Everyone called it Waterfront Wonderland when it was founded in 1957: a city designed to be born and developed on a network of navigable canals. We could define Cape Coral as a modern Venice, conceived with the precise intent of being a beautiful city, pleasant to live in and attractive for tourism. Together with Fort Myers, it constitutes a large metropolitan area of over half a million inhabitants, the largest in southwest Florida.
Cape Coral is perhaps a less popular stop-off point than others, but certainly interesting, for a tour of the Sunshine State. Overlooking the lagoon, it does not have a coastline with one of the most beautiful beaches in Florida, but just a stone’s throw away are the fascinating sandy shores of Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel Island and Captiva Island. Therefore, it can be a good base for a day at the beach during a road trip. Let’s discover the best things to do in Cape Coral!
Contents
How to get to Cape Coral
Cape Coral is well connected with all major locations in Florida. It can be easily reached by car both from the north following the coast – for example from Tampa and St. Petersburg – or from the interior if you start from Orlando, and from the rest of the state through the nearby Fort Myers.
As we always say, a car is the best way to move around in Florida, considering that the main points of interest are the natural areas and the beaches, that are not always connected by public transport. However, it is possible to move between cities by bus and there are several connections for Cape Coral. In particular, the LeeTran buses provide extensive connections between Fort Myers and Cape Coral, and on this page we have described how to reach Fort Myers by bus from other cities in Florida.
As for the best time to visit these parts, if you’ve read our article on Florida’s climate, you’ll already have an idea of the weather conditions that await you and you’ll have already realized that winter is the best season to visit the entire state. Although the west coast is less prone to extreme summer weather than the east, it is always preferable to choose the dry weather period.
It is during the winter months that the major city events take place, bringing this location to life and making your stay even more enjoyable. In January, for example, there is the Cape Coral Sound of Arts & Music, an artistic event where different musical genres – from blues to gospel, jazz and rock ‘n’ roll – are the background to painting and sculpture exhibitions, photographic exhibitions, craft markets and much more.
In February there is an interesting naturalistic event, the South-West Florida Burrowing Owl Festival. The occasion is the nesting of owls, around which conferences, photo tours, birdwatching and other themed initiatives are organized. Returning to music, the Cape Coral Sound of Jazz & Blues in March brings a series of shows, organized outdoors in the city’s green areas. The Oktoberfest, organized in the fall by the German community, is a different kind of event, while in December the Holiday Boat Light Parade colors the canals with a large parade of boats illuminated with colorful lights.
Things to Do in Cape Coral
We said it at the beginning: Cape Coral is not an ancient city, so let’s forget about the historical attractions that can be found in other places. It was created as a residential town and that’s how it has developed in its few decades of existence, but while its center cannot be compared to that of other cities, it has one thing that makes it special: the canals. Take a ride in particular to Cape Harbour, one of the prettiest neighborhoods: it is very green, full of restaurants and businesses, with a nice pedestrian walkway along the canal.
Cape Coral Parks and Nature Attractions
If you are planning a trip to Florida, you will have already figured it out: in this state, nature is the boss, even just a stone’s throw from the main cities. Cape Coral is no exception and besides being a city immersed in a natural lagoon context, it is also close to several places of natural interest.
Let’s start right from the heart of the urban area, on the bank of the Caloosahatchee River, which divides Cape Coral from Fort Myers: it is here that you will find the Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve. This park can only be accessed on foot, walking on a series of wooden walkways and trails, through the trees and mangroves, and reaching wildlife viewing points.
You can encounter various birds such as herons, ibis and eagles, as well as raccoons and other animals. The only means of transport that can be used inside, and that can be rented here, are kayaks, perfect for moving along the waterways between the mangroves. To the north of this park and separated only by a canal is Rosen Park, where it is also possible to take pleasant walks, but in a more developed environment.
At the southern end of the city, right where the river flows into the lagoon, we find Rotary Park Environmental Center. This large, verdant park is the habitat of many wading birds, and thanks to the Glover Bright Trail, you can walk through it to discover its beauty. One of the more curious things to see is a “butterfly house”, where you can see these beautiful and colorful insects up close.
To the west of the city, between Cape Coral and Pine Island (an island connected by a bridge to the mainland), there is one of the largest protected natural areas in this part of Florida: Matlacha Pass Aquatic Preserve. The closest part to the city and therefore more easily accessible is Sirenia Vista Park, where among other things you can meet manatees. These placid marine mammals are one of the most characteristic species you can encounter in Florida, as they live almost exclusively in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea.
The Yacht Club Community Park is a different kind of area, not so much a nature area as a beautiful public park on the waterfront, where, among other things, several city events take place. There is a picnic area with barbecue and much more, but the thing worth going there for is the pier from where you can enjoy a beautiful view of the sunset. Undoubtedly one of the best spots in Cape Coral to watch the sun go down.
Places to eat in Cape Coral
There are many places to eat in Cape Coral, from fast food to high-end restaurants. If you want to stay mid-market and try some Caribbean cuisine, go to Slate’s (4820 Candia St.), where there is also jazz music during Sunday brunch. Evening music can be found at Crossroads Grill & Lounge (211 Hancock Bridge Pkwy), a pub where you can eat cheaply and listen to local bands.
A good American diner is Mel’s Diner (1331 N. E. Pine Island Rd.), where you won’t spend much and will be served large portions. In addition to lunch and dinner with burgers, barbecue meat and other American dishes, it is also open for breakfast with waffles, muffins, omelets and other sweet and savory specialties.
Great burgers and good beer are also available at the quaint Ford’s Garage (1719 Cape Coral Pkwy E.), a restaurant dedicated to the famous car manufacturer. A classic car hangs from the ceiling above the bar. If you’re looking for a special place with a view of the bay, try the Boat House Tiki Bar and Grill (5819 Driftwood Pkwy), which with its stilted terrace on the beach is perfect for those who like sea settings.
Places to stay in Cape Coral
Cape Coral is full of hotels and accommodations to spend one or more nights at different price ranges. The link to all the hotels in town is below, but here are some tips just to be on the safe side.
- Westin Cape Coral Resort At Marina Village. Starting with the resorts, this is one of the best, with large rooms and suites, pools and spa, fitness center and tennis court, bar and bistro. It’s located on the city’s south shore, so it offers a beautiful view of the Caloosahatchee River estuary.
- Hideaway Waterfront Resort & Hotel. Another great resort, this time downtown. It doesn’t have the same view as the previous one, but in its favor it has its central location and an outdoor heated swimming pool, in addition to the barbecue area and the boat dock (useful if you rent a boat to move around the city’s canals).
- Holiday Inn Express Cape Coral-Fort Myers Area. Going down in the number of stars, we find this hotel that is more modest than those mentioned above, but still good for a one night stop in the city. Like all the hotels in the chain, it has the essentials, but also a swimming pool and a gym.
- Vacation Rentals. For a longer stay in Cape Coral, the ideal solution are vacation homes, of which there are in abundance here. There are all kinds, on average very nice, and many have a pool. If you plan to use Cape Coral as a base for a multi-day vacation, seriously consider this solution.
