Enjoy The Great Outdoors at Some of Fort Myers' Best Parks

Spending more time outdoors is great for both your mental and physical health, and luckily the Fort Myers area has a lot to offer when it comes to the great outdoors. Spend an afternoon or even an entire Saturday exploring one of these beautiful local parks. You're sure to feel more relaxed and invigorated afterwards.

1. Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve
7751 Penzance Blvd
10 minutes from Springs at Six Mile Cypress

This preserve stretches across 3,400 acres of wetlands that serve as a drainage point for a 33-square-mile watershed. Established in 1970, Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve is a wildlife habitat to numerous species, including armadillos, turtles, and alligators. A boardwalk stretches across the wetlands, giving you a dry path to walk along as you observe the marshes and wildlife. Guided walks are offered on Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. throughout the summer and into October, and typically last for an hour.

2. Lakes Regional Park
7730 Gladiolus Dr
A 14 minute walk from Springs at Six Mile Cypress

The key attraction at Lakes Regional Park is the 158-acre freshwater lake, which offers good fishing for bass and bream. The lake was created by the rock quarrying industry in the 1960s, and water now enters the lake from a combination of groundwater influx, runoff, and rainfall. This is an excellent park to visit with family, as it offers a little something for everyone, from cycling trails, to splash pads, to volleyball courts. Rent a paddle boat for an hour and enjoy paddling around the lake, or take a ride on the miniature train, which weaves through a scenic area where you're sure to spot wildlife including herons and ibis.

3. Manatee Park
10901 State Rd 80
20 minutes from Springs at Estero

If you have never enjoyed the majesty that is a manatee in its natural environment, then a visit to Manatee Park is certainly in order. This seaside park serves as a non-captive water refuge where manatees gather during the cooler months. You can rent a kayak or canoe and paddle out into the gulf, looking down into the water to see the manatees swimming around. The park also contains playgrounds, restrooms, a picnic area, and a fishing area, which make for a whole day of fun.

4. Rutenburg Community Park
6500 S Pointe Blvd
10 minutes from Springs at Six Mile Cypress

Sports lovers flock to this community park, which offers a football field, three baseball diamonds, eight tennis courts, and two handball courts. Local leagues often play on the beautifully groomed and maintained fields in the evenings, so stop by to catch a game or sign up to play through Lee County Parks & Recreation. There is also a playground and jungle gym on site, so kids will keep themselves entertained for hours.

Whether you enjoy fishing, playing soccer, or simply walking through nature, you definitely deserve to spend a day in one of these beautiful Fort Myers parks. What other parks in the area have you visited? Tell us all about your experiences in the comments section.