Visit Florida - Visit Florida 2026
SOUTHWEST
2025-12-07 05:52:27
Go with a Slower Flow
In Southwest Florida, slow-flow beach towns with an artsy side share space with stylish districts for shopping and dining. While you’ll find ample opportunities to indulge—whether wandering an arts colony or sampling a local chef’s tasting menu—the natural world here will truly spoil you.
For a detailed state map, see pages 20-21.
ATTRACTIONS
The lively Backyard Social in Fort Myers feels like a casual backyard gathering with food trucks, music, yard games, and duckpin bowling. Home to six beautiful gardens and a nature preserve, Naples Botanical Garden is a 170-acre paradise that features plants from around the world. Dive into discovery at Sarasota’s Mote SEA, a brand-new marine science aquarium where underwater worlds come alive through shark and manatee habitats, stingray touch pools, and sea turtle and otter exhibits. Suit up for SunSplash Waterpark in Cape Coral, where you can laze the day away tubing or dropping down high-speed water slides. Blast off into the cosmos at the planetarium inside The BISHOP Museum of Science and Nature in Bradenton, where stargazing meets storytelling in out-of-this-world shows.
DINING
A staple on the Gulf Coast, Pop’s Sunset Grill in Nokomis brings island-inspired fare and live music every day under a palm thatch-roofed tiki hut beside the water. The Chateau on Anna Maria Island offers French-inspired cuisine like duck confit fettuccini in a restored 19th-century home with bayside views. For some of the freshest grouper around, head to Tide Tables Restaurant & Marina in the historic fishing village of Cortez. Dig into Southern seafood favorites like cornmeal-crusted catfish and oysters Rockefeller at Owen’s Fish Camp in Lakewood Ranch, where the Old Florida charm and lively flavors reel you in from the first bite. Osteria Tulia’s farmhousechic setting in Naples combines Italian heritage with culinary craft—and don’t skip the housemade limoncello.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Scan the QR code to discover places to stay in Southwest Florida: VISITFLORIDA.com/places-to-stay
OUTDOORS
In beautiful Bonita Springs, jump-start your day with Jet Skiing and parasailing adventures with the highly rated Bonita Jet Ski & Parasail. For a dose of tranquility, paddle your way through magical mangrove tunnels on a guided eco-tour with Paradise Adventures on Lido Key. Buckle up for an offroad adventure into the backcountry of Everglades City with Everglades Jeep Tours. As the sun dips low, cruise Siesta Key’s world-famous shoreline on a glowing sunset e-bike tour with Sarasota Bike Tours. Looking for seclusion? Head to the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge in Goodland, where you’ll want to keep this stretch of untouched beauty, glimpses of rare wildlife, and endless seashells all to yourself.
ARTS & CULTURE
Channel your inner acrobat and check out circus memorabilia and the world’s largest miniature circus at The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art. In Venice, let the soaring sounds of The Venice Symphony ignite with world-class programs mixing classical masterworks with music from film and theater. Unearth the sea’s tiniest treasures at Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium, dedicated to shells and mollusks. Wander tropical zen gardens and striking art installations through Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens’ curated landscapes in Punta Gorda. At Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center in Fort Myers, catch a concert, explore rotating galleries, or dance under the stars at the rooftop bar.
EVENTS
Dress to impress, sip wines from preeminent wineries and try dishes from all-star celebrity chefs at the annual Naples Winter Wine Festival in January. Dive into fun at the Venice Sharks Tooth Festival every April, where beachgoers and fossil hunters celebrate the city’s claim to fame as the “Shark Tooth Capital of the World.”
Scan the QR code for a list of upcoming events: VISITFLORIDA.com/things-to-do/events
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SOUTHWEST
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