What To Do the week of July 10-16, 2023

Each Monday, the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau (VCB) lets you know What To Do in Fort Myers and surrounding neighborhoods.

Let us know: Events, along with high-res images, can be submitted for consideration by emailing Miriam Dotson, VCB communications manager. Deadline is 5 p.m. Tuesday before the week of publication. Thank you!

Monday, July 10

Wild Wonders Animal Encounters, Wonder Gardens, Bonita Springs
When: 11:30 a.m.
Cost: $25
Where: Wonder Gardens, 27180 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs
Phone: 239-992-2591
More info: wondergardens.org

Tuesday, July 11

Digital Discussion: Theodore Miller, Rough Rider, Edison and Ford Winter Estates, Fort Myers 
When: 10:30 a.m.
Cost: Free
Where: Virtual
Phone: 239-334-7419
More info: edisonfordwinterestates.org

Wednesday, July 12

Wednesday Night Market, Alliance for the Arts, Fort Myers
When: 5-8 p.m.
Cost: Free Entry
Where: Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers 
Phone: 239-939-2787
More info: artinlee.org

Thursday, July 13

Latin Night with DJ JC, Sidney & Berne Davis Center, Fort Myers 
When: 7:30-11 p.m.
Cost: $10
Where: Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, 2301 First St., Fort Myers
Phone: 239-333-1933
More info: sbdac.com

Friday, July 14

Reading at the Refuge, J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel Island 
When: 11 a.m.- noon 
Cost: Free
Where: J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, 1 Wildlife Drive, Sanibel Island
More info: eventbrite.com

Saturday, July 15

Goat Yoga, Dim Jandy Ranch, Fort  Myers
When: 9-10:30 a.m.
Cost: $25
Where: Dim Jandy Ranch, 13151 Pinto Lane, Fort Myers
Phone: 251-283-7590
More info: dimjandy.com

Sunday, July 16

Mighty Mussels vs. Clearwater Threshers all you can eat brunch, Hammond Stadium, Fort Myers
When: 12 p.m. 
Cost: $10-$12 
Where: Lee County Sports Complex/ Hammond Stadium, 14100 Six Mile Cypress Pkwy., Fort Myers
More info: https://www.milb.com

Ongoing events

Adventures in Paradise Cruises and Tours, Fort Myers
Enjoy nightly sunset dolphin and wildlife cruises narrated by a marine biologist. Watch dolphins play and spot various species of birds as you cruise the waters of San Carlos Bay. Sunset cruise is 90 minutes, 5 p.m. nightly. $39-$49. Adventures in Paradise, 14341 Port Comfort Road, Fort Myers, 239-472-8443, adventuresinparadiseinc.com

Butterfly House tours, Monday, Friday and Saturday, Cape Coral
The Tom Allen Memorial Butterfly House is home to many native Florida butterfly species, including the zebra longwing, the state butterfly. Guides explain the different butterflies, their caterpillars and host plants. Donations are accepted. 10:30 a.m. Monday, Friday and Saturday. Rotary Park, 1340-1372 Rose Garden Road, Cape Coral, 239-549-4606, ccfriendsofwildlife.org/tom-allen-memorial-butterfly-garden

History tours, Burroughs Home & Gardens, downtown Fort Myers 
The Burroughs Home & Garden offers docent led and self-guided tours of the historic 1901 Georgian revival mansion. 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, docent guided tour $25, self-guided tour $15, children $8. Burroughs Home & Garden, 2505 First St., Fort Myers, 239-337-9505, burroughshome.com

ECHO Global Farm Tours, North Fort Myers
Experience farming and gardening at its most creative, with unique demonstrations, plants and techniques being used to help farming families around the world. ECHO is also home to one of the largest collections of tropical food plants in the U.S. Guided walking tours are 90 minutes, 9:30 a.m. Tuesday-Saturday. ECHO Global Farm, 17391 Durrance Road, North Fort Myers, 239-543-3246, echonet.org

Guided beach walk, Island Inn, Sanibel
Discover world-class beachcombing, birding and wildlife-watching with a marine science educator in this guided beach walk. 9-10:30 a.m. Wednesdays, $20. Island Inn, 3111 West Gulf Drive, Sanibel, sanibelseaschool.org

Lakes Park Miniature Train, Lakes Regional Park, Fort Myers
The park offers biking and walking trails, a children's garden, paddle boats, sand volleyball courts and daily miniature train rides at the Railroad Museum of Southwest Florida. $5 ages 6 and older. Train rides offered 10 a.m.-2 p.m. daily; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. weekends; park hours 7 a.m.-dusk. Lakes Regional Park, 7330 Gladiolus Drive, Fort Myers, 239-267-1905, leeparks.org

Lovers Key State Park, Fort Myers
Hop in a kayak or lounge under an umbrella on the shore. Explore serene canals and lagoons that are favorite spots for manatee and shorebirds.  8 a.m.-sundown daily, $8 per vehicle. Lovers Key State Park, 8700 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach, 239-707-6328, floridastateparks.org

Pickleball, Sundial Beach Resort & Spa, Sanibel 
Come play pickleball on an award winning twelve court plexicushion pickleball stadium. Daily, monthly and annual memberships are available. 9-11 a.m. daily, starting at $20. Sundial Beach Resort & Spa, 1451 Middle Gulf Drive, Sanibel Island, josh.jeffcott@sundialresort.com, sundialresort.com

Tarpon Bay Explorers tours, Sanibel Island 
Enjoy a naturalist led eco-tour with "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge's concession Tarpon Bay Explorers. Kayak tours are on Wednesday and Saturday at 10 a.m. Tram tours are on Thursday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tarpon Bay Explorers, 900 Tarpon Bay Road, Sanibel, 239-472-8900, tarponbayexplorers.com

True Tours, River District History Tours, Fort Myers
This Fort Myers walking tour educates and entertains with narratives of local history and acquaints you with the colorful personalities of founders of Fort Myers. Tour at 10:30 a.m. each first and third Saturday of the month. Haunted History tour available Wednesday and Saturday at 8 p.m. True Tours, 2200 First St., Fort Myers, 239-945-0405, truetours.net

Shell Crafters, The Community House, Sanibel Island 
The Shell Crafters help visitors make keepsake shell creations. Supplies costs between $5-10. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday. The Community House, 2173 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, 239-472-2155, sanibelcommunityhouse.net

Guided Walks, Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve, Fort Myers
This preserve is over 3,500 acres of wetland ecosystem with a boardwalk trail, butterfly garden and interpretive center. The fully accessible boardwalk is elevated and 1.2 miles long with five observation decks. Guided walks along the boardwalk are offered on Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. Total guided walk is 3/4 of a mile and takes about 45 minutes. Registration opens 30 minutes prior to the walk at the boardwalk entrance. Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve, 7751 Penzance Blvd., Fort Myers, 239-533-7555, leegov.com

Yoga at the Westin, The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village, Cape Coral
Release tension, stretch the body and relax the mind with waterfront views. 8-9 a.m. Saturdays. $10, proceeds benefit the Cape Coral Animal Shelter. The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village, 5951 Silver King Blvd., Cape Coral, marriot.com/thewestincapecoralresortatmarinavillage

Performing arts and exhibits

Alliance for the Arts, Fort Myers

• Exhibit: Joan Sonnenberg a Retrospective, through July 29

Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers, 239-939-2787, artinlee.org

Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, Fort Myers

• "The Little Mermaid,"  July 7- Aug.12

Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, 1380 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers, 239-278-4422, broadwaypalm.com 

Centers for the Arts, Bonita Springs

• OMB! Open Mic Bonita, July 6
•  Exhibit: Sweet Land of Liberty, through July 27 
•  Exhibit: Jacke McCurdy Safari Photography, through Aug. 24

Two locations, both in Bonita Springs: Center for Performing Arts, 10150 Bonita Beach Road and Visual Arts Center, 26100 Old 41 Road, 239-495-8989, artcenterbonita.org

Murder Mystery Dinner Train, Fort Myers

• "SPY Noir," through Sept. 3

Murder Mystery Dinner Train, 2805 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers, 239-275-8487, semgulf.com

Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, downtown Fort Myers

• Exhibit: Iberian Influences: Spanish Artists in Florida, through July 27
• Exhibit: Follow the King, through July 27
• Own the Platform, July 12 
• Latin Night with DJ JC, July 13
• Friday Nights at Sidney's Presents: DJ Bemix, July 14

Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, 2301 First St., downtown Fort Myers, 239-333-1933, sbdac.com

Podcasts

Shellcast, the award-winning podcast of the Lee County VCB

Listen in, soak up some virtual sun and hear what makes Southwest Florida so special. Shellcast is available wherever fine podcasts are downloaded and at VisitFortMyers.com/shellcast

The Sanibel Captiva Guide Podcast

Sanibel residents Nick and Lori Adams, and son Max, interview the people who make Sanibel and Captiva special. They celebrate the history and experiences of the islands. thesancapguide.com/category/podcast

Otocast audio guide features Fort Myers historic sites

Available in the App Store and Google Play, Otocast features a tour of more than 30 historic sites in Fort Myers. otocast.com