kayakingBarrier island
Lovers Key State Park
A barrier-island state park of mangrove kayak trails and calm water where dolphins and manatees turn up.
Details & hours ↗
Things To Do
Things to Do in Estero & Fort Myers Beach
Estero sits between Fort Myers and Naples — minutes from Gulf beaches, mangrove kayak trails, and championship golf, with Sanibel's shelling and Edison's winter estate close behind. Estero Escape is reopening soon; the area, as always, is ready.
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Estero Escape is under renovation and reopening soon. The area guide below is ready whenever you are — join the waitlist and we will hold your dates when the home returns.
The Lay of the Land
Southwest Florida's Gulf Coast — 6 handpicked things to do, all within easy reach of Estero Escape.
The Shortlist
What to Do Around Estero
beachMinutes away
Gulf Coast beaches (Fort Myers Beach, Bonita Beach)
Wide, warm Gulf beaches minutes away — Fort Myers Beach and quieter Bonita Beach.
Details & hours ↗
shellingShort drive
Sanibel & Captiva Islands
A short drive to the shelling capital of the Gulf — bring a bucket.
Details & hours ↗
shoppingMinutes away
Coconut Point
An open-air center of 140+ shops and family dining, minutes from home.
Details & hours ↗
golfEstero-area courses
Championship golf (Raptor Bay, Stoneybrook, The Brooks)
Estero-area championship courses for the golfers in the group.
Details & hours ↗historic sightseeing20-acre botanical gardens/museum
Edison & Ford Winter Estates
20 acres of historic botanical gardens and the winter homes of Edison and Ford, a short drive up the coast.
Details & hours ↗Plan It in 3 Days
Your Estero Itinerary — Your Way
Four mood-built plans — Fun, Thrilling, Relaxed, and Nature — each a perfect three days of real, nearby things to do. Download the Nature sample now; the full pack lands in your inbox the day you book.
Nature
Mangrove trails, shelling shores, and Gulf sunsets.
Download the free sample ↓Free 3-day sampleRelaxed
Warm sand, shaded gardens, and no rush at all.
In the booking packFun
Beaches, the open-air center, and a round for the golfers.
In the booking packThe full itinerary pack is a booking bonus.Reserve any Travel DRD home and we'll email you all 3 Estero itineraries — beautifully laid out, ready to print, built from the same local knowledge on this page.
Book a Home & Get the Pack →
Read Before You Go
Estero Travel Guides
How to Rent a Boat in Southwest Florida (Without Wrecking the Day)
Anyone born on or after January 1, 1988 needs a boating safety card to run a rental here. That's the first of about six things nobody tells you until you're at the dock.
Read the GuideRenting an RV in Florida: What First-Timers Get Wrong
Peer-to-peer RV rental turned every driveway into a rental lot. Here's how it works, what it really costs, and the honest case for not doing it.
Read the GuideRenting a Jet Ski in Florida: The Rules Families Break Without Knowing
No one under 14 may operate a jet ski in Florida under any circumstances — not even with a parent aboard. That surprises a family at a rental dock every single week.
Read the GuideWhere to Stay
Our Estero Home
Coming Soon
Estero, Florida (Near Fort Myers Beach)
Estero Escape
Modern Luxury Living in Southwest Florida's Hidden Gem
Good to Know
Frequently Asked
What is there to do in Estero?
Estero sits between Fort Myers and Naples — minutes from Gulf beaches, mangrove kayak trails, and championship golf, with Sanibel's shelling and Edison's winter estate close behind. Highlights include Lovers Key State Park, Gulf Coast beaches (Fort Myers Beach, Bonita Beach), Sanibel & Captiva Islands, Coconut Point, and more — all detailed on this page with distances and links.
Is Estero good for families?
Yes. Estero Escape sleeps 10 and the area mixes easy beach or park days with backyard amenities, so every age has something. Our free three-day itineraries are built specifically for family trips.
Do you have a Estero itinerary we can follow?
We do — four mood-based three-day itineraries (Fun, Thrilling, Relaxed, and Nature). The Nature plan is a free download on this page, and the full pack is emailed free when you book any Travel DRD home.
Where should we stay to be close to all of this?
Estero Escape sits right in the middle of it — see the full Estero & Fort Myers Beach destination guide for the map.
Only 5 Exclusive Properties
Ready to Plan Your Estero Trip?
Book a home from our collection and we'll send the full Estero itinerary pack — free.