Things to Do in Estero

Estero is a village in Lee County that grew up along the Estero River. Its own attractions include Koreshan State Park, Miromar Outlets and Florida Everblades hockey at Hertz Arena. The Gulf beaches nearby are in neighboring communities, not inside the Village.

• Koreshan State Park

  A state park in the center of the community, with the historic Koreshan Unity settlement, boating, fishing and hiking.

• Estero Bay Preserve State Park

  Florida's first aquatic preserve, set up in 1966, with numerous miles of trails.

• Miromar Outlets

  An outlet mall with covered walkways just off I-75 exit 123.

• Hertz Arena

  Home of the Florida Everblades hockey team, with two recreational ice rinks.

• Fort Myers Beach

  The Town of Fort Myers Beach on Estero Island has seven miles of Gulf beach.

Reviewed November 2026

Yes. Koreshan State Park, 3800 Corkscrew Road, preserves the settlement of the Koreshan Unity, with 11 restored buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Volunteer and ranger guides lead tours year-round; for tour times and tickets, see the Friends of Koreshan State Park website. Look for the 1929 Fairbanks-Morse engine and machine shop in the industrial area, and the bamboo trails the Koreshans planted along the Estero River.

The settlement grounds and the rest of the park keep separate hours, so check the park page before a late-afternoon visit. Call 239-992-0311 with questions.

The Village notes that the park also hosts a farmers' market.

Reviewed November 2026

Miromar Outlets, 10801 Corkscrew Road just off I-75 exit 123, is an outdoor outlet mall with covered walkways and free surface parking. Families can rent standard and double strollers, use two private nursing suites, let kids loose at the WINK Playland, climb the 16 FunWalls and look for turtles at the koi ponds. Leashed dogs are welcome in most of the mall.

• 810 Entertainment

  Bowling lanes, an arcade, billiards and sports simulators at store location V-50. Call (239) 766-8448.

• Strollers are rented near Tommy Hilfiger (suite 348); no reservation needed.
• A public bus stop sits at the fountain near Naples Flatbread, and bike racks are near Converse Outlet and Banana Republic Factory.
• Mall office: (239) 948-3766.

Reviewed November 2026

The Florida Everblades play ECHL hockey at Hertz Arena, 11000 Everblades Parkway in Estero. The arena opened in 1998 and seats 7,181 for hockey. It has about 2,000 parking spaces; parking is paid and cashless (credit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay), and tailgating isn't allowed. Coming from the south, take I-75 exit 123 (Corkscrew Road) east, then Ben Hill Griffin Parkway north; from the north, use exit 128 (Alico Road).

Game schedules and tickets are on the Florida Everblades website. The arena also books shows; see Hertz Arena.

Reviewed November 2026

Yes. Hertz Arena's Recreational Rinks run public skating sessions on a 200' x 85' ice surface, with hockey and figure skate rentals from child size 8 to adult size 14. Learn to Skate classes start at age 4. Session times change, so check the public skating tab on the rinks' website or call (239) 948-7825, ext. 1306.

Bring a sweatshirt. Rinks stay cold even on hot Florida days.

Reviewed November 2026

The Estero Historical Society runs a historic Cottage Museum and Estero's one-room schoolhouse inside Estero Community Park, 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd. The buildings are on the northeastern corner of the park's outer circle, on the way to the playground. Volunteer docents give tours (check the Society's website for open days), and the gift shop sells local mango chutney and jams.

For more history, pair this with a visit to Mound House on Fort Myers Beach.

Reviewed November 2026

Mound House, 451 Connecticut St. on Fort Myers Beach, is a museum run by the Town of Fort Myers Beach. It's the 1921 William H. Case House, the oldest standing house on Estero Island, built on a shell mound the Calusa made. Guided tours include hands-on replica artifacts and atlatl throwing, and the grounds have an observation pier, a kayak launch and a native plant garden. Call 239-765-0865.

• Check the Mound House website for museum hours and admission before you go.
• Guided kayak eco-tours of Estero Bay are for ages 12 and up, with a maximum of 12 paddlers.

Reviewed November 2026

If you like boardwalk nature walks, yes. Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, 375 Sanctuary Road West in Naples, protects the largest remaining old-growth bald cypress forest in the world, seen from a 2.25-mile boardwalk. It's 15 miles east of I-75 off exit 111 (Immokalee Road). The Blair Visitor Center and boardwalk are wheelchair accessible, with wheelchairs free to use. Online tickets are recommended; call 239-348-9151.

• More than 260 bird species use the sanctuary, and the Painted Bunting is one of many winter visitors.
• Hours change by season. Check the visit page first.
• Water refilling stations are near the restrooms. Bring a hat and drink often.

Reviewed November 2026

Here are the family-friendly tours on our list, with where each one goes:

• Good Time Charters

  Dolphin, wildlife and shelling cruises of 90 minutes or 3 hours on a 28-passenger catamaran with a restroom on board, led by Master Naturalist guides. Departs Snook Bight Marina, 4765 Estero Blvd.

• Pieces of Eight pirate cruise

  A 65-foot replica Spanish galleon that sails the Gulf of Mexico from Salty Sam's Marina, with face painting, games and treasure for kids; book a family-friendly sailing. Call (239) 765-7272.

• Mound House kayak eco-tour

  A guided paddle through Estero Bay mangrove creeks for ages 12 and up.

Bring sunscreen, a hat and water. Some boats have little shade.

Reviewed November 2026

Several outfitters work right off the sand on Fort Myers Beach. Florida requires a Boating Safety Education ID Card for anyone born on or after the start of 1988 who operates a motorized vessel, including a jet ski.

• All Island Watersports

  Jet ski rentals, guided jet ski dolphin tours into Estero Bay and banana boat rides (age 5 and up) at 61 Avenue C. Call (239) 323-0025.

• Holiday Water Sports

  Yamaha WaveRunner rentals by the half hour or hour, plus a seven-mile guided WaveRunner dolphin tour into Estero Bay.

• Wind and Water Sports

  Parasailing, Sea-Doo rentals, jet ski dolphin tours and banana boat rides.

• All Island Watersports requires drivers to be 16, buyers to be 18 and passengers to be at least 6.

Reviewed November 2026

Two marinas on Fort Myers Beach rent boats, and Estero River Outfitters rents paddle craft on the Estero River.

• Salty Sam's Marina

  Tritoons, bowriders, center consoles and pontoons for half- or full-day rentals. All boats are USCG equipped and come with a map and life jackets. 2500 Main Street; call (239) 463-7333.

• Snook Bight Marina

  Aloha tritoon rentals for 8 or 10 people, plus a boat club. 4765 Estero Blvd.; call 239-221-2800.

• Florida requires a Boating Safety Education ID Card for anyone born on or after the start of 1988 who operates a motorized vessel.
• Children under 6 must wear a life jacket at all times on vessels under 26 feet.
• Stay in marked channels and watch for manatee and idle-speed zones; Fort Myers Beach waterways have shallow flats and sandbars.

Reviewed November 2026

Charters leave from Fort Myers Beach and from the Estero River. Most include the gear, and several cover your fishing license too.

• Captain Mike's Back Bay Fishing

  Fishing Fort Myers Beach waters since 1984 from Salty Sam's Marina. Rods, bait and licenses provided; beginners welcome. Call 239-218-0952.

• Good Time Charters

  A 4-hour nearshore trip from Snook Bight Marina for up to six people on a 31-foot catamaran, with bait, tackle and licenses provided.

• Estero River Outfitters

  Guided kayak fishing trips in fresh and salt water, with rods, reels, tackle and live bait provided. Call or text 239-989-5274.

• Pink Shell Marina

  Back bay, shark and tarpon charters from the resort's marina on Estero Island.

Reviewed November 2026

Smugglers Cove Adventure Golf's Fort Myers course has 18 holes through caves, a pirate ship and waterfalls, plus an alligator exhibit where kids can feed the gators with cane fishing poles (call (239) 466-5855). For bowling and an arcade, 810 Entertainment at Miromar Outlets has lanes, billiards, arcade games and sports simulators; call (239) 766-8448.

The Village is building an Entertainment Campus next to its SportsPark, with High 5 Entertainment as the first venue; see the Village's project page for progress.

Reviewed November 2026

Head indoors or under cover. These spots are on our approved sources:

• Public skating at Hertz Arena

  Cool off on the ice, with skate rentals on site.

• Miromar Outlets

  Covered walkways keep shoppers out of the sun and the afternoon showers.

• Lovers Key Discovery Center

  Exhibits on barrier islands, habitats and wildlife, a large interactive park map and a history timeline.

• Mound House museum

  Calusa artifacts and hands-on exhibits in a 1921 house.

• Estero Recreation Center

  Open gym basketball, a board game club and a Lego Club for ages 6 to 12 (facility membership required).

Reviewed November 2026

Plenty of the area costs nothing but time:

• Park at the LeeTran Park and Ride, where parking is never charged, and take the beach trolley to the sand.
• Play tennis or pickleball on the outdoor courts behind Bay Oaks Recreation Center on Fort Myers Beach, free with no membership.
• Let the dog run at Dog Beach Park in Bonita Springs, which has free parking.
• Paddle to Mound Key Archaeological State Park; no fee is required.
• Fish from Lee County beach parks; fishing is free, though a saltwater fishing license may be required.
• Let kids play at the WINK Playland and watch the turtles at the Miromar Outlets koi ponds.

Pack water and sunscreen. Free outings are usually outdoors.

Reviewed November 2026