Southwest Florida's best-known outdoor places are its Gulf beaches and barrier islands, state parks and preserves. Below are 29 places from Lovers Key and Ding Darling to Koreshan State Park and the Punta Gorda Harborwalk, each described from its official park or tourism page, plus a seasonal guide.
4 places to visit in and around Fort Myers: historic site and gardens; spring training; beach preserve; and preserve.
More about Fort Myers: Fort Myers city guide
2350 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers 33901
The winter homes of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, with tours of the historic homes, gardens, Edison's laboratory and a museum.
Checked October 20, 2026 on edisonfordwinterestates.org
Fort Myers
Spring training home of the Minnesota Twins since 1991, according to Lee County. The Boston Red Sox train at jetBlue Park, also in Lee County.
Checked October 20, 2026 on leegov.com
Fort Myers
Lee County preserve on San Carlos Bay, listed by the county as a primary-use preserve.
Checked October 20, 2026 on leegov.com
Fort Myers
Lee County preserve listed by the county as a primary-use preserve with designated parking and restrooms.
Checked October 20, 2026 on leegov.com
3 places to visit in and around Cape Coral: preserve; park and nature center; and manatee viewing.
More about Cape Coral: Cape Coral city guide
2589 SE 24th St, Cape Coral 33990
A 365-acre brackish wetland preserve with a boardwalk, walking trail, visitor center and Veterans Memorial Area; eagles and herons are common.
Checked October 20, 2026 on capecoral.gov
5505 Rose Garden Road, Cape Coral 33914
A 97-acre city park opened in 2001 with an environmental center, nature trails, a butterfly house, a playground and Cape Coral's only dog park.
Checked October 20, 2026 on capecoral.gov
Ceitus Parkway and Old Burnt Store Road, Cape Coral
City park where manatees are abundant from November through February, according to the City of Cape Coral.
Checked October 20, 2026 on capecoral.gov
3 places to visit in and around Naples: beach and state park; beach park; and historic pier (closed for rebuild).
More about Naples: Naples city guide
Naples
North Naples state park with Gulf beach access, a boat ramp to Water Turkey Bay and the Cocohatchee River, and free beach wheelchairs.
Checked October 20, 2026 on floridastateparks.org
735 8th Street South, Naples 34102
City of Naples beachfront park with volleyball courts, a playground, picnic tables, gazebos, beach access mats and a beachside grill.
Checked October 20, 2026 on naplesgov.com
25 12th Ave S, Naples 34102
The city's historic Gulf pier at the west end of 12th Avenue South. The City of Naples lists it as closed for the Naples Pier Rebuild Project; limited beach parking stays open.
Checked October 20, 2026 on naplesgov.com
4 places to visit in and around Bonita Springs: beach park, nature preserve and city park on the Imperial River. Two of them are on Hickory Boulevard.
More about Bonita Springs: Bonita Springs city guide
27954 Hickory Blvd, Bonita Springs 34134
Gulf beach park with swimming, covered picnic areas and a volleyball court; its parking lot is closed for restoration, so visitors walk in through Bonita Beach Access #1.
Checked October 20, 2026 on visitfortmyers.com
27601 Kent Rd, Bonita Springs
City nature park with a gopher tortoise preserve, butterfly garden, bat and bee houses and a 1.5-mile trail.
Checked October 20, 2026 on cityofbonitasprings.org
26082 Hickory Blvd, Bonita Springs 34134
Quiet beach park on a small island a short drive from Bonita Beach.
Checked October 20, 2026 on visitfortmyers.com
10451 Old 41 Rd, Bonita Springs
Downtown city park with a bandshell, butterfly garden, the historic Liles Hotel, artist cottages and a canoe and kayak dock.
Checked October 20, 2026 on cityofbonitasprings.org
3 places to visit in and around Estero: state preserve; arena and ice rinks; and state park and historic site.
More about Estero: Estero city guide
Broadway West off U.S. 41, Estero 33928
State preserve for hiking and paddling where bald eagles, gopher tortoises and fiddler crabs live.
Checked October 20, 2026 on visitfortmyers.com
11000 Everblades Pkwy, Estero 33928
Arena for concerts and family shows and home of the ECHL's Florida Everblades from October to April, with two public skating rinks.
Checked October 20, 2026 on visitfortmyers.com
3800 Corkscrew Road, Estero 33928
Preserves the settlement of the Koreshan Unity, a communal religious group that settled on the Estero River in 1894, with historic buildings, tours and a river nature trail.
Checked October 20, 2026 on floridastateparks.org
3 places to visit in and around Fort Myers Beach: beach and state park; beach park; and preserve.
More about Fort Myers Beach: Fort Myers Beach city guide
8700 Estero Blvd, Bonita Springs 33931
State park protecting a group of barrier islands with more than two miles of beach and mangroves; manatees, dolphins, shorebirds and osprey use its canals and lagoons.
Checked October 20, 2026 on floridastateparks.org
Fort Myers Beach
Lee County Gulf-front park next to Times Square, near the foot of the Matanzas Pass Bridge, with restrooms and accessible beach access.
Checked October 20, 2026 on leegov.com
Fort Myers Beach
Lee County preserve in the Fort Myers Beach area, listed by the county as a primary-use preserve with designated parking and amenities.
Checked October 20, 2026 on leegov.com
3 places to visit in and around Punta Gorda: waterfront park; waterfront park and marina; and waterfront path.
More about Punta Gorda: Punta Gorda city guide
Punta Gorda
11 acres of Charlotte Harbor waterfront between downtown and Fishermen's Village with courts, a fishing pier, pavilions and the annual Hibiscus Festival in May.
Checked October 20, 2026 on pureflorida.com
Punta Gorda
A 17-acre park with an interactive fountain, concert stage, great lawn, boat ramp and a half-size Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, linked to Gilchrist Park by the Harborwalk.
Checked October 20, 2026 on pureflorida.com
Punta Gorda
About three miles of waterfront path along the Peace River linking Laishley Park, Gilchrist Park and Fishermen's Village, part of the Punta Gorda Pathways network.
Checked October 20, 2026 on pureflorida.com
3 places to visit in and around Lehigh Acres: wetland and birding; community park; and golf.
More about Lehigh Acres: Lehigh Acres city guide
Lehigh Acres
A 578-acre former farm turned stormwater facility run by the Lehigh Acres Municipal Services Improvement District; snail kites and limpkins are regulars. No facilities; open dawn to dusk.
Checked October 20, 2026 on la-msid.com
Lehigh Acres
Lee County park with ball fields, tennis and pickleball courts, walking trails, disc golf, playgrounds, a community pool and pavilions.
Checked October 20, 2026 on leegov.com
231 Joel Blvd, Lehigh Acres 33936
Resort with condo-style rooms and a 9-hole golf course.
Checked October 20, 2026 on visitfortmyers.com
3 places to visit in and around Sanibel: beach park; national wildlife refuge; and nature trails and conservation.
More about Sanibel: Sanibel city guide
1700 Bowman's Beach Road, Sanibel 33957
A 50-acre city beach park on Sanibel's west end known for shelling and birding, with a kayak launch; hurricane recovery work continues, so watch for debris.
Checked October 20, 2026 on mysanibel.com
1 Wildlife Drive, Sanibel 33957
More than 6,400 acres of mangroves, seagrass, marsh and hammock known for migratory birds. The four-mile Wildlife Drive is closed on Fridays.
Checked October 20, 2026 on fws.gov
1300 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel 33957
Conservation group founded in 1967 whose preserves include the Bailey Homestead and more than 8 miles of trails across Sanibel.
Checked October 20, 2026 on visitfortmyers.com
Check your evacuation and flood zones before the season starts. Read more. Source.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission asks beachfront owners to keep decorative lights off until nesting season ends on October 31 and to shield lights visible from the beach. Source.
Lee County says schedules usually come out in mid-November and single-game tickets go on sale in late December or early January for the Twins and Red Sox. Source.
Live music on Fifth Avenue South, with boutiques and galleries open late, according to Naples, Marco Island, Everglades tourism. Source.