Top Things to do in Southwest Gulf Coast
Top Hotels in Southwest Gulf Coast
- 1. Bayfront Inn 5th Ave
- 2. Golden Host Resort
- 3. Naples Grande Beach Resort
- 4. West Wind Island Resort
- 5. Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina
- 6. Carlisle Inn
- 7. Holiday Inn Express & Suites Punta Gorda, an IHG Hotel
- 8. Compass by Margaritaville
- 9. Hyatt House Naples/5th Avenue
- 10. Sundial Beach Resort & Spa
What to do and see in Southwest Gulf Coast, Southwest Gulf Coast: The Best Nature & Parks
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.
Restaurants in Southwest Gulf Coast
1. Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,318 reviews
Online reservations only. No walk-ins allowed. Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is a 13,000 acre Preserve. The Sanctuary is open Tuesday-Sunday from 8:00am-3:00pm with last admission at 1:00 pm. Timed tickets are available for 8am-10am, 10:30am-12:30pm, 1pm-3pm. 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 throughout the year. Photo opportunities are available at every turn of the boardwalk trail.
Reviewed By saintnick76 - Southampton, United Kingdom
We were recommended the corkscrew swamp by one of the tram drivers at the Naples Grande hotel and really enjoyed our visit so much that we went back the following day (ticket price is for 2 consecutive days) During our visits we saw 600 year old cypress trees, woodpeckers, alligators, herons, anhingas and even a snake, towards the end of our 2nd visit we had the lovely sight of 3 raccoons running along the boardwalk right in front of us. Staff are knowledgeable and very welcoming and it is a worthwhile visit if wildlife is of interest
2. Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,219 reviews
Bayfront sanctuaries connecting people with air plants of the world, native nature, and our regional history.
Reviewed By PatH840 - Asheboro, United States
We spent a delightful morning in the beautiful Marie Selby Botanical Gardens during a recent visit to Sarasota. Our stroll through the garden began with a fascinating display of epiphytes, which we learned are plants that grow on other plants without harming them. Some favorite epiphytes were the orchids and bromeliads. The fern garden was a place of tranquility, filled with quite an extensive variety of ferns. The koi pond was very popular with visitors. We really enjoyed watching these fascinating fish in their lovely surroundings. During our stroll we discovered absolutely gorgeous views of Sarasota Bay, requiring time to take in the perfect blue sky, shimmering water and the colorful boats - what a treat! Our favorite part was the native butterfly garden. We saw many colorful butterflies, including numerous Monarch butterflies. We learned that these local Monarchs remain all year long and do not participate in the well-known Monarch migration. Who could blame them for remaining in this fantastic place? We loved our visit to Marie Selby Botanical Gardens and highly recommend it to anyone visiting the Sarasota area.
3. Manatee Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,221 reviews
Look for the West Indian manatee.
Reviewed By BETHANYD626 - Fruitport, United States
Ever want to see a manatee in person and in their natural habitat? Then Manatee Park is a must stop location. Even if you are in the area for short period of time you should be able to view them here. We only had bout 30 minutes and saw several. The park has awesome nature trails that lead right down by the water. The manatee like to go here in the winter as the inland waters are warmer than the gulf. So this is an area they love and hang out in. So take a walk on the trails and enjoy the manatees. You can also see many different fish jumping in the waters while you walk If you are looking for a longer trip and up-close experience you can rent kayaks or paddle boards to view the manatee right below you. Highly recommend this option and when we are back in the area will for sure be doing this! It was awesome watching the people out on their paddle boards and having the manatee right next to them. You will have to pay to park but there is no actual entry fee. Then there is a nice little gift shop with bathrooms and manatee information. This shop is where you can set up your trip and rent the paddle boards and kayaks. The website is a must watch tool as well. They post if they are seeing manatees and if it is a good time to visit
4. Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,257 reviews
Located at the Mote Marine Laboratory, this is home to a 135,000 gallon outdoor shark tank and many other marine species.
Reviewed By AtypicalTraverlers - Durham, United States
We went with our 8 and 11 yr olds on a quiet Friday and were very impressed . Lots of content for the pre-tween crowd. Highlights were the boat tour, preserved Giant squid (!), baby shark touch tank and (like many of the otter reviewers) the otters. I loved that the exhibits were very focused on the local ecosystem - not a grab bag of random cool aquatic creatures like some other aquariums we'd visited. Its a legit research lab and it was great seeing real science in action. We added the boat tour which was well worth it - our guide (Martha I think?) was a working biologist with great knowledge and light-hearted funny presentation . Saw some manatees, blue herons, dwarf sea horse (awww), pufferfish, sea squirts. All around fascinating and worthwhile. The volunteers/staff stood out to me as well. We came away learning additional cool facts and details from quite a few of the staff.
5. Lovers Key State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,997 reviews
Park is not associated with Bonita Springs Dog Beach. Enjoy swimming, sunbathing, shelling, fishing, hiking, bicycling, wildlife watching, canoeing/kayaking, geocaching and more.
Reviewed By A832KAhannahh - Fort Myers, United States
My Dad and I visited back in October and there were so many dead sand dollars, we couldn’t fit them all in our hand. We suspected it was a phenomenon brought on by the red tide outbreak we had this year. Fortunately, the day we went it did not affect us. The beach is long, wide and has a lot of nature to observe along the trails, walkway, and on the shoreline. “Amenities include a two-mile (3 km) long beach on Lovers Key. Black Island has over five miles (8 km) of multiuse trails; bicycle, canoe, and kayak rentals, gazebo, picnic areas, boat ramp, and two playgrounds.” It is a beautiful place to see the sunset and get married. They had a huge tent set up complete with chandeliers right on the beach! There is a tram to carry you out to the beach or you can walk a long distance to the end. The tram leaves from the parking lot. There is a building that provides bathrooms and a gift shop with various small snacks & drinks. The park is open from 8:00 am till sundown year-round. There is a cost to get in is $8 unless the mode of transportation is larger or smaller than a standard vehicle. Well worth the trip!
6. Fishermen's Village
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,257 reviews
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.
Reviewed By 934mickieg
This is a must stop if you're in the Punta Gorda area. Located right on the bay with lots of unique shops and wonderful restaurants! We liked it so much we came back 3 times during our 5 day stay. Each restaurants food was wonderful and service was top notch! Will definitely come back next time we're in town!
7. Edison and Ford Winter Estates
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5,580 reviews
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.
Reviewed By 123Shane - Calgary, Canada
Very scenic area and gardens with two beautiful homes that provide a glimpse into American history. My wife and I enjoyed a relaxing walk through the gardens and learned about two of the very influential business men and their families. The museum on site was also very educational. Definitely a excellent visit in the Fort Myers area.
8. J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,185 reviews
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.
Reviewed By michiales - North Fort Myers, United States
Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge is home to a large number of wildlife, including roseate spoonbills, anhinga, pelicans, herons, egrets, anoles, otter, alligators... it's a must-see for anyone visiting the island!
9. Barefoot Beach Preserve
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,565 reviews
Reviewed By costaricacouple - Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
When my wife and i went last week things have changed a lot since i was last there, The ride down the the road was amazing with all the million dollar homes, and their landscaping, When you get to the little toll both to pay your almost there, plenty of parking, bathrooms,showers,The beach it self was breathtaking ,My wife found some nice shells, the water is clear, This beach would be great for any one that is in the area,Barefoot is one of our favorites.
10. Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,627 reviews
Reviewed By bahamasgirlatnheart - Irwin, United States
This is our favorite beach when visiting Naples, parking areas for enough cars, short walk over the dunes to the beach, lots of shells, bathrooms and rinsing stations. not crowded, either!
