25 Feb 26 Went to the Edison-Ford Winter Estates to to…read morefill an otherwise boring day Been here before on 2-3 occasions. I don't know why but I wasn't as impressed this time as I was on prior occasions. The place looks almost the same but somehow it seemed a little different. Nevertheless it's part of American history and I still enjoyed my self guided tour. I might return again as there isn't that much to do in SWF except dine and hit the beaches. Still , it was interesting to see two tycoons buying homes close together so as to maintain and enjoy their friendship. Their homes brought back memories of my childhood when we had an "Ice Box" in lieu of a refrigerator. They had a wood burning fire place for heat , we had a coal stove. American Middle Class families now live better than the rich in the 1920's. Progress ?! The place was filled with tourist on the day of my visit and it was obvious that for many it was their first time visiting the Estates. Ah , the lives of the Rich and Famous ... and the beat goes on

A must go to when in Ft Myers. Very educational. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable,…read moreespecially Megan. I belong to the Phonograph Historical Society and recently my wife and I acquired a beautiful, working 121 year old original Edison Phonograph with wax cylinders. Who knew Edison had over 2,000 patents! And the Ford estate was spectacular with all the motors & automobiles. Model T, Model A , Caddy ect. An afternoon well spent with our out of town guests. Then, after working up an appetite, head on over to the Ford Garage for amazing burgers.

The estate grounds are beautiful. And that's it. The building is in disrepair. Dirty. Mismanaged…read more The owners of the property also run the catering company that they "highly recommend" but don't let you know they are both under the same owner. My daughter's wedding was grossly understaffed and the "wedding coordinator" was a rude, lazy, unprepared and unprofessional on all levels. They took no care in saving her flowers, desserts or the hand painted wedding favors that were left behind. Please find another venue or at the least a professional catering and wedding coordinator company.

As a fan of 1920's architect Addison Mizner's designs in Boca Raton, I was delighted to discover…read morethis historic Spanish Colonial Revival estate that he designed located within walking distance from downtown Fort Myers. Mizner designed Calvin Coolidge's Summer White House. The Kennedy's and John Lennon have owned homes designed by him. Addison Mizner is known for his Mediterranean and Spanish influenced architecture that uses stucco, coquina stone, terra cotta tiles, wood beam ceilings, fountains, towers, columns, wrought iron, and tropical landscaping. Most of the homes he designed were in Palm Beach County but he designed four homes in Naples of which two remain today and this home in Fort Myers, This Fort Myers one acre estate was built in 1924 for banker Fred Alderman, President of Fort Myers First National Bank in 1921. He would entertain illustrious Fort Myers winter residents Henry Ford, Harvey Firestone, and Thomas Edison. Many society events were held in the grand ballroom with its 14 foot high ceilings, elaborate mantel, and wood burning fireplace. On December 1, 1988 the house was added to the US National Register of Historic Places. More recently the grand home was used as an office for 30 years. Doreen Lehrer who was in the marines for 25 years fell in love with the house after seeing an internet posting from where she was stationed in North Korea. She purchased it sight unseen in 2016 and began the restoration. Lehrer added a kitchen and guest rooms which she rented out to guests. In 2021 the house went on the market for 1,499 million dollars. The new owners are still using it as an Airbnb for $400 a night plus cleaning and Airbnb fees. It can also be rented for weddings.

Such a great time! Friends asked us if we were interested in going on a sunset cruise with them and…read moresaid sure. The captain and his First Mate were unbelievable. We laughed, we danced, the music was great. What a wonderful way to spend a couple of hours on the river enjoying the sunset with friends or meeting new friends. You can bring your own food and drink to enjoy. Just a very lovely experience.

What a pleasant and wonderful boat ride for the evening! We had company in from Italy and it was…read moresuper enjoyable ending with a spectacular sunset! A must do!!! Jen R.

I love old houses and this yellow beauty is an architectural gem. The Murphy-Burroughs House is a…read moreGeorgian Revival style mansion built in 1901 for John T. Murphy, a cattle rancher from Montana. It is located in the River District of Fort Myers on two acres of land on the Caloosahatchee River. The house was built on First Avenue, the first house on what would become known as Millionaires Row. Materials to build the house were brought in by train and then carried the rest of the way to Fort Myers by barge. After construction was completed it drew other wealthy people to build their homes on the street. It is the only one of Millionaire Row's mansion that is still standing in its original position. Murphy was very involved in local civic and business affairs during his time in Fort Myers. He was a major shareholder of a bank and helped built a seawall that protected the downtown area. He passed away in 1914 and the house was sold to a businessman from New Jersey. In 1919 Nelson Burroughs purchased the house so his family could escape the frigid Chicago winters. Nelson made his fortune in land investments and banking. While in the home the family hosted lavish parties attended by famous winter Fort Myers residents Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and Harvey Firestone. In 1922 Burroughs transferred ownership of the house to his daughters, Mona & Jettie. Mona bequeathed the property to The City of Fort Myers prior to her death in 1978. After her husband died in 1983 it was no longer used as a residence. On August 1, 1984, the house was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Today you can tour the home that has been lovingly restored with a grand staircase, beautiful fireplaces, and antique furnishings. Features of the house include a veranda wrapping around three sides, a large dancing porch on the east side, bay and stained glass windows, a widow's walk on the roof, and decorative woodwork. The house is a popular wedding venue. Every December, the Fort Myers Community Women's Club decorates the historic mansion for the holidays. The Uncommon Friends Foundation manages the house as well as the Burroughs family records.

What a beautiful place to throw a party, host an event or have a wedding…read more The sunset here is absolutely magnificent and there are trees and flowers everywhere.

Absolutely an amazing experience! Well worth the money. We would do this again…read more The dolphins following along the boat on the way out was worth the price before we ever saw the sunset. A must do for anyone in the area. You won't regret it.

We had an amazing experience. Our captain took the time for us to see dolphins following our boat…read moreand even took pictures of our entire group.

This was our first time to take the Babcock Ranch Eco tour and it won't be our last. We went in…read morelate March, which is the FL dry season. Our knowledgeable guide Brad told us if you go in the late summer (wet season), 2' or so of water is flowing through it. So, what you see in the two seasons is different. They also have a nice gift shop, small museum and a restaurant. We saw all sorts of birds and animals. Even though they aren't necessarily exotic or rare, you are seeing them in their habitat. The ranch property really represents FL, more so than some other types of tours. And, it is for all ages and reasonably priced. Our visiting late teenage aged grandsons and friend enjoyed the tour every bit as much as we did. Highly recommend!

My kids (8 & 5) absolutely adored this. The tour guide was so patient with kids and very…read moreknowledgeable. I came away with some cool facts, a ton of great pictures and video and two very happy kids. I highly recommended this tour!

Bryce was an awesome captain. I am not a huge fan of mosquitoes or swamp, I thought, but my…read morepreconceived notions of the Everglades were incorrect. Bryce picked us up from the wrong dock (we had trouble finding the right one) and happily led us to the boat and offered us water and ear protection. He gave us a short safety talk, and helped manage our expectations of seeing gator since it was 96 degrees at 2pm in August. Gators do not like the heat that hot. Bryce was surprised to see a lot of gators on our tour and we had a really great experience we will never forget. He showed us all kinds of sights and I didnt see a single mosquito or snake.

Our experience with Everglades Adventure was absolutely outstanding, and having the owner as our…read moreguide made it even more special. His passion, knowledge, and deep respect for the Everglades were evident from the very beginning, and it truly elevated the entire experience. We saw alligators, crocodiles and a wide variety of other animals up close while learning fascinating details about their behaviors, habitats, and the importance of conservation. The owner took his time explaining everything, answering questions, and making sure everyone felt safe and engaged throughout the tour. The experience was well organized, educational, and incredibly exciting for all. You can tell this is not just a business, but a true labor of love. If you're looking for an authentic, unforgettable Everglades wildlife experience led by someone who genuinely cares about the animals and the environment, Everglades Adventure is an absolute must. Highly recommended!

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.

In desperate need of renovation and possibly new management…read more Planetarium was very unsatisfactory. The seats do not recline to a comfortable angle. We both walked out in desperate need of a chiropractor adjustment. The feature was like watching an old reel to reel home movie complete with rough imagery and popping sounds in the audio. I'm going to venture out here and say they need new equipment because the feature we paid to see was supposed to be a visual marvel. The presentation left us uninspired and not impressed. Exhibits. The tanks were dirty, the exhibits were run down old and outdated. If the ppl there are volunteers some need to be asked not to return, if they're employees they need to be fired. When we asked questions they acted annoyed that we were even there. The animals. I'm hoping they'll be able to improve. I know they're probably still trying to recover from the storms but they need to do more, faster. I shouldn't feel pity for the animals having to spend their life in captivity and wondering are they truly better off. We visited a wild bird sanctuary in Key Largo which was wonderful. We were so impressed we wanted to and did make a separate donation to help keep their doors open. They operate on donations for entry, not an entry fee. Fort Myers, you have a good foundation but you need to step up your game. What started out as new in 1970 is in desperate need of repair. Inspire us!! Also, I'm not tourist. We will go back and continue to pay for entry but I'd like to see some improvements being made between visits.

Captain Jessica is a wealth of knowledge about local wildlife and history and knows how, when and…read morewhere to find the Dolfins. It was a great thrill to see them playing and leaping in our wake and was definitely the highlight of our vacation! Don't miss It!

Our family of 5 had an absolutely wonderful experience with Captain Jessica and the Island Time…read moreDolphin & Shelling Cruise! Our four-hour trip was the perfect mix of relaxation, wildlife, and adventure. Captain Jessica and her crew went above and beyond, providing iced drinks, snacks, and buckets for collecting shells. They took us to Old Hickory Island, where we found some amazing shells, a Pygmy octopus, conch, and a sand dollar. Throughout the trip, Captain Jessica shared her knowledge about the local ecosystem, answering all of our questions about the dolphins, manatees, mangroves, and the area. One of the highlights was when she spotted a pod of dolphins. She carefully brought the boat alongside them, and we got to watch them swim and jump in our boat's wake--it was unforgettable! Communication was outstanding from start to finish. We had to reschedule twice due to weather. Captain Jessica made the process incredibly easy and stress-free. She is friendly, welcoming, and shared lots of great local recommendations for places to visit and things to do. If you're looking to support a fantastic local business while having an unforgettable day on the water, I can't recommend Captain Jessica and Island Time Dolphin & Shelling Cruise enough. It was truly one of the highlights of our trip!

It is so fun that there is a murder mystery train here in Fort Myers! It seems a bit expensive…read morethough you are getting a train ride, dinner, and show. I felt the train ride itself was a bit unnecessary. There was one nice section of the train ride over water, otherwise there wasn't much to look at. Also the train was swaying back and forth causing me to get a bit nauseous. The food itself was all pretty good! The cheese and fruit plate, potato and leek soup, pretzel roll, and salad were all great starters. I was satisfied with the meal before my entree even arrived! My family and I tried all of the different options (prime rib, salmon, and chicken) and thought they all tasted good. Though I could have done without cranberries in my rice... The dessert was small and light for a cheesecake. Food was surprisingly better than we thought. As for the show, I definitely didn't get how we were supposed to deduce the killer. But the actors did a great job and it was overall a fun night.

My friends and I wanted to try the murder mystery train after seeing some of their billboard…read moreadvertisements along 75. We were able to get individual tickets online but still make note that we wanted to sit together, and that all worked out really well. The tickets are expensive (makes sense...you're getting a show, a 5-course meal, and riding a train) and being able to buy separately was really helpful for us. Everything the night of the event ran like clockwork. Boarding the train was easy and fun. We had a table in the Gasparilla train car with lovely servers who took care of us all night. Drinks are pretty reasonable (ice tea and water are included, but you can purchase soda, beer, wine, cocktails) and you can even get a full bottle of wine for your table which you can take home if you don't finish onboard. The meal was better than I expected. It started with a fruit and cheese plate, then we had hot pretzel rolls an butter, a delicious potato leek soup, a salad, and then the appetizer. Our choices were prime rib (friends said it was delicious), chicken francese (I loved it) and salmon. Dessert was a cheesecake. The performers were very animated and enthusiastic. These murder mystery shows are always hard for me to actually follow and figure out. I appreciate all that goes into it, but I wish I was a better sleuth. My only issue is that the train ride itself is VERY long at 3 - 3.5 hours. I love a nice train ride, but I wonder if they could shave a little time off the ride.