J.N. Ding Darling is a nice little refuge area to visit in Sanibel. The visitors center is free to…read morevisit and is a good first stop for some small educational exhibits. There were a few activities including learning the basics to draw a duck and doing crayon impressions of wildlife for some take-home artwork. There's even a taxidermy collection. The staff was welcoming and willing to answer any questions. While the visitors center is free, you pay admission to enter the four-mile loop. We were traveling with a veteran, so our car was able to get free admission with their military pass. You can walk or drive. We decided to drive the loop. It's not super scenic, so walking is not really recommend when it's hot. Plus, there's not much to see when it's hot, hot, hot. You can pull over on the side of the road and get out as you please. We saw a few birds and fish, but nothing worthwhile. There is a resident alligator, but in the summer, he is in hiding. Fishing was a popular activity. The website showed some excursions like a tram ride and a boat ride (both at an additional cost), but we just stuck with our own car to explore the loop. I'd say it's worth a quick visit when you want to do something other than beaching. The park is closed on Fridays.

The last time we were here -- more than ten years ago -- there was no tram or drive through. They…read moreonly had dirt trails and as it had rained recently, we walked through some very muddy areas. This time, we decided to take the 4 mile drive. The drive costs $10 per car. You drive quite slowly. And you can stop at any point on the right side of the one way drive. There are scenic overlooks, and canoe launching sites, and places where folks fish. This wild life preserve did not have much of anything to see however! And definitely almost no wildlife. We saw one fish jumping -- a mullet -- and an osprey getting ready to dive down into the water . And one crow and one dove. No turtles or alligators. All we saw was basically trees and bushes and some water. All in all , it was rather a boring and disappointing experience.

Right off the main road, this is an okay park. It has bathroom facilities, a volley ball court,…read moreshuffleboard, and a play structure. There are better parks on island with more shade and more "stuff", but in a pinch it's a quiet place for a break. And there are some benches and picnic tables and a big grassy area for the kids to run around in. It's okay in a pinch, if you're nearby and the kids need a break, but...

What an absolutely beautiful park. My three year old had a blast here. It is clean, large, and…read morewe'll maintained. I recommend to all the parents that need to get some energy out of their kiddos.

This Lighthouse literally weathered the storm during hurricane Ian that ravaged most of Sanibel…read moreIsland and nearby Fort Myers Beach. After it was repaired from the damage, it stands as a symbol to all of us that appreciate the history of Sanibel Island and its importance to the area.

So happy to revisit the Sanibel Island Beach Lighthouse and see the Lighthouse…read more Some of the surrounding areas around the base of the Lighthouse are still restricted due to hurricane Ian damage. The beach is well maintained and there is public parking available.

This is my favorite Sanibel beach. Always lots of shells. Not too far if a walk from parking lot…read more Beautiful view, white sand and shells. Bathrooms by parking lot. Always a great day there!

Beautiful. Just beautiful!!…read more Hubby and I spent a good day here on the beach walking and shelling. There were several people in the area, but not too crowded either. It was so beautiful here and everyone was so friendly. Very peaceful too!

This park is very close to where we ate lunch at the newly reopened Sweet Tomatoes, so after we…read moreate, we headed over to check it out. Lakes Park is a 279-acre public park located along Gladiolus Drive, just south of Fort Myers. It is operated by the Lee County Department of Parks and Recreation. The park was named after its main feature: 158 acres of man-made freshwater lakes that were created when the site was occupied by West Coast Rock Co., a rock and limestone quarry, during the 1950s and 1960s. In 1958, a railroad spur was built to serve the mine, running along what is now Six Mile Cypress Parkway. The track bed had previously been used by the Seaboard Air Line Railroad from 1926 to 1952. In 1978, Lee County purchased the abandoned quarry to preserve the land before opening it to the public as a park on April 21, 1984. My first impression was that this has to be one of the nicest parks I have ever visited. It has so much to offer that I could have easily spent the entire day there. If you visit the park, it is important to note that admission is free, but parking is not. It costs $1 per hour, up to a maximum of $5. Once you enter the park, there is so much to do. There are more than 2.5 miles of paved paths running throughout the park. There is an amphitheater, beach volleyball courts, a boat launch, a fishing area, a train-themed playground, picnic shelters, gardens, a wedding gazebo, and a train museum. You can also rent a boat, kayak, or bicycle. Admission to the train museum is $5, and the 15-minute train rides, when operating, cost $5 per adult. The park also offers story-time programs, a farmers market (October through June), and a two-hour bird patrol tour on the first Saturday of each month at 8:00 a.m. The park is a stop on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail, a network of more than 500 wildlife viewing sites across the state. On the day I visited, it was blisteringly hot. I recommend visiting during the cooler months. Even so, I was able to walk the boardwalk, where I spotted a variety of birds, and I explored a few of the gardens. The park is so lovely. We have multiple parks on Florida's east coast that offer some of the same features, but here in Fort Myers, you can find it all at Lakes Regional Park.

What a huge and beautiful park. I'm a little jealous we don't have anything like this near us! We…read morelet the kids play on two different playgrounds. There was a splash pad that was closed off due to construction. We saw a community garden, children's garden, and train museum and boardwalk. You can easily spend a few hours here. I think parking was $1/hours or $5 for the day. It's huge here!! I read 279 acres.

Exceptional way to tour the refuge. Mo was a fantastic guide pointing out the various birds,…read morewildlife, and different forms of vegetation and their roles in the habitat. Very fun although a chilly the January morning we were there.

I went with my mom for the tram tour in the afternoon. We booked online through their site, which…read moreabout 20 dollars per person after taxes and fees. We checked in at the Ding Darling visitor center. The friendly attendant at the counter informed us the guide/driver is ready for us and to meet her at the tram. We were also given binoculars that were free to borrow with a credit card on hold (we would get charged if we lose them). We boarded the tram about 15 minutes before the tour. The whole tram was full, and every seat was taken, including the front seat in the truck pulling the tram. Kathy, our guide/driver introduced us to the tour and informed potential animals we would see. We were all informed to let her know if we see any potential animals so she can slow down the tram when needed. When we went to the park, we saw various animals including many types of birds, fishes, manatees, and even iguanas. The whole tour lasted about 90 minutes, with a small 10 break to walk and view the observation tower. Kathy did an excellent job explaining about the park, the types of plants and animals, and how the park was affected by the hurricane and other things. She also answered any questions that the guests had. She drove very safely, being cautious of the other vehicles and pedestrians at the park. We were also informed that we could walk around the park after the tour. However, we decided it was too hot to walk a couple miles and left after the tour. The visitor center looked to be undergoing renovations, but the gift shop was open. We bought a shirt that was on sale. The bathrooms were clean and even had information about the various animals we could see. We were also given a brochure as well before the tour. For the price paid, this was a great value. We did get to see various types of animals, plants, and birds. Our guide/driver was friendly, informative, and cautious. Even though the hurricane did some damage to the park, the repairs looked nice and great to see the various wildlife coming back to the park. This was a wonderful tour and a must do when visiting Sanibel Island.

A must visit each trip. We always looks around but don't always get in the water. Like everywhere…read morein Sanibel we have seen a variety of sealife, shells and cool birds. We have seen dolphins, manatees, Ray's, starfish, sand dollars, osprey, ect. There is usually an osprey atop of the lighthouse. The parking here is limited and pay by the hour. Right now it's 5 dollars an hour. Sometimes the current here is SUPER strong. Usually it's fine.. the tide was up. Bathroom archive and free.

Lighthouse Beach & Fishing Pier was a bit of a let down. The lighthouse is a skinny metal tower…read more It barely passed for what could be called a lighthouse. I'm from New England and I was expecting more than that. The parking was far away from the pier and it was something like $6.00 per hour. We ended up moving on to another beach that seemed to be better. In the future, If I venture out to Sanibel while staying in Ft. Myers I will pass on this beach. The shells were much more plentiful at other beaches on the island and there are nicer spots in Lover's Cove.

Recently visited this beach and it was awful. Stagnant water runoff in the parking lots which made…read morethe most unpleasant smell and the second we stepped onto the beach, we were legitimately covered with hundreds(no exaggeration!) of sand fleas. I would steer clear of it, much better options for a more enjoyable beach experience.

Wow! This is a hidden gem- you must get beach parking permit to enjoy. Like all Sanibel beaches the…read moreshelly white sands lead you to beautiful waters on a beach with few people - a perfect night stroll!

Gulfside City Park Beach has been a favorite of ours since we moved to SWFL. This is three days…read morebefore Christmas, so I wasn't sure what to expect. It actually wasn't super crowded and we easily got a parking spot at 1:00 pm. It is normally a pretty clean beach, but there was quite a bit of seaweed on the beach. It was also quite windy today, but that helped keep the heat factor down. Regardless of the seaweed and the wind, there are always lots of shells and beauty to be found at this dog-friendly beach.

Great beach! We came here to watch the sunrise and it did not disappoint! 'Algiers Beach' has an…read moreinteresting history, too. We also got sooo many shells in less than an hour. I will definitely return!

This was our beach choice on this trip to Sanibel Island. It was the first time we had been back…read moresince Hurricane Ian. Feel like this park's trees were swept up. It's completely empty of trees. But now there's lots of space for cars to bring their families to hang by this beach. You still pay for the toll to get on the island $6, but the hourly rate that's on the Sanibel & Captiva beaches don't apply to this beach. Which is why we went. We also really liked our car close by. I was super happy I brought my beach shoes. It's been a while I used them. There are lots of huge shells in the water so it's hard to walk without them. The water was nice and it's a convenient spot to refresh in the water. People also bring their jet skis and boats here. I do love the Sanibel beaches but I don't want to pay for the hourly rate. So this was good for us. They only have portapotties here no bathrooms like the other beaches

As you take the Sanibel Causeway Bridge (cost $6) ​to Sanibel Island there are two islands A and B…read morewhere you can stop and swim. The 10 acre islands are made from roadside spoils built when creating the causeway that links the mainland to Sanibel Island. When the bridge was built the islands allowed for shorter bridge spans. When you visit the parks you can have both and gulf access. When coming from the mainland you first come to island A which has parking. Island B has restrooms, water fountains, and picnic tables on the gulf side. Some of the activities you can enjoy in the park include fishing, swimming, picnicking, canoeing/kayaking, wind surfing, kite boarding, shell collecting, and sun bathing. You can bring your own grill for cooking out. Leashed dogs are allowed as long as you pick up after them. While it does cost the toll fee to get to the parks once you are here parking is free. The governor has ordered all of the beaches closed so they were taped off and empty except for some birds flouting the rules. A lot of people use the beaches here as an alternative to the ones on Sanibel Island during times when they are crowded and it is impossible to get a parking spot. You also have to pay to park on Sanibel Island. It was so hard to drive past the empty inviting empty stretch of beach without stopping. Hopefully we all soon be back to enjoying all the things that make Florida so special.