South Seas

The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium is a natural history museum that educates, inspires, builds community, and connects people through their love of shells, the diverse animals that create them, and the natural environment.

Founded in 1986, Captiva Cruises is an excursion boat company, which operates a fleet of vessels & an exciting program of tours and cruises from McCarthy’s Marina on beautiful Captiva Island, Florida. The culture of Captiva Cruises, a recognized leader in the Florida ecotourism industry, is one committed to a course of action, which honors the islands’ history of conservation and legacy of environmental education. The Schedule Includes: The Dolphin Watch & Wildlife Adventure Cruise A 90 minute wildlife cruise on Pine Island Sound The Sunset Serenade Cruise A one hour cruise featuring live entertainment along with famous Gulf waters sunsets Beach and Shelling Cruise A three hour cruise to the secluded Cayo Costa State Park Islands. Out-Island Cruises A half day cruise to one of four exciting destinations, Cabbage Key, Useppa Island, Boca Grande, or Cayo Costa. Sailing Cruises Private sailing charters aboard the Adventure. We also offer group boat tours and cruise charters aboard our spacious and comfortable vessels.

About the Edison & Ford Winter Estates Visitors to the Edison & Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers will enjoy 20 acres of historical buildings, historic gardens, the Edison Botanic Research Lab and the Edison Ford Museum. The newly restored buildings include the Edison Main House, Guest House, and Caretaker’s House and the Ford House. The 1929 historic landscape is throughout the property including the award winning Moonlight Garden. The Edison Ford Museum has hundreds of inventions, artifacts and special exhibits. In addition to providing the opportunity to explore the winter retreats of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, the site offers opportunities for the public to enjoy its park like environment for special events, weddings, corporate functions and meetings, exhibits and ongoing education programming. Throughout the year, this National Register Historic Site, Florida Historic Landmark and Winner of the National Trust for Historic Preservation Restoration Award offers visitors of all ages a chance to step back into “old Florida” and the opportunity to learn more about the world through unique historical, scientific and cultural experiences. Open Daily 9:00 am to 5:30 pm. Last Guided Tour starts at 4:00 pm. Self-guided audio tours available in English, German, French, and Spanish. Maps available in English, German, French and Spanish. German language historian-led tours are also available every Wednesday at 10:30am. Museum Store, Ford Cottage Shoppe and Garden Shoppe are open daily 9.00 am to 5:30 pm. - See more at: http://www.edisonfordwinterestates.org/#sthash.4iTEsN6w.dpuf

Spring Training home to the Minnesota Twins and tournaments throughout the year

JetBlue Park at Fenway South is the spring training home to the World Series Champion, Boston Red Sox.

With nine miles of beautiful beaches and acres of pine forests, oak-palm hammocks and mangrove swamps, this barrier island park is a Gulf Coast paradise. Cayo Costa is accessible only by private boat or ferry. Visitors may see manatees and pods of dolphins in the waters around the 2,426 acre park, as well as a spectacular assortment of birds. On the island, visitors can swim or snorkel in the surf, enjoy the sun and picnic in the shade. Keep your eyes peeled as you stroll along the beach, especially during the winter months. The nature trails that crisscross the island provide opportunities for hiking and off-road bicycling. Saltwater anglers can fish from their boats or throw a line out into the surf. An amphitheater provides educational programs about the island's ecology and history. For overnight stays, the park offers primitive cabins and tent camping. Captiva Cruises offers ferry service to the park for locations in Punta Gorda, Pine Island, Fort Myers, Sanibel Island and Captiva Island. Reservations suggested.

The J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge is located on the subtropical barrier island of Sanibel nestled along the Gulf Waters. The refuge is part of the largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystem in the United States. It is world famous for its spectacular migratory bird populations. J. N. "Ding" Darling is one of over 550 refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System administered by the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service.