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!

The Conservancy of Southwest Florida is the perfect place to spend an afternoon learning about…read morelocal nature. We arrived just in time for their last boat ride of the day at 3 p.m. Their electric boat tours are a perfect way to explore the narrow channels of the Gordon River. We saw several birds, including a bald eagle and great blue, little blue, and green herons. Conservancy volunteers and employees, including our boat captain, were friendly and knowledgeable. Admission is $17.95 for adults and $9.95 for children, although we hold a family Conservancy membership so our admission (including boat ride) was free. We also enjoyed visiting the Conservancy's Dalton Discovery Center, which has various exhibits with native and invasive wildlife. We loved watching all the fish! This group also runs the von Arx Wildlife Hospital, which is an important wildlife rehabilitation center and hospital that takes in over 4,000 sick, injured, and orphaned animals every year. Very grateful to have the Conservancy of Southwest Florida in our area. I highly recommend obtaining a membership if you are local or simply visiting if you're on vacation.

an incredible 21-acre property dedicated to protecting and preserving the environment. Established…read morein the 1960s, the Conservancy combines education, conservation, and hands-on learning, making it a great stop for both adults and families. Your admission ($17.95 per person) includes access to a mix of indoor and outdoor attractions: Discovery Center -- A large, interactive space with educational displays on topics like climate change, invasive species, the water crisis, and local ecosystems. There's also a touch tank where you can get up close with sea life. Live Animal Feedings & Volunteer Presentations -- Knowledgeable volunteers provide extra insights about the wildlife and conservation efforts. Trails & Outdoor Spaces -- A short walking trail winds through the property, perfect for a peaceful stroll. Von Arx Wildlife Hospital -- While the hospital itself isn't open to the public, you can learn about how they care for injured and rescued wildlife and see where some of the animals are treated. Little Explorers Zone -- A dedicated building for kids, making this an especially family-friendly destination. One of the best parts of the visit was the electric boat tour of the Gordon River, which is included with admission. The 40-minute ride is led by a volunteer captain who shares fascinating details about the surrounding wildlife, plants, and ecosystem. If you're planning to take the boat tour, reserve your spot as soon as you pay admission -- we only had to wait about 10 minutes, but it can book up quickly during busy times. After the tour, we explored a few more of the buildings and stopped by the gift shop. Honestly, the shop was the least impressive of the ones we visited -- it mainly had basic branded items and nothing particularly unique, but that didn't take away from the overall experience. The Conservancy of Southwest Florida is absolutely worth a stop, especially if you enjoy wildlife, conservation, and learning about Florida's ecosystems. Between the interactive exhibits, the river tour, and the chance to see firsthand how the organization protects local habitats, it's both educational and enjoyable.

Excellent time at West Cost Ranch! My little girl loved…read moreriding the miniature ponies and seeing all the animals. Family friendly and a great experience while down in SWFL.

Had an AMAZING EXPERIENCE!!! The animals are very well kept and loved! They gave us a tour of the…read moreranch and we got to pet the animals. They have pigs, goats, horses, cow, donkeys, chickens and a friendly dog named cowboy. The animals are so friendly. Both of my children ages 9yrs and 2yrs old absolutely loved it. We have no previous experience riding horses so they accommodated us and we rode the horses in the ranch. We weren't rushed at all. Beautiful place to visit and enjoy with the family. Definitely coming back!! What a wonderful family.

It's always a treat visiting Corkscrew. I feel at peace immersed in its beauty. I wish I could…read morevisit often, but I make it out at least 3 times a year. Coming from Miami, the 2+ hour drive drive let's me visit always mid-day, but on the rare occasion that I leave in the wee hours of the morning, I get treated with loads of animal sighting. Visit often, treat nature kindly, and visit/buy all the beautiful trinkets at the gift shop.

The Corkscrew boardwalk is always a pleasure, even when the animals are hiding! On our most recent…read morevisit the first half of the boardwalk was quiet - some bird calls in the distance but no sightings. The second half was quite different - numerous bird sightings including a barred owl and numerous egrets, an alligator and, for the first time ever, two otters! Every trip is different- sometimes it is just a quiet walk in the woods, sometimes the animals decide to share with us. It isn't a zoo, it is nature so anything can happen.

Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center is an amazing destination for history and nature lovers…read moreof all ages. The center sits within the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, which covers more than 110,000 acres of mangrove forests, upland habitats, and estuarine waters. In addition to board walks and hiking trail it has a two-story, 16,500-square-foot facility that combines research, education, art, and conservation. Start your visit inside the learning center where there is a 2,300-gallon mangrove aquarium with a sculpted 14-foot red mangrove tree. Another highlight is the touch tank where visitors can hold sea stars, horseshoe crabs, sea urchins, and more. There are also exhibits on local ecology and ongoing research in the estuary with emphasis on human impact on nature. A favorite stop on the first floor was the Palmetto Patch Nature Store which featured a variety of nature themed and local made gifts. They also sell water which you will need for a hike if you forgot to bring it. Proceeds from the store go to the Friends of Rookery Bay and their mission to provide resources for Rookery Bay Research Reserve's education, research, and conservation programs. Behind the center there are three half mile walking trails including a boardwalk over Henderson Creek. Thousands of years ago this was the home of the ancient Calusa people that thrived on seafood from the estuary. Although they are extinct you can still see the shell mounds they built. Several Calusa mound complexes are protected within the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve's 110,000 acres. From the observation bridge, you can sometimes spot manatees, tarpon, or even sharks. The trails also passes through native plants and historic sites like the remains of the pioneer settlement Little Marco that lay between Marco Island and Naples. The community was sparked by the Homestead act and pre dated the City of Naples. People lived off the estuary, catching fish, harvesting shellfish, and also growing small plots of winter vegetables. A historic cemetery remains near what is now known as Shell Island Road. The Rookery Bay Environmental Reserve is doing important ecological research and conservation while providing public education about coastal ecosystems, climate impacts, and habitat preservation. If you're a nature lover, looking for an inexpensive family friendly activity, or someone curious about coastal ecosystems, the environmental learning center is well worth a visit if you are in the area.

Awesome boat tour with two naturalists. We had a great time exploring a private island.read more

Plan for at least an hour here which will give you plenty of time to explore the train museum and…read morethen take a ride on the train. Yes, they have a rideable train that goes on a one mile loop that circles out and back! The train tickets are purchased at the museum office and for us, only $5 each. The nice lady who sold the tickets let us know that the train would be departing in about 20 minutes at that gave us plenty of time to explore the museum, perusing the exhibits and watching the miniature train sets circle the table. Other than my Mom, I think I was probably the oldest person on the train and we both had a complete blast. The ride takes 15 minutes and sweeps through a number of similarly miniature villages and over clang-clang-clang railroad crossings and even through a 100 foot long tunnel. It's extremely cute and for $5, how can you possibly not enjoy yourself! Afterwards, there are outdoor exhibits that include a cosmetically restored 1905 locomotive and tender, and a completely restored caboose. Tip: Check ahead for their hours of operation. They are only open on weekends (and Labor Day!). Rides on the train are first come first serve. You'll have a better ride closer to the front if you can. [Review 15816 overall - 1395 in Florida - 1320 of 2021.]

A railroad enthusiast must-see in Fort Myers, Florida This…read moreSpecial attraction is located inside the Lakes Regional Park which is located off Gladiolus Drive and Old Gladiolus Drive. The park has several places to see and visit. There is a large parking lot so parking should not be a problem. The Railroad Museum and railroad are to the right as you enter. The museum is hard to miss as there is a large railroad engine visible from the parking lot that is across the walkway from a large building that houses the museum. The museum is inside a building behind the jungle gym next to the parking lot. The museum is free. It is a large room with several operating scale trains running around the center and near the roof. There is at least one hands-on display that you can see the operating console for an engineman. There are lots of informational displays situated around the room describing the history of trains and the railroad museum. There is a lot to read and a lot of history associated with trains, Florida, and the Fort Myers area. If you have a chance, I highly recommend spending a few dollars and getting a ticket to ride the train right outside the museum. For any train enthusiast this is a must-see in the area.

This place is awful. Do not go here. We attended a party and five kids got sick foot and mouth…read moredisease due to the fact they don't clean it very well there. The mom of the party called the place and talk to an employee and the manager never called her and never napologize at all. The week before I went with my son and one ofthe employee and son very rude . Trust me it not very clean there.

My 3yr old daughter has been several times and absolutely loves it! It is always very clean and…read morethere are tables for me to sit and do work while she has fun.

So much fun had a great time!…read more Came with large party had a blast! Highly suggest! So much to do!

This is a really fun place! the staff was great! if youre looking for something fun to do, I highly…read morerecommend this place