The commercial center and the county seat of Lee County is Fort Myers, a rapidly growing city, as seen in recent years. It comes with an enriched military history and it is named after Colonel Abraham Myers. The city is a corridor to the southwest Florida region, known for its sugar-white beaches. The history combined with its geographical location makes this city a major tourist destination in Florida. No wonder there is a parade of superb family resorts on its coastlines. As the state is favored with pristine shores, the beachfront hotels near Fort Myers are also with checking out. Due to its geography, it provides a great gateway to a lot of places that you can cover in a day trip. Here, in this article, we have curated some of the best day trips from Fort Myers, Florida. Scroll down to find out more.
1. Orlando, FL
Orlando is located in the middle of Florida and is approximately a three-hour drive from Ft. Myers. Taking a trip to this city can be an action-packed adventure if you are an adrenaline junkie or love movie characters as Orlando boasts the top theme parks in Florida! With exciting places like Disney, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, and others, Orlando will guarantee an amazing and fun-filled day! Be sure to book your tickets to the theme parks in advance so that you don’t have to wait in queues when you arrive, allowing you to make the most of your day trip to Orlando!
2. Miami, FL
A great location for a day trip in South Florida, Miami is a cultural, financial, and economic center that has a lot of entertainment to offer. The city with the world’s busiest cruise ports is the most popular vacation destination for everyone around the state. It showcases a multitude of diversions, be it plush hotels, a great beach vacation, or shopping.
The vibrant culture of this city and the high energy are sure to fill you up with a lot of zeal and rejuvenation. Be it the coffee shops, the trendy nightlife on the south beach, boat shows, auto racing, or the shopping spree in the modern mall and Coconut Grove.
For sports enthusiasts, Miami’s major league basketball, football, baseball, and hockey are worth your time. The wine extravaganza and outdoor food are some of the many more reasons you can have a day’s escape to his place.
3. Tampa FL
Florida’s gulf coast on the Tampa Bay hosts another beautiful destination for you to vacation, the city of Tampa. This modern commercial business center city has a lot of history to offer, which is evident from its beautiful and supple museums. The Ybor neighborhood of this city, initially developed by Cuban and Spanish cigar factory workers at the turn of the 20th century, has now become a popular dining and nightlife destination. Their African themed amusement park, Busch Gardens, is sure to enthrall you with their thrilling rides, and they also provide you with an area from which you can view a variety of animals. Besides all of these, there are still a lot of cultural offerings which this city has for you. A day trip here sounds like a perfect idea!
You might be interested in these Airbnbs!
4. Naples, FL
Naples is located in the Gulf of Mexico and lies in Southwest Florida. If you are a shopaholic, this place near Fort Myers is for you! Naples is well known for its sophisticated dining culture, along with its high-end shopping destinations. The white sugar sand beaches are also a major tourist pulling force.
Naples is a lovely place for those who love beaches, shopping, and fine dining. However, that is not a reason to stop the budget watchers. You can fit in a day trip to Naples, well within your budget and plan a solo, friends, or family trip to this hot beachy destination.
You can go for some shopping in the historic downtown of Third street south and Fifth avenue south. You can have a wonderful dining experience at a sleek bayside bar or a cool beachfront resort.
5. Venice Beach
Venice Beach, a certified blue wave beach, is a beautiful place located in Sarasota County. You can enjoy the scenic beauty of this place along with some great adventure sports that this place has to offer. Voted as the happiest seaside town of Florida, the happiness here is infectious and sure to affect you. So take a step out, plan a trip and visit this beautiful destination to skip the mundane lifestyle.
6. Marco Island, FL (from USD 89.0)
A day trip to Marco Island is the perfect getaway for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Start your day by strolling the pristine beaches and enjoying the stunning Gulf of Mexico views. Then, head to Tigertail Beach to indulge in water sports, such as kayaking, paddle boarding, or parasailing.
Tour the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and spot dolphins, manatees, and even bald eagles if you’re interested in wildlife. For those who enjoy outdoor activities, take a hike or bike ride at the Briggs Nature Center or explore the Everglades National Park. End your day by dining at one of the many waterfront restaurants and trying fresh seafood while watching the breathtaking sunset.
Marco Island Small-Group Highlights Tour
Duration: 2 hours
7. Florida Panther Refuge, FL
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Embark on a thrilling day trip to the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, a sanctuary dedicated to preserving the endangered Florida panther and its natural habitat. Start your journey by immersing yourself in the beauty of the refuge’s diverse ecosystems, which include wetlands, hardwood hammocks, and pine forests. Take a guided hike along scenic trails, where you might catch glimpses of the elusive Florida panther or other wildlife species such as bobcats, alligators, and various bird species.
Explore the educational exhibits and learn about the conservation efforts aimed at protecting these majestic creatures. Take a moment to appreciate the tranquil surroundings, capturing the natural beauty through your lens or simply enjoying the serenity of the refuge.
8. Everglades National Park
Everglades National Park is accessible from Ft. Myers after only an hour and a half’s drive south to Chokoloskee, FL. It is an incredibly scenic national park that is famous for its wildlife–in fact, it is the only eco-system where you can find alligators and crocodiles together! Truly, it is a paradise for nature lovers. If you want to get up close and personal with the wildlife, try going on a birding, wildlife, and photography expedition with a certified Master Naturalist.
9. Bonita Springs, FL
Bonita Springs is an embracing beach community that falls on the way when you travel from Fort Myers to Naples. The sparkling beaches are the selling point of this place; it is an add-on that you can go fishing.
There are various outdoor activities that you can keep yourself busy with for a day trip in southwest Florida. Lovers Key State Park, is an ideal destination for your date, as it is exactly what its name depicts, It was so remote that lovers used to take refuge here in order to avoid any disturbance from the outside world.
Bonita Springs also offers a great escape for your fur buddy at its dog beach park. One of the only no-leash parks in Florida, this is absolutely a dog lover’s delight. So pack your bags and get set for a day’s escape to this beautiful place.
10. Key Largo, FL
Key Largo is a beautiful place located on Key Largo island of the upper Florida Keys. You must be aware of the fabulous Florida Keys; Key Largo is the first of them. It is rightly termed as the dive capital of the world, as the dive scenes here are fascinating! This place also houses a coral reef park and a national park, which will be a treat for you if you are a nature enthusiast. This must be on your day trip list for the various water sports it has to offer. Be it kayaking, snorkeling, underwater activities or just fishing, all the water sports lovers term this place as their soul place. If you are in relax mode, you can simply enjoy their tropical beverages with a view of the sunset on the seaside.
11. Sanibel Island, FL
Sanibel Island is a short drive from Fort Myers and it is located in the Gulf of Mexico. If you want a day away from your daily life, this place is a perfect hideout for you, with a variety of options that it offers in terms of its luxury resorts. You can simply enjoy the sunsets, for which this place is hugely famous, or have a trip to view their lighthouses, another famous thing this place houses. You can indulge yourself with the most popular activity of this island, which is shelling. Pick up some shells, enjoy the wonderful seafood, and dining, and have a great stay at their luxurious resorts.
12. Islamorada, FL
Islamorada is your place to go if you are willing to drive further down south of Miami. This is a place that your friends, family, or you alone can enjoy and will love. If you like fishing, watersports, or anything related to sport fishing, this is the perfect trip for you to take. Islamorada is rightly known as the sportfishing capital of the world, as it has to offer all kinds of fishing expeditions and water sports under the sun. All water-related activities can be availed throughout the day.
Apart from all the water activities, they also have a couple of state parks and a museum to satisfy the knowledge buff within you. This is a great day trip to take and an enthralling one that will jazz up your excursion around Fort Myers.
13. Captiva Island, FL
Captiva Island is a delight for all the children and adults alike. It is situated in very close proximity to Fort Myers, thus making it a perfect place for a day trip with the least travel hassle. The silver beaches and the celebratory environment almost bring a magical feel to this place, It feels like Christmas all-year-round! South seas island resorts claim to have 2.5 (4 km) miles of the beach area. They also have to offer a lot of tailored programs for children. Be it sailing school or mermaid-pirate lay sessions, your kids are going to love this place. So let your kids unwind with the fantastic activities this destination has to offer while you sit with your drink enjoying the beach view.
Scenic beauty and adventure in Florida
We know how boring daily routines can be, and how much we crave for a time-out from the mundane. When travel and time are a concern for you, you can surely pick up one of the options from above and still go on for a day trip to any of these destinations. This will not only help you skip the routine but also fill you with a new zeal and enthusiasm to tackle the mundane. Pack your bags, pick up a place and get ready to have a great time with superb food, scenic beauty, and adventure.
Frequently asked questions about the best day trips from Fort Myers, Florida
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