Blake Walsh

20 Best Things to Do in Cape Coral, FL

  • Published 2022/11/17

Want to have fun and experience some cool Florida vibes while sunbathing under the sun and sipping cool refreshments?

Cape Coral in Florida offers a variety of attractions and scenic places you’ll love and enjoy.z

Located in the Gulf of Mexico, Cape Coral is the largest city between Tampa and Miami and the second largest city in Florida, with a size of over 120 square miles.

Cape Coral has more navigable waterways than any other city in the world.

That’s why you can find many waterfront attractions in the area.

Aside from the beautiful beaches and waterparks, a lot of adventures await you, from sailing and swimming to golfing, shopping, wildlife, and many more.

Don’t have any ideas where to go at Cape Coral?

Here are the 20 best things to do in Cape Coral, Florida:

Enjoy the Breeze at Cape Coral Yacht Club Community Park

Located along Driftwood Parkway, the Yacht Club Community Park is one of Cape Coral’s hidden gems.

Both locals and visitors can enjoy swimming, sunbathing, fishing, picnicking, and walking along the enormous pier.

It’s the perfect location for an afternoon walk as you enjoy the brilliant view and breeze from the Gulf of Mexico.

If you are fond of sports, Cape Coral Yacht Club Beach is a good location for you. They also have a boat ramp here, so you can go off and enjoy fun water activities by the beach.

Moreover,the park includes amenities such as tennis courts with a pro shop, racquetball courts, and shuffleboard courts.

There is also a playground and a splash pad that your children will surely be delighted to play for some afternoon fun.

Get Your Skin Beautifully Tanned on Four Freedoms Beach

Aside from the Cape Coral Yacht Club Beach, you can also enjoy some family time at the Four Freedoms Beach on the banks of Bimini Basin, just south of Cape Coral Parkway.

Four Freedoms Beach does not have a lot of swimming areas since it’s only a “sunbathing beach” that you can dip your toes in.

Despite that, families with young children who want to unwind and have a good time mostly visit the beach.

It has a large grassy area suitable for picnics, a tree-shaded area, and a fenced-in playground that ensures your children’s safety while playing, including tables and restrooms for your comfort.

You can also enjoy cold treats to get refreshed from the heat at Ice Sssscreamin, which is just a short walk from the beach.

Watch Plays at the Cultural Park Theatre

Are you into classical or musical plays? Then the Cultural Park Theatre will surely give you great performances.

The Cultural Park Theatre Company is the local theater in Cape Coral that provides locals with a creative outlet for taking part in acting, directing, and other stagecraft activities.

Twelve shows are shown annually in this 184-seat theater.

In addition to the Main Stage shows, the company also presents Second Stage productions (original works by regional authors), a summer concert series, and a film festival.

Pay a Visit to Four Mile Cove Preserve

Iwo Jima Monumen

Dennis Kartenkaemper / Shutterstock.com

The Four Mile Cove Preserve is an expanse of natural landscapes.

You can have a great time navigating its marshy lands and thick undergrowth before arriving at the gorgeous waterfront.

The waters at this place are inviting.

Head out, take a deep plunge, and experience the freshness of these calm waters.

Alternatively, rent one of your favorite kayak models and just conquer the waves with your seamanship.

Enjoy the double pleasures of the waters and the thrill of kayaking.

Or you may soak in the atmosphere at this historical war monument built-in memory of the soldiers who fought bravely in that intense battle.

Some facts about the battle will leave you in a somber state.

Shop at Cape Coral Farmers Market

Different stalls at Farmers Market

John Mantell / Shutterstock.com

With tourists preferring to cook at least some of their own meals on their holiday, the Cape Coral Farmers Market is a must-visit destination for them.

Travelers on a budget will pick up some great ingredients here that can give them culinary delights without breaking the bank.

You can find great varieties of local vegetables and fruit at Cape Coral Farmers Market.

Here, you’ll also find a variety of delightful local flowers in beautiful colors and sweet fragrances.

Visitors purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables at Cape Coral Farmers Market

Sadie Mantell / Shutterstock.com

See the Unique Mannequins at Southwest Florida Military Museum

The Invest in America’s Veterans Foundation is a non-profitable organization that helps collect funds to aid war veterans or to celebrate their contributions.

The Southwest Florida Military Museum and Library was also founded with investments from some of the funds from this foundation.

Today, this museum has expanded into a sizeable 34,000-square-foot facility and is the largest museum dedicated to the military in Florida.

You can find many artifacts and readings related to major wars and conflicts in the history of America.

There are 60 mannequins in this museum, fully clothed in colorful attire.

There’s also a theatre inside, and you can sit down to enjoy a light show.

Grab Some Drinks at Wicked Dolphin Artisan Rum

Wicked Dolphin Artisan Rum has the finest collection of handcrafted drinks made from homegrown high-quality sugar cane.

The specialty distillations of this place have bagged several beverage awards.

You can go for a tour around the distillery and have a close look at the process.

The barrel room is exciting with the many rums stacked up in old-style attractive barrels.

You can then have a tasting session and delight in the wonderful flavors.

One good thing about this place is that you can taste some of their exclusive drinks first.

Visit Harbour View Gallery

The Harbour View Gallery features exquisite artwork created by local artists and is a visual feast.

The galleries here are rotated every month with new exciting displays.

It is a one-of-its-kind artist-owned exhibition venue in Florida.

If you are in the city’s vicinity, you should definitely check this out!

Go Beer Tasting at Cape Coral Brewing

After you have had many crazy mugs of the excellent Caribbean rum, you can taste the frothing beer at the Cape Coral Brewing Company.

This is one of the newer breweries in the region, but their lagers are top-notch.

You can relish the delicious flavors and cool freshness of the local handcrafted beer at this place.

Alternatively, you can also tour and dive deeply into their brewing process.

A guide will accompany you to fill you with all the meaty details about the company, the plant, and of course, the beer!

Have a Boat Tour

Birds in Cape coral

Dennis Kartenkaemper / Shutterstock.com

Explore the rich sea life, including exotic creatures like manatees.

You will also spot ample dolphins in the waters.

The native bird species are another thing to watch out for.

The variety of species is wide and some birds are delightfully beautiful.

See the Cape Coral Hurricanes

The Cape Coral Hurricanes are the local team in this city, and they play in the National Premier Soccer League.

The soccer season lasts from around May to the end of August.

The pre-scrimmage games, along with the pre-season matches, are held in the off-season running from March to April.

You can watch one of these and still enjoy the game if you are in Cape Coral during these off-season months.

Ticket prices are pretty loafordablew, and you can enjoy soccer without spending a fortune!

Have a Golf Session at Coral Oaks Golf Course

Florida is home to some of the best golf courses in the world.

You can hang out in any of them and enjoy a relaxing golf session.

The 18-hole Coral Oaks Golf Course is one the most famous golf courses in Florida.

The scenery is majestic, with eight beautiful lakes and 37 exquisite bunkers sprayed over the big park.

You can also attempt some trial hits at the practice courses in the same facility.

Fine-tune your chips to own the golf course once you start playing on the main lawns.

Go Swimming at Caloosahatchee River

If you have had enough of the ocean, you can now head out to the beautiful Caloosahatchee River to enjoy some gentler waters.

The mouth of the river is home to exotic manatees.

You definitely don’t want to miss out on watching these amazing creatures go about their lives in their natural abode.

See the Colorful Butterflies at the Tom Allen Memorial House

Feast your eyes on colorful and exquisitely patterned butterflies at the Tom Allen Memorial House.

This is a calm place away from the clamor of the central city.

The butterflies rest and fly peacefully away from the predatory species that generally feed on them.

You can learn a lot about butterflies here as they take visitors on a tour where you can witness the entire life cycle of butterflies.

Level up Your Water Adventure at Sun Splash Family Waterpark

Looking for a thrilling waterpark experience?

Cape Coral’s Sun Splash Family Waterpark has got you covered!

Sun Splash Family Waterpark is Southwest Florida’s largest waterpark. It has more than 14 acres of slides and pools.

The waterpark’s most highlighted attractions are the Drop Slide which gives you the thrill factor of a free-falling experience, and the Main Stream River Tube Ride, a favorite attraction in the park among young and young at heart.

The Pirate Cove is the most popular among young teens.

It has an interactive waterplay structure with slides, hydro storms, blasters, gushers, and geysers.

Those who want to test their nerves can try the three most thrilling water slides in the park, such as the Terror Tube, Thumber Bump, and X-cellerator, which offer the tallest, fastest, and most refreshing water experiences.

There are also other attractions you can explore and enjoy with your little ones with their children-friendly rides and attractions.

You also won’t have a problem posting your water adventure snaps online since the park has a wi-fi connection you can use.

Be One with the Flora and Fauna at Rotary Park Environmental Center

If you want to get away from the hassles and loud sounds of motors and cars in the city, being one with nature in Rotary Park Environmental Center will be right up your alley.

The Rotary Park Environmental Center is a 97-acre park, a component of the Great Florida Birding Trail, with ponds, wetlands, salt flats, and uplands.

It’s home to various birds, such as waterfowl, wading birds, migrant songbirds, burrowing owls, gopher tortoises, dolphins, and reptiles all year round. You can also find some raptors, butterflies, foxes, and other wildlife here.

Nature enthusiasts will love this place as they can track different exotic birds and native fishes on the boardwalk at Lake Kennedy.

The center also has picnic shelters, a playground, a butterfly house, and a trail for your nature walks.

Enjoy a Magical Experience at the Tom Allen Memorial Butterfly House

Located at Rotary Park Rose Garden Road, the Tom Allen Memorial Butterfly House will give you a magical and fairytale-like experience with the variety of Florida native butterfly species you can see.

You can watch butterflies’ life stages in the garden and walk in the place while seeing butterflies freely fluttering their wings.

The garden is also conducting free tours for its visitors. They will also provide friendly tour guides explaining the butterfly species, caterpillars, and host plants you will see and observe in the garden.

You and your family will love the surreal and magical experience at the Tom Allen Memorial Butterfly House.

Take a Lookback at Cape Coral’s Historical Places and Visit the Cape Coral Museum of History

The Cape Coral Museum of History, located along Cultural Park Boulevard, has three exhibit buildings and a historic rose garden, which is the favorite highlight of the visit by locals and tourists.

The museum features the history of Cape Coral and developments throughout time. There are also displays of different interesting artifacts discovered at Native American archaeological sites.

You can also enjoy their rose garden and take pictures with different kinds of roses planted and grown by the dedicated garden club members and volunteers. It’s the perfect destination for an afternoon visit.

Go Fishing at Sirenia Vista Park

Want a quiet place to go fishing? Then Sirenia Vista Park is just right for you!

Sirenia Vista Park is an 8-acre environmental park that offers a terrific site for fishing activities all year long.

If you are lucky, you can watch manatees in the park, especially during the cooler months.

The first phase of the park’s construction has been finished, and it includes a kayak launch facility, manatee viewing areas, a walking route, and landscape enhancements.

Kayakers can enter the Calusa Blueway through Matlacha using the kayak launch.

Discover Cape Coral’s Lively Nightlife at Cape Cabaret

Your vacation is incomplete when you don’t experience Cape Coral’s nightlife.

Cape Cabaret will give you a memorable and fun night out with friends and family.

Cooked by Executive Chef Pablo Felix, the dinner menu at Cape Cabaret includes an affordable selection of appetizers, soups, salads, flatbreads, entrées, and desserts.

Moreover, Cape Cabaret also has live music performances and dance music from the 50s to the 90s.

Listen to Rock & Roll, New R&B, Classic Soul, or Pop while you enjoy a sumptuous dinner.

Located along Vincennes Blvd, you will love your dinner with your family here at Cape Cabaret. Try it out on your next visit to Cape Coral!

Final Thoughts

Cape Coral, Florida, is definitely a must-see destination for your next out-of-town trip!

From the breathtaking views of the Gulf of Mexico, beaches, preserves, gardens, historical places, restaurants, as well as golf courses and parks, you’ll surely find something fun and exciting to do here.

You will never forget the fun and tropical Florida vibes brought by Cape Coral.

Now, ready to pack your things?

Take your getaway vacation here in Cape Coral.

The place, the adventures, and the people here are excited to meet you!

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