Great place to take a walk and browse some boutiques, coffee shops, & restaurants…read more This visit was way too hot to do that, but we have done it plenty of times and enjoyed it. You can park on the street or in parking garages for free. It's really pretty seeing different sculptures, flowers, trees, And even some fancy cars.

There is plenty of free street parking & lots in the back. Shops, restaurants, cafes, a playhouse,…read moreart galleries, boutiques, yacht sales & real estate offices selling multi million dollar estates. The hotel on 5th covers both sides of the street. Each shop has unique items,there aren't chains here. The flowers, sculptures & fountains decorate 5th beautifully.

Such a fun experience touring the Everglades. Great for kids, teens and adults. Highly recommendread more

The driver crashed us and we all got hurt . He should be vey sad for what he did. We got saved at 1…read moream

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.

An amazing, romantic private sunset cruise. We sailed around the bay and into the gulf. Saw…read moredolphins, had a few glasses of wine, just what the doctor ordered after a year of being cooped up. Captain Brady was highly knowledgeable about the local marine wildlife and habitat. If you're looking for a serene experience, I would definitely recommend this into the mystic cruise.

We went out this morning with Capt. Brady and had an awesome time! He was so knowledgeable about…read morethe area and clearly a skilled sailor. Had a cooler of water, soft drinks, beer and wine! Music was awesome too. Lol. Had a blast.

This a nice beach area to hang out, chill, and have fun at. I went here with my family to catch the…read moresunset. We got here a few minutes after the sun started going down. There was a crowd gathered to see the sunset but it was not overly crowded or anything. We still found a good spot to stand and watch. After sundown, we walked on the beach to enjoy the moment as the weather was pleasant (in late December). The beach area was clean and it's in a nice neighborhood. There's paid parking nearby. I am not sure of any free parking area.

Beach is good. Watching the repair work on the pier. However parking requires a process of using…read moreyour phone, credit card and spot number. My wife did that and then got a message to add more time which she did. We got back to the car and had a parking ticket. If you pay right away it's $77. We gladly did everything they asked to park. Her credit card shows the payments but does not give us the time. I believe they have an equipment problem or a greed problem. Never had this problem in Destin and the sand is nicer. Might be our last trip here.

Had a Blast with Glenn as our tour guide. It was cool to not only see different parts of the island…read morebut to get some history as well. The good? Big comfortable Safari truck, great host (Glen), wild life sightings (Eagles, Osprey, Tortoise, burrowing Owls) island history The bad? Not a single thing I think it would be great for families!! Five stars

The Marco Island Safari tour was fantastic. Glenn was a great tour guide. He was very interesting…read moreas he related the history of Marco Island. I highly recommend this tour for a fun afternoon event for all ages. Kathy

I love a historic tree. There is something so majestic about a tree planted generations ago, that…read morestands watch and as a witness to the history that unfolds around it. Some of the historic trees that i have visited include the Hardy Oak in Sebastian, the historic banyan trees in Palm Beach, the Council Oak in Hollywood, and the Candler Oak in Savannah. Now I can add the towering banyan tree in downtown Bonita Springs to the list. Near the Bonita Springs clock at the corner of Old 41 Road and Childers Street sits the historic Bonita Banyan. The scientific Name of the banyan tree is Ficus altissima, and it is native to southern Asia. It also goes by the name Council Tree and Lofty Fig. The 1920's were Florida's land boom years when the state saw a huge growth in it's population and construction.. One of the settlers who came to the area during this time was Cordell Smith, who moved to Survey which would later be named Bonita Springs. Smith was known for aiding his community and his love of train travel. In 1921, he took the tree from its original location at the intersection of Bonita Beach Road and Tamiami Trail and replanted it just south of the what is now Community Hall. The tree became a popular meeting place with locals telling each other to meet at the banyan tree. In the 1950's a building called the Pavilion stood under the tree and was used for community events like dances and movies. The Pavilion was torn down and replaced by the Community Hall. Today the tree is enormous and thriving. It is a protected tree so climbing on it is no longer permitted although generations of kids enjoyed doing that. Now you are asked to respectfully enjoy the tree. It was fun discovering this piece of Bonita Springs history and learning about it's roots in the community.

The Bonita Springs Historical Society stewards the McSwain Home in Downtown Bonita Springs,…read moreFlorida. Events include speaker series, author series, historic walks and garden tours of their Florida friendly garden plants and pollinators gardens.

The Bonita Springs Historical Society is a non profit founded in 1984 by a small group of local…read moreresidents who wished to preserve the landmarks, artifacts, and historical stories of Bonita Springs for future generations. The historical society promotes local history through events, educational programs, teas, socials, and community events. They will even schedule custom group tours and events. Walking historical tours include information about the Calusa Native Americans who once lived in this area, native plants and ecology of Island Park, the 1920s-era Lilas Hotel, the 1921 Bonita Springs Elementary School, and the Castner house bungalow. A $10 donation is suggested for tours. Dates for 2024 tours have not been announced yet. The Bonita Springs Historical Society owns the historic McSwain home built by Joseph and Elizabeth McSwain from Osyka, Missouri in1915. The McSwain's built their wood family home on a dirt road called Heitman Avenue, which later became part of the Tamiami Trail. At the time the house was built Bonita Springs didn't even exist, the area was called Survey because it was a camp of government surveyors in the 1870s. At the time the house was built it was so far out in the wilderness that this section of road between Naples and Ft. Myers was not even able to be traveled by car for the next two years. The city was renamed Bonita Springs in the early 20th century, to attract residents who became interested in the area by a boom in citrus grove planting. In the 1970's, the home was purchased by Hudon and artist Ann Humphries. In 2011 the couple bequeathed the home to the historical society who had to restore the house from the ground up. Hurricane Irma did further damage before restoration was complete. By 2019 the historical society was fully able to open the restored home and use it as an event center to raise funds for the historical society and as a meeting place for local organizations. Historic walking tours are also able to view the home. The societies efforts to safeguard the town's architectural heritage contribute significantly to the community's sense of identity and character. Bonita Springs offers several yearly heritage events, including the city-sponsored Celebrate Bonita festival and the Bonita Springs Historical Society annual history walking tour. In addition, the historical society provides a pamphlet for a self-guided tour of the city's historic sites and conducts outreach to the local elementary school, offering private history tours and presentations. From its early days as a settlement to its growth as a vibrant community, the historical society preserves the challenges and triumphs that have shaped Bonita Springs over the years. The society's commitment to preserving and sharing the heritage of Bonita Springs is evident in every aspect of their well-curated exhibits and engaging programs.