This beautiful nature preserve features a raised boardwalk that winds through the slough, passing…read moreseveral scenic ponds along the way. The atmosphere here was incredibly peaceful, and the slow pace made it the perfect way to start the morning. Along the walk, we spotted plenty of wildlife -- including birds, squirrels, lizards, bunnies, and even an otter playing near the water. The boardwalk trail isn't very long and has multiple benches along the way, making it a relaxing spot to take breaks and soak in the surroundings. There's also plenty of shade, which kept it comfortable despite the Florida humidity. We had brought along bug spray, expecting mosquitos, but it turned out to be unnecessary -- we didn't see any the entire time we were there. It was a calm, refreshing start to the day and a great spot for anyone who enjoys nature, wildlife, or just a peaceful walk.

25 February 2026…read more Someone had the idea to visit Six Mile Cypress Slough today. Uufff It was a nice walk ... but ... bring your walking shoes, Sunglasses and a hat. A bottle of water would be a nice addition. This place has a trail that you are compelled to remain on throughout the excursion. It is a wooden trail with wooden guardrails to prevent you from straying. It was a pleasant hike, got my steps in , but I thought it would never end. I thought I was trapped in the movie set of "No Way Out" Finally ! At the end of the trail I managed to find the exit and my car. Adios ... don't think I'll be coming back . Ok ok , it wasn't that bad. I'm prone to exaggerate.

Nice picnic facilities near the kayak rental. Cool fishing pier looks out on the river. Nicely…read moreshaded 1 mile boardwalk loop. Enjoy!

Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve is located on the right as soon as you cross the Midpoint…read moreMemorial Bridge that connects Fort Myers to Cape Coral. The 365 acre preserve is the second largest open green space in Cape Coral. It was created by the State of Florida when the city of Cape Coral was being developed. The preserve has a 1.2 mile boardwalk that starts off as coastal prairie, a rare habitat in this area that that is a great area for birding. You might encounter eagles, ibis, herons, wading and migratory birds, raccoons and snakes. The closest I came to wildlife was spotting some raccoon footprints on the boardwalk. As I walked along the boardwalk the brackish water of the red and black mangroves let out to the overlook over the Caloosahatchee River. In the distance you can see Thomas Edison's estate, one of the first settlements in the area. Heading back, the boardwalk ends letting you out on a shell path lined by sand live oak, gumbo limbo, and ficus trees before you return to the parking lot. Four Mile Cove also has a small visitors center with map and restrooms. On the south side of the parking lot is a Veterans memorial area with monuments dedicated to the branches of the armed forces. On weekends from November through May there is a kayak rental kiosk. There is also two fishing piers for anglers to try their luck in the Caloosahatchee River. I enjoyed my peaceful walk on the boardwalk. As I walked I pondered how glad I was that the state has the foresight to protect this ecologically significant area. At Four Mile Cove you can enjoy the real Florida like it was when Edison first arrived.

This was a nice spot to take the dog for a walk. We wanted to try another park but once we got…read morefurther in it was too wet and a little overgrown. Definitely will come back there were spots to look out onto the wetlands and several benches to sit if needed along the way. Some shade but not a lot. We brought water along for the pup so she was good.

It was a very beautiful day today. I was excited to be able to take a walk in this park and it is…read morereally close to our home. The path is made out of crushed shells and easy to walk on. The long winter shadows cast their images along the winding walk. There is a little boardwalk and bridge which actually runs along the swampy area. I expected that to see an alligator baking In the sun. There are benches every so often, so you can stop and take in the beauty of the area. I love the winters here....... A hidden gem in our local community!

Nice trails. Quite from the hustle and bustle. Took wrong turns a couple of time. Could be…read morebetter marked.

Great cool place to walk the trails on. I definitely enjoyed today's hike. It's not that long but…read moreit's a decent size. Weather was perfect today. Nice breeze while working up a sweat. I really had fun. I could come back, super close to my home and it was very interesting and fun to explore. I did notice some burned areas I'm guessing from small wild fires but no worries it's safe to walk/run on. It's was a very cool nature area. Very peaceful. I noticed 1 other person on the trial beside my wife and I. And I was surprised that this trail creek hiking area is in this area and had so much room to explore with all the housing and developments overpopulating this areas. So that was very cool to have a nature area and I didn't feel like I was walking in a neighborhood. I felt like I was actually enjoying the true earth.

OK, let me start with this. I went through my family. I can't say enough great things about this…read moreplace. Let's start with the bathrooms so clean and convenient. I really almost had an emergency and I made it back just in time so perfect length of tour. So also they kept it so clean as I may have mentioned. The amazing staff were very kind when they greeted us and then we saw so many great things we learned a lot and I think it was a real blessing that ding darling set up this nature reserve

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.

a fascinating stop that preserves the historic site of the Koreshan Unity -- a utopian religious…read morecommunity founded in the late 19th century by Cyrus Teed. The park has a $5 per car entrance fee and plenty of parking. There are two main areas: One side leads to a picnic area and campsites -- perfect for relaxing or spending the night. The other takes you to the historical settlement, where multiple preserved buildings are open for exploration. You can take a self-guided tour using a $1 handout map from the visitor center or simply read the detailed informational signs posted around the site. Walking through the grounds feels like stepping into a ghost town, complete with original structures and remnants of a once-thriving community. Despite the eerie history, the park is peaceful, quiet, and well-shaded, making it a nice place to wander, learn, and take a break from the Florida heat. It's definitely worth a stop if you're in the area.

I have heard about the Koreshan State Park and the cult with the same name from my previous visits…read moreto the Bonita Springs area. But after reading the novel "The Magic Kingdom" written by Russell Banks recently (I do recommend) based on the history of the Koreshan cult, I wanted to visit the park during my next trip. And we did. The park is open daily from 8 am to 5 pm. They have tours and demonstrations on the property. You can browse on your own of you want. We opted for a guided tour that starts at 10 am for $10/person, you can book online ahead of time or just pay and join on the spot. It was well worth it, our guide gave us a lot of interesting information (although she didn't know about the books), about Dr. Cyrus Teed, the guru of the Koreshan who started the religious cult in New York, moved it to Chicago, then to Estero Bay in Florida where they helped develop the area. Lots of fascinating stories about their settlement, religion concepts, work in the area, business, the role of women within the cult. We lingered afterword to browse some more, lots of memorabilia on display and we were lucky to witness some demonstrations. You need at least 2-3 hours to see everything. You can bring lunch, there are picnic tables. A lot of places and houses in this big park. Wear comfy shoes, bring a hat. You will also see cool plants and animals in the wild (cool lizards, small iguanas). It's worth checking out if you're looking for an activity that opens a big window into the history of the area!

quiet, nature-filled spot with walking trails, wildlife viewing, and access to the water. There's a…read moresmall entrance fee along with a nominal parking fee (about $1.50 per hour). The park's trails are short and easy to navigate, winding along shaded paths that take you along the water's edge. While we didn't spot any manatees on this visit, it was still a nice, relaxing stop. Instead, we saw plenty of rabbits, squirrels, and lizards along the way. There's also a small fishing dock where people were casting lines, and if you're looking for something a bit more adventurous, you can rent kayaks at a nearby location within the park. We stayed for about an hour, enjoying the sunshine and slow pace before heading out. It was the perfect low-key outing -- light activity, peaceful surroundings

Well as long as looking at manatees IS NOT a goal, I recommend this place. We spent about 45…read moreminutes here hopeful to catch a glimpse, without success. They have lined the bottom of the viewing area with black plastic and the water looks very murky as a result. We saw a few fish leap out of the water, less than a dozen lizards VC and the top few inches of one alligator. Parking was $2 an hour and easy to pay with a C QR code. The bathrooms were clean and there is a cut gift shop with a nice variety of items. The walking trails were plenty close to nature while still feeling protected from the alligators. They had a few volunteers available to talk to as well.

This animal rescue sanctuary is truly a special place. My husband and I loved it. You can feel the…read morecompassion and dedication the moment you arrive. Julie and the volunteers clearly care deeply about the animals and go above and beyond to ensure they are safe, healthy, and loved. The sanctuary is clean, well-organized, and focused on the animals' well-being above all else. It's inspiring to see animals given a second chance at life in such a nurturing environment. Thank you Julie for being our tour guide! It was amazing!! The sanctuary is a must see!!

I'll just go ahead and say it. You can't walk through the gates of Octagon Wildlife Sanctuary on a…read moreguided tour and come out the same person you were before. Not if your heart is beating. Nestled in a secluded animal mecca near the Babcock Ranch proximity of Punta Gorda, live 57ish forms of wildlife who have found their forever home in Octagon, most of whom would not be alive had it not been for the compassionate hearts who saved these sentient beings. Yes, of course, this Disneyland For Wildlife has lions, and tigers, and bears, oh my! (admit it, you saw that one coming), but so much more, including species you would not expect to see at a wildlife sanctuary. For example, the homing pigeons who landed at Octagon because they were orphaned and have no knowledge of how to forage for food. As well as the alligator who grew up in a bathtub (don't even get me started). How about the pair of Macaws that were rescued from a dentist's office after the patients were teaching them one too many curse words ? And the monkey (cue the waterworks, it's ok to cry along with me) who was abandoned in a cage and left at the gates to Octagon on Thanksgiving Day. We can't forget the baboon who spins gleefully on three legs when he thinks no one is watching, which is extraordinary when you learn that he came to Octagon because of a history of being mentally abused. The one thing they all have in common? They're all rescues. All of these majestic creatures have been rescued and offered a New Beginning to live out the rest of their lives in a place where they are happy and well-cared for. In fact, Octagon was rated as one of the Top 10 wildlife sanctuaries in the country for the happiest animal residents. Now, that's saying something. Octagon even has resident "squatters", i.e. animals that don't need to be here but choose to be, for example Blue, the handsome peacock who hangs out to spread his beautiful plumage for the lady hens (hang in there, pal, one day you might get lucky) and the ibis who travel in and out to the sanctuary, to score a free meal and to swap stories with their friends. The feeling of joy is palpable as you walk along the path, as every animal resident (humans too) was thrilled to see my tour guide, Tracey Pirozzi, chuffing at the fence to gain her attention. No animal is ever asked to do anything it doesn't want to do. Every enclosure is arranged to make the animal as comfortable as possible. In fact, enclosures are often customized to the resident to work around any historical triggers they may have. In addition to the opportunity to see these precious animals thriving at their new beginnings, the tour also was extremely educational. I learned so much, as did the others in my tour group. Tracey kept things light and informative, engaging everyone in fun games and quizzes along the way. While fielding questions and engaging us with the animals along the way, Tracey speaks earnestly and passionately about the purpose, about the origins, of Octagon. I shed a few tears (maybe more than a few) when I saw how dear this place is to her heart. And it's easy to see why. Every animal here is given some sort of enrichment, something to keep their mind stimulated, which is critical to their overall well-being, whether it's a large ball that they can push around, a hanging crate of meat that they have to unpuzzle to claim, or a TV to watch their favorite cartoon. And marshmallows! Psst, Tracey, how about another marshamllow, puhhhhleeeeezzzzzz? As a 501(c)(3) nonrprofit organization, Octagon Wildlife Sanctuary depends entirely upon donor support, with no government assistance. As you can imagine, Octagon has a hefty expenditure in just keeping their doors open. Their food bill alone, as you can imagine (we saw one tiger tackle five chickens for breakfast), runs in the tens of thousands of dollars every month. Not only that, but there are no paid jobs here. The facility is managed by a 100% volunteer workforce, and every volunteer we encountered had a huge smile on their face, and a fierce passion upon their brows. We could feel it. The animals could feel it. The guided tour is suited for people of all ages, a terrific way to spend the morning. One little boy in our tour group was so engaged and so spot-on with the answers to Tracey's questions that I'm pretty sure that he'll soon be a tour guide . For Southwest Florida residents or for visitors from out of town, I highly recommend this opportunity to see nature at its best. I give it four paws up. To make your tour extra special, make a reservation for the 9:30am tour on Thursdays, so Tracey can show you this magical place!

great park! theres surrey bike rentals available. the miniture train is nice too! lots of…read moreparking.has a nice lake and a wooden boardwalk across the lake. highly recommend

We love this park! On any given day, you can walk or bike around the lakes. They offer bike and…read morepaddle boat rental options and a train to ride. Today, we rented the pedal cart for four and another for two. Our teen grandsons and their friends really had fun! Plus, they saw a small gator, a fairly big green iguana and a snake (in addition to all the beautiful birds). Wednesday mornings they have a very nice farmer's market with quite a few vendors. Put it on your to-do list!