A new way of life awaits you in Cape Coral. This waterfront community combines all the best parts of Florida living with its unique city design. Cape Coral Coral is a ‘waterfront wonderland’ with the perfect activities to personalize your Southwest Florida lifestyle. Discover the best things to do in Cape Coral to get a glimpse of daily life.
See what to expect when youfind the right home in Cape Coral.
1. Experience a world-class boating lifestyle
Photo Credit: Khairil Azhar Junosver
Nicknamed the ‘Venice of America,’ Cape Coral is known for its 400 miles of waterway canals crisscrossing the waterfront communities. Boating is life in Cape Coral, and it’s about time they started calling you ‘captain.’
Cape Coral is a place where you’ll spend more time in your boat than in your car. The friendly neighbors you met at the Cape Coral Yacht Club? It’s just a boat ride away from your dock to theirs. Charter a boat to explore the sights and attractions along the Caloosahatchee River and the Gulf Coast. All your favorite local restaurants have dock access to arrive in style on your vessel.
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2. Explore on a boat tour
Boat tours are one of the best things to do in Cape Coral, and they can help you discover a side of Southwest Florida you don’t see every day. These tours will give you new ideas for destinations where you can take your own vessel in the future and learn the expertise of the waterways from seafaring locals who’ve spent decades on the water.
These are popular boat tours you can find in Cape Coral:
- Shelling tour to Sanibel Island and Pine Island
- Dolphin tours
- Sightseeing tours
- Kayak tours
- Fishing tours
3. Beachcombing through white sands
Photo Credit: CaptureStock Studio
Soak up the Florida sun on a white sand beach located right in your community. Every day is a beach day when you live in Cape Coral. No more months of planning for a beach vacation—wake up and go!
Cape Coral has no coastal beach since it sits on a river. These are the closest beaches to check out:
- Yacht Club Public Beach
- Fort Myers Beach
These beaches offer a range of activities, from beachcombing to water sports to lounging. For even more beach options, take your boat to remote beaches at Cayo Costa State Park and North Captiva Island.
4. Bring the kids to Gator Mike’s Family Fun Park
Your Cape Coral home will be everyone’s favorite vacation destination. When the grandkids are in town, show them you still know how to have fun with a day at Gator Mike’s Family Fun Park.
It’s all fun and games at Southwest Florida’s premier entertainment center. This family-friendly facility features activities that everyone will love. It’s pedal to the metal on the outdoor go-kart track. There’s a wacky surprise on every hole of the mini golf course. Batter up in the fast-paced batting cages. Let out your inner child in the arcade.
5. Explore art festivals, classes, and galleries
Photo Credit: Pressmaster
Have you ever considered adding a new hobby to your daily regimen? Moving to a new location always inspires new creativity, and Cape Coral cultivates a thriving art scene.
Hone your art skills with year-round classes at the Cape Coral Art Center. Show off your latest creations while vending at the annual Cape Coral Art Festival. Mingle with local artists of all levels at the Cape Coral Art League. Need even more inspiration? Find amazing works to decorate your new home at these popular local art galleries:
Find more local galleries with this Art Galleries Guide by Cape Coral Living Magazine.
6. Plan a weekday visit to Wicked Dolphin Distillery
Your week is never dull, thanks to Wicked Dolphin Distillery! It hosts visitors every Tuesday for a free distillery tour and rum tasting. It’s famous for its award-winning rum, which is produced in small batches locally. Taste the unique rum handcrafted with Florida sugar cane and natural local ingredients for flavorful mixes.
Tour behind the scenes to see massive holding tanks containing blends of Florida sugar cane and natural local ingredients alongside giant wooden barrels holding the aging rum.
Return on Fridays and Saturdays for the weekly Wicked Dolphin Tiki Bar featuring drinks, live music, and food trucks. Mark your calendar for the Tiki Bash on the 3rd Thursday of every month!
7. Walk the boardwalk at Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve
While you might expect coastal views from a boardwalk in Cape Coral, the one at Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve offers a different experience. This boardwalk winds through 365 acres of protected mangrove forest, Cape Coral's second-largest preserved green space.
Get in your daily steps along this 1.2-mile hiking loop through the wetlands shaded by dense mangroves. Explore on the ground via the boardwalk or find kayak rentals for sightseeing on kayak routes. Pick up a map at the visitor center to find the best hiking trails and take a moment of silence at the Veterans Memorial Area honoring military vets.
8. Shop the Cape Coral Farmers Market
Photo Credit: Sadie Mantell
Enjoy the farmers market atmosphere with live music performances and food trucks. Stock up your fridge with fresh produce at the Cape Coral Farmers Market weekly. It happens every Saturday in downtown Cap Coral from 8 am to 1 pm. Your new lifestyle ushers in a new eating fresh, local, and healthy era.
Browse vendors for fresh produce grown on local farms. Early bird gets the word for the best selection of fruits and veggies. There are also vendors from local artisans and entrepreneurs selling products like jewelry, flowers, and wellness goods.
9. Take advantage of outdoor recreation at Rotary Park
Photo Credit: Billy McDonald
Outdoor leisure is plentiful in Cape Coral, with 20+ parks to explore. Rotary Park is a go-to pet-friendly park, so prepare to meet tons of other dog lovers. With 97 acres within the park, there’s plenty of room for your four-legged friends to run around and play. Hike the rugged trails through the marsh landscape.
Dogs aren’t the only animals enjoying Rotary Park. This environmental center is part of the Great Florida Birding Trail, and you’ll be surrounded by fluttering wings inside the Tom Allen Memorial Butterfly House. Climb to the top of the observation tower for a 360 view over the entire park.
10. Take a swing at palm lined golf courses
Photo Credit: Nadezda Murmakova
Cape Coral residents can play golf all year round. The weather is always ideal for a round on your favorite golf course. Cape Coral has several stunning golf courses. Each is expertly designed for the ultimate gameplay experience. Take in views of spectacular water features and palm trees while teeing off on manicured greens.
There are five local golf courses and 70+ within a 20-mile radius of Cape Coral. Here are the top golf course picks:
11. See manatees in Sirenia Vista
Photo Credit: Peter Douglas Clark
The local residents in Cape Coral include some unexpected wildlife, including manatees. You already know about the Florida alligators, but these aquatic animals are a bit friendlier. Visit Sirenia Vista Park to see them in their natural habitat. It features a viewing area, or you can see them up close on a guided kayak tour. The best time for manatees is during the cooler months.
Manatees aren’t the only excitement inside this eight-acre environmental park. It’s a popular spot for fishing to catch grouper, tarpon, and tripletail fish.
12. Plan a day at Sun Splash Family Waterpark
The largest waterpark in Southwest Florida is right in your backyard when you live in Cape Coral. Sun Splash Family Waterpark is one of the best things to do in Cape Coral in summer to cool down from the heat.
Slip and slide down adrenaline-rushing waterslides into a splashing halt in the pools below. Each ride features drops, quick turns, and tons of splashing water. Wind down while floating down the Main Stream River Tube Ride. It’s an activity for the whole family and has a designated kids’ water play area.
The water park season lasts from March to December with an extended summer schedule.
Unlock waterfront living with Cape Coral homes
Make the best things to do in Cape Coral part of your everyday life when you purchase a home in the community. We’re the largest city in Lee County on the banks of the Caloosahatchee River, where homes boast water views, private dock access, and modern designs. Browse our Cape Coral real estate properties to find your Florida forever home.