Canoeing & Kayaking

The area's slow-moving rivers and quiet, island-speckled inland waters are fine for canoe and kayak adventures; you'll visit with birds and manatees along the way. Two popular local venues are the winding waterways around Pine Island west of town and the Estero River south of Fort Myers. The Estero River route is an official Florida canoe trail and leads 3.5 miles from U.S. 41 to Estero Bay, which is itself a state aquatic preserve. Near the mouth of the river lies Mound Key State Archaeological Park, one of the largest Calusa shell middens. Scholars believe that this mostly artificial island dates back some 2,000 years and was the capital of the Calusa chief who ruled all of South Florida when the Spanish arrived. There's no park ranger on the Key, but signs explain its history.

Koreshan State Historic Site, a half-mile south of the bridge at the intersection of U.S. 41 and Corkscrew Road (tel. 239/992-0311), has canoe rentals. Less than a mile from the site, at the Estero River bridge, Estero River Tackle & Canoe Outfitters, 20991 S. Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41), Estero (tel. 239/992-4050), offers guided historic and nature tours (call for schedule and prices) and rents canoes and kayaks from 8am to 4pm for $16 to $30 a day. Open daily from 8am to sunset.

Tropic Star Cruises, based at Pineland Marina, 3921 Waterfront Dr., Pineland on Pine Island (tel. 239/283-0015), rents kayaks and has guided tours over 18 miles of paddling trails. Rentals cost $35 a day for single-seaters, $45 for doubles. Call for schedules and prices of guided tours. The company also has a ferry service to Cayo Costa State Park, where it rents kayaks.

Golf & Tennis

For an excellent rundown of Southwest Florida golf courses, pick up a free copy of Golfer's Guide, available at the visitor centers and many hotel lobbies, as well as online. Don't forget that you can call Tee Times USA (tel. 800/374-8633 or 888/465-3356) to book starting times at Florida courses.

Although it looks like an exclusive private enclave, the Fort Myers Country Club, McGregor Boulevard at Hill Avenue (tel. 239/936-2457), is a municipal course. Designed in 1917 by Donald Ross, it's flat and uninteresting by today's standards, but it's right in town. A steak-and-seafood restaurant now occupies the fine old clubhouse. The municipal course is the more challenging Eastwood Golf Club, on Ortiz Avenue between Colonial Boulevard and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Boulevard (tel. 239/275-4848), in the eastern suburbs. Greens fees at both courses range from $25 in summer to $60 in winter. Nonresidents must book tee times 24 hours in advance.

Other area courses open to the public include the Tom Fazio-designed Gateway Golf & Country Club, on Daniels Parkway east of the airport (tel. 239/561-1010); and the two nationally acclaimed Pelican's Nest courses in Bonita Springs (tel. 239/947-4600).