Cape Coral Information & Travel Tipps – learn what makes Cape Coral the ideal place for your next vacation.
Tourist Spots in and around Cape Coral
Whether you are looking for rest and relaxation, fun things to do with your children or exciting outdoor-activities – Cape Coral has something to offer for all types of visitors. One of the top destinations for families is Sun Splash Family Waterpark, the biggest of its kind in Southwest Florida. Sun Splash is known for its variety of slides, including the X-Celerator with a top speed of 40 mph.
The nearby excavation sites are a top destination for little adventurers. Digging in the sand for alligator bones and shark teeth, children can feel like real archeologists. Thanks to the pleasant weather, outdoor sports are popular in Cape Coral. Whether you want to go sailing or fishing, play volleyball, football, ride a bike or a skateboard – there is a place for every sports lover in Cape Coral. Golfers will enjoy the Coral Oaks Golf Course designed by the legendary Arthur Hills.
If you want to enjoy high-class evening entertainment, the Culture Park Theatre is for you. Southwest Florida´s oldest theatre hosts performances from September to May, accompanied by art exhibitions. Speaking of art: The Cape Coral Festival of the Arts takes place in January, giving up and coming artists the chance to present their work. More contemporary pieces can be seen in the Harbour View Gallery.
If you want to explore Cape Coral´s past, there is no better place than the Historical Museum. Next door stretches an idyllic rose garden, and at the Indian excavation site you can learn more about Florida´s native people. All those interested in the history of warfare should visit the Southwest Florida Military Museum & Library with its huge collection of uniforms, weapons and vehicles from different eras.
Top Beaches
Cape Coral is not only one of the fastest growing cities in the USA. It also attracts vacationers with its beautiful beaches. You do not have to stroll far from your rental home to enjoy white sand under palm trees: Close to the city center with its many canals lies the family-friendly Yacht Club Beach, sporting picnic tables, playgrounds and a fishing pier. Another beach stretches in the Four Freedoms Park among scenic and quiet surroundings. The beach offers clean, white sand and grassy areas in the shade – perfect for relaxing and playing frisbee. Families love the Lynn Hall Memorial park in close proximity to the shopping areas of Fort Myers and the romantic Fort Myers Beach Pier.
In the old days, Lover´s Key State Park was only accessibly by boat, making it an ideal place for young couples looking for a remote spot. But even now, Lover´s Key is a peaceful, quiet beach in the midst of scenic vegetation. Another romantic spot for couples is Captiva Beach – known for its many colorful shells. Deep water makes this beach ideal for swimming.
A Shopping Paradise
Cape Coral might not be as big as Miami, Orlando or Tampa. This does not mean, however, that the city lacks shopping opportunities. Outlets like Miromar and Sanibel are a hotspot for brand-name clothing, offering a multitude of sales and discounts. Centers like the Coconut Mall house a huge number of stores, from supermarkets and fashion boutiques to electronic stores and state of the art cinemas.
If you are looking for a traditional shopping experience, look no further than the Farmers Market. Here you can buy locally produced fruits, cheese, flowers, hand-crafted jewelry and many other products. Italian delicacies await you at Paesano´s Market, known for its exquisite wines. Seafood lovers should visit Merrick Seafood, a market that has been selling fish, crabs and lobsters for 20 years.
Beautiful Nature
In addition to idyllic beaches, Cape Coral also features a unique coastline with rivers and untouched mangrove forests. In fact, tours to these protected landscapes are a backbone of the city’s tourism industry. If you want to go for a walk, we can recommend Four Mile Cove: This 900 acres area of swampland harbors many bird species, among them eagles, ibises and heron. Visitors can explore the park on wooden boardwalks or observe the animals on a kayak ride.
Another protected area is Rotary Park, a wetland that is dominated by fresh and saltwater alike. Countless fish species, but also turtles and water birds are home here. In the Tom Allen Memorial Butterfly House, guests can admire colorful butterflies and exotic plants. And if you want to see Florida’s most famous marine animals, you should visit Sirenia Vista Park: There, manatees are spotted frequently. You can either observe the gentle mammals from an elevated platform or on a boat tour. Sirenia Vista Park takes conservation efforts seriously, so feeding and touching the animals is forbidden.
Restaurants
Hungry visitors in Cape Coral can choose from a wide range of restaurants with local and international cuisine. Thanks to the city´s location on the coast, excellent seafood is available everywhere, no matter if you want to dine upscale or in family-friendly surroundings. One of Cape Coral´s most treasured restaurants is the Boathouse, a Tiki Bar that can easily be reached by boat. Here, hobby skippers launge under umbrellas while enjoying delicious cocktails and specialties from the grill.
A hotspot for fresh sea food is the Rumrunners, and Foster´s Grille attracts families with its laid-back atmosphere and signature dishes like hamburgers, freshly made french fries and milkshakes. Mouth-watering Italian pizza and pasta await you in the Ciao Wood Fired Pizza and Trattoria. And if you want to taste Southwest Florida´s Carribean influences, you should tour the factory Wicked Dolphin Artisan Rum. There, you can sample rum that is still made from sugar cane in the traditional fashion.
A Paradise for Hobby Skippers
Thanks to its many canals, Cape Coral is a prime destination for guests who come with their own boat. In many places you can moor your vessel directly at your vacation home, providing it has access to the Gulf of Mexiko. But even if you do not own a boat, renting one is not difficult in Cape Coral.
A big plus for beginners: You do not need a boat licence in Cape Coral. A regular driver’s license is sufficient if you are at least 21 years old. Cape Coral´s rentals are more than happyto teach you the art of boating. Setting off from your vacation home, you can view luxurious mansions on the banks of the canal before you reach open waters. Small islands like North Captiva and Cayo Costa with their pristine beaches are an ideal destination for boat trips. If you are lucky, you will even spot playful dolphins off the coast.
Climate and Weather
Thanks to its location in South West Florida, Cape Coral features a subtropical climate with warm conditions and a distinct shift between dry and wet season. The highest temperatures are felt in the summer months when humidity is soaring. July and August see the most rainfall. However, the showers are often strong, but quick, and followed immediately by bright sunshine. Temperatures remain high. All in all, Cape Coral is worth a visit year-round. However, during Hurricane Season between May and November, guests should account for storms and prolonged rainfall that can potentially last days.
Thanks to moderate temperatures of around 25° C, little rainfall and pleasant levels of humidity, the winter months make for the best travel time in Cape Coral. During this peak season, vacationers enjoy almost unlimited sunshine. Another selling point: Due to cooler temperatures off the coast, iconic manatees seek shelter in shallow waters and can be observed in rivers and canals.
