I agree with Karen T - this is an itty bitty park but it more than makes up for that with the…read morelocation that is adjacent to the Matlacha draw bridge. The view from here of the Matlacha Pass is fantastic. Because of the causeway, the fishing here looks to be pretty darned awesome since the fish are just going right past and you can pull 'em right out. There are only a small number of parking spaces and if they're full, you're SOL. Serious bummer because this is a pretty solid view. The park has some shady spots for fishing, restrooms and easy level ground that is completely wheelchair accessible. And no, I didn't see any bats today. [Review 16752 overall - 1479 in Florida - 265 of 2022.]

This park is TINY. Located just past Matlacha Bridge on Pine Island Road. You'll find the park…read moreentrance on the south side. I counted 7 regular, 1 handicapped and 1 staff parking slot. Despite the size, this gem of a park has some great amenities and features. It's fully ADA accessible. It's location along Matlacha Pass makes it great for fishing. Of course, it's adjacent to the bridge, which is known as one of the world's most fishingest bridges. The park has restrooms with a covered porch and two benches. The big draw for me was the bat house. I wanted to learn more about the bats. The park has a great informational sign. I discovered: 1. The bats here are Brazilian Free-Tailed Bats and are found throughout most areas of Florida and 2: A single bat can eat up to 3000 insects a night.

Beautiful tranquil park in Cape Coral Florida. Easy parking in the non-paved lot with close…read morewalking to the waterfront dock which leads into the Gulf of Mexico. Drop your kayak into the water or float on a big multi person raft. Many boats coast by every few minutes. Public restrooms and picnic tables on premise. Many single family homes surround the park.

Was driving by and decided to take a walk, then I realized the park has signs for the different…read morekind of birds and sea creatures that can be seen. Pretty park will be back soon.

The wildlife here is primarily birds and they were upfront about that at the welcome center. We did…read morethe drive thru for $10. The drive is 4 miles long. You can pull off and park anywhere on the right at any time. They have a viewing tower to get up higher and take a good look around. The restrooms were very clean and modern. If you wish to walk or bike it's only $1. Overall worth the stop. Staff here are very friendly and knowledgeable.

Not much of a scenic walk. Most of the wildlife is in the first .5 mile. Tons of people who are…read morefishing and aren't aware of their surroundings before casting. Great way to hurt someone

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.

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

At dawn we drift where the still reeds sigh, Silver line…read morekissing a blushing sky. Egrets stitch light through the cypress air, Herons pause--like thoughts we share. An alligator glides, old moon on the tide, Ancient eyes watching love pass by. Cast after cast, the world slows its breath-- Hooked not on fish, but the hush of this depth. Hand in hand where the water remembers, We fall in love with the day's soft embers.

We got to see an alligator in the pond swim around. Worth the quick trip just for this!read more

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.

Isolated and great shelling. Beautiful boat ride to the island with great tour guidesread more

Omgosh! This park is pure magic! I camped here and had such a wonderful time! The boat ride over…read morewas so fun and the staff was so entertaining and sweet! The park is beautiful and well maintained! The beach and water are breathtaking and the sunset! Wow! Wow! Wow! One of the most magical and gorgeous experiences of my life! If you are camping you have to take a special boat that transfers the campers! There is a park store you can get firewood from and other goodies! Check the hours because they are not open super late! Otherwise that plan to have a absolutely wonderful time!

Plenty of parking, but no restrooms. Leashed dogs allowed. There's a dog station and a water…read morefountain. The path is about half a mile long--took us around 15 minutes at a relaxed pace. Paved walkways with a few short trails branch off. Educational boards along the path, and there are a few benches and covered picnic tables throughout. The only downside: the flies were extremely annoying.

This nice park has a great little walking trail. There are a number of shady spots and benches…read moreabout if you'd like to make a rest. Eight acres of pine flatwoods and slash pine trees, surrounded by palmetto prairie, salt marsh and mangroves. There are two trails. The Pine Loop is paved and ADA accessible, about one third of a mile long. The other is Holly Way and is a bit less accessible and around a quarter of a mile long. Please use caution and always bring a friend. I didn't see any wildlife today but there's no reason that something could pop out since you've "brought lunch." It's also rather secluded so be on the lookout for two-legged bandits. There are a small number of parking spaces at the entrance and a water fountain. [Review 13270 overall, 588 of 2020.]

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.

The park itself is peaceful and scenic, with views stretching out over the water and plenty of…read morespace to relax. We walked along the beachfront, which is beautiful but a little unique compared to typical sandy beaches. This area is known as a shell beach, meaning the sand is mixed with lots of shells -- making it a great spot if you enjoy shell hunting, but just a heads-up if you're planning to walk barefoot. It was a nice way to slow down, take in the ocean views one last time, and enjoy the history and natural beauty of the island before heading back for the evening.

Best shell finding ever! Super fun spot for anyone who enjoys shell hunting. I'd recommend arriving…read moreto your beach spot early to avoid any traffic via bridges and to snag a parking spot! The unique shells I found were certainly worth an early morning!