a fascinating stop that preserves the historic site of the Koreshan Unity -- a utopian religious…read morecommunity founded in the late 19th century by Cyrus Teed. The park has a $5 per car entrance fee and plenty of parking. There are two main areas: One side leads to a picnic area and campsites -- perfect for relaxing or spending the night. The other takes you to the historical settlement, where multiple preserved buildings are open for exploration. You can take a self-guided tour using a $1 handout map from the visitor center or simply read the detailed informational signs posted around the site. Walking through the grounds feels like stepping into a ghost town, complete with original structures and remnants of a once-thriving community. Despite the eerie history, the park is peaceful, quiet, and well-shaded, making it a nice place to wander, learn, and take a break from the Florida heat. It's definitely worth a stop if you're in the area.

I have heard about the Koreshan State Park and the cult with the same name from my previous visits…read moreto the Bonita Springs area. But after reading the novel "The Magic Kingdom" written by Russell Banks recently (I do recommend) based on the history of the Koreshan cult, I wanted to visit the park during my next trip. And we did. The park is open daily from 8 am to 5 pm. They have tours and demonstrations on the property. You can browse on your own of you want. We opted for a guided tour that starts at 10 am for $10/person, you can book online ahead of time or just pay and join on the spot. It was well worth it, our guide gave us a lot of interesting information (although she didn't know about the books), about Dr. Cyrus Teed, the guru of the Koreshan who started the religious cult in New York, moved it to Chicago, then to Estero Bay in Florida where they helped develop the area. Lots of fascinating stories about their settlement, religion concepts, work in the area, business, the role of women within the cult. We lingered afterword to browse some more, lots of memorabilia on display and we were lucky to witness some demonstrations. You need at least 2-3 hours to see everything. You can bring lunch, there are picnic tables. A lot of places and houses in this big park. Wear comfy shoes, bring a hat. You will also see cool plants and animals in the wild (cool lizards, small iguanas). It's worth checking out if you're looking for an activity that opens a big window into the history of the area!

a charming, historic attraction that originally opened in the 1930s. Set on about 3 to 3.5 acres of…read morelush, mature landscaping, the Wonder Gardens is home to a variety of rescued, rehabilitating, and non-releasable animals. We took our time wandering the pathways, admiring the beautiful habitats thoughtfully designed for each species. There's a strong focus on birds, and the variety here is impressive -- vibrant parrots, graceful flamingos, and so many unique feathered residents. Just as we made it to the final exhibit with the crocodiles, an announcement came over the speakers warning of lightning in the area. Guests were directed back to the gift shop for safety, and the staff began offering rain checks or refunds depending on when you arrived. We didn't inquire about either, though -- we had already thoroughly enjoyed our time there, and since the Wonder Gardens is a nonprofit organization, we were happy to support them regardless. Before leaving, we browsed the gift shop, which had a fantastic selection of animal-themed souvenirs, cute décor, and even artwork created by the resident animals -- such a unique touch. If you're in the area, Wonder Gardens is absolutely worth a stop. It's charming, educational, and your admission supports ongoing rescue and rehabilitation efforts. If you're interested in getting even closer to the animals, they also offer scheduled animal encounters, so be sure to check ahead for times.

We found this place while searching Yelp and enjoyed our visit there. Easy to navigate your way…read morearound and lots to see. My kids enjoyed seeing all the different animals! My only gripe was- they were cleaning the turtles and it would have been a really cool learning experience for the kids if they advertised those things/invited kids and families to come watch. They could have really turned it into a really cool educational moment by answering questions or talking about what they were doing while they were doing it. Even having a few seats people could sit in while they did it... this could apply to any of their daily things they do there to help the animals. Keep up the good work and help inspire the next generation!

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.

One of Estero's best kept secrets ... Also has collected, curated, and displayed an amazing…read morecollection of art at the Miromar Design Center off of Corkscrew Rd. in Estero Florida. This diverse collection features sculptures made of stone, glass, metals, and wood. Paintings using oil, water colors, acrylics, and mixed media. I f you enjoy art ... This is a must see! Art is dispersed throughout all three floors of the building! Go check it out .. you'll be glad you did!

Love this place.... with its two locations in the Miromar Design Shops. Check out the unique art…read moredisplayed for purchase. Feast for the eyes! When looking for a rainy day activity, check out the plethora of art in both stores!

I love this interesting sculpture I found in Riverside Park on a recent trip to Bonita Springs…read more Unveiled on Jan. 10, 2007, the title of the piece is Setting the Pace. The sculpture is 17 feet tall and 8.5 feet long. It features a man balancing on top of a circle which can be a metaphor for life. You can interpret it as life is a balancing act, or the circle of life. This piece was purchased by the Bonita Springs Art in Public Places Board which was formed to expose the public to the arts and to create art education programs. Setting the Pace, along with two other works purchased at the same time, Lords of the Forest and The Ties That Bind cost a combined total of $160,000.. Art is purchased by the city through donations and grants. The board hopes to bring art to people who might not seek it out in a more traditional setting like a museum. Setting the Pace was created by celebrated Colorado artist, Jane DeDecker. A duplicate of this piece is in Evergreen, Colorado where it is dedicated to the volunteers and staff of the Evergreen Fire Rescue. DeDecker has been sculpting for over 25 years and has created over 600 sculptures, 4 of those monument sized. According to the artist "My art is a cumulative process made of my life experiences and my desire to sculpt the human form. I try to retain in the sculpture the beginning strokes and gestures because they contain the truth of the spirit. As subject matter, I attempt to select a moment with which all of us can relate on a personal basis. These moments span all generations, depicting universally recognizable scenes." DeDecker has won many awards and her art can be seen in many states and in the private collections of celebrities. I enjoy discovering new works of art and this large piece certainly commands your attention. If you sit and ponder it for a moment you can come up with many different meanings. Personally, it reminds me how we are are always balancing in life, one step from falling off. The park provides a beautiful backdrop for this sculpture and it was a joy to find it.

It's the only serious maritime art gallery I have found in Florida and one of the top three in the…read morecountry. Here you'll find serious works by the leading artists, living and passed, in the field (such as M. Dawson, P. O'Brian, R, Cross). If you are a maritime art collector, especially one looking for tall ships or yachting oil and watercolors, it's worth the trip from anywhere in the state. The owner, Peter, has a complete mastery of the artists and their works and is a real joy to converse with about art. Any question he can't answer on the spot, he'll follow up with an email. Visiting the store is like a trip to an exquisite museum (with a great place for a light Italian lunch just outside the front door). Even if you can't make it down to his corner of the state, I'm sure he'd be equally informative via phone or email. As the owner does appear to be the only curator, its worth a call ahead or an email ahead to confirm the gallery is open (as is the case with all the good galleries. though I've never had a problem catching this gallery open). This is a real upscale hidden treasure that you'd expect on only find in Miami or perhaps New England.

I tried to go into this gallery twice today after falling in love with a painting in the window…read more The first time, around 1:30pm, I rang the door bell and the man in the gallery looked at me and then stepped into a back room. After a few minutes of standing at the door waiting, he did not return, so I left. At first, I was annoyed because I was certain that the man had seen me standing there. However, I decided to give them the benefit of the doubt since I really wanted this painting, so I came back at 3:30pm. This time there were three men sitting around the desk inside. I rang the doorbell, but they didn't seem to notice. I then knocked on the door, and no response. After a bit more knocking, one of the men finally got up and signaled to me that they were closed. What business is closed at 3:30 in the afternoon? Not only that, but your hours are stated as 9-5, so why wouldn't you open the door for a sale? How sad that I lost out on this painting, but Marine Art Gallery clearly wasn't interested in my business. And in response to their previous response to another reviewer, your potential customers shouldn't have to "try harder" to spend money in your store. What an awful way to do business. But it seems that they are doing just fine without my business, though I feel sorry for the artist whose painting I so wanted but wasn't able to purchase. In response to the owner - I'm not sure what Halloween has to do with anything, since there were no customers in your store each time I went by. And the person you are thinking of is not me. I am a woman, and I didn't have a costume or a dog. Just a regularly dressed hopeful customer who was turned away.

Another great time at this theatre. We just watched The Hail Mary Project on IMAX and it was very…read moreentertaining. The buttered popcorn and lemonade was the topper. Tuesday is the best day to go if you want the best value.

The WORST theater I have ever been to. The theater STINKS horribly. The carpet smells indescribably…read morerancid, and has never been washed. It smells of human oils and cigarettes. Its so putrid that it wafts into your noise throughout the ENTIRE film (in this case three hours), and no- you dont get used to it. The air is still, wet, and sickly - and there is no airflow at all. Second thing is the sound. The sound is TERRIBLE. It completely comes from one direction, one speaker - and is so loud that it literally distorts the speaker and the amplifiers. The climatic parts of the movie are unintelligible due to the painful and loud distortion, which only seems to come from one place. If that wasnt bad enough, the design of the theater itself is just terrible. They are so greedy trying to cram everyone on top of eachother. If you have a tall person in front of you, tou will NOT be able to see the screen. I have never experienced this at a movie theatre. Maybe a concert, but not a theater. Worst theater Ive ever been to in my life. Such a shame to see the Odyssey in those conditions. Btw their IMAX is fake Imax, its digital.

Always have received great service at Avzen super friendly and very knowledgeable. Great selection…read moreof cards from raw singles to graded cards as well as a wide variety of packs and boxes. Recently picked up a 2019-20 Hoops Premium Basketball hanger box there for around $20 and pulled a Dwayne Wade Hoops Ink Auto. Like its said "Hangers have the Bangers". I highly recommend any level of card collector to stop by this shop if in the area. Just remember every card shop is not the same and they all can't carry every card or product that your searching for just like there's levels of collectors from Rookie Beginners just learning the ropes to Top Level Super Knowledgeable Card Snobs but there's room for everyone in this hobby. I'm not a robot or affiliated with Avzen Sports in anyway other than being a collector for 40 years and stopped in one day and have continued to go back because I'm a card junkie and these guys feed my addiction with a great selection a smile and great customer service.

This past weekend, I drove an hour to this store after seeing a social media post stating that they…read morewere accepting trades. When I arrived, I was told that trades are only accepted by appointment. The interaction was extremely dismissive, and it honestly felt as though I was inconveniencing them simply by showing up. I decided to give them the benefit of the doubt and returned the following day with an appointment, thinking perhaps I had misunderstood the situation or they were simply having a rough day. Unfortunately, my second experience was even more disappointing. The owner offered approximately 50% of market value for my cards while many of the cards in the store appeared to be priced around 115%-125% of market value. I completely understand that a business needs to make a profit, and I have no issue with a store buying below market value. However, there is a difference between maintaining a reasonable profit margin and offering customers an amount that, in my opinion, is extremely unreasonable. Based on my experience, I would not recommend making a long trip here specifically to trade cards. Save yourself the time and consider other options. I also recommend sorting the reviews by lowest first--something I wish I had done before making the drive. There are numerous negative reviews describing similar experiences going back several years. The owner may continue responding to those reviews by disputing what happened, but when the same types of complaints appear repeatedly from different customers over an extended period of time, it becomes increasingly difficult to dismiss every one of them as untrue.