of the City’s most scenic and serene parks. Sitting on Bimini Basin, the park enjoys a full complement of shaded playground equipment, an outdoor amphitheater, several kiosks with picnic tables and barbecue grills, and a recreational building.

Jim Jeffers Park:

Set on 18.7 acres in NW Cape Coral, Jim Jeffers Park offers many amenities including a mega playground, four soccer fields, a softball field, tennis & basketball courts, picnic shelters, walking paths, and more.

Joe Stonis Park:

This beautifully landscaped 7 acre neighborhood park offers a quaint atmosphere for a leisurely walk, afternoon workout, picnic with the kids, or family gathering.

Paul Sanborn Park:

Cape Coral’s newest neighborhood park is 3 acres and features a large pavilion with BBQ grill, basketball courts, horeshoe pits, covered playground area, and perimeter pathway for walking, exercising, etc. Extensive landscaping, including the only remaining banyan tree in Cape Coral, makes this an excellent place to stop and enjoy the great outdoors.

Sports

Jim Jeffers Park:

Set on 18.7 acres in NW Cape Coral, Jim Jeffers Park offers many amenities including a mega playground, four soccer fields, a softball field, tennis & basketball courts, picnic shelters, walking paths, and more.

Eagle Skate Park:

The Eagle Skate Park offers extreme fun for skateboard, rollerblade, and bike enthusiasts ages 6 and up, with both daily and annual admission rates available.