I really wanted to love Lakes Park Children's Garden because honestly... the park itself is…read moreBEAUTIFUL. The location is great, it's gated, and at first glance it feels like the perfect spot to take kids, especially if you're just trying to kill time like we were before a flight. But I'm going to be real, the safety concerns completely changed the experience for me. It gets VERY crowded, and there's a big mix of people coming in and out. There were tons of kids, which is expected, but a lot of them were not supervised and were honestly pretty rough/mean. It didn't feel like a calm, safe environment where you can just let your kids play without constantly hovering. Also... the slides were SO hot. Like, borderline unusable hot. That alone was frustrating. The biggest issue for me though was the bathrooms. They are far from the main play area, and as a mom, there was no way I felt comfortable letting my kids go alone. When I did go, the bathrooms were extremely dirty, and I noticed syringes in a nearby area which was honestly alarming. That completely shifted my level of comfort. It also gave off the vibe that it's a place where people hang out who aren't necessarily there for the park, if that makes sense. I will say again, the park itself is beautiful and has so much potential. But just because it's gated doesn't mean it's actually safe. If you go, just be VERY vigilant, especially if you have more than one child. This is not a "sit back and relax" kind of park in my opinion.

All Children's Park is a brand new playground along the Caloosahatchee River in Centennial Park in…read moredowntown Fort Myers. The full name of the playground is the Lizbeth Benaquisto Inclusive Playground, in honor of the former state senator who pushed the legislation that set aside state funds for the playground."We were very particular there was going to be a playground that was successful for kids with very unique abilities," Benaquisto said at a January 2021 council meeting. "They have never had a safe place to play." The playground has swings, slides, and numerous climbing structures. I love all of the uniquely Florida touches like the puffer fish, manatee, and the Model T car in honor of Henry Ford who had a winter home in the city along with Thomas Edison. This is one of the nicest playgrounds I have ever seen and the kids playing on it we're having a ball. Best of all it is ADA accessible so children of all abilities can enjoy it. The new playground is a fantastic addition to Centennial Park.

This wonderful park has literally been destroyed. Nothing left but dirt piles. A new one is…read moresupposedly going to be built, with food truck parking, docks and other contrivances. Shame on Cape Coral's government for selling out.

Very nice park on the river. Nice walking trail & a lot of nice trees for shade. We took our dog…read morehere for the first time they supply bags

Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve in Fort Myers, Florida was honestly one of the most peaceful and…read morebeautiful places we visited in Southwest Florida. The entire preserve feels like stepping into untouched Old Florida, and the elevated boardwalk makes it super easy to explore without disturbing the wildlife or getting ankle-deep in swamp water... which honestly feels like a win. The preserve is incredibly well maintained, and everywhere you look there's something interesting to see. We spotted birds, turtles, fish, and even saw signs warning about alligators nearby. The towering cypress trees and reflections in the water made the entire walk feel calm and almost surreal. One thing we really loved was how quiet and relaxing it was. Even though it's located in Fort Myers, it feels completely removed from the city. It's the perfect spot if you enjoy photography, wildlife, nature walks, or just slowing down for a little while. The educational signs throughout the preserve also made the experience more meaningful because you actually learn about the ecosystem and why wetlands are so important in Florida. This is absolutely one of the best hidden gems in Fort Myers and a place we would gladly visit again. Check out our video on our socials @reessroots

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.

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!

Play ground area is at the front of parking area hidden down the path behind the painted Butterfly…read morebathroom. Very clean for middle of November travel. The playground structure has a sunshade cover. Other pictures we've seen didn't have cover in them. Clean seating and plenty of picnic benches.

This review is for the dog park only. If you want place where the owners do not discipline the dogs…read moreand where barking and aggression is allowed then this is the place. Unneutered dogs are welcomed. The small dog park is on the fence with the large ones. This place is very clicky, outsiders and the dogs seem to be unwanted. Did I mention the dogs poop and the owners look away. The rest of the park is awesome!

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.

The star of this park is the covered bocce courts which include lighting, seating and a…read moreprofessional looking area with a large number of courts. I can picture the older Italian guys all here swapping stories and throwing bocce balls up and down. Sadly, the pandemic has much of that shut down so the park is a little quieter these days. Other than bocce, there is a backetball court, picnic shelter with grill and a playground area. The park has a large parking lot with plenty of room. [Review 13257 overall, 575 of 2020.]

Brought my fur baby to the dog park and had such a nice time. They keep big buckets of water and…read moreseating for us humans. Overall was a beautiful park that was well maintained.

Nice little park near the entrance of the NW Cape Coral community. Hosting an array of ammenities…read moreincluding tennis, jogging paths and shuffle board. A few covered pavilions surround the tranquil lake but no fishing permitted. Today is cool out and the park is slammed with people exercising or playing with their children at the kiddie jungle gym. The paved parking is limited but they recently enhanced it by adding a gravel lot. Gender assigned public bathrooms available.

nice playground with some shaded and unshaded areas. fenced in to protect the kiddos. generally…read morevery clean playground and well maintained since the renovations. make sure to bring sunscreen there are only a few shaded benches for the adults. there is also a walking path for walking/jogging and dog walking. Also a warning, the restrooms have no a/c and there are only two single bathrooms.

This small park does not have a playground or any fitness equipment. It does not have a baseball…read morefield and it does not have a tennis court. What it does have is a pretty lake with a fountain, lots of benches, a whole flock of migrating birds and a picnic area. Parking is reasonable but there really aren't many people here other than perhaps Cape Coral City Hall employees on their lunch breaks. [Review 12359 overall, 2145 of 2019.]

A great park to go to, though it is small you have a nice view, it is a great place to go to…read morereflect hence the name, and a pond with ducks who often come by, there is 2 wooden benches and a built in comfortable bench where you have a view of everything.

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.