Nestled on the shores of the great Caloosahatchee River, North Ft. Myers hosts a wide variety of activities for the Southwest Florida visitor. Read on for more details, and click on the hyper-texted areas for further details.
Listen! You can almost hear the waves breaking on the shore. . .there is something for everyone at the Shell Factory. An institution in Southwest Florida for more than 50 years, the Shell Factory is billed as the "world's largest collection of rare shells, corals, sponges and fossils from the seven seas." This unusual attraction boasts 65,500 square feet (17 acres ! ) of gift items from around the world . Landlubbers can take home a treasure chest of Neptune's creations without ever getting their feet wet. Thousands of shells and shell products are made by our own skilled artisans. You'll find an abundant selection of imaginative gifts, handblown glassworks, the Mineral Shop and a Designer's Corner. One entire room is devoted to shell jewelry, ranging from costume to fine. At the Pearl Pavilion, visitors pluck their own pearls from Japanese oysters and may select their own settings and have them expertly mounted. Satisfy your sweet tooth in our old-fashioned Fudge Kitchen. Visit our year-round Christmas Shoppe with a Florida flair. Two 10,000 gallon aquarium tanks, teeming with fish, even sharks, and a live alligator display are featured. Recently opened is an "Everything's a Dollar" store. Admission is free and tours of the warehouse and shell cleaning facility are available. The Shell Factory is open daily including holidays. Handicapped accessible . Location: Four miles north of the Caloosahatchee River on North Tamiami Trail (U. S.41), North Fort Myers, FL 33903-2787; (941) 995-2141.
Enjoy a taste of the real Florida the excitement of a true wilderness adventure. Travel in a comfortable swamp buggy with trained naturalist on a voyage through the beautiful woods and deep still waters of the Telegraph Cypress Swamp. See alligators, panthers, American bison, exotic birds, wild turkeys, snakes and other animals in their natural setting. Tours run Tuesday through Sunday, May-December and Monday through Sunday, January-April; times vary by season. Location: 8000 State Road 31, Punta Gorda, FL 33982. For further information, call (941) 338-6367 or 639-3958. For reservations, call (941) 489-3911. Reservations essential.
ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) is a unique attraction for Lee County. At ECHO, a Christian ministry working to solve world hunger, you will find one of the largest collections of tropical food plants in Florida; walk in a simulated rain forest; see rice, sesame, black pepper and other fascinating crops grown with and without soil. Free tours Tuesday, Friday and Saturday at 10 a.m. and by appointment for groups. Location: 17430 Durrance Road. North Ft Myers FL 33917 off of State Road 78 1 mile east of I-75, exit 26: (941) 543-3246.