If you are having a rental car you can get to many interesting destinations an cities worth a (day) trip. Below is just a small
selection:
Pine Island - 16 Miles, 30min. drive
The subtropical Island Pine Island is definitely worth a visit. Many citrus orchards and palm trees. St. James City in the south of the island and Bokeelia in the North. You can find a lot of nice restaurants in both citys.
Sanibel Island & Captiva Island - 19 Miles, 36min drive
Beautiful tropical islands with the best beaches and sunsets. Pure nature. Bowman´s Beach is definitely worth a vist.
Fort Myers Beach - 11 Miles, 24min drive
The most popular beach in Southwest Florida. Worth to see is the Ft. Myers Pier. Am Ft. Myers Beach gibt es viele Restaurants, Hotels und Geschäfte, wo man sich Souvenirs kaufen kann. Aber Achtung beim Parken - die Parkuhr füttern, hier wird gerne abgeschleppt.
Edison & Ford Winter Estates - 8 Miles, 15min drive
The most famous and well-known point of interest of Ft. Myers is the Edison & Ford Winter Estates. From Cape Coral the museum with botanical garden can be reached in a couple of minutes. In former times the museum was the winter residence of Thomas Edison, the inventor of the light bulb and Henry Ford, founder of the famous car brand.
Of course only interesting for us adults: Wicked Dolphin Rum Distillery in Cape Coral. The guided tour (no fee) takes 1 hour. It is recommended to book the tour via internet in advance.
Naples - 42 Miles, 1 hour
drive
Beverly Hills Feeling in a nice city with big villas and parks.
Sun Splash Family Waterpark - 4 Miles, 10min drive
Enjoy 14-acres of water slides, pools and fun at Southwest Florida’s largest waterpark. Please check website for opening hours.
....and more interesting, helpful links: