Day Trips in South Florida

1. Big Cypress National Preserve

• What is Big Cypress National Preserve?
  • Big Cypress National Preserve is a lovely national preserve, a 45-minute weekend getaway from Miami. It spans 720,000 acres throughout the region's Atlantic coastal plain terrain.
• When was Big Cypress National Preserve established?
  • The preserve was established as one of the United States' first national preserves in 1974, along with Texas' Big Thicket National Preserve.
• What flora and fauna can be found at Big Cypress National Preserve?
  • A wide range of native Florida flora and fauna are protected throughout the preserve, including Florida panthers, alligators, anhingas, river otters, mangrove trees, and over 30 varieties of blooming orchards.
• What activities can visitors do at Big Cypress National Preserve?
  • Visitors can explore the preserve's hiking and paddling trails as part of self-guided tours, embark on ranger-led swamp talks or canoeing excursions, or book custom tours with businesses like Captain Steve's Swamp Buggy and Airboat Adventures.
• What is the Loop Road Scenic Drive?
  • The park's lovely Loop Road Scenic Drive is home to the scenic Sweetwater Strand Bridge, a popular alligator viewing spot, and the charming town of Pinecrest, which was known nationally throughout the mid-20th century for its famed dance club and bar Gator Hook Lodge.

33100 Tamiami Trail E, Ochopee, FL 34141, Phone: 239-695-2000, Map

2. Bonita Springs

• What is Bonita Springs known for?
  • Bonita Springs is a lovely southwestern Florida city that is home to stunning Gulf Coast beaches and waterfront parks, including the stunning 2.5-acre Bonita Beach Park, which is home to a year-round swimming area and a picturesque boardwalk.
• What is Barefoot Beach Preserve Park?
  • Barefoot Beach Preserve Park protects 342 acres of natural land on one of Florida's last remaining undeveloped barrier islands, named as one of the best beaches in the United States by Forbes Magazine.
• What can visitors do at Lover's Key State Park?
  • Lover's Key State Park spans more than 1,000 acres throughout four barrier islands, known for its excellent opportunities for kayaking, canoeing, hiking, and biking.
• What other outdoor attractions are available in Bonita Springs?
  • Other outdoor attractions include the secluded Little Hickory Island Beach Park and the beautiful Everglades Wonder Gardens, which showcase exotic wildlife.

3. Captiva Island

• Where is Captiva Island located?
  • Captiva Island is a beautiful island community in Lee County, located just north of Sanibel Island within Florida's pristine Gulf of Mexico coastline.
• What is the history of Captiva Island?
  • The island, which was originally connected to Sanibel Island, was severed into its own island by the creation of the Blind Pass channel following a hurricane in 1926.
• What makes Captiva Island unique?
  • Today, it is known as one of the Gulf's most scenic destinations, maintaining its historic charm due to zoning laws that state that no buildings can be constructed higher than the island's highest palm tree.
• How do visitors get around Captiva Island?
  • Visitors can travel around by golf cart or bicycle and enjoy excellent opportunities for shopping, dining, and nightlife.
• What can visitors expect at the island's beach?
  • The island's beautiful 2.5-mile beachfront showcases over 250 species of seashells, making it a great spot for beachcombing.
• What attractions are available on Captiva Island?
  • Other attractions include the lavish South Seas resort, which is home to a nine-hole golf course, state-of-the-art fitness center, and the delicious Doc Ford's restaurant, named for the protagonist of the same name in the novels of author Randy Wayne White.

4. Cayo Costa State Park

• Where is Cayo Costa State Park located?
  • Cayo Costa State Park is a charming Florida state park located on Cayo Costa, just 12 miles west of the town of Cape Coral.
• How can visitors access Cayo Costa State Park?
  • The state park is only accessible via kayak or boat, known for its stunning nine miles of undeveloped shoreline, which are prime spots throughout the year for swimming, snorkeling, shelling, and birdwatching.
• What activities are available at Cayo Costa State Park?
  • Anglers can enjoy excellent opportunities for catching redfish, tarpon, pompano, and snook. Hiking and hiking trails are located throughout the island's interior, which also offers day-use picnic sites and a small nature center.
• What facilities are available for camping at Cayo Costa State Park?
  • 30 tent campsites are showcased throughout the island, along with 12 primitive cabins available for overnight rental.

Cayo Costa State Park, Cayo Costa, FL 33922, Phone: 941-964-0375

5. Everglades National Park

• What is Everglades National Park known for?
  • One of the best national parks in the United States, Everglades National Park is a beautiful 1,500,000-acre wetlands preserve located along the southern tip of Florida, protecting highly significant coastal mangrove, pine flatwoods, and sawgrass marsh habitats that provide homes for hundreds of native, rare, and endangered animal species.
• Why is Everglades National Park significant?
  • The park, which was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, is the nation's third-largest national park and the largest preserved wilderness east of the Mississippi River, created to protect one of the United States' most fragile ecosystems.
• What can visitors do at Everglades National Park?
  • Today, it attracts more than one million visitors from around the world, offering excellent opportunities for hiking, birdwatching, and observing native wildlife.
• What trails and tours are available at Everglades National Park?
  • Walking trails traverse hardwood hammock and freshwater slough habitats, while guided nature tours offer opportunities to see alligators, crocodiles, sharks, and barracuda.
• Is camping available at Everglades National Park?
  • Camping is available year-round at sites such as Long Pine Key and Flamingo.

40001 State Road 9336, Homestead, FL 33034, Phone: 305-242-7700, Map

6. Fort Lauderdale

• What is Fort Lauderdale known for?
  • Fort Lauderdale is one of southeastern Florida's loveliest cities, known throughout the nation for its famed beaches, boating canals, and many things to do.
• What makes Fort Lauderdale a popular LGBT-friendly destination?
  • The city, which is located two miles north of Port Everglades, is one of the United States' most popular LGBT-friendly tourism destinations, attracting over 1.3 million LGBT visitors each year.
• What attractions can be found along the Fort Lauderdale Riverwalk?
  • The lovely Fort Lauderdale Riverwalk landscaped park traverses the city's waterfront toward the Arts and Entertainment District, showcasing attractions like the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, the family-friendly Museum of Discovery and Science and AutoNation 3D IMAX Theater, and the Fort Lauderdale Historical Center.
• What historical attractions are available in Fort Lauderdale?
  • The preserved Stranahan House, the city's oldest building, is open to the public as a living history museum, showcasing turn-of-the-century furnishings.
• What outdoor activities can be enjoyed in Fort Lauderdale?
  • Hugh Taylor Birch State Park spans 180 acres along the city's beachfront, showcasing nature trails, canoeing opportunities, and overnight camping areas.

7. Fort Myers

• What is Fort Myers known for?
  • Fort Myers serves as the gateway to southwest Florida, named in honor of Colonel Abraham Myers. The beautiful town, which is located along the banks of the state's sunshine-filled Gulf Coast, is known for its excellent swimming beaches, fishing opportunities, shopping destinations, and family-friendly attractions.
• What historical sites can visitors explore in Fort Myers?
  • Visitors can explore the preserved winter estates of American innovators Henry Ford and Thomas Edison as part of guided living history tours throughout the year, including garden and laboratory tours.
• What wildlife can be seen at Fort Myers?
  • Beautiful natural areas like the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge protect the island's sensitive mangrove forest habitats, home to native crocodiles, alligators, and bird species.
• What unique experiences can visitors enjoy in Fort Myers?
  • Manatee Park offers opportunities to observe Florida manatees in their native habitats via kayak, while the Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium offers butterfly house tours, animal demonstrations, and space-related shows.
• What sports activities are available in Fort Myers?
  • The town is also a spring training site for the Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox baseball teams and offers ticketed opportunities to watch practices during March.

8. Islamorada

• What makes Islamorada special?
  • Islamorada is a picturesque village that spans across six islands within the Florida Keys, located between the Florida Strait and the expansive wilderness of Everglades National Park.
• Why is Islamorada known as the "Sportfishing Capital of the World"?
  • The village, known as the "Sportfishing Capital of the World", is home to the world's largest fishing fleet per square mile, offering a plethora of water sporting activities for visitors throughout the year.
• What diving attractions can visitors enjoy in Islamorada?
  • Visitors can dive among the Keys' stunning coral reef areas or learn about the technology and development of human diving practices at the History of Diving Museum.
• What unique marine experiences are available in Islamorada?
  • Dolphin encounters are offered at the Theater of the Sea, one of Florida's original marine parks, while tours of a former quarry site are available at Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park.
• What entertainment options are available in Islamorada?
  • Lively theatrical productions are showcased throughout the year at the Coral Shores Performing Arts Center.