The city of LaBelle started as a settlement in the 1880s, thanks to the Caloosahatchee River’s role in everglades reclamation.
Captain Francis A. Hendry founded LaBelle, which went by many names, such as “Belle,” “Belle City,” and “The Belle of Caloosahatchee.”
After several developments, LaBelle became the county seat of Hendry County in 1923.
LaBelle’s century-old history has made it a popular tourist destination year-round, with over ten historical sites.
Most of these sites have retained their original architectural styles, decorating the city with a classic look.
Besides these historical buildings, LaBelle offers more things to see and experience.
Here are the best things to do in LaBelle, FL:
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The city of LaBelle presents dozens of historical sites, including the Capt. Francis A. Hendry House.
Following the Frame Vernacular architectural style, the Captain Francis A. Hendry House is the only surviving property associated with LaBelle’s founder.
It was a retirement home for Captain Hendry.
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However, his health forced him and his family to move to Fort Myers shortly after the house’s construction.
Today, you’ll see Captain Hendry’s house in its original grandeur and style, an excellent stopover for photo ops.
The one-half-story vernacular residence is also a popular place for hosting weddings and other special events.
The city of LaBelle is no stranger to the performing arts.
If you’re looking to catch a live performance, there’s no better place than the Firehouse Community Theater in downtown LaBelle.
For over 28 years, the Firehouse Community Theater has hosted a series of performances, ranging from musical to theatrical acts.
The community theater also serves as a cornerstone for shaping young talents.
It offers summer youth programs for children aged seven to 17, helping them foster their potential in singing, dancing, and acting.
Volunteers of the community solely run the theater.
You’ll find many pre-loved items at Me & My Girls Antiques & Home Decor.
Whether neat appliances or an addition to your craft room, you’ll find almost everything at this store.
You’ll also find a great selection of antique mirrors, lockers, and dressers, which will take your decor to the next level.
The best part is that all the items come with a low-price guarantee, helping you get the best value for your money.
The store ships across all states if you want to shop for oversized furniture and appliances.
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There’s a lot to know about the beautiful city of LaBelle, and the LaBelle Heritage Museum on Bridge Street will tell you all you need to know.
History buffs will surely enjoy their time inside the museum with its several artifacts and collections that boast of LaBelle’s rich history.
Wander the museum halls and check out local artifacts, documents, newspapers, pictures, fossils, and more.
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Each artifact tells a significant story behind LaBelle’s humble beginnings.
You’ll also find various information on Hendry County’s pioneer families, historical sites, buildings, and more.
You can even find videotapes from city residents talking about various events in the past, which helped LaBelle turn into the city it is today.
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Drown out the sound of busy highways and bustling streets, and spend a relaxing day at LaBelle Nature Park.
LaBelle Nature Park offers tourists a calm and serene environment across the nine-acre peninsula filled with picturesque views.
Traverse a half-mile trail overlooking the Caloosahatchee River.
Walk around to enjoy the scenic views of lush green forests and wildflowers.
Go through the marshy waterway and listen for some warblers as you sit on the benches for a quick break.
You’ll also see gopher tortoise burrows in the clearings before entering an enchanting shade of live oaks and cabbage palms.
Book a tour with Townsend & Sons Everglades Outfitters for some much-needed wildlife experience.
Established in 1996, Townsend & Sons Everglades Outfitters offers hunters the perfect getaway for hunting South Florida’s most sought-after game species.
Book a guided hunt in a relaxed environment, and feel the thrill of catching turkeys, wild boars, buffalo, and more.
You can customize your hunt and go for a combination of your choice, and the staff will give you the weapons you need.
For those looking to get the ultimate hunting experience, Townsend & Sons Everglades Outfitters also offers a gator hunt package.
Feel a rush of excitement as you snag your first gator and fight it up to the bank before turning it into a trophy or souvenir.
Harold P. Curtis Honey Co. is where all the sweet treats are.
Since 1921, the family-owned business has provided the residents of LaBelle with premium-quality honey and other honey-infused products.
Customers can choose from a wide variety of honey products, such as wildflower, orange blossom, seagrape, palmetto, and more.
You can even buy the rare mangrove honey sourced directly from Sanibel Island.
Harold P. Curtis Honey Co. stays true to its promise of providing authentic honey, which is why customers are free to see the active hive displayed inside the store.
You can also buy other products, such as pure natural beeswax, candles, honey-filled candies, and gift boxes.
Enjoy hand-picking your basket of fresh blueberries at the Blueberry Bunch Farm.
The family-owned blueberry farm has operated for over 15 years, providing customers with quality, locally sourced blueberries.
Join the annual u-pick season and pick out the best blueberries from over 50,000 blueberry bushes.
After your trip, go to the kitchen and create some of the best blueberry-inspired drinks and desserts.
Check out recipes for a peach blueberry galette, blueberry basil Moscow mule, red, white, and blueberry almond tart, and more.
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Step back in time when you walk around the historic area of downtown LaBelle.
In 1999, the government designated downtown LaBelle as a historic district.
Downtown LaBelle covers three acres and is home to nine historic buildings.
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As you walk down the streets, you’ll notice that most infrastructures feature a Frame Vernacular architectural style.
Some buildings also sport a Mediterranean Revival and Modern style, popularized from 1920 to 1940.
You’ll find several businesses scattered across the district and great spots to catch stunning views of the Caloosahatchee River.
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For over 50 years, the city of LaBelle has celebrated one of the most important annual events in South Florida, known as the Swamp Cabbage Festival.
Enjoy several days filled with festivities, from block parties and fun runs to car shows and parades.
Named after Florida’s official state tree, the cabbage palm, the festival honors its durability and many benefits to the people of Florida.
Unleash your festival spirit by joining the scavenger hunt with your teammates, and spend the following day enjoying the parade.
You can also check out other events like the bass fishing tournament and the swamp cabbage pageant, among others.
Enjoy a series of live entertainment and book front-row seats at the Hendry/LaBelle Rodeo Arena.
Spanning 10,000 square feet, the arena also features a 5,000-square-foot pavilion and 3,000-square-foot animal pens.
Circuses, concerts, and bull pit ministries are everyday events in the arena.
They also have facilities like pole barns, RV hookups, vendor areas, and concessions.
You can also reserve the arena for big celebrations like weddings and other events like barbecues and state cooking events.
End a stressful day on a relaxing yet fun note by grabbing a delicious meal at Beef ‘O’ Bradys.
Find everything you could crave, from burgers and tacos to wings and fajitas, at this restaurant.
You’ll also enjoy the cool and fun atmosphere in this sports bar, with customers cheering on their teams while drinking beer and munching some snacks.
Jim Mellody founded Beef ‘O’ Bradys in 1985.
The restaurant offers a great selection of Irish-inspired dishes.
Enjoy meal deals, value meals from Monday to Friday, or try the restaurant’s family-style meals.
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Grab a bite of Italian and American dishes while sipping a cold glass of wine at Forrey Grill.
Indulge in the bursting flavors of fresh Italian sauces and pasta and a handful of scratch-made desserts.
The Forrey menu boasts in-house and freshly made dishes using local produce.
Along with delicious food is a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere, which resonates throughout the streets of downtown LaBelle.
Flora and Ella Burchard founded the Forrey Grill during the 1930s.
It initially stood on the Forrey property.
The restaurant continued operating in the same place until 1993.
Indulge in traditional American dishes at Log Cabin BBQ.
Call ahead, drive through, or experience the full service while enjoying the restaurant’s homey atmosphere.
Enjoy cabin specials in the form of eggs and pancakes, country fried steak, lean sugar-cured ham steak, and much more.
Don’t forget to try LaBelle’s famous barbecue menu and indulge in favorites like pulled pork, smokin’ spare ribs, baby back ribs, and more.
Take your pick from tea, a glass of soda or wine, or a bottle of beer.
If you’re planning to visit LaBelle anytime soon but haven’t found a place to stay, check out the River’s Edge Motel.
Besides low prices, the River’s Edge Motel also offers premium-quality accommodations that will make your stay worthwhile.
Enjoy stunning riverside views from your suite with a hint of classic interior design dating back to 1986.
The River’s Edge Motel also prides itself as a home away from home with modern amenities and facilities that offer maximum comfort.
It’s also downtown LaBelle’s premier lodging facility.
LaBelle Brewing Company is an institutionalized brewery in La Belle that’s been going strong for several years now.
It’s one of the first in the city, famous for its exquisite and sophisticated beer that any drinking enthusiast should try.
While their beer is certainly their bread and butter, LaBelle Brewing Company has grown in popularity over the years because of how gorgeous its interiors are.
Definitely an Instagram-worthy destination, this is a great hangout spot whether during daytime or evening.
You can find LaBelle Brewing Company along Hickpochee Avenue.
Appreciate the Caloosahatchee River at Barron Park
Barron Park is a popular park in LaBelle because it’s right next to Caloosahatchee River.
Just a stone’s throw away from LaBelle Nature Park, this green space is a great addition to your itinerary if you want to just spend a quiet and relaxing afternoon.
Since it’s riverside, expect a lot of sprawling trees and wildlife at Barron Park, perfect for photography.
Of course, you can also fish here, and there’s plenty of aquatic life at this spot.
Barron Park also has other amenities like an amphitheater, picnic tables, picnic grounds, and more.
Visit it along De Soto Avenue.
Do Recreational Activities at Hendry LaBelle Sports Park
Hendry LaBelle Sports Park is a neat place to visit in the city if you’re looking to do exercise and other recreational activities.
There’s a lot of amenities here, spearheaded by its basketball and tennis courts that easily accommodate both locals and visitors.
Besides these, there are plenty of dog waste stations at Hendry LaBelle Sports Park, making this a popular place to walk dogs.
Walking and jogging paths are also found throughout, including playgrounds and picnic benches.
A great all-around city park, Hendry Sports Park can be visited along Forestry Division Road.
Have Lunch at The Quart House
The Quart House is a great place to satisfy your American cravings, most especially when it comes to comfort food.
One of the more popular restaurants in LaBelle, The Quart House is a great all-rounder in terms of ambiance, service, and of course, food.
Their most popular item here is probably their salad bar, as it’s pretty big and always well-stocked.
This allows you to have all sorts of salads to go along with their popular viands, most notably their fried or grilled chicken.
The Quart House is a quaint but flavor-packed restaurant that won’t disappoint; you can visit them along South Main Street.
Watch a Game at Davis-Pratt Park
Davis-Pratt Park is another city park that focuses on sports amenities that Hendry LaBelle Sports Park doesn’t have—baseball and football.
This is one of the better places to enjoy a game of baseball thanks to their modern batting cages and field.
Football is also a fun sport to play here, and many locals congregate at Davis-Pratt Park which is a great opportunity to immerse yourself with the community.
There’s also a playground and a bit of walking area at this park, adding to the things you can do.
Find it along the quiet neighborhoods along Lilian Street.
LaBelle is one of the places to visit in South Florida.
Relive its rich history in the great sites on almost any street, especially downtown.
LaBelle is also where you can garner new experiences and embark on adventures you won’t get to do anywhere else.
So, book a trip to LaBelle today!
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