a charming, historic attraction that originally opened in the 1930s. Set on about 3 to 3.5 acres of…read morelush, mature landscaping, the Wonder Gardens is home to a variety of rescued, rehabilitating, and non-releasable animals. We took our time wandering the pathways, admiring the beautiful habitats thoughtfully designed for each species. There's a strong focus on birds, and the variety here is impressive -- vibrant parrots, graceful flamingos, and so many unique feathered residents. Just as we made it to the final exhibit with the crocodiles, an announcement came over the speakers warning of lightning in the area. Guests were directed back to the gift shop for safety, and the staff began offering rain checks or refunds depending on when you arrived. We didn't inquire about either, though -- we had already thoroughly enjoyed our time there, and since the Wonder Gardens is a nonprofit organization, we were happy to support them regardless. Before leaving, we browsed the gift shop, which had a fantastic selection of animal-themed souvenirs, cute décor, and even artwork created by the resident animals -- such a unique touch. If you're in the area, Wonder Gardens is absolutely worth a stop. It's charming, educational, and your admission supports ongoing rescue and rehabilitation efforts. If you're interested in getting even closer to the animals, they also offer scheduled animal encounters, so be sure to check ahead for times.

Needs work. Needs donations $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Several…read moreanimal cages empty. This is dry season, so plants and animals need water. Koi pond was so dirty I couldn't see any koi.

I thoroughly enjoyed this experience and would gladly recommend it to anyone curious about the…read moresolar system, reptiles, and conservation. The visit began with an informative overview of the planets and how they relate to the sun, which was both interesting and easy to follow. After that, we attended a reptile presentation featuring live animals--an engaging and memorable part of the day. We also learned about insects and had the opportunity to explore the butterfly area. It was a wonderful, educational outing that appeals to both adults and children. I highly recommend it!

This is a really cool place to go when you need a fun activity for visitors or kids! It's a little…read morepricey for admission, but it includes access to lots of animals, walking trails, a small butterfly enclosure, an aviary, and a planetarium. The animals they had were fun to see and there were quite a lot of them! The outside area is very nice as well, and I'd probably go on the trail if it wasn't so hot out. I unfortunately didn't have time to wait for the planetarium show, but it's cool that it is a part of the experience. I enjoyed walking around and would recommend it.

One of Estero's best kept secrets ... Also has collected, curated, and displayed an amazing…read morecollection of art at the Miromar Design Center off of Corkscrew Rd. in Estero Florida. This diverse collection features sculptures made of stone, glass, metals, and wood. Paintings using oil, water colors, acrylics, and mixed media. I f you enjoy art ... This is a must see! Art is dispersed throughout all three floors of the building! Go check it out .. you'll be glad you did!

Love this place.... with its two locations in the Miromar Design Shops. Check out the unique art…read moredisplayed for purchase. Feast for the eyes! When looking for a rainy day activity, check out the plethora of art in both stores!

I love this interesting sculpture I found in Riverside Park on a recent trip to Bonita Springs…read more Unveiled on Jan. 10, 2007, the title of the piece is Setting the Pace. The sculpture is 17 feet tall and 8.5 feet long. It features a man balancing on top of a circle which can be a metaphor for life. You can interpret it as life is a balancing act, or the circle of life. This piece was purchased by the Bonita Springs Art in Public Places Board which was formed to expose the public to the arts and to create art education programs. Setting the Pace, along with two other works purchased at the same time, Lords of the Forest and The Ties That Bind cost a combined total of $160,000.. Art is purchased by the city through donations and grants. The board hopes to bring art to people who might not seek it out in a more traditional setting like a museum. Setting the Pace was created by celebrated Colorado artist, Jane DeDecker. A duplicate of this piece is in Evergreen, Colorado where it is dedicated to the volunteers and staff of the Evergreen Fire Rescue. DeDecker has been sculpting for over 25 years and has created over 600 sculptures, 4 of those monument sized. According to the artist "My art is a cumulative process made of my life experiences and my desire to sculpt the human form. I try to retain in the sculpture the beginning strokes and gestures because they contain the truth of the spirit. As subject matter, I attempt to select a moment with which all of us can relate on a personal basis. These moments span all generations, depicting universally recognizable scenes." DeDecker has won many awards and her art can be seen in many states and in the private collections of celebrities. I enjoy discovering new works of art and this large piece certainly commands your attention. If you sit and ponder it for a moment you can come up with many different meanings. Personally, it reminds me how we are are always balancing in life, one step from falling off. The park provides a beautiful backdrop for this sculpture and it was a joy to find it.

It's the only serious maritime art gallery I have found in Florida and one of the top three in the…read morecountry. Here you'll find serious works by the leading artists, living and passed, in the field (such as M. Dawson, P. O'Brian, R, Cross). If you are a maritime art collector, especially one looking for tall ships or yachting oil and watercolors, it's worth the trip from anywhere in the state. The owner, Peter, has a complete mastery of the artists and their works and is a real joy to converse with about art. Any question he can't answer on the spot, he'll follow up with an email. Visiting the store is like a trip to an exquisite museum (with a great place for a light Italian lunch just outside the front door). Even if you can't make it down to his corner of the state, I'm sure he'd be equally informative via phone or email. As the owner does appear to be the only curator, its worth a call ahead or an email ahead to confirm the gallery is open (as is the case with all the good galleries. though I've never had a problem catching this gallery open). This is a real upscale hidden treasure that you'd expect on only find in Miami or perhaps New England.

I tried to go into this gallery twice today after falling in love with a painting in the window…read more The first time, around 1:30pm, I rang the door bell and the man in the gallery looked at me and then stepped into a back room. After a few minutes of standing at the door waiting, he did not return, so I left. At first, I was annoyed because I was certain that the man had seen me standing there. However, I decided to give them the benefit of the doubt since I really wanted this painting, so I came back at 3:30pm. This time there were three men sitting around the desk inside. I rang the doorbell, but they didn't seem to notice. I then knocked on the door, and no response. After a bit more knocking, one of the men finally got up and signaled to me that they were closed. What business is closed at 3:30 in the afternoon? Not only that, but your hours are stated as 9-5, so why wouldn't you open the door for a sale? How sad that I lost out on this painting, but Marine Art Gallery clearly wasn't interested in my business. And in response to their previous response to another reviewer, your potential customers shouldn't have to "try harder" to spend money in your store. What an awful way to do business. But it seems that they are doing just fine without my business, though I feel sorry for the artist whose painting I so wanted but wasn't able to purchase. In response to the owner - I'm not sure what Halloween has to do with anything, since there were no customers in your store each time I went by. And the person you are thinking of is not me. I am a woman, and I didn't have a costume or a dog. Just a regularly dressed hopeful customer who was turned away.

Another great time at this theatre. We just watched The Hail Mary Project on IMAX and it was very…read moreentertaining. The buttered popcorn and lemonade was the topper. Tuesday is the best day to go if you want the best value.

This place seems like it's right out of the 90's which isn't a bad thing but instead of bringing up…read morewarm memories of nostalgia, it's just gross. The ticket counter is located outside but had a note that you had to buy tickets inside at the concession stand. We get in and then the concessions directs you to the kiosks, which would be fine if the kiosks worked. Just buy your tickets online before you go if you have to go here. The person checking tickets was not helpful at all when he could see we were struggling working the kiosks. The only friendly person here was the employee behind the concession stand who agreed the kiosks sucked. Management needs to fix this. The seats themselves were nice but the bathrooms weren't that clean. I wouldn't go back here unless I had no other choice.